DC Comics reviews for 9/11/19 – Batman #78, Event Leviathan #4

Detective Comics #1011

This latest arc of Detective Comics didn’t dramatically shake anything up, but it shows writer Peter J. Tomasi’s versatility in crafting different Batman stories that still manage to feel consistent to the character. Deadshot hijacked a plane of Wayne Enterprise executives and now Bruce Wayne has to stop him while keeping his alter ego a secret. Bruce’s only assistance is a pair of World War II veterans who’ve been stuck on the island since the war.

Tomasi has a soft spot for veterans. He’d written a mini arc on his Superman run that was a mini tribute to the sacrifices of soldiers. This was a nice time to work in a veterans Batman story in an atypical manner. Best of all, Tomasi doesn’t feel the need to stretch this or any other arc out for some unnecessarily long time. He tells a quick and easy story in three issues and is set for the next arc — just like how most comics used to be.

Christian Duce tackles the art to wrap this arc. Duce draws a beefier Bruce Wayne and Deadshot than the norm, but it works in the context of this story. Duce doesn’t shortchange the island jungle backdrop and puts in a welcome amount of ambiance to this setting. Colorist Luis Guerrero makes the backdrop nice and vibrant instead of a desolate and dreary jungle atmosphere.

Is this a major story with lasting repercussions in the Batman universe? No, but it’s a great example of how a writer can put Batman in a strange setting and have a lot of fun making it work this well. With the tease of the next arc’s villain, Batman looks to be in for a chilly reception when he returns to Gotham.

Rating: 9 out of 10