DC Comics reviews for 2/14/18

Detective Comics #974

One of the biggest problems in modern comics is the build up to a big event and then everything returns to normal immediately afterwards. That’s not the case with Detective Comics. James Tynion IV used Fall of the Batmen as the culmination of his first year and a half on the title and this was the kickoff to those repercussions.

Given everything that’s happened to the Gotham Knights, some harsh feelings and departures were to be expected. I appreciate that Tynion didn’t go overboard with the melodrama here and it all plays out very natural. It’s also great to see that Tynion isn’t rushing through the emotional toll of these last few events for the Knights and allowing the members to re-evaluate their place on the team.

Philippe Briones stays on as artist for this issue. His work is solid with the only real gripe being he draws Red Robin as tall as Batman in some pages and Batwing smaller than he’s typically portrayed. Briones is an artist who deserves regular work on a DC title. I’m not fully sold he’s the best choice for Detective Comics as he can’t quite nail down the darker Gotham environment like an Eddy Barrows, but he’s far from a bad option.

The payoff final page indicates the trouble is just getting started for the Knights. That’s bad for them and great for us as DC’s best team book is back in a big way with no chance of relinquishing its throne.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10