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Batman: The Dark Knight Detective #5
Batman: The Dark Knight Detective, Vol. 5
Gotham City has a reputation for being one of the most dangerous places on Earth. Fortunately, its citizens are protected by a shadowy avenger who is always ready to take on an endless stream of villains and to solve the most baffling crimes—the Batman.
Bruce Wayne’s latest ward, Tim Drake, has all the makings of becoming the greatest Robin yet. He’s intelligent, athletic, and levelheaded, and his detective skills rival those of his mentor. However, every Boy Wonder who has come before has endured tragedy, and Tim may be no exception when his parents are marked for death by the sinister Obeah Man. Will the Dark Knight stop the Obeah Man in time, or must Tim face a deadly rite of passage in order to be worthy of inheriting the mantle of Robin?
In another adventure, an old debt of honor brings Bruce Wayne back to Japan, pitting him against the man who trained him. It’s former student versus master—and only one of them will come out alive.
Join the legendary team of ALAN GRANT (Batman: Shadow of the Bat), NORM BREYFOGLE (Batman), and STEVE MITCHELL (Detective Comics) for another tome of thrilling tales in Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Volume 5, collecting Detective Comics #612-614 and #616-621, and Detective Comics Annual #3.
Bruce Wayne’s latest ward, Tim Drake, has all the makings of becoming the greatest Robin yet. He’s intelligent, athletic, and levelheaded, and his detective skills rival those of his mentor. However, every Boy Wonder who has come before has endured tragedy, and Tim may be no exception when his parents are marked for death by the sinister Obeah Man. Will the Dark Knight stop the Obeah Man in time, or must Tim face a deadly rite of passage in order to be worthy of inheriting the mantle of Robin?
In another adventure, an old debt of honor brings Bruce Wayne back to Japan, pitting him against the man who trained him. It’s former student versus master—and only one of them will come out alive.
Join the legendary team of ALAN GRANT (Batman: Shadow of the Bat), NORM BREYFOGLE (Batman), and STEVE MITCHELL (Detective Comics) for another tome of thrilling tales in Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Volume 5, collecting Detective Comics #612-614 and #616-621, and Detective Comics Annual #3.
280 pages, Paperback
First published May 25, 2021
4 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Alan Grant
1,717 books144 followersAlan Grant was a Scottish comic book writer known for writing Judge Dredd in 2000 AD as well as various Batman titles during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He is also the creator of the character Anarky.
Alan Grant first entered the comics industry in 1967 when he became an editor for D.C. Thomson before moving to London from Dundee in 1970 to work for IPC on various romance magazines. After going back to college and having a series of jobs, Grant found himself back in Dundee and living on Social Security. He then met John Wagner, another former D.C. Thompson editor, who was helping put together a new science fiction comic for IPC, 2000 A.D., and was unable to complete his other work. Wagner asked Grant if he could help him write the Tarzan comic he was working on; so began the Wagner/Grant writing partnership.
The pair eventually co-wrote Judge Dredd. They would work on other popular strips for the comic, including Robo-Hunter and Strontium Dog using the pseudonym T.B. Grover. Grant also worked on other people's stories, changing and adding dialogue, most notably Harry Twenty on the High Rock, written by Gerry Finley-Day. Judge Dredd would be Grant's main concern for much of the 1980s. Grant and Wagner had developed the strip into the most popular in 2000AD as well as creating lengthy epic storylines such as The Apocalypse War. Grant also wrote for other IPC comics such as the revamped Eagle.
