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Detective Comics (2016)
Batman: Detective Comics, Vol. 1: Rise of the Batmen
An elite fighting force modeled after the Dark Knight has invaded the streets of Gotham. Their armor, weaponry and surveillance equipment are based on Batman’s tech and tactics, but they’re far beyond anything he’s ever seen. And while these Batmen’s motives remain a mystery, their targets are all too clear…
They’re gunning for Gotham’s vigilantes.
Batman knows he can’t face this foe alone, and neither can the crime-fighters caught in the crossfire. So with Batwoman-secretly Bruce Wayne’s cousin, Kate Kane-as his general, he’s organizing the next generation of Gotham heroes into an army.
Tim Drake, a.k.a. Red Robin. Stephanie Brown, a.k.a. Spoiler. Cassandra Cain, a.k.a. the Orphan. And reformed criminal Basil Karlo, a.k.a. Clayface. These are the shock troops in Batman and Batwoman’s war. When they finally see the face of their true enemy, will they stand together…or fall apart?
Find out in BATMAN: DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 1: RISE OF THE BATMEN, a great jumping-on point for new readers! This masterful high-octane thriller from writer James Tynion IV (BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL) and artists Eddy Barrows (NIGHTWING) and Alvaro Martinez (Ultimate Comics X-Men) explodes from the blockbuster DC Rebirth event! Collects DETECTIVE COMICS #934-940.
They’re gunning for Gotham’s vigilantes.
Batman knows he can’t face this foe alone, and neither can the crime-fighters caught in the crossfire. So with Batwoman-secretly Bruce Wayne’s cousin, Kate Kane-as his general, he’s organizing the next generation of Gotham heroes into an army.
Tim Drake, a.k.a. Red Robin. Stephanie Brown, a.k.a. Spoiler. Cassandra Cain, a.k.a. the Orphan. And reformed criminal Basil Karlo, a.k.a. Clayface. These are the shock troops in Batman and Batwoman’s war. When they finally see the face of their true enemy, will they stand together…or fall apart?
Find out in BATMAN: DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 1: RISE OF THE BATMEN, a great jumping-on point for new readers! This masterful high-octane thriller from writer James Tynion IV (BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL) and artists Eddy Barrows (NIGHTWING) and Alvaro Martinez (Ultimate Comics X-Men) explodes from the blockbuster DC Rebirth event! Collects DETECTIVE COMICS #934-940.
158 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 14, 2017
320 people are currently reading
2373 people want to read
About the author
James Tynion IV
1,637 books1,978 followersPrior to his first professional work, Tynion was a student of Scott Snyder's at Sarah Lawrence College. A few years later, he worked as for Vertigo as Fables editor Shelly Bond's intern. In late 2011, with DC deciding to give Batman (written by Snyder) a back up feature, Tynion was brought in by request of Snyder to script the back ups he had plotted. Tynion would later do the same with the Batman Annual #1, which was also co-plotted by Snyder. Beginning in September 2012, with DC's 0 issue month for the New 52, Tynion will be writing Talon, with art by Guillem March. In early 2013 it was announced that he'd take over writing duties for Red Hood and the Outlaws in April.
Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.
Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 465 reviews
June 25, 2018
Hmm, I guess Detective Comics has basically become the Outsiders now, just with Bat vigilantes. Batman discovers someone is watching Batwoman, Red Robin, Spoiler, Orphan, and Clayface and decides to turn them into a team to protect themselves. Yeah, a bit of a flimsy premise, but just get past it, because the book is good. Eddy Burrows and Alvaro Martinez provide fantastic artwork. I love how dynamic it is and we constantly see Bat vigilantes zipping and tumbling through the Gotham skyline.
My favorite moment in the book was when Spoiler makes fun of Red Robin's old costume. That Brett Booth designed costume was ridiculous, with actual bird wings as the cape.
Received an advance copy from NetGalley and DC in exchange for an honest review.
My favorite moment in the book was when Spoiler makes fun of Red Robin's old costume. That Brett Booth designed costume was ridiculous, with actual bird wings as the cape.
Received an advance copy from NetGalley and DC in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2017
Oh Rebirth, Rebirth, Rebirth, why art thou so pants? Fie my disappointment, Detective Comics dost verily sucketh! I don’t know why I’m talking this way. Maybe Rebirth’s broken me brain? I’ll stop now. Verily.
Detective Comics Rebirth takes the title back to its original issue numbering, which is pure fan service to the NEEEEERRRRRRDDDSSSS!!!! who care about that sort of thing, as well as further underlining the New 52’s death. The relaunched title does veer away from tradition though in turning Detective Comics from a less superhero-y Batman solo book with an emphasis on sleuthing into a Bat-family team book where Batman is an incidental background character. It’s not a change for the better.
Motivation and set-up are poorly written throughout. Batman wants to unite the various Gotham vigilantes into a group – why and why now? And what aren’t they achieving acting alone that they could be achieving as a group? They seem to be a pretty effective crime-fighting force operating independently. There’s no strong case made for the benefit of a team.
Batman’s group is: Batwoman (Kate Kane, Bruce’s cousin) as the de facto leader, Red Robin (Tim Drake aka Robin #3 – while he’s ditched the Red Robin outfit and gone back to his classic Robin threads, he’s holding onto the name), Spoiler (Stephanie Brown aka Robin #4), Orphan (Cassandra Cain), and Clayface. Huh. Why Clayface? No idea. Just a totally random, bizarre inclusion that makes no sense. And when did Tim and Stephanie start dating?!
I’ma have to go into spoiler territory now (and I don’t mean Stephanie)!
Tynion is a protégé of Scott Snyder’s who’s adopted some of Snyder’s worst traits like overwriting – the book is full of chatter, most of it worthless and dull - and yet with the abundance of writing the story remains underdeveloped; the sign of a weak writer.
Martian Manhunter artist Eddy Barrows continues to produce great art – this book is very good-looking with strong colours, though I hated Batman’s new cape which in some scenes looks feathered for some reason? Bats don’t have feathers! Unless it was webs, but again, what do webs have to do with bats!?
Batwoman is essentially the main character so if you’re a big fan of Kate’s you might enjoy this more, but unfortunately I found the newly relaunched Detective Comics to be underwhelming. There were just too many missteps - it lacks a strong villain and setup and could really use more focus on the story it wanted to tell. Ho hum, another low quality volume – the Rebirth standard it seems! I’m baffled as to what readers are responding to with this line.
Detective Comics Rebirth takes the title back to its original issue numbering, which is pure fan service to the NEEEEERRRRRRDDDSSSS!!!! who care about that sort of thing, as well as further underlining the New 52’s death. The relaunched title does veer away from tradition though in turning Detective Comics from a less superhero-y Batman solo book with an emphasis on sleuthing into a Bat-family team book where Batman is an incidental background character. It’s not a change for the better.
Motivation and set-up are poorly written throughout. Batman wants to unite the various Gotham vigilantes into a group – why and why now? And what aren’t they achieving acting alone that they could be achieving as a group? They seem to be a pretty effective crime-fighting force operating independently. There’s no strong case made for the benefit of a team.
