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Batman One-Shots
Batman: Dear Detective
A story told through a stunning collection of Lee Bermejo Batman covers. Lee Bermejo has collected some of his most stunning Batman covers and woven them together to tell a story that strikes right at the heart of the Dark Knight’s never-ending crusade.
61 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2022
5 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Lee Bermejo
281 books189 followersLee Bermejo is a professional illustrator and comic book artist. He has done work for Marvel and DC Comics, Men's Health, Max Mara, Top Cow productions, Wizard Entertainment, and a crappy film called Ultraviolet (hey,whaddayagonnado). Talking about himself in the third person makes him feel more important than he really is. Anyway, enough about the blogger, let's talk art!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 6, 2022
This is a bunch of variant covers Lee Bermejo did for Detective Comics and other titles reprinted into a magazine-sized one-shot that’s accompanied by a couple of pages of letters addressed to Batman by a mysterious someone/something. So it's basically just a glorified art book that also tells a noir story using the aforementioned letters and covers.
So don’t go into this expecting your normal comic, because it’s really not your average Batman one-shot. And if I’m being honest, the story itself isn’t even all that good to begin with. The art is the main highlight, but I’m not going to act as if it made for a more enthralling story that made sense or anything. I’ve already seen half these images on the spinner rack in the last couple months too. And the whole end twist was fine, but not anything too shocking or unpredictable.
Only pick this up if you’re a massive fan of Lee Bermejo like I am, because there really isn’t that much to it. Everyone else should probably skip it.
So don’t go into this expecting your normal comic, because it’s really not your average Batman one-shot. And if I’m being honest, the story itself isn’t even all that good to begin with. The art is the main highlight, but I’m not going to act as if it made for a more enthralling story that made sense or anything. I’ve already seen half these images on the spinner rack in the last couple months too. And the whole end twist was fine, but not anything too shocking or unpredictable.
Only pick this up if you’re a massive fan of Lee Bermejo like I am, because there really isn’t that much to it. Everyone else should probably skip it.
October 13, 2022
A collection of Lee Bermejo cover illustrations done for Batman comics cleverly presented as a story with interstitial pages of a letter to Batman from one of his enemies. I think it's a great way to present what's otherwise just an artbook.
Lee Bermejo is certainly one of the top illustrators working in comics today. He gets an incredible level of realism, I love how you can see the materials Batman's outfit is made out of. Just so much texture. All this while still creating dynamic poses.
I'd like to see an artist's edition or process. I know he does it mostly digital which probably helps him zoom in to get the microscopic details in place. I'd like to see these pieces in B+W.
Lee Bermejo is certainly one of the top illustrators working in comics today. He gets an incredible level of realism, I love how you can see the materials Batman's outfit is made out of. Just so much texture. All this while still creating dynamic poses.
I'd like to see an artist's edition or process. I know he does it mostly digital which probably helps him zoom in to get the microscopic details in place. I'd like to see these pieces in B+W.
December 30, 2024
I found this volume by chance, searching among the author's works and I was undoubtedly struck by the cover, a superb drawing of Batman, with colors and shadows able to giving great depth to the character. For me it is a little gem that cannot be missing from the library of a comic book enthusiast, but it depends on what you expect to find.
This is not a classic comic, but a set of illustrated covers made by “Lee Bermejo” and accompanied by some letters that an unknown villain sends to Batman. Lee Bermejo is an illustrator that I discovered only recently, but that I feel I can count among the most talented today. His drawings are extremely realistic, with a perfect balance between colors, shadows and light, all aimed at showing the reader the darkest Batman.
The alternation of the covers, often distressing and the letters, written with what seems to be a growing madness, keeps the reader nailed to the pages, busy understanding which of Batman's enemies could be the sender. In the latest drawings there is no lack of these enemies, superbly represented, from Catwoman to Two-Face, Penguin, Riddler and above all, Joker.
Seeing this representation of Batman, it strikes me how different the Dark Knight is today from how he was represented in the TV series of the 60s, always correct and respectful even of the rights of criminals.
This is not a classic comic, but a set of illustrated covers made by “Lee Bermejo” and accompanied by some letters that an unknown villain sends to Batman. Lee Bermejo is an illustrator that I discovered only recently, but that I feel I can count among the most talented today. His drawings are extremely realistic, with a perfect balance between colors, shadows and light, all aimed at showing the reader the darkest Batman.
The alternation of the covers, often distressing and the letters, written with what seems to be a growing madness, keeps the reader nailed to the pages, busy understanding which of Batman's enemies could be the sender. In the latest drawings there is no lack of these enemies, superbly represented, from Catwoman to Two-Face, Penguin, Riddler and above all, Joker.
