Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 2: Elixir

Batman: Detective Comics by Tom Taylor

by Tom Taylor, Mikel Janín (Illustrator)

A mystery takes Batman out of Gotham as he tracks down an immortality-focused cult called Elixir with the help of some unexpected allies!

In the pursuit of a mysterious, bloodthirsty cult, Batman finds himself stranded away from his home with only the help of some very unexpected allies! But what can someone like the Penguin really hope to add in the chase against the dangerous group known only as Elixir? And can Batman trust him long enough to accept his help? This plus the landmark issue #1100 of Detective Comics, featuring the work of some of Batman’s most iconic creative teams!

Collects Detective Comics #1097-1102.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Batman, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes

184 pages, Hardcover

First published February 10, 2026

About the author

Once a professional juggler and fire eater, Tom Taylor is a #1 New York Times Bestselling, multi-award-winning comic book writer, playwright and screenwriter.

Well known for his work with DC Comics and Marvel, Taylor is the co-creator of NEVERLANDERS from Penguin Random House, SEVEN SECRETS from Boom Studios and the Aurealis-Award-winning graphic novel series THE DEEP. Taylor is also the Head Writer and Executive Producer of The Deep animated series, four seasons of which is broadcast in over 140 countries.

He is perhaps best known for the DC Comics series, DCEASED (Shadow Awards Winner), NIGHTWING (nominated for 5 Eisner Awards), SUPERMAN: SON OF KAL-EL (GLAAD Award Nominee), INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, SUICIDE SQUAD, EARTH 2 and BATMAN/SUPERMAN as well as Marvel's FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN, ALL NEW WOLVERINE, X-MEN: RED, DARK AGES and SUPERIOR IRON MAN. Taylor is also the writer of many Star Wars series, which include STAR WARS: INVASION and STAR WARS: BLOOD TIES (Stan Lee Excelsior Award winner). Taylor has written for Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, Boom Studios, Wildstorm, 2000 AD and Gestalt Comics.

He can be followed on twitter @TomTaylorMade.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read via single issues. Tom Taylor has taken his exceptional work on Nightwing, and just continued on with his excellent storytelling. Along with Taylor's beautiful standalone story in #1100, there are 3 other stories which are also fantastic. especially Greg Rucka's The Knife and Gun Club!

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mix of sophisticated Batman stories. It included one so deep and shows a side of Batman that I want to be true so much that I teared up.

[Frédéric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, this "Elixir" run turns out to be a big dud. I already didn't like the idea of a secret society with powerful ramifications blah, but the way it ends is really disappointing. Cardboard villains, a transparent pseudo-mastermind of mediocrity... And what a great idea to add Cobblepot because... well, yes, that's right, why?
Garbett's artwork isn't up to scratch, Loughridge's colours are dull... Nothing to save except the Annual - and I don't often say that about annuals - by Al Ewing and issue 1100, which are perfectly decent.

[Roman Zarichnyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Другий том Тома Тейлора працює саме так, як ця серія має працювати найкраще: не на рівні якоїсь гучної події, а на рівні уважно хорошого детективного коміксу про Бетмена. Мабуть, для мене найголовніше є те, як історія знає свій масштаб, не роздуває пафос понад потребу й тримається на простій, але міцній інтризі.

Арка «Еліксир» будується навколо розслідування, яке виводить Бетмена за межі звичного простору Ґотема. Сліди ведуть до загадкового культу, одержимого ідеєю безсмертя — організації, що поєднує фанатичну віру з холодною науковою прагматикою. Розслідування ускладнюється несподіваним союзом. До справи долучається Гарві Буллок, який має власні рахунки з «Еліксиром», а трохи згодом у цій історії з’являється й Пінгвін, персонаж, чия допомога завжди має свою ціну. Така компанія надає сюжету потрібної напруги: між довірою і підозрою, між прагматизмом і принципами.

Сам сюжет іноді дозволяє собі надто швидкі рішення і відчувається певна поспішність у завершенні. Утім, навіть ця нерівність не руйнує загального враження, бо історія тримається на атмосфері, взаємодії персонажів і доволі цікавій темі.