By the late 1980s, Grant and Wagner were about to move into the American comic market. Their first title was a 12-issue miniseries called Outcasts for DC Comics. Although it wasn't a success, it paved the way for the pair to write Batman stories in Detective Comics from issue 583, largely with Norm Breyfogle on art duties across the various Batman titles Grant moved to. After a dozen issues, Wagner left Grant as sole writer. Grant was one of the main Batman writers until the late 1990s. The pair also created a four issue series for Epic Comics called The Last American. This series, as well as the Chopper storyline in Judge Dredd, is blamed for the breakup of the Wagner/Grant partnership. The pair split strips, with Wagner keeping Judge Dredd and Grant keeping Strontium Dog and Judge Anderson. Grant and Wagner continue to work together on special projects such as the Batman/Judge Dredd crossover Judgement on Gotham. During the late 1980s, Grant experienced a philosophical transformation and declared himself an anarchist. The creation of the supervillain Anarky was initially intended as a vehicle for exploring his political opinions through the comic medium. In the following years, he would continue to utilize the character in a similar fashion as his philosophy evolved.
Grant's projects at the start of the 90s included writing Detective Comics and Strontium Dog, but two projects in particular are especially notable. The first is The Bogie Man, a series co-written by Wagner which was the pair's first venture into independent publishing. The second is Lobo, a character created by Keith Giffen as a supporting character in The Omega Men. Lobo gained his own four issue mini series in 1990 which was drawn by Simon Bisley. This was a parody of the 'dark, gritty' comics of the time and proved hugely popular. After several other miniseries (all written by Grant, sometimes with Giffen as co-writer), Lobo received his own ongoing series. Grant was also writing L.E.G.I.O.N. (a Legion of Super-Heroes spin-off) and The Demon (a revival of Jack Kirby's charac
Alan Grant first entered the comics industry in 1967 when he became an editor for D.C. Thomson before moving to London from Dundee in 1970 to work for IPC on various romance magazines. After going back to college and having a series of jobs, Grant found himself back in Dundee and living on Social Security. He then met John Wagner, another former D.C. Thompson editor, who was helping put together a new science fiction comic for IPC, 2000 A.D., and was unable to complete his other work. Wagner asked Grant if he could help him write the Tarzan comic he was working on; so began the Wagner/Grant writing partnership.
The pair eventually co-wrote Judge Dredd. They would work on other popular strips for the comic, including Robo-Hunter and Strontium Dog using the pseudonym T.B. Grover. Grant also worked on other people's stories, changing and adding dialogue, most notably Harry Twenty on the High Rock, written by Gerry Finley-Day. Judge Dredd would be Grant's main concern for much of the 1980s. Grant and Wagner had developed the strip into the most popular in 2000AD as well as creating lengthy epic storylines such as The Apocalypse War. Grant also wrote for other IPC comics such as the revamped Eagle.
By the late 1980s, Grant and Wagner were about to move into the American comic market. Their first title was a 12-issue miniseries called Outcasts for DC Comics. Although it wasn't a success, it paved the way for the pair to write Batman stories in Detective Comics from issue 583, largely with Norm Breyfogle on art duties across the various Batman titles Grant moved to. After a dozen issues, Wagner left Grant as sole writer. Grant was one of the main Batman writers until the late 1990s. The pair also created a four issue series for Epic Comics called The Last American. This series, as well as the Chopper storyline in Judge Dredd, is blamed for the breakup of the Wagner/Grant partnership. The pair split strips, with Wagner keeping Judge Dredd and Grant keeping Strontium Dog and Judge Anderson. Grant and Wagner continue to work together on special projects such as the Batman/Judge Dredd crossover Judgement on Gotham. During the late 1980s, Grant experienced a philosophical transformation and declared himself an anarchist. The creation of the supervillain Anarky was initially intended as a vehicle for exploring his political opinions through the comic medium. In the following years, he would continue to utilize the character in a similar fashion as his philosophy evolved.
