Detective Comics #13

Duck and Cover

The last two issues of Detective Comics were a disgrace to the name of Batman. For that reason, I was delighted to hear the series was getting a new writer, John Layman. I am unfamiliar with Layman's past work, but I have been reassured by some of his fans that we can expect great things. Does Layman manage to create a turn around for the series, or does Detective Comics continue to be an utter failure?

In this issue, Penguin has nasty plans for both Bruce Wayne and Batman. Can Batman keep a lid on Gotham crime and still fulfill his duties as a billionaire playboy philanthropist?

The Cold Shoulder

I have seen little of Penguin in the DCNU, and as far as I know, this is the first story arc to focus on Gotham's Kingpin of Crime since the reboot. I was pleased to see that he has not been significantly changed via Flashpoint. He is still a crime lord with a mix of legitimate and corrupt businesses though there is a slight twist in Penguin's motivation for his current scheme. Personally, I think the motivation fits well with the character.

Return of the Ghost Dragons

I have not heard anybody mention it, but this issue features a newly rebooted team, The Ghost Dragons. I suppose it is a fairly obscure team appearing almost exclusively as an enemy to Tim Drake in the Robin and Batman comics. Whereas in the DCU, the Ghost Dragons were merely a street gang, they are now shown as a group of assassins. At different times, the DCU gang was run by Lynx, who was killed by Casandra Cain, and Sir Edmund Dorrance, the father of Bane who was last seen as a Black Lantern fighting Batman (Dick). Perhaps we will soon witness a return of these characters.

Massive Improvement

There is no doubt about it, Layman does a much better job with Detective than Hurwitz managed. In this issue, Layman manages to develop new characters, incorporate the larger Bat Family without losing focus on Bruce, explore the role that charitable giving plays in crime fighting, and delve into the mind of Penguin. Layman introduces many more pieces of Bat tech, but he stays on the right side of the line between cool gadgetry and devices that do everything for Bruce. The devices are advanced, but it is still the man behind the cowl who puts together the pieces.

Jason Fabok

Fabok does an excellent job in the art department. He seems especially talented at drawing faces. In the first panel, he manages to capture perfectly the kind of forced grins people wear when posing for a picture, and the subtlety in characters expression continues throughout the issue. The design of the Bat Suit and the Ghost Dragons are equally well done, and of course the coloring team deserves credit for their work as well.

IQ Test

I already miss Tynion IV's work on the Batman backups, but perhaps I should not because Layman does a great job writing his own backup story here. IQ follows one of Penguin's henchman as he shows a newcomer to Gotham the ropes. The issue gives good insight into how the common thugs view and deal with Batman. I hope that Penguin's henchman which appeared in the main story, the backup, and the cover continues to be well used.

Conclusion

It looks like we can look forward to a good arc from Layman. If you are a Penguin, Detective Comics, or Layman fan, you should definitely pick this issue up. Any Batman fan will have a good time with this read.