Detective Comics #31 Review

Eyes in the dark.

I don’t say this often, but some unique comic books transcend their restrictive media and become true art.

That is what you get in this book.

First reading, I was open-mouthed and it isn’t easy to do that to me, especially following up on the superlative artwork on Earth 2 and Green Lantern.

It holds up well on repeat readings as well, and the story is expertly handled, highlighting aspects of Batman I really wished to see in a book titles ‘detective comics’.

SPOILERS FOLLOW…………………..

This connects to the Zero Year Flash tie-in, as Bullock recaps the tumulus events six years ago which cost him his partner and more.

Bruce Wayne is under investigation as all initial evidence points to his house as the crime scene. His dealing with rehab centers, an Icarus bottle was found at his house and Elena being in her nightdress all point to his guilt to Bullock.

Now we get the first standout work on this book. With some excellently crafted detective work and meshing the present and past scenes together, Batman follows the clues.

Going undercover in the narrows, he is able to find a supposed supplier, but is shot in the chest (surviving thanks to the Kevlar underneath) from the car. This aspect of disguise has been sorely lacking in recent Batcomics, and it was expertly used here.

At GCPD, Bullock’s investigation into Icarus reaches a dead end as the imprisoned gangsters from the Chinatown bust last issue end up dead. This takes place during Batman Eternal, explaining why James Gordon is nowhere to be seen.

At Elena’s funeral, her daughter is missing while Bullock confirms that Bruce’s drug tests came back clean. His resentment of the high class lifestyle bubbles to the surface and Bruce tells him to follow the evidence instead of his gut. Outside, Senator Young continues his campaign to get the rights to the Waterfront.

The daughter is conducting her own search into the Icarus drug as she goes from one of her contacts to another.

Using the tracking device he planted on the car just before getting shot, he finds cargo crates filled with more refuges – both young and old. Again, it’s a poignant moment as Batman is left speechless by this dreary sight while Alfred is anxious due to multiple heat signatures showing up.

At the last crate though, he is faced with the Sumo. Managing to best him, he gets the name ‘the Squid’. Close by, a watcher informs someone that Sumo has talked.

The manner in which the panels went from dark to the Icarus tiger to the Sumo with the tiger tattoo was brilliantly choreographed.

Elsewhere two men, Holter and Garrett in radiation suits move a capsule in their truck. Taking a closer look, we see someone inside the capsule showing extreme signs of Icarus, which may point to him being the specimen from whom Icarus is being made.

The artwork! It’s something that has panels which belong in an art gallery and yet, manage to complement this story brilliantly. Detective Comics has probably become my favorite and most anticipated book at DC, which is a tough task with books like Batman and Red Lanterns.

SPOILERS END………………..

Taking Batman to his detective roots, and giving us art that is spectacular in every sense and seems to transcend the media at some moments, Buccellato and Manapul has crafted what may be one of the best Batman arcs ever.

With C-grade villains, and a supporting gallery devoid of almost all A-listers, this book had much to prove and it has done that and more.

So, I give this 10.0 out of 10

+The ARTWORK!
+Detective comics finally features a detective Batman, balancing all his different aspects well
+Great character moments
+Nice blend of art and dialogue
+Some standout moments