We meet again, BOF’ers!
Detective Comics #1108 has dropped, with Tom Taylor leading the charge with a combo of artists this issue, as Pete Woods and Bruni Abdias split duties. The past few issues have not been Taylor’s strongest in the run; are Woods and Abdias ready to carry the load of three DC big shots in one title? Let’s get into it!
As of late, Taylor has been a bit off his game, clunky, not enough Batman. It’s a bit odd to see Taylor “struggle “like this. Taylor is usually a master at handling an ensemble cast and emotional character moments. These past few issues have been heavily influenced by the JSA. Taylor tries to get back on track but still comes up short. There is enough Batman in this book, and he does take charge, but by the end of the issue, it feels like it leaned towards Green Arrow.
Early flashback scenes do a great job of expanding the story and giving us some history with Batman, Canary, and Green Arrow. The present-day part of the story is a bit of a mixed bag; there is some solid action and character moments, but the big “who, what, when, where, why” is very confusing. Much like the test tube villain of two arcs ago, Taylor is not sticking his landings. He ends the book on a dramatic note, but you just wonder, ” How did we get here?
The combo of artists pulls it off very smoothly, as Woods and Abdias never make the reader feel like they are outside the story. I can’t tell you whose style I like more. But I will say the opening flashback scenes are my favorite, in terms of story and art. Go figure, I side with the guy named Pete. Both artists have more than enough to work with. Woods may have fewer pages, but he makes them count.
This issue is the best of a recent set of misfires from Taylor. Batman still doesn’t shine as he should in his own monthly title, and that should be a major concern for any Bat-fan. The story has its moments, but it is flawed. It seems like recently it’s been up to the art to carry the load of this title; Woods and Abdias are up to the task, but there is only so much art can carry.
This is Taylor’s weakest arc of his run to date. All I want to know is, how many more issues until this tale ends? – Peter Verra