Seeing this representation of Batman, it strikes me how different the Dark Knight is today from how he was represented in the TV series of the 60s, always correct and respectful even of the rights of criminals.
September 8, 2022
Batman: Dear Detective is a one-shot comic written and drawn by Lee Bermejo.
DC Executive: So, we have all this Batman cover art Bermejo has drawn over the years. Can we turn it into a story?
DC Editor: Does it have to make sense?
DC Executive: No.
DC Editor: Does it have to be good?
DC Executive: lol no.
DC Editor: Consider it done.
I imagine this is what happened in a random DC Comic boardroom. The “story” that is told between the pages is a series of mysterious letters to Batman by an unknown character. Bermejo’s cover art is collected to tell this story. Again, it doesn’t make much sense nor is it very good, but it is still Bermejo’s gorgeous artwork. The book is presented in the over-sized magazine format and his art, for the most part, looks absolutely great (there are a few early pages that look fuzzy to me. Not sure if it is the printing or the actual artwork). If you are a huge fan of Bermejo’s art, it is worth picking up.
DC Executive: So, we have all this Batman cover art Bermejo has drawn over the years. Can we turn it into a story?
DC Editor: Does it have to make sense?
DC Executive: No.
DC Editor: Does it have to be good?
DC Executive: lol no.
DC Editor: Consider it done.
I imagine this is what happened in a random DC Comic boardroom. The “story” that is told between the pages is a series of mysterious letters to Batman by an unknown character. Bermejo’s cover art is collected to tell this story. Again, it doesn’t make much sense nor is it very good, but it is still Bermejo’s gorgeous artwork. The book is presented in the over-sized magazine format and his art, for the most part, looks absolutely great (there are a few early pages that look fuzzy to me. Not sure if it is the printing or the actual artwork). If you are a huge fan of Bermejo’s art, it is worth picking up.
September 15, 2022
5 ⭐ simply for how incredibly talented Lee Bermejo has been since day one. And for whoever came up with the idea of releasing his covers in an oversized format with a somewhat story attached. Uniquely brilliant.
September 12, 2022
They should've just made this a collection of covers instead of putting the weird and lame "story" to it
February 18, 2023
(8/10): This is a glorified Lee Bermejo art book with a poem as the framing device for these drawings. The letter itself feels very gritty and tonally feels at home with Batman as it describes his greatest enemy. I looked up the answer to who wrote the poem online and it makes total sense and even elevates the message of the poem for me. Lee Bermejo is a spectacular artist and an especially premium Batman artist because of how gritty he makes the Dark Knight in his drawings. He even draws my favorite realistic Batman suit because of how tactical it looks while still feeling like the kind of suit Batman would use to strike and deliver fear into the hearts of Gotham City's underworld. Overall, I enjoyed how experimental Bermejo went in an effort to elevate and make this art book feel more cohesive, and I especially love the art showcased in it as I will be continuing to follow him for the rest of his artistic career.
November 23, 2022
A Love Letter
"Your light in the sky is a false sun. It only makes those shadows longer."
- the mysterious stranger
story:
"Batman: Dear Detective" is a short one-shot tale of a mysterious stranger writing a "love letter" to Batman. All the intentions and emotions are amplified by large prints of some of Lee Bermejo's finest work of cover art.
conclusion: The choice is yours - if a mini-artbook is worth 8 USD to you, go ahead. If you're a Lee Bermejo fan, go ahead. If you expect a deep and thrilling story it's a skip. 3/5
"Your light in the sky is a false sun. It only makes those shadows longer."
- the mysterious stranger
story:
"Batman: Dear Detective" is a short one-shot tale of a mysterious stranger writing a "love letter" to Batman. All the intentions and emotions are amplified by large prints of some of Lee Bermejo's finest work of cover art.
rating:
plot:
The Dark Knight receives a mysterious letter full of hate and so-called "truth". As the reader marches through the lines ominous symbols appear which can be used to unveil the identity of the writer. That's basically it. Besides that Bermejo's art tries to tell a story in pictures...let's say "tries"
characters: First of all there is the secret writer who is full of hate and spite and wants to send a clear statement: "I am the boss here. No matter how hard you (Batman) try, you'll never defeat me.". This statement is supported by more or less original threats and curses (de(f)ective lol). The second character is Batman but he's even less talkative in this one than in the other comics.
setting & atmosphere: Besides the idea being good and the execution being plain lazy the atmosphere is actually entertaining for the five minutes you'll need to read "Dear Detective". It feels like yet another one of Riddler's puzzles and the tone is really rough and realistic. I enjoyed it while it lasted.
