We are back in action BOF’ers!
Detective Comics #1102 has dropped! Tom Taylor and Mikel Janin deliver part two of “The Courage That Kills,” a sick Batman, a virus on the loose, and a race against time. Not your normal obstacle for The Dark Knight, will this issue leave you at the end of your seat, or does Tom Taylor have a villain problem? Let’s break it down!
Taylor is leaping; one arc ago, readers were left with a sour taste, as a new villain was introduced, teased, and then wasted. Here, Taylor follows similar beats. The Penguin/Batman/Bullock of this story is Playboy Wayne. It’s fun, action-packed, and a great tool to distract you from what has been Taylor’s biggest weakness: the final villain. Taylor brilliantly moves the story along, setting up what is to come with a Casino Royale flair. The twist here is the time limit. Batman is working on borrowed time due to the infection; soon, he won’t be Batman. I love the run to the finish aspect of this tale. There is only so much time for Batman to work with; every move counts, and the pressure is on. The story itself is enjoyable, as are Batman/Bruce Wayne’s interactions with the rest of the characters throughout the story. Then there is the villain, whoever this Louis King really is; Taylor needs to stick this landing. Taylor cannot deliver back-to-back dud endings.
I’m at a loss for what else to say about Mikel Janin at this point; this issue is another outstanding example of brilliant artwork. The normal Janin trademarks are present, including the use of color and angled layouts. Janin’s action panels are easy to follow, and his cape work is excellent. Janin handles double duty on art like no one else. Every page of this book is a beauty. Just sit back, flip, and enjoy.
Detective Comics #1102 is another fine issue. Janin’s artwork is nothing short of magical, and Taylor has Batman is a no-win situation, and those are the best Batman stories. Overcoming the odds, victory at the last second. A race against a clock, a race for a cure, that is where Taylor captures the reader’s imagination, but like I said, he needs to close this one out strong. – Peter Verra
