Detective Comics #934 Comic Book Review

As a part of the new DC Comics Rebirth movement, the new Detective Comics #934 is a powerful re-launch of the original Batman title, with Batman forming a new team of Bat-Heroes, with Batwoman (Kate Kane), in a leading role on the new team.

Coming on the heels of the new Batman: Rebirth #1, this latest Detective Comics, issue (titled “Rise of the Batmen: Chapter One”), sets itself (as a title and series) apart from the “solo” Batman title, in that here we see Batman realize he faces a danger that is targeting not just him, but the other “vigilantes” of Gotham City.  Basically, this issue shows the process whereby Batman assembles a team of Bat-Heroes who are already active in Gotham (plus one surprise addition–we will get to that in a bit), to face this new and mysterious threat.

Overall, this comic is pretty darned interesting!  The art by Eddy Barrows is perfect for these Bat-Characters, and the writing of James Tynion IV, (see Batman Eternal), is great.  And now, for our usual SPOILER warning…

At this point, we warn you, we write about the plot and details of the story, i.e. BAT-SPOILERS ahead (and not just the character named Spoiler, if you get our drift…)

We open the issue seeing Azrael being hunted down by a bad guy, whose silhouette makes  him look a lot like Batman, to the point that when the real Bats shows up and asks “Who did this to you?” Azrael responds with “You…YOU did.”  Additionally, Batman finds a drone that is, as he says, at least ten years more advanced than anything he or the military could put together.  All of this greatly concerns Batman, who, of course, has a plan on how to deal with the situation.

We then see Batman begin recruiting other heroes to his banner (err, I mean his Bat-Signal), to deal with this issue.  Plus, as he points out, the drones are also following his allies.

His first recruiting visit is with Kate Kane, AKA Batwoman, and the dialogue and interactions between them are very well done, as he reveals to Kate why he trusts her…(If you REALLY want to know this big old SPOILER, then scroll down to see the last image on this page.  Longtime Batwoman and Batman fans probably already know the connection between these two characters, but this is a significant development in the relationship between these two).

Batman then basically tells her that she is not to be a subordinate to him, but a co-leader, and that he wants her to train the others on his recruitment list.  He mentions that he has already “taken in…Duke Thomas,” (in Batman: Rebirth #1), and we then see Batman and Batwoman meet up with the others on the list: Red Robin, Spoiler, Orphan (Cassandra Cain) and, the most intriguing of all, the villain Clayface (Basil Karlo).

This is a bold move by Tynion to add a classic Batman villain (first appearing in Detective Comics #40, in June of 1940) to the roster of his new team.  Batman and his new team approach a rather pitiful-looking Clayface, who accidentally terrorized the patrons of  a movie theater because he wanted to watch an old movie starring himself before he became Clayface.  In this scene, James Tynion effectively puts a “human face,” as it were, on a character who is usually presented as a stereotyped villain.  Given a chance at redemption, Clayface agrees to join up.  We use the word redemption here very purposefully.  Note the panel where Batman finds Azrael in a church (shown above).  The crucifix and image of Christ (often referred to as “The Redeemer”), is a used as central image.  And now, we find Batman offering a chance at redemption to a long-standing villain.  Again, the partnership and synergy between the writer and artist is compelling, and this Bat-book is filled with religious symbolism. 

Tynion’s college major was Creative Writing, and anyone who has studied American or English literature is aware, inserting religious symbolism, Christ imagery, and related analogies and metaphors is a common means of showing the struggle between good and evil.  I fully expect future issues to hint at a devilish imagery of the villain, as we get to know more about him.  

Overall, this is a great re-launch of the Post-New 52 Detective Comics, and, as a long-time DC fan, I am very pleased to see this title (and also the new Action Comics), revert to the old numbering system that hearkens back and connects these titles to their origins in the late 1930s.

Pick up Detective Comics #934.  It is a very good read!