Detective Comics 994 discussion

[Chubistian]

Released today, the start of Tomasi and Mahnke run! It's an intriguing start, things could go great or bad going forward, but for the time being, the story has my complete attention. What did you think of the beginning of this new story?

[Pohzee]

Not promising that there is so little discussion for the new creative team that will take the title to #1000 and beyond. Fortunately, I've heard nothing but good things from other corners of the internet.

I'm looking forward to it myself and will probably get around to it this Friday or so.

[Kurisu]

Eh, it’s the usual Tomasi comic. Painfully banal and largely out of ccharacter.

[K. Jones]

It did certainly feel ... Very Tomasi. Some big pug-ugly mutant of a monster nobody will remember down the road as the threat, ably and grossly depicted by one of Doug Mahnke or Pat Gleason, with horror overtones that feel ... I dunno, a little too Resident Evil body horror for Gotham City (but felt right at home with Guy Gardner punching them in space).

But a lot of oddly poignant weird thematic shenanigans, too. Doing a take on a Batman Version of Morrison's All-Star Superman opening was charming. Not quite as tight as A.S.S., but still charming in the attempt. A plot that features Bruce, Gordon, Leslie, and some freaky deaky messing with the imagery of the Wayne Murders, tight plotting at least.

[BatmanJones]

I loved it. I think Tomasi is very under-rated. He and Mahnke have my complete attention. That's how you start the countdown to a major milestone issue.

[Naked Bat]

Tomasi and Mahnke are a great team. Tomasi's writing may not be as sophisticated as Morrison's, but he always manages to bring a lot of heart to his stories and amazing widescreen action.

[Armor of God]

A Batman comic that actually respects his iconic relationships, displays actual detective work and makes him look competent? wow cant believe its been gone for years until now. The villain will be Arkham Knight, that's what its all building up to so the shadow creature isn't supposed to be all interesting. Its who sent it.

[Eto]

Eh, it’s the usual Tomasi comic. Painfully banal and largely out of ccharacter.

Nice bait. Gotta give credit for it

[Eto]

Finally a competent Batman, who, you know, does some actual DETECTIVE work.
Hopefully Tomasi will stay for at least 2 years.

[Batman Begins 2005]

Will read this as I've liked the majority of Tomasi's Batman works.

[The Cheat]

Eh, it’s the usual Tomasi comic. Painfully banal and largely out of ccharacter.

Agreed. Isn't Leslie a pacifist?

[millernumber1]

Eh, it’s the usual Tomasi comic. Painfully banal and largely out of ccharacter.

Agreed. Isn't Leslie a pacifist?

I had the same thought. Mankhe's art was quite nice. The plot elements were a bit too over the top for the type of detective work being showcased, for my taste. I get that this is a world of gods and monsters and science fiction, but a story rooted in analysis of physical evidence like this seems a bit out of place with the kind of a disconnect.

I had some conversations on other boards about Leslie, and there was an argument given that 1) Leslie's pacifism was too extreme in the past, so this is more "realistic" and/or 2) Leslie's just protecting Bruce against a non-human monster, so it doesn't count. But 1) if that's the case, then you should acknowledge that it IS a change, just one that you like, and if 2) that doesn't work with pacifism - Leslie isn't just against harm being done because it hurts the object, she's against doing violence between it harms the person who does the violence as well.

[Caivu]

displays actual detective work and makes him look competent?

Finally a competent Batman, who, you know, does some actual DETECTIVE work.

Deliberately flooding a crime scene counts as competent detective work, I guess.

[thwhtGuardian]

I'm not sold on the villain, but I liked how he wrote Bruce so I'm hoping for the best.

[Mr. White]

Not a fan of the "bad" that made an appearance nor the ending which suggested a particular individual (though it may end up being a red herring). Would have been nice if (respectively) they kept it purely grounded and it was someone new (fingers crossed on the probability of this).

Notwithstanding, thought it was a great issue; almost going back to basics and giving what some/most of us older fans like about Bats - a crime story with intrigue and actual detective work.

Will definitely be back for the next instalment.