DC Comics 9/28/21 – Justice League #68, Robin #6

Detective Comics #1043

Fear State makes its way to Detective Comics although it feels like a completely separate event playing out from the one in Batman.

The biggest issue is writer Mariko Tamaki and Batman writer James Tynion IV have Batman operating on totally different agendas between the two titles. In Batman, the Dark Knight is going after the Magistrates and Scarecrow while in Detective, Tamaki has him focusing on saving Mayor Nakano from a possible assassination attempt.

In this kind of crossover it’d probably make more sense for another character — Huntress (?) to take the Nakano mission. Batman can only do so much as he’s apparently everywhere in Gotham.

On the positive side, Dan Mora returns to handle the art. Mora is an artist whose talent elevates stories with his dramatic cinematic style. He brings so much excitement with his energetic storytelling that it feels like something significant is happening even if characters are just talking at a desk. Jordie Bellaire’s phenomenal color work also helps immensely with the appealing visuals.

The Red Hood secondary story from writer Matthew Rosenberg and artist Darick Robinson is shorter, yet feels like it accomplishes more with fewer pages. This setup for Task Force Z gets the job done and makes that seem like a title worth checking out for a few issues at least.

Detective Comics’ entry into Fear State lacks a strong connection to the overall crossover, but Tamaki’s intriguing setup and Mora’s art makes it a worthwhile enough read as the event plays out.

Rating: 8 out of 10