Batman’s group is: Batwoman (Kate Kane, Bruce’s cousin) as the de facto leader, Red Robin (Tim Drake aka Robin #3 – while he’s ditched the Red Robin outfit and gone back to his classic Robin threads, he’s holding onto the name), Spoiler (Stephanie Brown aka Robin #4), Orphan (Cassandra Cain), and Clayface. Huh. Why Clayface? No idea. Just a totally random, bizarre inclusion that makes no sense. And when did Tim and Stephanie start dating?!
I’ma have to go into spoiler territory now (and I don’t mean Stephanie)!
Tynion is a protégé of Scott Snyder’s who’s adopted some of Snyder’s worst traits like overwriting – the book is full of chatter, most of it worthless and dull - and yet with the abundance of writing the story remains underdeveloped; the sign of a weak writer.
Martian Manhunter artist Eddy Barrows continues to produce great art – this book is very good-looking with strong colours, though I hated Batman’s new cape which in some scenes looks feathered for some reason? Bats don’t have feathers! Unless it was webs, but again, what do webs have to do with bats!?
Batwoman is essentially the main character so if you’re a big fan of Kate’s you might enjoy this more, but unfortunately I found the newly relaunched Detective Comics to be underwhelming. There were just too many missteps - it lacks a strong villain and setup and could really use more focus on the story it wanted to tell. Ho hum, another low quality volume – the Rebirth standard it seems! I’m baffled as to what readers are responding to with this line.
February 27, 2017
Mixed feelings, but better than Batman.
What I like about James Tynion IV's Detective Comics is that it's layered. King's Batman is one dimensional, whereas here there's nuance, mystery, and fun. That said, it's not as good as it should be.
I'm not a big "team up" fan. Doesn't do much for me. And this team isn't my favorite. I appreciate Batwoman and the depth and sentimentality Tynion brings to her character. But she's sort of clichéd. And the others? Meh. Even Red Robin, whom I usually like, is kinda shallow and arrogant. We get it, Tim, you're a genius. But I need more Batman in my Batman comic.
The plot isn't terribly new either. It's a mix of elements from Superman Unchained, Batman Inc., and Batman: Superheavy. In Superman Unchained, General Lane creates an anti-Superman army to destroy Superman while trying to win over Lois. Here, General
A lackluster cast and unsurprising story aside, I still enjoyed it somewhat. The characters aren't bad, they're just one dimensional and people I don't care about. But their banter and teamwork drive the book, especially when combined with a gritty Batman, yet to be revealed mystery, and surprising artwork which is rich and dynamic.
If you're expecting this to be the Rebirth title to turn things around for you, eh, not sure it will. But maybe? It's readable and fun if you're bored. But there's better stuff out there.
July 9, 2018
In the misleadingly titled “Rise of the Batmen” (misleading because two of the Batmen are, in fact, women, suggesting that perhaps it should have been “Rise of the Batpeople”), Batman and some young friends bake gingerbread men (or is that people?) and compare notes on the best grocery stores in Gotham.
No, I’m totally kidding. They actually bake gingerbread animals.
(On balance, this is fine; nothing more, nothing less. Not sure I’ll be plunging any deeper into the series absent someone telling me it gets demonstrably more compelling.)
No, I’m totally kidding. They actually bake gingerbread animals.
(On balance, this is fine; nothing more, nothing less. Not sure I’ll be plunging any deeper into the series absent someone telling me it gets demonstrably more compelling.)
December 28, 2019
My one and only complaint about this beautiful, fantastic, kick ass trade is that they didn't give us the fight scene where Cass takes down a room of Batmen. That kinda bummed me out but the rest of this was so well done that I give it a pass.
The premise of this book is so freaking awesome! Batman notices drones around Gotham and decides to put a team together. He gathers Batwoman to help him lead (and for other reasons) and recruits the people he knows are good but need more training to work on their own. Tim, Cassandra, Steph and Clay Face (say what???). Clay Face kinda threw me off at first. Somehow, James Tynion IV makes it work!
This one of the few team books outside of Birds of Prey that I've really gotten excited about! The dynamics are just starting out and while there isn't a ton of them interacting outside of the field, I can totally see how they work. The third act of this arc really shows that they all understand what each other's strengths are. Tim's the brain, Cass is the muscle, Steph is heart and Clay Face is the even bigger, more versatile muscle. I really, really loved that Tynion found a way to make their strengths weaknesses earlier on!
There were so many quirks in this book and I loved every one of them! The call back to Cass being interested in ballet! The Dark Knight Returns cover on Ulysses' wall and the homage later on. Steph reading Superman! These were all so cute!
I love that they tell us Kate and Bruce will be partners and they actually feel like partners. Of course Bruce is being dishonest and that kind of leads to the big confrontation in the book but Tim defers to Kate as a leader. She's earned that and I really loved seeing her lead this team. Batwoman is a kick ass character and I can't wait to read more about her.
The fight scenes here are great! I only wish we got more of them! Even so, several scenes seem so perfect for a film adaptation. When will DC give me a live action Cassandra Cain?
The crux of this book is the relationship between Kate and her father. It's such a complex relationship in which I feel certain that he loves his daughter and that's warring with his principles. He truly believes he's doing the right thing and while I disagree, there's enough of him that you understand why he feels that way. Here is a plot about predictive justice and casualties that actually makes sense. I felt so sorry for Kate in this book.
The ending is killer. I was spoiled to it a long time ago when the issue first came out because so many fans were upset about it. Even knowing it was coming, it hurt to see. I won't spoil it but I'll just say, that shout out to the rest of the batfam really got to me.
I can't wait for the next volume! Literally. I may have to buy the single issues on this one because I need to know what happens next!
The premise of this book is so freaking awesome! Batman notices drones around Gotham and decides to put a team together. He gathers Batwoman to help him lead (and for other reasons) and recruits the people he knows are good but need more training to work on their own. Tim, Cassandra, Steph and Clay Face (say what???). Clay Face kinda threw me off at first. Somehow, James Tynion IV makes it work!
This one of the few team books outside of Birds of Prey that I've really gotten excited about! The dynamics are just starting out and while there isn't a ton of them interacting outside of the field, I can totally see how they work. The third act of this arc really shows that they all understand what each other's strengths are. Tim's the brain, Cass is the muscle, Steph is heart and Clay Face is the even bigger, more versatile muscle. I really, really loved that Tynion found a way to make their strengths weaknesses earlier on!
There were so many quirks in this book and I loved every one of them! The call back to Cass being interested in ballet! The Dark Knight Returns cover on Ulysses' wall and the homage later on. Steph reading Superman! These were all so cute!
I love that they tell us Kate and Bruce will be partners and they actually feel like partners. Of course Bruce is being dishonest and that kind of leads to the big confrontation in the book but Tim defers to Kate as a leader. She's earned that and I really loved seeing her lead this team. Batwoman is a kick ass character and I can't wait to read more about her.
The fight scenes here are great! I only wish we got more of them! Even so, several scenes seem so perfect for a film adaptation. When will DC give me a live action Cassandra Cain?
