DC Comics 4/22/26 – JLU 18, Absolute Wonder Woman 19

Detective Comics 1108

Bringing Black Canary and Green Arrow on board as Batman’s new regular partners is already creating a fun dynamic in Detective Comics. Writer Tom Taylor always shines with superhero interaction, and this pairing is a refreshing change of pace. Batman can’t treat his longtime peers as junior sidekicks that need his direction and constant supervision.

Taylor is basically giving readers a micro Justice League series with three core members operating on a street level dealing with crimes that might go unnoticed by their more powerful teammates.

That doesn’t mean Taylor abandoned the fun of Batman showing off new gadgets including the Hatchbat, a versatile vehicle. With Black Canary around, Taylor didn’t forget the easy layup of interactions with Oracle either.

This arc also allows Taylor the opportunity to explore some of the earliest days of the trio partnering up as well as their initial encounter with Prion, their fellow vigilante they met before Green Arrow sported facial hair.

Pete Woods and Bruno Abdias tag team on the art with similar enough styles that there’s no jarring shift in between the transitions. Colorist Lee Loughridge, who handles the colors for Abdias’ pages, brings a brighter palette to the issue allowing this to not have the same overly dark and gloomy appearance of other Batman titles. Wes Abbott’s clean lettering allows for easy-to-read dialogue and sound effects.

Green Arrow fans still smarting over the recent title’s cancellation can take easy solace that their favorite Emerald Archer is in good hands and better company as Detective is delivering on this new Gotham Trinity.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10