А випуск #1100 виглядає як невелика пауза між більшими арками: різні автори пропонують короткі історії про те, як Бетмен взаємодіє з мешканцями міста. Я не люблю такі номери, але розумію сенс таких антологій. Суть цієї, показати героя не лише як символ страху, а і як підтримку для ґотемців. З усіх історій мені сподобалася перша тиха без тексту, де Бетмен допомагає хлопчику.

Щорічник, написаний Алом Юінґом більш класична детективна історія. Сюжет починається з убивства у «закритій кімнаті», яке приводить Бетмена до розслідування, що несподівано веде до Англії. Щорічник вийшов хорошим доповненням до основної арки.

У підсумку маємо том, який не робить революції, зате добре пам’ятає, навіщо існує ця серія. Іще скажу, що мені подобається те, як працює Том Тейлор на цьому рані.

[André Habet · Rating 3 out of 5]

That Elixir storyline didn't really go anywhere, did it? Felt like a rethread of many secret society-like things we'd seen before. I was most into the anniversary specials.

[Keegan Schueler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This continues to slap and is exactly what I want from detective comics. The first story and the deaf story are literally peak Batman to me.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one. Overall A 4 out of 5.

Basically, the first three parter is a wild team up featuring Batman, The Penguin (Oswald Cobblepot), and former detective Harvey Bullock. I know, I know, sounds crazy weird but it works.

The story centers on Bullock's private investigation into the dangerous Elixir cult, a group obsessed with immortality. When Bullock is abducted, Batman tracks the transport, only to find the hooded captive is actually The Penguin! Stranded together, Batman and The Penguin are forced to form a highly tenuous and uneasy alliance to find Bullock and take down the cult leader, Ambrose.

It's fun, Batman's a badass throughout, and Harvey has finally had some decent development. It feels like forever since we got this. I even like his subplot with his older cop partner.

But the real star of this collection is issue #1100. Each story is written by different writers (four different one shots) that all encapsulate Bruce so well. They show who Batman is, why he is the hero people look up to, and how hard it is to be that said hero. Great stuff.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

The actual “conclusion” to the Elixir story ended a bit abruptly where we find out the man behind it is hooked up to machines prolonging his life and he puts himself into this kind stasis bubble thing that can’t let anyone in or out for 5 years. I liked that Harvey & Penguin were part of this story, they added to it a lot. 3.5/5

The second story about Batman trying to solve the murder of a tech magnate who specifically leaves a message in his own blood asking Batman NOT to solve his murder. I liked this one because it had a lot of Batman playing detective like I always want to see! It put the detective in detective comics.

I didn’t quite understand the ending not being at all good with physics, but I thought pairing this story up with Elixir for this trade paperback was an interesting choice because they both end with the antagonists stuck in a stasis bubble of their own doing (except where the Elixir villain could still move about, this guy was just trapped). 3.5/5

Finally, the last few short stories were all one-shots of Batman (or in one case, Bruce) interacting with and helping the little people of Gotham. I loved these - even though he seen the one where he helps the little deaf boy find his dog (and the boy gives him his $6 reward 🥺), it still got to me again. 4.5/5

The other stories were similarly heartwarming:

Batman working with a middle schooler who’s made his own junior Batman detective club at school. The young man pieces together that his classmates are being affected by Scarecrow toxin because of the school being built over a former Scarecrow lab and turns out to be a ventilation issue which Bats quickly rectifies and helps him see parts of Gotham that need more help. 4/5

Bruce attends a dinner honouring heroes and is drilled by a reporter on if he’s doing enough to help by *just* donating money all the time. 3.5/5

Medical staff (can’t recall if they were doctors or nurses) discussing the injuries people sustained in Gotham. One advocates that things have gotten way better since Batman came along - where they used to have multiple stabbing and other deaths of some very young, now they are getting concussions, bruises and scrapes - and not deaths. After her colleague leaves, we see Batman was hiding in the shadows and she was fixing him up and tells him he really does make a difference. 4/5

I can’t remember if there was a story I’m missing now (I already returned it), but I think the final story was Batman trying to save a man who is falling from a bridge. It was written very poetically but wasn’t my favourite of the bunch. 3/5

Many of these (as well as the tech bros one) are good stories or ideas but I didn’t like the art as much as I do the main storyline, so even though I liked the story the rating was a little lower for that.