The crux of this book is the relationship between Kate and her father. It's such a complex relationship in which I feel certain that he loves his daughter and that's warring with his principles. He truly believes he's doing the right thing and while I disagree, there's enough of him that you understand why he feels that way. Here is a plot about predictive justice and casualties that actually makes sense. I felt so sorry for Kate in this book.
The ending is killer. I was spoiled to it a long time ago when the issue first came out because so many fans were upset about it. Even knowing it was coming, it hurt to see. I won't spoil it but I'll just say, that shout out to the rest of the batfam really got to me.
I can't wait for the next volume! Literally. I may have to buy the single issues on this one because I need to know what happens next!
June 25, 2018
Update after a 2018 re-read:
Damn, this one's actually really good! I'm upgrading my rating from three to four solid stars, and I can safely say now, almost two years after I first read it, that I was wrong about there being too many characters. I learned much more about the DC universe and its characters since then, so that helped, but just in general I feel like Tynion is actually juggling everybody really well in this volume. Yeah, the plot is still over the top at times, going unnecessarily too far in a few places, and the overwritten parts are still kinda annoying, but reading this as a collection all in one go definitely helps with the perception. Batwoman is a badass and an absolute star of the show here, and this is the best comic about her I've read so far. Some of Scott Snyder's early Batman writing goodness definitely rubbed off on Tynion IV, and the artwork is just astonishingly good when you see it printed on paper instead of the tablet's screen. Looking forward to Volume 2 whenever that is released here in Russia!
P.S.: I also fell in love with Tom King's Batman and Greg Rucka's Wonder Woman Rebirth books since then, so there's that — and of the three, Detective is now probably the one I like the least, but it's still damn good comics.
P.P.S.: Does anybody else super-cringe when they re-read their old reviews?
Original 2016 review, 3 stars:
Detective Comics is, so far, the only DC Rebirth title that I have more or less enjoyed. Which is pretty sad — all the other Rebirth stuff I tried (and I tried at least an issue of most major titles) was garbage. Way to go, DC!
That is not to say that Detective is without its faults — there are plenty.
First and foremost, the plot is kinda ridiculous. Without spoiling anything, I will say that the motivation and the actions of the bad guys in this book are unbelievably stupid. I can't even understand what they were going for there. And in general, the first half of the book was boring and too talky for no good reason.
Second, it's the characters. We've got a lot of people in this book: our main stars Batman and Batwoman, Tim Drake the Red Robin — those are the guys I know, and the book is mostly focused on them. But then there are a bunch of people who I've never heard of, like Spoiler, Orphan and Clayface. They really don't do much, and we don't get a lot of background on them, so I am not sure why they are even there, and why would Bats want to teach them anything. It really wouldn't change much if the book was just about the three main characters.
There are some good parts to this volume, though. I liked the relationship between Kate Kane (Batwoman) and her father, especially the flashbacks to when Batman's parents were killed and how it affected the Kane family — it was a fresh perspective on the events that we've seen so many times.
I also liked the last couple of issues, and the way the big twist was handled, even though it was kinda predictable and I totally saw it coming. The second half of the book was generally much stronger than the first, there was more action, more plot development, the book actually stopped being a slog and finally got my attention.
The artwork is another strong point of this volume. It's your standard DC house style with clean sharp lines, but once in a while there would be a beautiful painted panel or two in every issue. And the colouring is just gorgeous.
Overall, again, this is the best DC Rebirth title I've read so far, but it is still only OK. I hope James Tynion will refine his style and become much better at writing this book, though. Meanwhile, I would love to hear any recs about what else is worth reading over at DC nowadays. They disappoint me over and over again, but I am still willing to give them a chance.
Damn, this one's actually really good! I'm upgrading my rating from three to four solid stars, and I can safely say now, almost two years after I first read it, that I was wrong about there being too many characters. I learned much more about the DC universe and its characters since then, so that helped, but just in general I feel like Tynion is actually juggling everybody really well in this volume. Yeah, the plot is still over the top at times, going unnecessarily too far in a few places, and the overwritten parts are still kinda annoying, but reading this as a collection all in one go definitely helps with the perception. Batwoman is a badass and an absolute star of the show here, and this is the best comic about her I've read so far. Some of Scott Snyder's early Batman writing goodness definitely rubbed off on Tynion IV, and the artwork is just astonishingly good when you see it printed on paper instead of the tablet's screen. Looking forward to Volume 2 whenever that is released here in Russia!
P.S.: I also fell in love with Tom King's Batman and Greg Rucka's Wonder Woman Rebirth books since then, so there's that — and of the three, Detective is now probably the one I like the least, but it's still damn good comics.
P.P.S.: Does anybody else super-cringe when they re-read their old reviews?
Original 2016 review, 3 stars:
Detective Comics is, so far, the only DC Rebirth title that I have more or less enjoyed. Which is pretty sad — all the other Rebirth stuff I tried (and I tried at least an issue of most major titles) was garbage. Way to go, DC!
That is not to say that Detective is without its faults — there are plenty.
First and foremost, the plot is kinda ridiculous. Without spoiling anything, I will say that the motivation and the actions of the bad guys in this book are unbelievably stupid. I can't even understand what they were going for there. And in general, the first half of the book was boring and too talky for no good reason.
Second, it's the characters. We've got a lot of people in this book: our main stars Batman and Batwoman, Tim Drake the Red Robin — those are the guys I know, and the book is mostly focused on them. But then there are a bunch of people who I've never heard of, like Spoiler, Orphan and Clayface. They really don't do much, and we don't get a lot of background on them, so I am not sure why they are even there, and why would Bats want to teach them anything. It really wouldn't change much if the book was just about the three main characters.
There are some good parts to this volume, though. I liked the relationship between Kate Kane (Batwoman) and her father, especially the flashbacks to when Batman's parents were killed and how it affected the Kane family — it was a fresh perspective on the events that we've seen so many times.
I also liked the last couple of issues, and the way the big twist was handled, even though it was kinda predictable and I totally saw it coming. The second half of the book was generally much stronger than the first, there was more action, more plot development, the book actually stopped being a slog and finally got my attention.
The artwork is another strong point of this volume. It's your standard DC house style with clean sharp lines, but once in a while there would be a beautiful painted panel or two in every issue. And the colouring is just gorgeous.
Overall, again, this is the best DC Rebirth title I've read so far, but it is still only OK. I hope James Tynion will refine his style and become much better at writing this book, though. Meanwhile, I would love to hear any recs about what else is worth reading over at DC nowadays. They disappoint me over and over again, but I am still willing to give them a chance.
February 25, 2021
why does batwomen have a wig sewn onto her mask??
February 10, 2017
This is the best Batman family title right now.
So Detective comics focuses on the Bat family. The highlights probably being Bat-women and Red Robin. Someone is hunting them, Batman included, and Bruce thinks it's time to create a team. A badass fighting team that includes himself, Red Robin, Batwomen, two old Batgirls (Spoiler/Orphan) and also our fave muddy face pal, clay face! It's a odd team of sorts but gives us some really entertaining dialog and fight scenes.
I also love the ending (Issue 940) as it hits all the right emotions without trying to feel like it's "playing" you. It serves as a great finish to the first arc to draw me in.
