52 Pickup: The DC Shuffle – Detective Comics

Continuing my review of the New 52 I press on to Detective Comics where Batman, like Superman in Action Comics, is set back and a newish character on the scene in Gotham.  The cops are against him, only Commissioner Gordon is on his side.

 

As with any title when a new writer comes on board, in this case Tony Daniel, there are slight variations to the style and substance of the character.  With this iteration Batman seems more…introspective than usual.  Having deep thoughts isn’t wrong or out of the ordinary for Batman, but it’s the phrasing he uses like, “His modus operandi changes with the wind…and it’s been windy in Gotham City” and “Tonight I’m feeling lucky” and “I can take it…I’m Batman”.

 

I’m not trying to harp on Mr. Daniel, or say it’s bad writing, or even come anywhere close to saying I could do better.  That’s not my point here at all.  What I am trying to point out is that this seems like it’s going to be a very different Batman in Detective Comics.  The character will be different than I expect to read in Batman & Robin and Batman, which isn’t a bad thing.  One of my issues with titles like Spiderman in the 90s was that there were four, or more, monthly books starring…the same character.  It was just a ploy for increased revenue.  But they did let him create a new batmobile, check it out!

The story of Detective Comics number one starts readers out with a bang, a very creepy bang.

 

Joker is by far the most well-known and enjoyed villain in Batman universe.  He has played a role in some of the biggest storylines in the character’s past; the death of Jason Todd springs to mind.  So it is only fitting that the grand DC Reboot of Detective involves this monumental character.

 

 

It’s a classic Batman storyline; he’s playing the detective and trying to root out a villain.  Bruce as Batman has always been the best and with this fresh installment we are once again reminded of that.

 

As the story progresses we start to pick up new pieces of the puzzle and near the end it becomes less and less clear.  We are seeing Batman, not as a novice, but as a man ill-prepared to deal with a villain the likes of Joker.  During their hand-to-hand combat sequence Joker gets the upper hand, twice.

Oh, and that creepy bang I told you about?  Check it out…

 

 

Detective Comics number one gets a KING rating from me!

 

 

 

The best is yet to come so keep your eyes (and browsers) open on 8DaysAGeek all month long as we tackle the biggest story in comics!

 

 

For now,

 

This is your Bin Fodder Guru Tim Blacksmith signing off.

 

p.s. Did you spot the hooded lady?  I’ve included a picture below.  She keeps showing up in the strangest places!  Who is she?  What’s her impact going to be on the new DCU?  Discuss below in comments!!!

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2 Comments

  1. I, too, wasn’t in love with the constant internal monologue Bats had going on, but at least they didn’t seem to drastically change him too much. At least not that we can can tell yet, anyway…

  2. Yeah, I think there’s potential for growth which is why they allowed this title to “go back in time” so I think we’ll probably see Batman do a lot of things we wouldn’t expect…otherwise, what was the point? Thanks for reading!

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