Average for all the stories (I remember): 3.65
Actual rating of whole collection: 3.5

[Roman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Сьогодні повертаємося до рану Тома Тейлора на Детективних Коміксах. З 1097 по 1098 номер відбувається сюжет Еліксир, у якому Бетмен проводить розслідування щодо організації з минулої арки з якою працювала Аксема. Крім самого Бетса за цю справу також береться Гарві Булок у якого свої рахунки з Еліксиром, і вони вирішують працювати разом. Також по ходу сюжету до цього тандему додається Пінгвін. Я от в минулому відгуку висловив припущення, що Еліксир будуть головними поганцями в рані, тож уявіть моє здивування коли виявилося що це не так і Бетс розібрався з ними за ці декілька номерів, нехай і залишивши невеличку кому на можливе продовження.

Я сюжетом більш ніж задоволений, він динамічний та досить цікавий, Тейлор доволі непогано попрацював з персонажем Булока, а взаємодія між трійцею геро... двійкою героїв та суперлиходієм так взагалі повеселити примудрилася. Крім того, мені сподобалося досить іронічне завершення сюжету та, розкриття того, що собою являє керівник Еліксиру.

От 1110 номер мені не сильно зайшов. Він є типу ювілейним, а тому має чотири різні історії, з яких мені сподобалися тільки дві. Перша це німа історія від Тейлора та Ханіна у якій Бетс та Ейс бет-собака допомагають німому (?) хлопцю знайти собачку, а також історія від Ґреґа Раки та Альваро Мартінеза у якому дві лікарки обговорюють те, що через Бетса у лікарню тепер потрапляють покалічені бандюки, а не гора трупів. З двох інших що мені не сподобалося це історії від Тамакі та Аманкея Нахюлпан і Дена Вотерса і Біла Сінкевича.

Щодо щорічника то його писав Ал Юінґ з малюнком від Стефано Рафаелла, Джона МакКреа та Фіко Оссіо. Сюжет розпочинається як убивство в закритій кімнаті, яке приводить Бетмена до Йорку, що в Англії де Бетсу доводиться зіштовхнутися як з містичними так і з науково фантастичними елементами. В результаті вийшла досить непогана і цікава історія.

Другий том Детективів вийшов хорошими, мені продовжує подобатися те як Тейлор працює з персонажами та сюжетами. Щорічник також вийшов досить непоганою історією на один випуск. Ювілейний номер звісно сподобався найменше, але навіть так у нього було дві хороші історії.

[Randy Lander · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second volume of Tom Taylor's Detective Comics is only about 3/4 Tom Taylor. It has the Elixir storyline, a tale about a cult dedicated to immortality that pairs Batman up with the private detective Harvey Bullock (a great change for the character) and the Penguin, and the three of them are a ton of fun to watch together. Mikel Janin offers stunning artwork as usual. Then there's a short silent tale by Taylor and Janin in Detective #1100, collected at the end, that is a really touching and effective story that uses sign language as the reason for silence, and reaffirms Taylor's bonafides as a dog lover.

The other stories, to be honest, I wasn't expecting to enjoy as much, but they're all good. The annual, by Al Ewing, Stefano Raffael, John McCrea, and Fico Ossio, is a note perfect done-in-one detective story, the kind of thing the animated series would have done really well, taking Batman from a mysterious tech billionaire's locked door murder to England, with a side jaunt to a mystical themed villain. The other stories include a terrific middle school kid who is head of his Batman Detective club, from writer Joshua Williamson, and a look at a Gotham City ER that puts a new spin on Batman from a different POV, courtesy of Greg Rucka.