Grant's projects at the start of the 90s included writing Detective Comics and Strontium Dog, but two projects in particular are especially notable. The first is The Bogie Man, a series co-written by Wagner which was the pair's first venture into independent publishing. The second is Lobo, a character created by Keith Giffen as a supporting character in The Omega Men. Lobo gained his own four issue mini series in 1990 which was drawn by Simon Bisley. This was a parody of the 'dark, gritty' comics of the time and proved hugely popular. After several other miniseries (all written by Grant, sometimes with Giffen as co-writer), Lobo received his own ongoing series. Grant was also writing L.E.G.I.O.N. (a Legion of Super-Heroes spin-off) and The Demon (a revival of Jack Kirby's charac
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 8, 2021
The first several issues are a bit lackluster on villians, Catman is the only supervillain. They are all single issue stories focusing more on street level crime. The second half makes up for it though with a Joker flashback story and then a big Tim Drake story. Tim's parents are kidnapped by the Obeah Man and it has major repercussions on his life. It's a cool voodoo inspired story too. Finally Batman goes up against the Yakuza and his former sensei in Japan. I love Norm Breyfogle's Batman. He looks so damn cool and shadowy.
November 3, 2021
It seemed like the Grant really put Tim through the wringer and then some here at the end. Pretty rough the way Grant portrays Tim's early stages of grief here too. Not the mention how dark it felt with all of the forced foreshadowing of doom throughout. Still, the best is yet to come in other volumes with Tim and his growth as a character. Of course this nostalgia read is complete with the one and only Norm Breyfogle on pencils making everything bold and awesome!
March 10, 2023
A solid collection. Mostly thanks to the great Tim story and him dealing with the death of his parents. It's emotional and serves well for his growth. The rest is okay, kind of one shots and two shots, that don't add much but written well enough to be enjoyable atleast.
A 3 out of 5.
A 3 out of 5.
December 19, 2021
I bought this for Tim Drake, to dig a little deeper into his character. Since the first 2 Robins had parent tragedies, why not give Timbo some nightmare fuel about mom and pop? The other stuff in here is fun too. Its a great era, I'd probably hunt down other volumes but they are getting hard to find in tpb.
August 23, 2024
3.5
Cats: 3 stars
Trashed: alan grant what is wrong with you. 3 stars
Street Demonz: 4 stars
Stone Killer: agh it's SO strong until the ending disregards everything and the actual stone killer plot is pretty much disregarded. 4 stars ig
Rite of Passage: didn't read it in this trade bc I've already read it but it is very good. 4-4.5 stars.
Obligation: meh 3 stars
Cats: 3 stars
Trashed: alan grant what is wrong with you. 3 stars
Street Demonz: 4 stars
Stone Killer: agh it's SO strong until the ending disregards everything and the actual stone killer plot is pretty much disregarded. 4 stars ig
Rite of Passage: didn't read it in this trade bc I've already read it but it is very good. 4-4.5 stars.
Obligation: meh 3 stars
June 27, 2021
This was a fun read with some fun-tastic art by Norm Breyfogle. Now, Breyfogle's art is not for everyone and it does get a bit too stylized at times but overall I love it.
The stories? Well, it feels like there was a mandate to have "no one from Batman's rogue gallery" and the stories suffer for that. Yes, we get a Batman more grounded in reality but that also means some dull stories.
The stories really pick up with the latest Robin to be Tim Drake's parents are captured and we get some great character moments. A shame Drake's parents are such weirdos and that takes away some of the sympathy for them but Tim's character is better developed and he is destined to be a great Robin in the future.
Not the most exciting Batman stories but a fun read nonetheless.
The stories? Well, it feels like there was a mandate to have "no one from Batman's rogue gallery" and the stories suffer for that. Yes, we get a Batman more grounded in reality but that also means some dull stories.
The stories really pick up with the latest Robin to be Tim Drake's parents are captured and we get some great character moments. A shame Drake's parents are such weirdos and that takes away some of the sympathy for them but Tim's character is better developed and he is destined to be a great Robin in the future.
Not the most exciting Batman stories but a fun read nonetheless.
July 11, 2022
Reactionary, Reagan-era scaremongering, thinly-veiled racism, and new-age nonsense-- oh my!