If you like the Batfamily this is a no brainer. Go grab this and enjoy! 4/5
So Detective comics focuses on the Bat family. The highlights probably being Bat-women and Red Robin. Someone is hunting them, Batman included, and Bruce thinks it's time to create a team. A badass fighting team that includes himself, Red Robin, Batwomen, two old Batgirls (Spoiler/Orphan) and also our fave muddy face pal, clay face! It's a odd team of sorts but gives us some really entertaining dialog and fight scenes.
I also love the ending (Issue 940) as it hits all the right emotions without trying to feel like it's "playing" you. It serves as a great finish to the first arc to draw me in.
If you like the Batfamily this is a no brainer. Go grab this and enjoy! 4/5
August 16, 2017
The last time I got hooked into Detective Comics was from reading The Black Mirror written by Scott Snyder, who would go on to work on the main Batman title with artist Greg Capullo and currently on All-Star Batman. Having ignored the entirety of the title throughout The New 52, I took an interest with the biweekly Detective Comics for DC's Rebirth initiative, which not only restores the classic numbering with issue #934, it is being written by James Tynion IV known for his work on the Batman franchise with his friend/collaborator Snyder.
When an elite fighting force mimicking the Dark Knight’s tech is targeting Gotham’s vigilantes, Batman teams up with his cousin Kate Kane AKA Batwoman to organise an army against this new threat, amongst them Tim Drake AKA Red Robin, Stephanie Brown AKA Spoiler, Cassandra Cain AKA Orphan and even reformed criminal Basil Karlo AKA Clayface.
Despite the title and even at one point the eponymous bat being referred to as the World’s Greatest Detective, this comic is less about displaying Batman’s skills as a detective and more about being part of a family. Although Batman is a prominent figure throughout this first arc of him setting up this vigilante army to even show his vulnerability during sticky situations, it is the new team dynamic that gave the book its heart, especially through Bruce’s relationship with her cousin, who herself has been a loner and is now a leader towards this young generation of heroes.
Although characters such as Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain have been around for nearly three decades, this youthful dynamic is still refreshing from the former two’s romance to the latter whose silent ninja persona pretty much steals the show. As for the recruitment of Clayface, Tynion is trying to add sympathy points to a character who, despite his tragic backstory, has always embraced his monstrous side. Very much the “Groot” of the team with moments of humour, I wish for more exploration towards the heroes’ mistrust towards their clay-faced partner.
With Batwoman as the chief protagonist alongside her cousin, the plot is geared towards her motivations and how it evokes her past, including a wonderful scene in #939 with a young Kate bonding with Bruce during his parents’ funeral. No doubt Tynion is learning from his betters by acknowledging what came before such as Scott Snyder’s Zero Year arc and even the plot evokes Grant Morrison’s Batman Incorporated, along with villains who look a lot like the Arkham Knight from the Rocksteady video games.
With its ensemble cast of heroes taking down of an army of militarised Batmen, expect a lot of action and it is a credit to the art team to keep it fresh and exciting. For most of the issues from this volume, Eddy Barrows’ art is just gorgeous with pages displaying Batman and Batwoman interact in a snowy Gotham at night. Other standout pages feature a lonely Clayface watching his former self at a cinema and an amazing action sequence showing why Tim Drake is a hero and for many readers, their Robin.
Having read the first volumes of Tom King’s Batman and James Tynion IV’s Detective Comics, I found the latter to be a more enjoyable read as it is an action-packed first arc with great twists and turns whilst the Bat-family getting to shine. Ending with the stunningly tragic cliffhanger, I’m really excited to see where Detective will go.
When an elite fighting force mimicking the Dark Knight’s tech is targeting Gotham’s vigilantes, Batman teams up with his cousin Kate Kane AKA Batwoman to organise an army against this new threat, amongst them Tim Drake AKA Red Robin, Stephanie Brown AKA Spoiler, Cassandra Cain AKA Orphan and even reformed criminal Basil Karlo AKA Clayface.
Despite the title and even at one point the eponymous bat being referred to as the World’s Greatest Detective, this comic is less about displaying Batman’s skills as a detective and more about being part of a family. Although Batman is a prominent figure throughout this first arc of him setting up this vigilante army to even show his vulnerability during sticky situations, it is the new team dynamic that gave the book its heart, especially through Bruce’s relationship with her cousin, who herself has been a loner and is now a leader towards this young generation of heroes.
Although characters such as Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain have been around for nearly three decades, this youthful dynamic is still refreshing from the former two’s romance to the latter whose silent ninja persona pretty much steals the show. As for the recruitment of Clayface, Tynion is trying to add sympathy points to a character who, despite his tragic backstory, has always embraced his monstrous side. Very much the “Groot” of the team with moments of humour, I wish for more exploration towards the heroes’ mistrust towards their clay-faced partner.
With Batwoman as the chief protagonist alongside her cousin, the plot is geared towards her motivations and how it evokes her past, including a wonderful scene in #939 with a young Kate bonding with Bruce during his parents’ funeral. No doubt Tynion is learning from his betters by acknowledging what came before such as Scott Snyder’s Zero Year arc and even the plot evokes Grant Morrison’s Batman Incorporated, along with villains who look a lot like the Arkham Knight from the Rocksteady video games.
With its ensemble cast of heroes taking down of an army of militarised Batmen, expect a lot of action and it is a credit to the art team to keep it fresh and exciting. For most of the issues from this volume, Eddy Barrows’ art is just gorgeous with pages displaying Batman and Batwoman interact in a snowy Gotham at night. Other standout pages feature a lonely Clayface watching his former self at a cinema and an amazing action sequence showing why Tim Drake is a hero and for many readers, their Robin.
Having read the first volumes of Tom King’s Batman and James Tynion IV’s Detective Comics, I found the latter to be a more enjoyable read as it is an action-packed first arc with great twists and turns whilst the Bat-family getting to shine. Ending with the stunningly tragic cliffhanger, I’m really excited to see where Detective will go.
July 16, 2021
This was just epic!
It starts off with Batman recruiting Kate to form a team and they do and it has Spoiler, Orphan, Tim and Clayface and they are being trained and I love the way he recruits them and then they have to face this new mercenaries named Colony and Batman is engaging them, Kate invites her father to help only to realize he is the one involved here and he is leading it, so the Gotham Knights have to fight this colony and when drones target them, someone has to sacrifice themselves and the cost will be huge and we get some background info on Jake (father) and what his modus operandi is and his true objectives and when the war is over, there will be huge costs and consequences.
Its a deeply riveting emotional story about a man who wants to make Batman an army and protect the world and goes into conflict with his daughter and nephew and takes the war to them, it makes the idea of Batman immortal and when secrets come crashing down, it has huge ramifications. I like the way Tynion gave Tim one of the most definitive stories and then finally has Bruce acknowledging he needs a team and all. The art was just so good and its mesmerizing to look at it throughout and then finally the ending with full of suspense! 8.5/10!
