Time to do some Detective Work
So, here’s the new Batman for the New 52. I’m not going to harp on this because I already ranted in my Action Comics #1 review, but if this is going to take 5 years in the past and it’s meant for new readers – they should say that! Anyway, DC and AC seem to be five years in the past while Superman and Batman are in the present. Like Action Comics #1, this issue appears to take place slightly before Justice League #1.
So, since this takes place in the pre-super hero past, Batman is considered a terrorist and/or wanted by the Gotham City Police Department for vigilantism. He’s already got a relationship with Gordon, but the Mayor is trying to get Batman so it’s hard for Gordon. This is only SLIGHTLY different from the status quo ante-Flashpoint. After all, Batman’s always been something somewhat like Spider-Man: the populace loves the fact that the bad guys are taken care of, but the authorities don’t appreciate it. (After all, what if everyone took the law into their own hands? Lots of deconstruction 1980s onwards has dealt with variations on this)
So it’s early days for Batman and Joker. They’ve got a history, but they don’t know each other as intimately as they do now. (Pre-Flashpoint DC has Joker intuitively knowing that it was Dick under the cowl) My biggest criticism here is that we’re thrown into this so in-media-res that I don’t really understand what Joker’s up to. He’s killing some dude who’s happy to be killed by him and I don’t really get it.
I *do* enjoy how intelligent Joker is – it makes him even more menacing because he’s not just crazy, but he’s tricking the police and even giving Batman a run for his money. (Although Batman IS the greatest detective so he does figure things out) So the back and forth between him and Bats is fun and makes for a good read. Batman is really being a detective in this comic.
Moving on to Batman and Alfred… Alfred’s been through a lot of changes. There was a recent Comic Vine article about it but if you’re coming to Batman for the first time or after a long hiatus you may be wondering how this butler is so technically savvy. Not sure if they’re going to eventually get into this, but the most recent continuity has Alfred previously having worked British Intel before becoming a butler for the Wayne family. So you see the cool idea of holograms protecting the Batcave. Although….good luck if someone tries to lean on it….
There was a recent Comic Vine article that pondered whether or not we’re better off knowing what’s going on in Batman’s head. While I didn’t mind it for Action Comics, I think Detective is one of those books that really benefits from hearing Bruce’s thoughts. Otherwise the mystery can end up seeming like it has a weird solution or the characters end up speaking in unnatural ways to explain the mystery to us – “Scooby Gang Speak”.
This issue has lots of great little easter eggs for those that aren’t new readers. Two of the ones I picked up on were that Batman’s dating Catwoman in addition to some socialite and the use of Dr. Arkham who we know eventually becomes the second Black Mask.
Overall the comic has an awesome ending that introduces someone [I think] is a new villain. I’m very excited to see where this leads. It was tough for Daniel to follow Snyder. And while it’s not quite Snyder it’s not bad either. It is different and good in its own way. And it’s still creepy/scary in that noir detective way. I am glad that has carried over and hope it remains a permanent staple in Detective Comics. Pick it up and check out Batman’s early years (but not as early as Year One)