From the moment John Wagner and Alan Grant took over Detective Comics in the eighties, Batman was transformed into Judge Dredd without the satire-- a fascist pr*ck protecting property and the status quo from violent poor people and dehumanized foreigners-- and things only got worse when Alan Grant took the reins solo. This volume alone has an entire issue dedicated to drawing a strained metaphorical comparison between criminals and literal garbage, and features Tim Drake's parents being held captive by a Haitian voodoo shaman supervillain who's depicted to be as cartoonishly monstrous as possible. (There's also a sizeable annual by Archie Goodwin that depicts Batman battling the Yakuza, in which there isn't a single sympathetic Japanese character in sight who isn't an explicit victim of Japanese society. It's very "late-'80s Japanophobia".) It's pretty disgusting.
But even weirder is how... superstitious the book is? Like, there's an issue where Batman battles a bizarre supernatural monster who commits killings along Ley lines, and there's another where Batman consults a literal psychic fortune teller in an attempt to track down the Joker, and has this extended internal monologue about the metaphysical significance of the bat as a totem animal and the Joker as a Tarot symbol. It's the dumbest quasi-conspiratorial metaphysical ramblings you can imagine, presented upfront and unapologetically as the sincere thematic underpinnings for a story about a masked billionaire beating up criminals.
Frankly, this whole volume would get a single star rating if not for two things: the first issue bringing, of all characters, Catman into the spotlight, and the fact that Norm Breyfogle's artwork is consistently gorgeous, dynamic, and engrossing... no matter what half-baked, fascist-leaning nonsense he's illustrating.
From the moment John Wagner and Alan Grant took over Detective Comics in the eighties, Batman was transformed into Judge Dredd without the satire-- a fascist pr*ck protecting property and the status quo from violent poor people and dehumanized foreigners-- and things only got worse when Alan Grant took the reins solo. This volume alone has an entire issue dedicated to drawing a strained metaphorical comparison between criminals and literal garbage, and features Tim Drake's parents being held captive by a Haitian voodoo shaman supervillain who's depicted to be as cartoonishly monstrous as possible. (There's also a sizeable annual by Archie Goodwin that depicts Batman battling the Yakuza, in which there isn't a single sympathetic Japanese character in sight who isn't an explicit victim of Japanese society. It's very "late-'80s Japanophobia".) It's pretty disgusting.
But even weirder is how... superstitious the book is? Like, there's an issue where Batman battles a bizarre supernatural monster who commits killings along Ley lines, and there's another where Batman consults a literal psychic fortune teller in an attempt to track down the Joker, and has this extended internal monologue about the metaphysical significance of the bat as a totem animal and the Joker as a Tarot symbol. It's the dumbest quasi-conspiratorial metaphysical ramblings you can imagine, presented upfront and unapologetically as the sincere thematic underpinnings for a story about a masked billionaire beating up criminals.
Frankly, this whole volume would get a single star rating if not for two things: the first issue bringing, of all characters, Catman into the spotlight, and the fact that Norm Breyfogle's artwork is consistently gorgeous, dynamic, and engrossing... no matter what half-baked, fascist-leaning nonsense he's illustrating.
March 6, 2022
Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle's Detective Comics run continues in Batman: The Dark Knight Detective, Vol. 5.
Most of the stories in this book are self-contained stories. These issues are not important, but they show that there is a dissonance between Bruce's social/dating life and his desire to be alone, and Bruce Wayne (not Batman) also helps the community by giving opportunities to out-of-school youth. As usual, Grant tackles several social issues in his stories. This book also hints that Joker survived the helicopter crash in Batman: A Death in the Family. Batman is still bothered by the death of Jason Todd, so he tries to look for the Joker by consulting a fortune teller. What?
The main highlight of this book is the 4-issue "Rite of Passage" story arc. I did not read Batman and Detective Comics stories in the 90s, so I am thankful to DC for releasing Batman: The Dark Knight Detective and Batman: The Caped Crusader books. However, the timing of the releases of these books was not well thought out. DC released Caped Crusader, Vol. 4 in May 2020, while it released this book in May 2021. The problem is that Caped Crusader, Vol. 4 spoils what happened in the Rite of Passage story arc. Something happens in that story that drastically changes Tim's life. Right of Passage is the story that made me start to like Tim Drake. There was a touching scene between Bruce and Tim in that story arc that answers the age-old question, "do heroes cry?"
