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Review: Detective Comics #962

By Philip Schweier
August 22, 2017 - 14:08

It’s the final showdown with Ascalon, the assassin of choice of the Order of St. Dumas. Lucas Fox’s bat-bots are corrupted with Ascalon’s AI, Azrael is corrupted with the Order’s mystical mind tricks. Fortunately, Batman has Zatanna on his side. I wouldn’t she’s the most powerful magical being in the DC Universe, but she’s certainly no slouch.

But secrets are revealed, some with far-reaching ramifications, while others somewhat wither on the vine, being no great revelation at all. Hints are dropped for the future yet to come, but whether it’s part of or separate from the growing Metal event remains to be seen.

Overall, the story arc has been fantastic, albeit a little crowded. Azrael, Batwing and Batwoman have taken the role(s) normally fulfilled by Robin, but both Damian Wayne and Tim Drake seem to be MIA (Drake dead, Damian absent). What role Batwoman fulfilled is still beyond me. Could have been Batgirl, could have been Commissioner Gordon, could have been anyone.

But the art team of Martinez and Fernandez performed magnificently, rendering elements both technological and magical with equal skill. But most artists will tell you, designing such requires more imagination than skill. What is more challenging to any artist is drawing the human form and all the mundane things it shares the world with: cars, buildings, animals, etc. But I’m confident they can do that too.

Rating: 7/10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12