illustrations: The main selling point are the artworks by Lee Bermejo. Whoever is a fan of dark and detailed comic art has come to the right place. His pictures transfer the feeling I had while watching "The Batman".
special remarks: It's a glorified artbook for Bermejo fans.
conclusion: The choice is yours - if a mini-artbook is worth 8 USD to you, go ahead. If you're a Lee Bermejo fan, go ahead. If you expect a deep and thrilling story it's a skip. 3/5
October 13, 2022
In the official promotion for this issue Batman: Dear Detective is described as 'One part prestige art book, one part compelling noir tale', and honestly, I think this might be one of the worst pieces of miss-promotion that DC has ever done. Despite being told that Lee Bermejo's art is being collected into a cohesive story told through his covers, this conceit doesn't hold up for long.
This isn't a comic, it's a collection of Bermejo's cover art stuck together in a book, which is fine if that's what they were saying it is. But they've claimed that there's a story here too. So scattered throughout the book are random pages where someone has written a strange, rambling letter to Batman. Between this parts the covers attempt to tell a story without words; and whilst it does work to begin with if you're not looking too close the seams really start to show later on.
For example, on one page Batman is climbing up to a rooftop at night, the next he's on the roof in the middle of a rainstorm, the next he's jumping off the roof is a bright sunrise. And I guess it could all be part of the same sequence, but it feels a bit too disconnected. Later on we get images where Batman is fighting alongside various members of the family, and against different villains, and if these were just snapshots of his life that would be fine, but it's apparently one single narrative?
None of it holds up, and it drags enjoyment down because it's trying to be something it's not. It could have just been an art book showcasing some of the best Batman art around, but it's trying to justify its existence with this 'story', and it ended up making the whole experience feeling like a boring waste of time.
This isn't a comic, it's a collection of Bermejo's cover art stuck together in a book, which is fine if that's what they were saying it is. But they've claimed that there's a story here too. So scattered throughout the book are random pages where someone has written a strange, rambling letter to Batman. Between this parts the covers attempt to tell a story without words; and whilst it does work to begin with if you're not looking too close the seams really start to show later on.
For example, on one page Batman is climbing up to a rooftop at night, the next he's on the roof in the middle of a rainstorm, the next he's jumping off the roof is a bright sunrise. And I guess it could all be part of the same sequence, but it feels a bit too disconnected. Later on we get images where Batman is fighting alongside various members of the family, and against different villains, and if these were just snapshots of his life that would be fine, but it's apparently one single narrative?
None of it holds up, and it drags enjoyment down because it's trying to be something it's not. It could have just been an art book showcasing some of the best Batman art around, but it's trying to justify its existence with this 'story', and it ended up making the whole experience feeling like a boring waste of time.
September 9, 2022
I love Lee Bermeju’s art, but this is still just a collection of covers.
September 2, 2024
Batman, o “Cavaleiro das Trevas”, o “Cruzado de Capa”, o “Justiceiro da Noite”, subitamente, recebe uma provocante e cínica mensagem de um misterioso personagem que o instiga e questiona. Curioso e furioso o anti herói parte numa busca obcecada para desvendar a identidade do missivista que, revelando ter conhecimento de detalhes da vida de Batman que nunca haviam sido revelados a ninguém, procura leva-lo a ultrapassar o seus limites.
Esse é o mote básico de “Batman, caro detetive”, impecável graphic novel roteirizada e desenhada com esmero pelo renomado artista gráfico e roteirista estadunidense Lee Bermejo, nascido em 1978, que hoje vive na Itália e é um dos nomes mais prestigiados dos quadrinhos contemporâneos.
Estruturada como se fosse uma sequência de artes de capa “Batman, caro detetive” é um item de colecionador. Com uma arte realista com traços ora brutais, ora nostálgicos, com uma capa dura maravilhosa, a obra deslumbra e surpreende até os aficionados mais veteranos das aventuras do “Cavaleiro das Trevas”.
Excelente!
Esse é o mote básico de “Batman, caro detetive”, impecável graphic novel roteirizada e desenhada com esmero pelo renomado artista gráfico e roteirista estadunidense Lee Bermejo, nascido em 1978, que hoje vive na Itália e é um dos nomes mais prestigiados dos quadrinhos contemporâneos.
Estruturada como se fosse uma sequência de artes de capa “Batman, caro detetive” é um item de colecionador. Com uma arte realista com traços ora brutais, ora nostálgicos, com uma capa dura maravilhosa, a obra deslumbra e surpreende até os aficionados mais veteranos das aventuras do “Cavaleiro das Trevas”.