My Batman Collected Editions Instagram page
Most of the stories in this book are self-contained stories. These issues are not important, but they show that there is a dissonance between Bruce's social/dating life and his desire to be alone, and Bruce Wayne (not Batman) also helps the community by giving opportunities to out-of-school youth. As usual, Grant tackles several social issues in his stories. This book also hints that Joker survived the helicopter crash in Batman: A Death in the Family. Batman is still bothered by the death of Jason Todd, so he tries to look for the Joker by consulting a fortune teller. What?
The main highlight of this book is the 4-issue "Rite of Passage" story arc. I did not read Batman and Detective Comics stories in the 90s, so I am thankful to DC for releasing Batman: The Dark Knight Detective and Batman: The Caped Crusader books. However, the timing of the releases of these books was not well thought out. DC released Caped Crusader, Vol. 4 in May 2020, while it released this book in May 2021. The problem is that Caped Crusader, Vol. 4 spoils what happened in the Rite of Passage story arc. Something happens in that story that drastically changes Tim's life. Right of Passage is the story that made me start to like Tim Drake. There was a touching scene between Bruce and Tim in that story arc that answers the age-old question, "do heroes cry?"
My Batman Collected Editions Instagram page
December 13, 2022
I really don't know how the issues collected in this trade paperback would appear to modern eyes. Well, that's not entirely true. If I'm being honest with myself they probably seem pretty dated.
And I'm not denying that. These were some of the first issues of Detective Comics I ever encountered - and that was a long time ago. Some of the elements of these stories have not aged well and the annual that's featured at the end of the volume is a story from the early '90s that feels like it would have been right at home in the Batman books of the 1970s.
However, the majority of these stories have a unique energy that seems particular to this era. There's a good amount of fun, brisk reading here. And penciller Norm Breyfogle is at the height of his powers: I frequently stopped reading for a moment or two to better absorb and enjoy the art.
And I'm not denying that. These were some of the first issues of Detective Comics I ever encountered - and that was a long time ago. Some of the elements of these stories have not aged well and the annual that's featured at the end of the volume is a story from the early '90s that feels like it would have been right at home in the Batman books of the 1970s.
However, the majority of these stories have a unique energy that seems particular to this era. There's a good amount of fun, brisk reading here. And penciller Norm Breyfogle is at the height of his powers: I frequently stopped reading for a moment or two to better absorb and enjoy the art.
September 20, 2024
A collection of short stories from the 80's that cover a myriad of subjects - from street level crime, social issues to gothic horror- told in a matter of fact, straight to the point manner that is a good change of pace from the heavily decompressed storylines so frequent in today's comics (which I also enjoy, but its good to pick up a collection of shorter stories once in a while).
The collection of artists and writers is very good. Its made out of legends of the medium. Alan Grant, Archie Goodwin, Todd McFarlane and Dan Jurgens.
A fun, quick Batman fix from a period that marked my childhood significantly, and that, as far as I'm concerned, aged extremely well.
8/10
The collection of artists and writers is very good. Its made out of legends of the medium. Alan Grant, Archie Goodwin, Todd McFarlane and Dan Jurgens.
A fun, quick Batman fix from a period that marked my childhood significantly, and that, as far as I'm concerned, aged extremely well.
8/10
August 20, 2025
A series of episodic narratives largely dealing with ground level conflicts and morality tales. The collection escalates in the last half with a four-parter depicting the kidnapping of Tim Drake's parents and a pulpy, globetrotting annual that sees a Yakuza plot against Bruce Wayne's life unearth the complicated past of a Gotham police officer. Most of these stories were capably told by Grant and wonderfully drawn by Breyfogle, but lack some of the more high-concept plots and playful writing that made the previous volumes so fun. My favorite storyline was probably "Trash" centering around a sanitation worker who finds himself tragically embroiled in a criminal extortion during "take your son to work day". Goodwin's annual was also good fun, remiscent of a pulpy 70s action movie with some added heart.