[Clint · Rating 2 out of 5]

The downside of centering your plot around a hidden conspiracy that’s very old and powerful is that the antagonists behind it need to then be very clever and discrete and effective, or else how have they successfully maintained their organization (and kept it hidden) for so long? And that’s a problem if you can’t really write characters that way. Taylor spends an issue or two telling but never showing the reader how scary the new shadowy bad guys are, only for Batman to dismantle their whole deal basically on first contact with a completely typical infiltration and beat em up sequence. Overall, a lot of the plotting in these issues feels like a dumb guy’s idea of a smart guy, and not in a fun way. I almost DNF-ed it when a character named Cody Morse showed up and communicated to Batman with Morse Code, and then Batman derisively remarks “someone thought they were clever.” Yes, they did, and it was the writer(s) of this comic.

Janin’s art still makes it all look really nice, though.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tom Taylor's second Detective Comics arc is basically just an epilogue for the previous arc, and a prelude for what comes next, rather than a story in and of itself. Teaming Batman with Harvey Bullock and the Penguin, the trio face off against Elixir, the shadowy organization (because the DC Universe doesn't have enough of those) behind the drug from the last arc. It's fine, but it doesn't feel like it has much to say overall.

The supplementary material in issues 1100 and the 2025 annual are better than the main event. Al Ewing's Detective Comics annual is superb, as Batman tries to solve a murder without actually solving it, while the back-up stuff from Tec 1100 feels worth reading rather than just the usual back-up nonsense that goes into these anniversary issues.

Decent, but not for the reasons you'd think. At least the next arc's shaping up better.

[Mik Cope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as individual issues. The solid writing by Tom Taylor continues as we see Batman Far From Gotham tracking down a secret organisation, then encountering a new villain in The Courage That Kills, which has a particularly gruesome beginning. Oddly, the TPB finishes mid-story here, but I'll keep on reading as the comics come out. In between, there's the anniversary edition, which is a bit of a mixed bag, of fair to middling quality.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 3 part Elixir story is alright. I feel like this story is just a pale imitation of Ra's al Ghul though. The real star here was #1100 with 4 stories by past creative teams about why Batman is who he is. Al Ewing does the annual with a locked room mystery that's pretty good.

[Will Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first arc was pretty simple but executed well and had funny moments in it? And you know I'm a big softie when there's a story in Detective Comics #1100 where Batman has to save a dog and Ace shows up. Almost cried. Coulda read it a hundred times.

[William Cherico · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love to see a Batman, Harvey Bullock, and Penguin team-up. Pretty straightforward Batman, but with some really fun dialogue and cool moments.

[Belfry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.25 stars

[Nathaniel Creative Freedom HQ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing the fun Batman story from volume one, another great Batman reading experience.

[Franck Martini · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 actually. Too bad the book is not all Tom Taylor. The initial 3parter is clever, a srong super hero story. I did not enjoy the annual much and the anniversary issue is no masterpiece. A mixed bag

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful collection of tales

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5

[ElectricOutcast · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume has some pretty wholesome stories that mix well with some pretty good mystery cases that only the Batman could work. I highly recommend giving these collected comics a read.

[Chris W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but not great Batman tales.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

EEEE!! Tom Taylor has crossed over from Nightwing to Batman, and the glory is absolutely happening here, too.

Taylor understands character—especially legacy characters—and it shows. This run leans into what makes Batman compelling right now: the balance between darkness and hope, the weight of responsibility, and the quiet humanity beneath the cape. There's a confidence to the storytelling that feels earned, not performative, and it's a joy to read Batman written with both emotional intelligence and narrative momentum.

What worked best for me was how natural Bruce feels in this version. The dialogue snaps, the pacing moves, and the character interactions land with clarity and intention. You can feel Taylor's Nightwing sensibility here—care for relationships, purpose behind action, and a belief that even Gotham's darkest corners don't have to be devoid of meaning.

This isn't a total reinvention of Batman, but it doesn't need to be. It's sharp, engaging, and delightful, especially if you've loved what Taylor has done elsewhere in the DC universe.

⭐ 4 stars — exciting, character-forward, and a very welcome era for Batman.