Comic Review: Detective Comics (2016-) #997

Detective Comics (2016-) #997

DC Comics

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi

Artist: Doug Mahnke & David Baron

We’re four issues into Tomasi’s Detective Comics run now. And so far, I’ve really been enjoying this series. Tomasi brings a lot of aspects back to the character that we haven’t seen in a while. In the first issue, there was some great detective work between Bruce and Commissioner Gordon. Tomasi is actually using Bruce’s rogues gallery, with cameos from plenty of famous Bat villains. Tomasi also isn’t afraid to use the bat family, which is a breath of fresh air compared to most current Batman writers. And this issue follows suit in this line of strong Batman issues.

The plot here is that a mutagenic-monster is attacking Batman’s former mentors. Leslie Tompkins, Alfred, and Henri Ducard were all targets of the bat-beast. And in this issue, Batman and his former mentor Mister Miracle attempt to escape from a drowned living room filled with sharks. It’s great seeing Mr. Miracle again, a character that hasn’t been in continuity for quite some time.

Watching Bruce slowly figure his way out of this super-tense situation was really interesting to see. This Bruce is actually using the knowledge from his former mentors to solve problems. It’s nice that Tomasi’s Batman feels very competent. He isn’t just punching his way through everything; he writes a very smart Batman.

If there’s one thing that I really like about this series so far, it’s that it feels very much like “my” interpretation of Batman. Tomasi uses plenty of aspects of Batman that I’ve missed in recent Batman runs. The mystery and detective work in this story really live up to the namesake of Detective Comics.

My major complaint of this series is that it feels a little too safe. I’m enjoying this story so far, but it isn’t taking us anywhere that we haven’t been before. In Tomasi’s Batman and Robin run, he explored the new dynamic of Bruce and Damien working together. This run really feels like more of the same, but that doesn’t necessarily make it bad either.

Continuing with that idea, the art in this book is also “safe” as well. Mahnke’s pencils are great here and he really does draw a great Batman. I’ve always been a Mahnke fan so I definitely don’t mind seeing him on this book. But at the same time, having a DC house artist on the book instead of a more stylized choice feels like a safe pick.

Overall, this book has been really enjoyable and will surely be a great read all the way through 1000. This is the return to form of the classic Batman that many readers grew up reading and watching. However, Tomasi and Mahnke don’t take the Dark Knight anywhere we haven’t gone before.