Detective Comics #6 Review

The problem with Detective Comics #5 wasn't the story. In fact, it was quite good. It was the overly long backup story. I don't mind backup stories, but I buy for the main story on the cover. $3 for only eleven pages for the main story? I don't think so. Thankfully, that doesn't happen with this issue. As expected, we get a quality Batman story. Though it's lacking the pizzazz of the previous arc.

The story follows Batman, who is on the trail of a man known as 'Snakeskin.' Meanwhile, Penguin has assembled a group of villains. What could this mean for Batman?

My problem with this issue is that the Penguin and Batman plots aren't mixing. Batman doesn't even mention Penguin once, it's like two different stories happening at once. I find myself not really interested in the Penguin part. He himself is well-written, but his plot hasn't been explored really well. The best part of this issue is Batman. He is really well written, some fantastic lines. "Some people don't need their faces kicked in. They just need to feel their insides move." I also like the scene where he's chasing someone, then in the dark, he simply says "Boo." It scares the living daylights out of the guy. Batman knows he scares the average person, he's Batman after all. I love how he plays on that in this issue.

Bruce Wayne has been absent from this series, aside from a few scenes here in there. The problem is that they just feel like filler. Thankfully, it doesn't feel like filler here. It's good to see Alfred outside helping out. It felt like an episode from The Animated Series. Something I didn't like was when Batman let his emotions get the better of him in the latter part of the issue. Yeah I know what happened affected him, but the Batman I know wouldn't let that get the better of him in that he 'loses' to an average criminal. Besides that, there are really no major complaints. The writing is solid, especially for Batman. (Really like the part where a once convicted person says, "Hey, I'm bleeding out over here. Help me!" Then Batman replies, "Help yourself.")

If the art was bad, the issue would have gotten a lower score. However, the art is very good. Some parts look appropriately gritty, really like the spread of Batman on the fourth page. The cover shows Batman and Penguin battling while falling. It's a good, dynamic cover. Sad part is that they haven't confronted each other yet. But yeah, the art is high point in this issue.

Overall, Detective Comics #6 is a normal issue. It's simple, it's Batman, but it's lacking the punch the first arc had. The writing, (except for the scene I mentioned) is very good. I was this close to giving it a 7/10, but it barely made the 8. Something really exciting needs to happen in the next issue, otherwise this series will start getting 7s. All we really care about is what's up with Joker, this arc appears just to be 'buying time.' Let's have something really exciting happen in the next issue, shall we?

8/10.

Detective Comics #5 Review

The first story arc of Tony S. Daniel's Detective Comics run did a good job of bringing a good, quality story for new readers to jump in. Intriguing, dark, and it's Batman. Doll Maker could have used a little work, and really the only thing we care about is what's up with ol' Joker, but it gave us a solid tale of mystery and suspense. The new arc begins with this issue, with a classic foe as the villain. While not as impressive as the debut issue of the first arc, it's still a pretty solid start.

It begins with a bunch of Joker protesters chanting for Batman's death. Meanwhile, Batman runs into a 'Joker' who manages to evade him. The plot deepens when Bruce's girlfriend seems to have a secret agenda. This is being watched by the crime lord known as Penguin....

I've always considered Penguin to be a lame villain. Batman's version of Spider-Man's Vulture. Recently Vulture got a major revamp, updating from 'lame' to actually 'cool.' I had a strange feeling that same would happen here, and it did. The Penguin looks to be a meancing force here. He's only appeared in one page so far, and he already looks to be more of a threat and more fun to read than Doll Maker. Oh, and is it me, or is this Penguin thing similar to what happened with Vulture three issues ago in Amazing Spider-Man? Penguin has some flunkies similar to that of Vulture's, and their personalities seem to match. Not saying anything's copied, it's just interesting.

Batman still carries the book with those thought boxes. The whole Joker protest was interesting and really makes you think how corrupt Gotham is, or as Batman put it, "Hellhole." Interesting predicament is with Bruce's girlfriend. It looks like she's going to have a generic plot twist that we've all seen in past Batman stories. (He can never truly win with the ladies, can he?) Then there's this mysterious Joker supporter who shows up, kills some guys, then manages to evade Batman. Impressive, so I look forward to seeing what's up with that. A crime to this issue however, is how short it is. We get a pretty long Catwoman backup story, it's not clear if the ending pertains to that series or this series, probably this series. I don't mind backup stories, but the main story was too short, while the backup was too long.

Once again, the art is great. I say this every time, so I don't think it's necessary to keep mentioning it every time. But, as a longtime reviewer, gotta keep mentioning it every issue. Pretty good cover, showcasing Batman and Penguin. The Penguin has never looked more menacing. (I'd like to see this guy have a chat with Vulture over at Amazing Spider-Man, it would be priceless.)

Overall, a solid start to the new arc. Not as great as the previous debut issue, but a solid one. Penguin is back, and has never looked more cool. Detective Comics is a series you'll want to be reading if you like Batman and mystery.

8/10.