Welcome back, BOFers! It is that time once again—time to gather around and discuss Detective Comics‘ latest issue! #1097 picks right up where we left off. Tom Taylor has no time for fluff issues. Joining Taylor on this book is a new artist, Lee Barbett. We have some new villains in town. Is Batman ready to uncover more dirty Gotham City secrets? Let’s dive in!
The last issue ended with a mysterious Blade-looking figure teasing us with what was coming. Taylor seems to have taken part Court of Owls, part Men In Black, and created a secret group hiding in Gotham, the Elixer. The Elixier has operated in Gotham in the past and the shadows, claiming to be a government agency with ties to the recent Amese kidnappings and killings. Still hot on the case, Batman enlists a sidekick, one Harvey Bullock. Taylor delivers a fantastic flashback to Bullock’s early days on the street beat. Giving the reader some Clockwork Orange vibes, twisted and scary. It is tough to pick a highlight of the book, but the flashback shows the reader who we are dealing with and what we are dealing with without much backstory.
I love it when Taylor does this. It makes the reader feel like they are part of the investigation. Readers are finding out what Batman does in real time. The Batman/Bullock conversation in the alley is nothing short of Batman bliss, as good as any Gordon/Batman rooftop scene. Then we get to the big confrontation and that surprise ending. Even with all their tech, tips, and tricks, Batman and Oracle can be fooled. Seeing who was under the hood for the big rescue was a total shock. I let out a big “OH BOY!” I did not see this coming. What I thought would be a simple rescue mission turned into a whole new mess of trouble!
Lee Barbett will take over this issue for Jannin. I don’t know if this is just a call to the bullpen or if he is the new mainstay. What I do know is that Barbett draws a clean book. If you need a reference point, think Nick Derington. Bullock is perfectly out of shape in the past or present, and Batman looks as stoic as ever. There is a noir, maifa-feeling to the whole book. Not much action to go on, but there is a wonderful gliding/landing splash page that all Bat-fans will enjoy. The book has a traditional feel and is easy to follow, with many squares and rectangles. There are not many funny shapes here compared to what we got from Jannin.
I can not go without mentioning colorist Lee Loughridge’s contributions to the book. Loughridge provides a filter for specific pages and panels. The scenes in the alley with Bats and Bullock are bluish with a hint of green, flashbacks have a sepia Instagram feel, and depending on where Bullock is in the city, you get a variety of neons, oranges, and purples. Loughridge complements Barbett’s art perfectly.
Sure, this issue might be more of a “Bullock” story than a Batman one, but Bullock is a detective, so I’ll allow it. Last issue had me a bit worried, fake blade, not sure what was coming, but I appreciate Taylor doing something similar but different here with the Elixer. Seeing Batman team up wth Bullock is always a treat and something readers do not get enough of. I don’t know where Taylor leads us, but he is off to a beautiful start. Until next month, BOFers, same Bat-time, same Bat-website! – Peter Verra