Excelente!
June 5, 2023
So I bought this explicitly for the art, but I vaguely flipped through it so I didn’t really get a good look at anything (intentionally). And MAN, I’m glad I didn’t!
I’m a big fan of Batman - my favorite DC character - and I’ve only gotten into the world of comic/illustrated reading so I hadn’t seen any of the art before. (Some reviews said they were covers the artist has done for comics or something?) Regardless, the art is PHENOMENAL! I also wasn’t expecting a little storyline to go with it and I did like the ending too!
BUT THE ART!!! All I can say is Lee Bermejo put SO much time and care into each illustration and it shows! I also really liked that poses weren’t repeated and he had some really cool in-motion ones as well. The colors were perfect and seeing other members of the Bat-family plus some iconic villains was awesome.
I absolutely loved this and I will definitely be coming back to it just to marvel at Lee’s work!
I’m a big fan of Batman - my favorite DC character - and I’ve only gotten into the world of comic/illustrated reading so I hadn’t seen any of the art before. (Some reviews said they were covers the artist has done for comics or something?) Regardless, the art is PHENOMENAL! I also wasn’t expecting a little storyline to go with it and I did like the ending too!
BUT THE ART!!! All I can say is Lee Bermejo put SO much time and care into each illustration and it shows! I also really liked that poses weren’t repeated and he had some really cool in-motion ones as well. The colors were perfect and seeing other members of the Bat-family plus some iconic villains was awesome.
I absolutely loved this and I will definitely be coming back to it just to marvel at Lee’s work!
March 10, 2023
Batman: Dear Detective ist kein Comic im eigentlichen Sinne. Sondern eine Sammlung von Kunstwerken mit ein wenig Text. Dear Detective ist eine großartige Sammlung von Lee Bermejo's wunderschönen Kunstwerken. Bermejo ist ein Ausnahmekünstler, der für mich die besten Batman Zeichnungen abliefert, sie sind düster und wirken realistisch. Mich hatte der Band schon mit dem unfassbar genialen Cover Artwork, das mit Spotlack veredelt wurde. Batman: Dear Detective ist sicher nicht für jeden, da es weder ein richtiger Comic, noch ein Artbook ist, aber ich bin begeistert und würde es jedem Fan von Lee Bermejo ans Herz legen, schaut euch nur mal diese Bilder an, ein Traum von mir, die volle Punktzahl ☆☆☆☆☆.
September 20, 2025
After Esad Ribbic, Lee Bermejo probably lands in second place in the list of my favorite comic book artists. His work on Batman: Noel is the best artwork I’ve ever seen for a Batman story, and that quality is consistent here. This is such a creative and useful idea for a little Batman story: Bermejo takes all of his variant and cover work and manages to craft a coherent and thought-provoking comic about Batman’s relationship to crime. Even the way the letters written to Batman has a neat build and satisfying payoff in the end.
May 14, 2024
Este livro é um artbook com capas variantes do Lee Bermejo. Não é uma história em quadrinhos.
Ele até traz um texto em prosa, curto, que continua a cada 5 ou 6 páginas e serve para dar uma ideia do que representa a luta do Batman contra o crime. Nada de excepcional, porém.
Recomendo para quem é fã da arte do Lee Bermejo e quer ter mais essas artes incríveis na coleção. (Livro físico, por favor, né?)
Ele até traz um texto em prosa, curto, que continua a cada 5 ou 6 páginas e serve para dar uma ideia do que representa a luta do Batman contra o crime. Nada de excepcional, porém.
Recomendo para quem é fã da arte do Lee Bermejo e quer ter mais essas artes incríveis na coleção. (Livro físico, por favor, né?)
September 26, 2022
It's not what I was expecting, but it was interesting. I agree with others that this is a total DC money grab, but I also think the "letters" let the collected art tell the story - essentially something we all know. Batman will never win because c-r-i-m-e is always there. But still he dons his armor and fights. And we get to look at Bermejo's gorgeous and gritty art in prestige format.
March 3, 2023
One of the weirdest vibes I’ve had with a comic.
Obviously best interior art of all time.
Forced into a “story”.
Pages with text are just bad, like a weird poem no one asked for.
Barely legible and I guess the cypher thing was… ok?
The cypher punchline was bad and everything is forced and jarring.
Would I buy again? Every time.
Seriously so confused…
Obviously best interior art of all time.
Forced into a “story”.
Pages with text are just bad, like a weird poem no one asked for.
Barely legible and I guess the cypher thing was… ok?