It starts off with Batman recruiting Kate to form a team and they do and it has Spoiler, Orphan, Tim and Clayface and they are being trained and I love the way he recruits them and then they have to face this new mercenaries named Colony and Batman is engaging them, Kate invites her father to help only to realize he is the one involved here and he is leading it, so the Gotham Knights have to fight this colony and when drones target them, someone has to sacrifice themselves and the cost will be huge and we get some background info on Jake (father) and what his modus operandi is and his true objectives and when the war is over, there will be huge costs and consequences.
Its a deeply riveting emotional story about a man who wants to make Batman an army and protect the world and goes into conflict with his daughter and nephew and takes the war to them, it makes the idea of Batman immortal and when secrets come crashing down, it has huge ramifications. I like the way Tynion gave Tim one of the most definitive stories and then finally has Bruce acknowledging he needs a team and all. The art was just so good and its mesmerizing to look at it throughout and then finally the ending with full of suspense! 8.5/10!
February 7, 2017
[Read as single issues]
Oh man, this one's great.
James Tynion IV has danced around the Batman corner of the DC Universe for a while now, co-writing some stuff with Scott Snyder like the excellent Batman/Batman & Robin Eternal maxiseries, as well as his own Talon series (not to mention all of the indie stuff he does), and now, thanks to Rebirth, he gets to step into the limelight properly and head up Detective Comics.
Whereas Batman is directly focused on Bruce himself, Tec is instead an ensemble piece, with Batman and Batwoman training a team of younger, more inexperienced heroes including Tim Drake, Spoiler, Cassandra Cain, and a reformed Clayface. They unite to battle the Colony, a paramilitary organization out to destroy Batman once and for all.
The characterization in this arc is absolutely fantastic, each character getting time to shine among the madness that's going on, and Tynion IV plays them off of each other spectacularly well. This is the Bat-book he was born to write, and you can tell he's enjoying it as much as we are.
Eddy Barrows and Alvaro Martinez tag team the artwork, with some drop dead gorgeous splash pages and double page spreads along the way, as well as a wonderful painterly style that they drop into for introspective moments where appropriate. Adriano Lucas' colours add to the evocative atmosphere, especially in the final issue where a hero seemingly falls.
If you're only reading one Batman book out of Rebirth, I would highly suggest you make Detective Comics the one you pick.
Oh man, this one's great.
James Tynion IV has danced around the Batman corner of the DC Universe for a while now, co-writing some stuff with Scott Snyder like the excellent Batman/Batman & Robin Eternal maxiseries, as well as his own Talon series (not to mention all of the indie stuff he does), and now, thanks to Rebirth, he gets to step into the limelight properly and head up Detective Comics.
Whereas Batman is directly focused on Bruce himself, Tec is instead an ensemble piece, with Batman and Batwoman training a team of younger, more inexperienced heroes including Tim Drake, Spoiler, Cassandra Cain, and a reformed Clayface. They unite to battle the Colony, a paramilitary organization out to destroy Batman once and for all.
The characterization in this arc is absolutely fantastic, each character getting time to shine among the madness that's going on, and Tynion IV plays them off of each other spectacularly well. This is the Bat-book he was born to write, and you can tell he's enjoying it as much as we are.
Eddy Barrows and Alvaro Martinez tag team the artwork, with some drop dead gorgeous splash pages and double page spreads along the way, as well as a wonderful painterly style that they drop into for introspective moments where appropriate. Adriano Lucas' colours add to the evocative atmosphere, especially in the final issue where a hero seemingly falls.
If you're only reading one Batman book out of Rebirth, I would highly suggest you make Detective Comics the one you pick.
November 9, 2021
"With all due respect, sir...Shut up."
"Just because you're not used to playing the damsel in distress doesn't mean you can't be grateful."
Batwoman and her no-nonsense attitude is so cool~^_^
I really do like this volume and the plot of Batman trying to deal with an unknown threat by hahaha.
Btw, I really do like Batwoman and Red Robin (Tim Drake in this case)'s developments too. Plus this volume does make me wanna read Batman: Zero Year as well.
*jumps to read vol. 2*
Review for vol. 5 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review for Red Hood and the Outlaws vol 1 (2016), https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and do allow me to pimp my Christmas drawing here:
#Christmas
#FreeHongKong
#HongKongProstest
#FiveDemandsNotOneLess
#FightForFreedomStandWithHongKong
February 10, 2018
After four months my library finally stocked a copy of Vol. 1: Rise of the Batmen . . . after I had already read - and was occasionally confused by - volumes 2 through 4.
I would've previously said 4 was the best of the bunch (hey, it features Zatanna!) but now I'd say Vol. 1 probably clinches the top spot. Batman assembles an eclectic vigilante team and they go forth to train and then do battle with an invading Dark Knight-like army of super-troops. Lots of action, some necessary familial flashbacks, and even a few heart-wrenching scenes at the end. Good stuff from DC's Rebirth line.
I would've previously said 4 was the best of the bunch (hey, it features Zatanna!) but now I'd say Vol. 1 probably clinches the top spot. Batman assembles an eclectic vigilante team and they go forth to train and then do battle with an invading Dark Knight-like army of super-troops. Lots of action, some necessary familial flashbacks, and even a few heart-wrenching scenes at the end. Good stuff from DC's Rebirth line.
March 4, 2018
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
James Tynion IV did a great job in making this first volume in his Rebirth series worthwhile. While Rise of the Batmen wasn’t the most brilliant and never-before-seen story, it still managed to deliver something that made some sense and shows a creative team that wisely utilizes the quicker release of these shorter Rebirth comic issues. Containing issues #934 to #940, this volume sets things clear regarding its direction. It is far from being focused on just Batman, it is the story of a whole new Batman family while putting the spotlight on a specific character for each volume. I felt like this first volume was essentially more focused on Batwoman by relaying a sort-of origin story for the character. In fact, the story explored her character a lot more and solidified her position in the squad. Having plenty of occasions to shine, her character is set as the new leader to a group of individuals that will trained under her wings in order to face an enemy that they have yet to uncover.
What Tynion IV does brilliantly in this first volume is the characters. I felt like he was able to give each of them a personality and assure a certain consistency to them as well. Red Robin, for example, was probably the second character who had the most focus and his persona was perfect. He felt genuine and showcased his particular set of skills quite well. While he could easily get on your nerves with the constant focus on his ingenuity, his character still felt pretty well molded and thoroughly assessed. What I do see from James Tynion IV is that he might have a little difficulty in not overdoing certain characters. Compared to other writers for Batman or Detective Comics, this writer enjoys putting more words than the usual comic would contain. This gives us more opportunities to comprehend characters and to read more into their thoughts and way of life, but there’s always this line that he sometimes goes over and ends up forcing too much out of certain characters when it could have easily been avoided.
Although this first volume in the Rebirth era of Detective Comics gives us an interesting story to kick things off, the squad isn’t the most compelling and attractive set of heroes you could imagine. I was honestly surprised by the new protégés who were recruited since it was hard to imagine what kind of chemistry they could actually build throughout the series. Composed of Batwoman, Spoiler, Red Robin, Orphan and Clayface, one is bound to be surprised by the things that are to come regarding these fellow Gothamites. In fact, Clayface was used as comic relief, which was a very curious and fun decision, but still turned out pretty good. The first volume also introduces us to a whole new villain. This surprise villain however doesn’t deliver the punch as strongly and effortlessly as you’d imagine. His introduction and development was carried out in a very “info-dump” manner, by simply taking a moment out of everyone’s time to lay out his motives and plans. It honestly felt like someone asked for a time-out so that everything we needed to know about this person was plainly presented. This took away a lot of the climatic effect that the revelation could’ve had. Then again, his motives weren’t the most mind-boggling either.
The artwork remains a forte in this volume. There’s two different styles that are used, and they’re both great. One is a lot more sharp and colorful, while the other is more faded with a focus on gradations (looks more like it was painted). I also like the fact that they used full-two-page spreads to have more space to work with. It was interesting and more engaging than the usual panel configuration, page by page. It also gave way to more innovative ideas in how to deliver the story at hand. One of the downside in the art department is the use of the Arkham Knight suit design for the villain’s army. That was a little sad and unoriginal, but I have the feeling that they wanted to reuse it, in another context, in order to reintegrate the design in a more canon storyline. After all, the whole Arkham Knight character is almost an Elseworld character that was brought to life in the Arkham video games.
The overall volume was a curious and fun adventure. It’s not spectacular, but it had the potential to get there. It’s definitely enjoyable if you give it a chance. The ending also contains a massive tragedy that will have its impacts transcend onto the next story arcs. It also seems to connect with what happened in DC Universe: Rebirth #1 by Geoff Johns. This was a pretty cool touch, since it leaves things in a huge mystery and seems to indicate that there’s something much bigger that is going on in the background. I’m really curious how the projected major event will unfold and how it will integrate the other DC Rebirth titles. In the end, Batman Detective Comics (Volume 1) Rise of the Batmen remains a fun volume that simply shows that it has potential and has plenty of avenues that can be contemplated for future story arcs. Hopefully James Tynion IV and his squad of artists will find their identity throughout the Rebirth era and offer a story that will come down as a classic some day.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: http://bookidote.wordpress.com
____________________________
James Tynion IV did a great job in making this Rebirth series worthwhile. While Rise of the Batmen wasn't the most brilliant and never-before-seen story, it still managed to deliver something that made some sense. Essentially, even if the storyarc regroups a gang together as a Batman Family, I felt like this was more of a Batwoman origin'esque story. The story explored her character a lot more, making sure to link to Batman, and gave her plenty of occasions to shine.
What Tynion does brilliantly in this first volume is the characters. I felt like he was able to give each of them a personality and assure a certain consistency too. Red Robin, for example, was probably the second character who had the most focus and his persona was perfect. He felt genuine and showcased his particular set of skills quite well.
The villain isn't a big surprise, although it was meant to be. His presentation and development was carried out in a very "info-dump" way by simply taking a moment out of everyone's time to lay out his motives and plans. This really took away a lot of the climatic effect he could've had. Then again, his motives weren't the most mind-boggling too.
The artwork remains a forte in this volume. There's two different styles that are used, and they're both great. One is a lot more sharp and colorful, while the other is more faded with gradations (looks more like it was painted). I also like the fact that they use 2 wholes pages as one to have more space to work with. That was interesting and more engaging than the usual page by page panels. Might be worth mentioning that they didn't think hard to come up with an Arkham Knight'ish Batmen suitdesign... That's a little sad and unoriginal...
Oh, and Clayface as comic relief was a curious and fun decision. In fact, the overall volume was as a curious and fun adventure. It's not spectacular, but it had the potential to get there. It's definitely enjoyable if you give it a chance.
P.S. Full review to come.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: http://bookidote.wordpress.com
James Tynion IV did a great job in making this first volume in his Rebirth series worthwhile. While Rise of the Batmen wasn’t the most brilliant and never-before-seen story, it still managed to deliver something that made some sense and shows a creative team that wisely utilizes the quicker release of these shorter Rebirth comic issues. Containing issues #934 to #940, this volume sets things clear regarding its direction. It is far from being focused on just Batman, it is the story of a whole new Batman family while putting the spotlight on a specific character for each volume. I felt like this first volume was essentially more focused on Batwoman by relaying a sort-of origin story for the character. In fact, the story explored her character a lot more and solidified her position in the squad. Having plenty of occasions to shine, her character is set as the new leader to a group of individuals that will trained under her wings in order to face an enemy that they have yet to uncover.
What Tynion IV does brilliantly in this first volume is the characters. I felt like he was able to give each of them a personality and assure a certain consistency to them as well. Red Robin, for example, was probably the second character who had the most focus and his persona was perfect. He felt genuine and showcased his particular set of skills quite well. While he could easily get on your nerves with the constant focus on his ingenuity, his character still felt pretty well molded and thoroughly assessed. What I do see from James Tynion IV is that he might have a little difficulty in not overdoing certain characters. Compared to other writers for Batman or Detective Comics, this writer enjoys putting more words than the usual comic would contain. This gives us more opportunities to comprehend characters and to read more into their thoughts and way of life, but there’s always this line that he sometimes goes over and ends up forcing too much out of certain characters when it could have easily been avoided.
Although this first volume in the Rebirth era of Detective Comics gives us an interesting story to kick things off, the squad isn’t the most compelling and attractive set of heroes you could imagine. I was honestly surprised by the new protégés who were recruited since it was hard to imagine what kind of chemistry they could actually build throughout the series. Composed of Batwoman, Spoiler, Red Robin, Orphan and Clayface, one is bound to be surprised by the things that are to come regarding these fellow Gothamites. In fact, Clayface was used as comic relief, which was a very curious and fun decision, but still turned out pretty good. The first volume also introduces us to a whole new villain. This surprise villain however doesn’t deliver the punch as strongly and effortlessly as you’d imagine. His introduction and development was carried out in a very “info-dump” manner, by simply taking a moment out of everyone’s time to lay out his motives and plans. It honestly felt like someone asked for a time-out so that everything we needed to know about this person was plainly presented. This took away a lot of the climatic effect that the revelation could’ve had. Then again, his motives weren’t the most mind-boggling either.
The artwork remains a forte in this volume. There’s two different styles that are used, and they’re both great. One is a lot more sharp and colorful, while the other is more faded with a focus on gradations (looks more like it was painted). I also like the fact that they used full-two-page spreads to have more space to work with. It was interesting and more engaging than the usual panel configuration, page by page. It also gave way to more innovative ideas in how to deliver the story at hand. One of the downside in the art department is the use of the Arkham Knight suit design for the villain’s army. That was a little sad and unoriginal, but I have the feeling that they wanted to reuse it, in another context, in order to reintegrate the design in a more canon storyline. After all, the whole Arkham Knight character is almost an Elseworld character that was brought to life in the Arkham video games.
The overall volume was a curious and fun adventure. It’s not spectacular, but it had the potential to get there. It’s definitely enjoyable if you give it a chance. The ending also contains a massive tragedy that will have its impacts transcend onto the next story arcs. It also seems to connect with what happened in DC Universe: Rebirth #1 by Geoff Johns. This was a pretty cool touch, since it leaves things in a huge mystery and seems to indicate that there’s something much bigger that is going on in the background. I’m really curious how the projected major event will unfold and how it will integrate the other DC Rebirth titles. In the end, Batman Detective Comics (Volume 1) Rise of the Batmen remains a fun volume that simply shows that it has potential and has plenty of avenues that can be contemplated for future story arcs. Hopefully James Tynion IV and his squad of artists will find their identity throughout the Rebirth era and offer a story that will come down as a classic some day.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: http://bookidote.wordpress.com
____________________________
James Tynion IV did a great job in making this Rebirth series worthwhile. While Rise of the Batmen wasn't the most brilliant and never-before-seen story, it still managed to deliver something that made some sense. Essentially, even if the storyarc regroups a gang together as a Batman Family, I felt like this was more of a Batwoman origin'esque story. The story explored her character a lot more, making sure to link to Batman, and gave her plenty of occasions to shine.
What Tynion does brilliantly in this first volume is the characters. I felt like he was able to give each of them a personality and assure a certain consistency too. Red Robin, for example, was probably the second character who had the most focus and his persona was perfect. He felt genuine and showcased his particular set of skills quite well.
The villain isn't a big surprise, although it was meant to be. His presentation and development was carried out in a very "info-dump" way by simply taking a moment out of everyone's time to lay out his motives and plans. This really took away a lot of the climatic effect he could've had. Then again, his motives weren't the most mind-boggling too.
The artwork remains a forte in this volume. There's two different styles that are used, and they're both great. One is a lot more sharp and colorful, while the other is more faded with gradations (looks more like it was painted). I also like the fact that they use 2 wholes pages as one to have more space to work with. That was interesting and more engaging than the usual page by page panels. Might be worth mentioning that they didn't think hard to come up with an Arkham Knight'ish Batmen suitdesign... That's a little sad and unoriginal...
Oh, and Clayface as comic relief was a curious and fun decision. In fact, the overall volume was as a curious and fun adventure. It's not spectacular, but it had the potential to get there. It's definitely enjoyable if you give it a chance.
P.S. Full review to come.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: http://bookidote.wordpress.com
October 4, 2016
Rise of the Batman is definitely better than the first arc of DC Rebirth Batman (I Am Gotham). It is a fresh take on the series that seamlessly puts together a band of characters from the Batman mythos against a more technologically advanced army of "Batmen". It is part sleuthing, part drama and all action.
Yes it is good. But is it also groundbreaking? No. Will it be remembered? Hmmm for some elements of it, yeah for a while.
This first arc of Detective Comics (DetCom) kicks of the DC Rebirth era, it reverts to the original numbering (tschüss New52!). I am definitely into that because after all, DC is going back to its roots and that means going back to the original runs, at least for Detective and Action Comics.
Thankfully, Batwoman is given the spotlight here, with a proper and grounded introduction to Kate Kane and her relationship with his cousin Bruce. Other characters are given screen time as well. You have Tim Drake, and I commend Tynion IV for handling him pretty good. Tim here is the good ol' Tim that we have read before - a geeky genius fellow with an upbeat attitude. There's also Orphan, the Spoiler and Clayface (yes, you read it right). And Clayface here is the comic relief of the group. Basil Karlo is not evil at heart and Clayface is such an adorable monster.
Like I said before, this arc is not that groundbreaking. In fact, it is a set up for the next arc which is a crossover (this early eh?), the Monster Men.
Sure Rise of the Batmen is helluva fun to read. It is a great collectible piece since this run goes back to the original DetCom numbering yet not that deep enough to be talked about in nerdy discourse.
Yes it is good. But is it also groundbreaking? No. Will it be remembered? Hmmm for some elements of it, yeah for a while.
This first arc of Detective Comics (DetCom) kicks of the DC Rebirth era, it reverts to the original numbering (tschüss New52!). I am definitely into that because after all, DC is going back to its roots and that means going back to the original runs, at least for Detective and Action Comics.
Thankfully, Batwoman is given the spotlight here, with a proper and grounded introduction to Kate Kane and her relationship with his cousin Bruce. Other characters are given screen time as well. You have Tim Drake, and I commend Tynion IV for handling him pretty good. Tim here is the good ol' Tim that we have read before - a geeky genius fellow with an upbeat attitude. There's also Orphan, the Spoiler and Clayface (yes, you read it right). And Clayface here is the comic relief of the group. Basil Karlo is not evil at heart and Clayface is such an adorable monster.
Like I said before, this arc is not that groundbreaking. In fact, it is a set up for the next arc which is a crossover (this early eh?), the Monster Men.
Sure Rise of the Batmen is helluva fun to read. It is a great collectible piece since this run goes back to the original DetCom numbering yet not that deep enough to be talked about in nerdy discourse.
July 10, 2018
Re-read 2018: Still really enjoy this. I think Tynion does a really nice job with Batman and his supporting cast. Brings it to life with good banter and nice character moments, all wrapped in a solid story.
2016: I'm very surprised by this. A lot of people have been raving about how strong the start to Rebirth has been across DC and, I have to say, this was a really good example of it. Does it use a ton of plot devices we've seen over and over again? Yes. Does it always make sense? No. Is it a little ridiculous and sometimes obvious? Definitely. But this is FUN and that matters a lot when enjoying a book. This really does a quality job of focusing in on the Bat Family even more than the Dark Knight himself: Tim Drake is cool. Spoiler is not bad. Orphan steals the show. Batwoman is layered. Clayface... he's a good example of the 'fun' I'm referencing.
James Tynion IV has been good on the Bat books for some time now and this is another quality effort from him. There is a lot to be said for consistency. He reminds me a lot of writers like Alan Grant and Greg Rucka, who were always super solid over the years on the Bat titles.
Anyway, I know this isn't going to be for everyone, but personally I enjoyed it and am intrigued to see where it's headed.
2016: I'm very surprised by this. A lot of people have been raving about how strong the start to Rebirth has been across DC and, I have to say, this was a really good example of it. Does it use a ton of plot devices we've seen over and over again? Yes. Does it always make sense? No. Is it a little ridiculous and sometimes obvious? Definitely. But this is FUN and that matters a lot when enjoying a book. This really does a quality job of focusing in on the Bat Family even more than the Dark Knight himself: Tim Drake is cool. Spoiler is not bad. Orphan steals the show. Batwoman is layered. Clayface... he's a good example of the 'fun' I'm referencing.
James Tynion IV has been good on the Bat books for some time now and this is another quality effort from him. There is a lot to be said for consistency. He reminds me a lot of writers like Alan Grant and Greg Rucka, who were always super solid over the years on the Bat titles.
Anyway, I know this isn't going to be for everyone, but personally I enjoyed it and am intrigued to see where it's headed.
February 6, 2017
Another Rebirth title that I think has promise, but which didn't quite deliver. I kind of like the idea of a Bat-family team book, and almost everybody is represented here. And I really like most of these characters. Seeing Stephanie back in regular circulation makes me very happy, and Tim is my favorite Robin. Clayface is kind of an odd choice for rehabilitated villain, but on the other hand, I suppose he is the victim of a freak accident. At any rate, the group interacts nicely, and I especially liked that we got to see how the Kane family reacted when the Waynes were murdered. On the other hand, the villains just didn't work for me. Not interesting, and the motives are very thin. I think Tynion can do better with these characters, and I'd like to see that happen.
