DC Comics reviews 5/24/22 – Batman Fortress #1, Deathstroke Inc. #9

Detective Comics #1060

So far so good with The Seven arc in Detective Comics. Scratch that. It’s actually been a great read as writers Mariko Tamaki and Nadia Shammas are focusing on the title of this Batman book and making Batman be more of a detective.

There are enough Batman books that Detective’s hook can always be Batman having to rely on his deductive skills more than his fists. Tamaki and Shammas are taking that approach as Batman is investigating the strange actions of previously regular Gotham citizens who at first glance seem completely innocent of any criminal activity.

It’s made for a great hook as Batman slowly starts unraveling secrets and using his various resources to get to the truth before the seven are killed. All while Riddler taunts Batman via his streaming news channel. About the only thing wrong with Ivan Reis’ art is the hipster redesign for Riddler, which still looks incredibly goofy.

Otherwise, Reis’ art is as impeccable as ever as he channels intense emotions from his characters and lays out the pages in an effortlessly cinematic style. Danny Miki’s ink keeps the linework sharp and precise while Brad Anderson’s rich colors give a vibrancy to every page.

There’s some nice twists and character beats that give The Seven a layered, crime-drama feel. It’s the kind of story Tamaki probably should have been doing all along and this collaboration with Shammas is resulting in a compelling and engaging mystery.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10