Detective Comics #1071 two tales, one book. I have had my issues with both writers and both stories. It’s been a bit of a bummer having a writer I like as much as V write a story I don’t dig for my favorite character. On the other hand, with Spurrier on the backups, it’s really been up and down. Let’s dive into both stories!
I think V does a great job with tactical Batman. Seeing the Bat-Family operate as a well-trained cohesive unit is something that I cannot help but love. There are moments with Talia that are enjoyable until Talia goes into story mode and dominates the issue. From here on it’s Talia doing her best to O’Neil/Adams her way through a Vandal Savage story that seems too long and too bloated. I was hoping that Talia and the legend of Ra’s Al Ghul might be able to salvage this story but I’m afraid not.
The trio of Stefano Raffaele, Ivan Reis, and Eduardo Pansica handle the interior artwork. If I had to guess, I would say Raffaele drew the opening of the book, Pansica did some of the flashbacks and Ries closed out the book with Savage’s big reveal. I was into the difference in artwork. I think it was fitting for the different timelines and “state of mind” the characters were in. My favorite page of the book would have to be the tea kettle with Talia and Batman. I like the perspective and the reflection, it’s a simple intimate setting between the two characters, I’d consider buying this page. I enjoy it that much, Action is solid, the layouts flow, and overall, it’s a beautifully drawn book.
Now we come to the finale of Absolute by Simon Spurrier and Caspar Wijngaard. I don’t know if this will make it in the “Greatest Mr. Freeze Stories of All-Time” hardcover, but I think this is a story that Freeze fans should check out. It’s not really what you were expecting in part one and it takes a turn that I didn’t think connected in part two, but it has a very interesting ending. One that I don’t think any of us saw coming back in part one. I’ve had my issues with Spurrier, he’s been one of the more inconsistent Bat-writers I’ve covered since 2017, but everyone once and a while he pulls something out, and I enjoy it. Plus, I think it really washes the taste of the primary story out of your mouth.
Over Detective Comics #1071 is OK. If you have been digging this then you will enjoy it, God bless. I can’t tell you to buy a book because I kind of enjoyed the backup tale. I can’t really sell you on epic art either, it was well done but for this crew it’s standard, catch my drift. This was just an eh book. – Peter Verra