April 18, 2017
I cannot believe how amazing this one was! I was blown away with the writing/story + the characters they chose to make up this team. Spoiler and Orphan were two of my favorite Batgirls of all time and I'm glad to see them back in action as their own vigilantes. Red Robin of course is one of my favorites too. My heart broke at the end of this one. But there seemed to be a ray of light to cling on too.
Can't wait to read the next installment!
Can't wait to read the next installment!
January 22, 2024
A team up tale that comprises of the most random assortment of Batfamily members (+Clayface), it's less of a Detective Comic and very much an action piece. The dialogue and banter between the cover squad mostly lands, and the story, whilst feeling fairly unoriginal, offers some interesting concepts. Unfortunately, the main weight lies with the two characters that I was least invested in, making the emotional climax nothing more than a 'guess I have got to read these pages' kind of experience. Engaging and fairly easy to digest, the good outweighs the bad, and if you're just looking for some kick-ass art and a page flicking punch up, this will fulfil that quite nicely.
actual rating: 3.5 stars
actual rating: 3.5 stars
March 9, 2017
DC's Rebirth series is really focusing on relationships, and Detective Comics is no different. In this volume, Batman is assembling a team consisting of Batwoman, Red Robin, Spoiler, Orphan, and Clayface. I was really surprised about the inclusion of Clayface, but I'm really enjoying his turn as a hero. It seems that Batman has developed some tech that allows Clayface to hold his human form. Of course the first thing he does with that tech is to go to an audition, and of course he is called to be a hero when his name is called for the audition. I'm also really enjoying the focus on relationships: Batman and Batwoman, Batwoman and her father, and Spoiler and Red Robin to name a few. This focus on relationships makes the characters more likable. Even Batman is likable! There is a scene in which a sad Batman gives a team member a hug. That should be on a poster or something because that really gets to the heart of Batman more than an image of him posing with a grimace.
July 7, 2022
Full review/discussion HERE.
I read this book a while ago and loved it. I just reread it before continuing on with the series, and it's blown me away again! The art is INCREDIBLE, and it's basically the perfect book, at least for me. I love a good team book, a good teen book, a good Batman book, etc. This was all of that mixed together! The characters were so cool and fun. I just really love this one, guys, and I'm just gonna keep repeating that. This is probably my favorite Batman book I've read, up there with Dark Knight Returns and The Killing Joke. 5/5 stars.
I read this book a while ago and loved it. I just reread it before continuing on with the series, and it's blown me away again! The art is INCREDIBLE, and it's basically the perfect book, at least for me. I love a good team book, a good teen book, a good Batman book, etc. This was all of that mixed together! The characters were so cool and fun. I just really love this one, guys, and I'm just gonna keep repeating that. This is probably my favorite Batman book I've read, up there with Dark Knight Returns and The Killing Joke. 5/5 stars.
March 12, 2017
While the plot and the payoff of our mystery villain wasn't 'great', getting there.. the delivery of it, the storytelling, the dialogue.. made for a great read.
I'm looking forward to more of this.
I'm looking forward to more of this.
June 5, 2018
This was really cool. A mini bat family/group go through an initial bootcamp to fight supervillains or prepare for it. I loved the artwork and the story telling is pretty good, actually alot better than I was expecting. I really found the ending quite emotional. Will definitely continue this.
September 25, 2019
rep: lesbian mc, pocs mcs
did i cry at a single mention of my gay dad midnighter???? u bet
anyway I LOVE TIM DRAKE
did i cry at a single mention of my gay dad midnighter???? u bet
anyway I LOVE TIM DRAKE
September 16, 2019
Not as good as I was expecting, but it was still good. Oddly appreciated the weird group they have in here. The ending was a huge cliffhanger. Continuing on at least until volume 5, since that's necessary to understand Doomsday Clock.
February 16, 2017
Read this review and more on my blog.
I received a free copy of Batman: Detective Comics Volume 1: Rise Of The Batmen in exchange for my honest opinion.
If you were only to read one of the storyline in DC’s Rebirth, this is the one.
Batman: Detective Comics made complete sense from the very first page. I never got confused as to what was going on, or the motivations of the characters within it. In Volume 1, we follow Batman, Batwoman, Spoiler, Red Robin, Clayface and Orphan.
The storyline was straight forwards but precise. Batman spots drones all around Gotham and recruits a team to help him. What follows, is an mystery that constantly changes when they find out new information. I would almost call it a suspense / mystery comic book because the focus in this was on the mystery of who developed these drones and less on the fighting.
The art style suited the tone of what was happening very well. I was constantly amazed by how no detail was spared. I never got distracted by bits of each panel that were not crucial to what was going on and when I got a good look at them, they just enriched the story even more.
Honesty, for me, words cannot even begin to describe how much I loved this first volume. It is, in my mind, exactly what a modern-day comic book series would be like. We encounter the heroes facing impossible choices that will hurt someone whichever they choose; and more importantly we see the humanity in these characters.
A very good start to this story that most will enjoy and I cannot wait to see how it continues.
I received a free copy of Batman: Detective Comics Volume 1: Rise Of The Batmen in exchange for my honest opinion.
If you were only to read one of the storyline in DC’s Rebirth, this is the one.
Batman: Detective Comics made complete sense from the very first page. I never got confused as to what was going on, or the motivations of the characters within it. In Volume 1, we follow Batman, Batwoman, Spoiler, Red Robin, Clayface and Orphan.
The storyline was straight forwards but precise. Batman spots drones all around Gotham and recruits a team to help him. What follows, is an mystery that constantly changes when they find out new information. I would almost call it a suspense / mystery comic book because the focus in this was on the mystery of who developed these drones and less on the fighting.
The art style suited the tone of what was happening very well. I was constantly amazed by how no detail was spared. I never got distracted by bits of each panel that were not crucial to what was going on and when I got a good look at them, they just enriched the story even more.
Honesty, for me, words cannot even begin to describe how much I loved this first volume. It is, in my mind, exactly what a modern-day comic book series would be like. We encounter the heroes facing impossible choices that will hurt someone whichever they choose; and more importantly we see the humanity in these characters.
A very good start to this story that most will enjoy and I cannot wait to see how it continues.
September 15, 2016
I'm not going to say much about this one it had a few good moments but other than it sucked! Its bascially just Batman & Robin Eternal meets Arkham Knight, how original! I'm not joking, the 'Batmen', are literally just clones of The Arkham Knight from a looks perspective!
February 5, 2017
Possibly the most solid offering from Rebirth thus far. A cracking team book with a strong emotional core (one page in particular will break your heart).
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
August 15, 2022
3.5 stars
April 21, 2022
Wow. Just wow. Now, THIS was THE Batman Rebirth story. So audacious, so spectacular, so much more reasonable than the actual Batman title. James Tynion IV's writing was even better than his horror titles, and I love those books, and the artwork is just superb, the color palates absolutely perfect. This is what all comics should strive to be like. One of the best story lines I've read in a superhero series.
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