Batman looks good for 80, doesn’t he? Oh that’s right, he’s a drawing! And Detective Comics reaches its 1000th issue this month. Unlike Action Comics’ 1000th last year though, this bumper 96-page comic of Batman short stories isn’t half bad.
My favourite story was “Batman’s Greatest Case” by current Batman writer Tom King. The Bat family banters while posing for a photo op, and I thought it was very amusing. King captures their voices so distinctly that, even though most of the dialogue bubbles are floating around a moody Bruce Wayne elsewhere, you have a good idea who’s talking. Dick and Damian continue to have the most fun sibling relationship and I loved Batwoman’s stoicism – I want to read a King-scripted Batwoman series now!
The story highlights how Detective Comics has always been an ensemble title with Batman as part of that cast. It remains so today albeit the entire ensemble are all now derivative of Batman! Tony S. Daniel and Joelle Jones’ art is dependably gorgeous and the ending is sweet without being sappy.
Kevin Smith surprisingly writes the second best story here, with art from the legendary Jim Lee, in “Manufacture for Use”. Bruce as Matches Malone tracks down the gun that killed his parents and puts it to good use. Clever, quietly moving and enjoyable, a story about protecting the heart is especially pertinent from Smith given that he recently suffered a near fatal heart attack – glad you’re still with us, Kev!
Continuing the tradition of this title having the more detective-y Batman stories (as well as living up to its name) is “Batman’s Longest Case” by celebrated New 52 Bat-team, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo. It’s not amazing but some of the clues are very clever and it was cool to see Slam Bradley make an appearance, a private detective character who was around the same time as Batman when he made his 1939 debut.
Paul Dini and Dustin Nguyen tell the story of inept henchman Knute Brody which was kinda dull but had an unexpected punchline. Warren Ellis and Becky Cloonan’s “The Batman’s Design” was a dreary story about Batman herding mercs into a warehouse deathtrap and having his fun with them. Denny O’Neil and Steve Epting’s “Return to Crime Alley” was a snoozy downer about how sad and hollow Batman’s life is - way to kill the celebratory buzz, Denny! Christopher Priest and Neal Adams’ “Heretic” is some rubbish about The League of Shadows.
Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev’s “I Know” is a load of nothing about how Penguin figures out Batman is Bruce Wayne. James Tynion IV and Alvaro Martinez-Bueno’s “The Precedent” is the worst story here, about Batman and Robin’s beginnings, a story that’s been told far too many times to be remotely interesting, particularly without variation on the details. Geoff Johns and Kelley Jones’ “The Last Crime in Gotham” was dull though I liked the (very brief) introduction of The April Fool, the Joker’s son, and the close-up panel of his face was genuinely creepy – well done Kelley Jones!
The issue closes out with Peter J. Tomasi and Doug Mahnke’s “Medieval”, which is the beginning of a new story arc starting in Detective Comics #1001: the Arkham Knight’s debut in the DCU. The Arkham Knight is this terrible character from one of the Arkham games who had a boring run in the Arkham spin-off comics. Can’t wait to not read that!
By no means a must-read for anyone but the fans, Detective Comics #1000 is a semi-successful collection of stories, some of which are fun. Anyhoo - well done on reaching 1000 issues DC and happy 80th Batman!
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