Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Review: Detective Comics #984

By Philip Schweier
July 11, 2018 - 08:18

Batman has recruited another member to the team “What team?” you say, “I thought Batman worked alone.” Yeah, me too, other than Robin the Boy Hostage. Okay, and Batgirl. But there have been way too many Robins over the years, and a growing number of people who have adopted the Bat-emblem as their own personal coat of arms; most of them redundant and useless. So thankfully rather than create YET ANOTHER Bat-person, Bruce recruited Black Lightning.

I appreciate Black Lightning having the opportunity to level up, but Batman treats him like they never met. Outsiders? Justice League? Brave and the Bold? I would expect them to have a passing familiarity, but I guess Bryan Hill isn’t up on his DC history to ponder if the two heroes have ever met before.

Perhaps it’s because he’s crafting a new villain named Karma. He seemingly bought a possibly alien mask from a Markovian arms dealer (see, Hill knows something about the Outsiders). My only hope is that we don’t find Prince Brion underneath that mask. But it does open the door for an appearance by Geo-Force. That would be awesome…

The artwork from Mendoncva and Egea is very good, but somehow it has a bit of a Marvel feel to it. Not that that’s a bad thing, mind you, but it seemed a little… off, for Batman. But more importantly, this may lead to Batman dissolving his team of vigilantes, and them splitting off into another iteration of the Outsiders. Could it be? Tune in next month, same bat time, same – aw, you know the rest.

Rating: 7/10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12