May 29, 2024
Good story telling
This book has yukuza teachings, ninja master and ninja student combat. This book has death and voodoo. Graphic violence. See what happens to Tim Drakes parents. This book has Wayne Tec business partners throughout. Ancient articles being hunted. Anarchy story feels more appropriate to tell in previous tdkd vol.4 when Batman confront who it is. Going into crusaders vol.4 next is a great idea.
This book has yukuza teachings, ninja master and ninja student combat. This book has death and voodoo. Graphic violence. See what happens to Tim Drakes parents. This book has Wayne Tec business partners throughout. Ancient articles being hunted. Anarchy story feels more appropriate to tell in previous tdkd vol.4 when Batman confront who it is. Going into crusaders vol.4 next is a great idea.
June 15, 2021
On the plus side this volume includes the early introduction of Tim Drake and his path towards becoming Robin. On the downside, a setup for a Joker story that doesn't materialise and the last 50 pages are given over to a weak annual story set in Japan.
December 30, 2021
A nice look into early 90s Batman. Classic team of Grant and Breyfogle tell a handful of tales that showcase who Batman is. While none are spectacular they're all decent even the strange Voodoo arc involving Tim Drake's parents. Overall, a solid collection of Batman tales.
March 16, 2022
Catman returns, Tim Drake continues on his path to becoming the newest Boy Wonder, Grant and Breyfogle keep providing great comic book tales.
March 27, 2022
A mixed bag.
May 21, 2022
This was an ok graphic novel.
This follows Batman as he is looking after Tim Drake while his parents are away on a trip. Batman has him help him with a few things as he goes to deal with crime.
It was an ok read. It was nothing too fascinating for me. I did feel a little bored as I read this.
I did enjoyed seeing Tim Drake help Batman. It was fun to see Tim wanting to all he can for Batman to help him in what he can do.
It was an ok read.
This follows Batman as he is looking after Tim Drake while his parents are away on a trip. Batman has him help him with a few things as he goes to deal with crime.
It was an ok read. It was nothing too fascinating for me. I did feel a little bored as I read this.
I did enjoyed seeing Tim Drake help Batman. It was fun to see Tim wanting to all he can for Batman to help him in what he can do.
It was an ok read.
June 27, 2023
These single issue Batman stories are always fun.
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September 16, 2024
Fun read.
I am enjoying this whole series. It's always a good time with creators from yesteryear. A good time to re-read all these classics.
I am enjoying this whole series. It's always a good time with creators from yesteryear. A good time to re-read all these classics.
December 26, 2025
Bat has an allegorical 1990 of Catman, C’th, resurrected Joker, & Obeah Man in fun but dated cringe
January 31, 2025
It’s clear the Detective Comics at this time was trying to focus on gritty, street level crime more than super-villains. That’s probably happening over in the Batman series. And on paper I like that idea, showing different sides of Batman and Gotham in different titles, but it presents a lopsided portrait in trade form. This book is full of gangs and drug dealers and kids getting lured into thug life to the point where it feels one note and preachy. The highlight is the exception, the Annual that ends the volume; Batman goes to Japan and fights ninjas, including his mentor. It’s a fun story beautifully rendered. The rest of the volume is forgettable (except the scene where a garbage man’s son gets killed, because WTF?!).
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September 11, 2023pretty standard batman fare with middling villains until you get to Rite of Passage - the death of tim drakes parents. not sure what i think of that decision, and the comic in general isn't the best, but it taking place in post duvalier haiti with lots of political tones is very much my shit. retconning the drakes into being CIA assets in my mind. this collection ends with Archie Goodwin's excellent 1990 annual Obligation, in which batman goes to japan and fights the yakuza. read this already in the collection of goodwin batman work and its just an excellent comic. perfect batman stuff for me, there's a white snow suit, he fights with a samurai sword and he shows down in a hot spring. the art and panel design is effective and classic.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews