DC Comics reviews 10/9/19 – Detective Comics #1013, Event Leviathan #5

Detective Comics #1013

The longer Peter J. Tomasi’s recent run on Detective Comics continues the more frustrating I am with current events from the other Batman title that he’ll have to address. It’s not so much that Tomasi can’t work around it, but that he’s made that now deleted element such a vital part of his Batman as the detective.

This issue kicks off with a jarring scene that seems far out of character for Batman until it’s revealed things aren’t exactly as they seem. It’s nice when a writer like Tomasi knows how to play to Batman and his supporting cast’s strengths in such an effective manner.

Another fun element of Tomasi’s Batman run is the occasional updates to the Bat wardrobe. This look, specifically to battle Mr. Freeze, is a cool variant and one that would make for a pretty kick tail action figure.

Mr. Freeze is one of Batman’s higher tier villains and it’s nice to see him treated as such and not disposed of on one page. Batman is going to have to work at stopping Mr. Freeze as he’s finally close to resurrecting his wife, Nora. It’s a deeply personal story and one Tomasi packs with a ton of action.

This might be one of artist Doug Mahnke’s better drawn issues. Mahnke has been operating on a high level with his run on the book and meeting all of the visual challenges Tomasi throws his way has forced him to step up. Along with colorist David Baron’s bold choices that liven up the action, Detective Comics hasn’t looked this good since the heyday of Eddy Barrows and Alvaro Martinez Bueno in the early Rebirth days.

Detective Comics is on fire right now as it’s hitting all the proper Batman notes with The Dark Knight forced to rely on his instincts and deductive skills as much as his gadgets, credible villains and gorgeous artwork.

Rating: 10 out of 10