The cypher punchline was bad and everything is forced and jarring.
Would I buy again? Every time.
Seriously so confused…
September 11, 2022
Definitely mostly an art book of variant covers, which is nice at the price point of $8. The bit of story throw in is a fun little puzzle and perfectly paired with the gritty cover art telling the rest of the story.
September 8, 2022
Ini... artbook?
Kalau bukan, ya anggap saja ini buku bergambar. Bukan komik.
Kalau bukan, ya anggap saja ini buku bergambar. Bukan komik.
September 8, 2022
A collection of Bermejo cover art— stunning.
September 16, 2022
Lee Bermejo is very good at comics
September 26, 2022
Not much of a story. More of a riddle over several pages. That's not the point of this book. It's the beautiful artwork. Batman never looked so good. As in heroic and badas...
November 12, 2022
Art book
No story
Art 5
No story
Art 5
November 15, 2023
Lee Bermejo's art takes your breath away! Just splendid.
March 31, 2024
A pretty good visual celebration of Batman's history.
April 13, 2024
This was so forced and unnecessary...
April 18, 2024
As an artbook?
4 stars
As a STORY?
2..(if even that)
Lee Bermejo covers collected into one place. Loosely connected by 'letters' left to Batman from an unknown assailant.
4 stars
As a STORY?
2..(if even that)
Lee Bermejo covers collected into one place. Loosely connected by 'letters' left to Batman from an unknown assailant.
November 28, 2024
Whenever I think about Batman, I imagine Lee Bermejo's version of the Dark Knight.
This is it. The ultimate version of the Batman.
Fucking brilliant. 🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇
This is it. The ultimate version of the Batman.
Fucking brilliant. 🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇
July 6, 2025
Super beau livre!
Entre le livre d’art et le récit photo!
On ne se tanne pas de regarder les détails des dessins!!
Incontournable pour tout batfan!!
Entre le livre d’art et le récit photo!
On ne se tanne pas de regarder les détails des dessins!!
Incontournable pour tout batfan!!
June 6, 2023
Im vorliegenden Band präsentiert Panini aus dem Hause DC eine Kollektion Variantcover, die Lee Bermejo speziell von Batman gezeichnet, um nicht zu sagen gemalt hat. Begleitet werden die Titelbilder von einem Brief, der an Batman adressiert ist und von einem mysteriösen Jemand/Etwas verfasst wurde.
Sowohl die wunderschönen Kunstwerke als auch der Brief haben eine düstere und beklemmende Atmosphäre, beide erzählen eine unheimliche Geschichte, deren Inhalt Batman nicht unbekannt sein dürfte, da sie seinen größten Feind beschreibt. Wer das ist, erfährt man am Ende des Bandes, wenn man willens ist, ein Buchstabenrätsel zu lösen.
Man darf hier weder einen konventionellen Comic noch eine tiefgründige und packende Geschichte erwarten. Die Bilder von Bermejo sind das absolute Highlight und laden zum längeren Betrachten ein. Er ist ohne Zweifel einer der besten Künstler in der Comicbranche, seine Zeichnungen sind sehr realistisch und detailgetreu, gerade was die Darstellung von Batmans Kluft und Hautbeschaffenheit betrifft, man könnte meinen, sein Anzug ist aus Leder, aber auch jede Falte und Pore sind zu erkennen – und nicht zu vergessen die dynamischen Posen.
Ideal für begeisterte Fans und Sammler von Lee Bermejos künstlerischer Arbeit.
Sowohl die wunderschönen Kunstwerke als auch der Brief haben eine düstere und beklemmende Atmosphäre, beide erzählen eine unheimliche Geschichte, deren Inhalt Batman nicht unbekannt sein dürfte, da sie seinen größten Feind beschreibt. Wer das ist, erfährt man am Ende des Bandes, wenn man willens ist, ein Buchstabenrätsel zu lösen.
Man darf hier weder einen konventionellen Comic noch eine tiefgründige und packende Geschichte erwarten. Die Bilder von Bermejo sind das absolute Highlight und laden zum längeren Betrachten ein. Er ist ohne Zweifel einer der besten Künstler in der Comicbranche, seine Zeichnungen sind sehr realistisch und detailgetreu, gerade was die Darstellung von Batmans Kluft und Hautbeschaffenheit betrifft, man könnte meinen, sein Anzug ist aus Leder, aber auch jede Falte und Pore sind zu erkennen – und nicht zu vergessen die dynamischen Posen.
Ideal für begeisterte Fans und Sammler von Lee Bermejos künstlerischer Arbeit.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews