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Detective Comics (2016)
Batman: Shadows of the Bat: The Tower (Detective Comics
Arkham Asylum has fallen, and in its place, Arkham Tower has risen in the heart of the city! A pitch made by the mysterious Dr. Wear. What secrets are held in Arkham Tower and what does it mean for Batman?
A state-of-the-art facility, Arkham Tower, has been erected in the heart of Gotham City! It's advertised as a place for healing, but what is its mysterious founder Dr. Wear hiding? That's just the question that leads the Bat-Family to infiltrate the facility and unravel the dark secrets locked away in Arkham Tower. Will this fact-finding mission turn into a rescue operation for Batman and his team...and is there an even more mysterious threat than Dr. Wear at play?
Collects the complete Batman: Shadows of the Bat: The Tower story from Detective Comics Detective Comics #1047-1058.
A state-of-the-art facility, Arkham Tower, has been erected in the heart of Gotham City! It's advertised as a place for healing, but what is its mysterious founder Dr. Wear hiding? That's just the question that leads the Bat-Family to infiltrate the facility and unravel the dark secrets locked away in Arkham Tower. Will this fact-finding mission turn into a rescue operation for Batman and his team...and is there an even more mysterious threat than Dr. Wear at play?
Collects the complete Batman: Shadows of the Bat: The Tower story from Detective Comics Detective Comics #1047-1058.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 27, 2022
50 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Mariko Tamaki
377 books2,226 followersMariko Tamaki is a Toronto writer, playwright, activist and performer. She works and performs with fat activists Pretty Porky and Pissed Off and the theatre troupe TOA, whose recent play, A vs. B, was staged at the 2004 Rhubarb Festival at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Her well-received novel, Cover Me (McGilligan Books) was followed by a short fiction collection, True Lies: The Book of Bad Advice (Women's Press). Mariko's third book, FAKE ID, is due out in spring 2005.
Mariko Tamaki has performed her work across Canada and through the States, recently appearing at the Calgary Folkfest 2004, Vancouver Writer's Festival 2003, Spatial III, and the Perpetual Motion/Girls Bite Back Tour, which circled though Ottawa, Montreal, Brooklyn and Chicago. She has appeared widely on radio and television including First Person Singular on CBC radio and Imprint on TVO. Mariko Tamaki is currently attending York University working a master's degree in women's studies.
[MacMIllan Books]
Mariko Tamaki has performed her work across Canada and through the States, recently appearing at the Calgary Folkfest 2004, Vancouver Writer's Festival 2003, Spatial III, and the Perpetual Motion/Girls Bite Back Tour, which circled though Ottawa, Montreal, Brooklyn and Chicago. She has appeared widely on radio and television including First Person Singular on CBC radio and Imprint on TVO. Mariko Tamaki is currently attending York University working a master's degree in women's studies.
[MacMIllan Books]
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
April 23, 2023
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. Even though it was 12 issues of the book seemed to fly by. The story was great, a decent mystery, and the artwork fits the story perfectly. Also, for me, it was great to see the Bat Family (and extended family) working together as a unit.
Arkham Tower is a new building again housing the worst and most insane criminals of Gotham. Really, what does anyone expect differently from a simple change in venue and a new doctor in charge? Strangely, there are results. Do these insane criminals seem to be getting better? What new drug or therapy could cause this? With Batman away, the Bat Family under Oracle's coordination is investigating from all angles. Could it really be a miracle or a disaster waiting to happen?
This is what has been built in the Detective Comics books, and this, the book does not disappoint. The book is a great mix of the main story back stories, action in the right places, and perfect artwork to fit the story. I also love the artwork on the hardcover cover front and back. The book finishes with first a full-page variant cover gallery, then a sketchbook, and finally, a thumbnail variant cover gallery.
Arkham Tower is a new building again housing the worst and most insane criminals of Gotham. Really, what does anyone expect differently from a simple change in venue and a new doctor in charge? Strangely, there are results. Do these insane criminals seem to be getting better? What new drug or therapy could cause this? With Batman away, the Bat Family under Oracle's coordination is investigating from all angles. Could it really be a miracle or a disaster waiting to happen?
This is what has been built in the Detective Comics books, and this, the book does not disappoint. The book is a great mix of the main story back stories, action in the right places, and perfect artwork to fit the story. I also love the artwork on the hardcover cover front and back. The book finishes with first a full-page variant cover gallery, then a sketchbook, and finally, a thumbnail variant cover gallery.
September 13, 2024
I was really enjoying this story, right up until the slightly lazy Batman ex Machina ending. Visually, it didn’t help that there were three different artists on the story, each doing a block of four chapters, but I suppose that can’t be helped when a book is being published weekly. Maybe don’t try and publish a comicbook weekly, DC? Seems a bit money-grabby…
September 12, 2022
I was optimistic about this event since it didn't hinge on dozens of tie-ins and spin-offs, unlike most events. And that's exactly what it does and why it was such a fun read. Tamaki's run on Detective Comics has been solid, but this is where it feels like she comes into her own in a bigger way. The plot itself isn't groundbreaking. Neither is it all that surprising, ultimately. The fun comes from Tamaki's measured pacing and enjoyable character dynamics, which give the familiar story a nice balance of freshness and comfortable familiarity. She also gives Huntress a nice spotlight, continuing the trend she started in prior volumes. It's also refreshing to read a 12-issue story that doesn't require much (any?) additional reading. You can jump in, pick up on the basics (Batman is not in Gotham, and Arkham Asylum is out of commission), and enjoy the ride.
The different artists are all good, too, and the shift in styles was never jarring, thankfully. Like the story itself, nothing on the page is notably memorable, but it's consistently solid, and there's some impressive spectacle to enjoy. What surprised me the most about the story is how effective Tamaki's antagonist(s) were, especially considering that the primary instigator is a brand-new character. She gives him interesting motivations and is less put-together than most antagonists we see in Gotham. The obvious highlight is seeing his scheme gradually back him into a corner and unravel in dramatic, explosive ways. Some of the supporting villains are less interesting, but I did like how Tamaki connected her new character to existing ones—it's one of the better executions I've seen in recent memory.
With every Batman story seemingly attempting to reinvent the character, reading a straightforward adventure that leans into its simple strengths was refreshing. 4 stars might be a little generous, but I'm rounding up because of how consistently solid and enjoyable this was for me.
The different artists are all good, too, and the shift in styles was never jarring, thankfully. Like the story itself, nothing on the page is notably memorable, but it's consistently solid, and there's some impressive spectacle to enjoy. What surprised me the most about the story is how effective Tamaki's antagonist(s) were, especially considering that the primary instigator is a brand-new character. She gives him interesting motivations and is less put-together than most antagonists we see in Gotham. The obvious highlight is seeing his scheme gradually back him into a corner and unravel in dramatic, explosive ways. Some of the supporting villains are less interesting, but I did like how Tamaki connected her new character to existing ones—it's one of the better executions I've seen in recent memory.
With every Batman story seemingly attempting to reinvent the character, reading a straightforward adventure that leans into its simple strengths was refreshing. 4 stars might be a little generous, but I'm rounding up because of how consistently solid and enjoyable this was for me.
April 6, 2023
Batman: Shadows of the Bat - The Tower collects Detective Comics issues 1047-1058 written by Mariko Tamaki with art by Ivan Reid, Danny Mimi, Max Raynor, and Amancay Nahuelpan.
The new gleaming Arkham Tower has been built in the heart of Gotham and is open for business. Gotham’s most dangerous murderers, rapists, and thieves who survived A-Day are receiving state of the art medical treatment. While most of Gotham is worried that Arkham Tower will be no different than Arkham Asylum where patients were in-and-out with no discernible difference, Arkham Tower is actually showing positive results. Patients are happy and calm and able to interact with other people. But many individuals think something shady may be happening within the Tower. Oracle leads the Batfamily in a series of covert missions to find out what is really happening behind closed doors.
I’ll be honest, I was not looking forward to this arc at all and had actively been putting off reading it. The Arkham story has been told so many times before with nothing new to tell. Mariko Tamaki gives her best Batman book to date with The Tower. She adds interesting twists to this old story and gives the rest of the Batfamily time to shine in Batman’s absence. A favorite villain of mine makes a regular appearance in this story and it’s always great to see what he is up to. The art is also very strong throughout the book, even with multiple artists. I would definitely recommend this volume to Batfans.
The new gleaming Arkham Tower has been built in the heart of Gotham and is open for business. Gotham’s most dangerous murderers, rapists, and thieves who survived A-Day are receiving state of the art medical treatment. While most of Gotham is worried that Arkham Tower will be no different than Arkham Asylum where patients were in-and-out with no discernible difference, Arkham Tower is actually showing positive results. Patients are happy and calm and able to interact with other people. But many individuals think something shady may be happening within the Tower. Oracle leads the Batfamily in a series of covert missions to find out what is really happening behind closed doors.
I’ll be honest, I was not looking forward to this arc at all and had actively been putting off reading it. The Arkham story has been told so many times before with nothing new to tell. Mariko Tamaki gives her best Batman book to date with The Tower. She adds interesting twists to this old story and gives the rest of the Batfamily time to shine in Batman’s absence. A favorite villain of mine makes a regular appearance in this story and it’s always great to see what he is up to. The art is also very strong throughout the book, even with multiple artists. I would definitely recommend this volume to Batfans.
May 23, 2023
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
Collecting the twelve-issue Gotham City event from Detective Comics #1047-1058, writer Mariko Tamaki rallies the Bat Family in this fourth volume of her comic book run for an intriguing mission, at least at first, to debunk the mystery at the heart of the newly-created state-of-the-art facility, Arkham Tower. Told in a non-linear fashion, overly stretched-out, with a central whodunnit mystery to try and keep things afloat, the story unfolds until tragedy takes place and forces all concerned parties to an all-out brawl in what’s supposed to be the new symbol of Gotham City’s healing journey, only to miss its target, drowning its non-existent commentary on mental health and criminality with unremarkable bombastic spectacles.
Initially created as an initiative by Mayor Nakano to change the city’s tendency of punishment toward one centered around the treatment of prisoners, focusing all the more on being holistic, humane, and practical, Arkham Tower is now home to countless criminals of Gotham City and Dr. Wear wishes to prove the city that the rehabilitation of his patients who are under his care works to receive the much-needed funding from the mayor. Convinced that the institution hides more than what meets the eye, under the guidance of Oracle (Barbare Gordon) and the assistance of Batgirl (Cassandra Cain) and Spoiler (Stephanie Brown), Batwoman (Kate Kane) infiltrates Arkham Tower as the psychiatrist Dr. Lisa Frow to figure out what Dr. Wear might be keeping a secret from everyone. Meanwhile, Nightwing (Dick Grayson) also sneaks into the workforce to check up on their friend The Huntress (Helena Bertinelli) who was admitted as a patient following her own recent troubles with Vile and the parasitic infection that gave her the ability to see violent acts happen through the eyes of victims. While the results seem promising to the public, Dr. Wear clearly seems to be hiding something, also unable to convince Dr. Meridian of the treatment and medication that he utilizes, as he continuously avoids questions about his methods. But once tragedy strikes Arkham Tower, who will come to the rescue and prevent the loss of innocent lives?
This turned out unnecessarily long but who didn’t see that coming in the first place? For Batman to suddenly have to disappear to handle things with Abyss already forces writer Mariko Tamaki to work tenfold to get readers invested in the main heroes here. It didn’t help that there was no mention anywhere of this reason for his departure, making it seem like he just bailed on everyone just when Gotham City needed him most. The first couple of issues, especially with artist Ivan Reis, do, however, a pretty good job in setting the table, luring readers into the mystery, and teasing at something bigger happening right under everyone’s eyes but then the story becomes flimsy, tossing in too many mediocre pieces onto the chessboard, especially by tying in the Penguin and the Party Crashers with their respective interests in Dr. Wear’s business. Although writer Mariko Tamaki does a decent job in giving each of the members of the Bat Family something relatively unique and important to do, she never delves deep enough into their emotional investment to capture these characters’ level of commitment. The non-linear structure also quickly gets old, with the first teaser of the tragedy given away early, readers will quickly want things to pick up instead of lingering around uninteresting dialogues that change nothing to how events are perceived or unfold.
Unfortunately, the surprise cameos later on and the shoehorning of additional villains into the main narrative becomes exhausting, inevitably hinting at an all-out brawl that will only seem superficially fun, effortlessly reminding readers of the missed opportunity with this tragic tale to further discuss mental health and crime in Gotham City. Luckily, the artwork is mostly in good hands, despite being switched around twice, and remained consistent in style, tone, and visual direction, without ever feeling jarring. The colouring is also fantastic, with plenty of opportunities to plunge the narrative with colours as the story mostly always takes place within Arkham Tower but still cleverly utilizes shadows to accentuate elements of mystery or darkness.
Batman: Shadows of the Bat: The Tower is an unduly lengthy but action-packed mystery thriller centered around Arkham Tower and its newly-appointed purpose of healing rather than punishing criminals.
August 9, 2025
3.5*
A story well executed overall by Mariko Tamaki which sees the Bat Family—without Batman—managing a major crisis situation.
The story is divided into three acts, each with four issues: present situation/how did we get here?/resolution.
The first act is undeniably the best. Superbly illustrated by Ivan Reis, who is on top form, it plunges the reader in media res, at the height of tension in a chaotic situation.
The second act recounts the events that led the Bat Family into this situation. While the general idea is clear, Tamaki gets a little lost in her narration and some elements become confusing. She is not helped by the very average artwork of Max Raynor and his poor storytelling.
The conclusion is better handled, with the tension-filled elements of the first part being brought to their end, but here too, some elements are a little confused. Amancay Nahuelpan raises the bar in terms of artwork and storytelling, however.
In conclusion, this is a good arc, very enjoyable to read despite the few flaws mentioned above.
A story well executed overall by Mariko Tamaki which sees the Bat Family—without Batman—managing a major crisis situation.
The story is divided into three acts, each with four issues: present situation/how did we get here?/resolution.
The first act is undeniably the best. Superbly illustrated by Ivan Reis, who is on top form, it plunges the reader in media res, at the height of tension in a chaotic situation.
The second act recounts the events that led the Bat Family into this situation. While the general idea is clear, Tamaki gets a little lost in her narration and some elements become confusing. She is not helped by the very average artwork of Max Raynor and his poor storytelling.
The conclusion is better handled, with the tension-filled elements of the first part being brought to their end, but here too, some elements are a little confused. Amancay Nahuelpan raises the bar in terms of artwork and storytelling, however.
In conclusion, this is a good arc, very enjoyable to read despite the few flaws mentioned above.
November 20, 2022
I always find it telling when an A-list artist leaves a project not even midway through. The first 4 issues of this story, drawn by Reis, I found very intriguing. I mean the opening issue was a major hook that had me interested in Tamaki's work. But then with every issue following Reis's departure the plot deteriorated.
The Tower starts off with an intense first issue of a bloody hostage situation where "the inmates have taken over the asylum", and some of the Bat-Fam is caught inside as civilians. I mean pretty interesting, right?
Every issue after that starts days earlier and leads back to the first issue. And with issues 2-4 we have some good pacing as it leads up to the reveal that the miracle treatment keeping Gothams crazies from going all murdery, is the power of Psycho-Pirate.
And that is the high point of this book. We learn that the Towers founder, Dr. Wear, is childhood buddies with the pirate and is using his power to con Gotham city for city funds. Which to me is a brilliant and original idea that I wish had been the author's main focus. But instead they shoed in some extea villain shenanigans by having Dr. Wear also trying to con the Penguin and some joker gang with a pharmaceutical scheme. It was honestly this addition to the plot, around issue 6, where my taste for this story began to sour.
After that the pacing completely deteriorated and events were rushing by with no context or connection to previous issues. I mean in issue 1 Nightwing is seen in civilian clothes hiding out in a closet saying he lost sight of the other members of the Fam when the chaos broke out. But then when we get to the issue where the chaos broke out, which is established as Day 24, its a complete different turn of events. Nightwing sneaks into the Tower as Nightwing on Day 21, where he discovers Psycho-Pirate at the end of the issue. The very next issue it's Day 24 and Nightwing knocks Pirate out and causes all the chaos. Where he is later shown sneaking through an elevator shaft at the start of where the first issue takes place!?
By that point I was beyond frustrated with this terrible story but still determined to see how it ended. Which involved an unnecessary appearance from Scarecrow and an ambiguous ending for Psycho-Pirate.
I wouldn't bother with this book. I keep seeing that Tamaki is some award winning author, but everything I've read from her so far has the plot pacing and story telling of a seizure.
The Tower starts off with an intense first issue of a bloody hostage situation where "the inmates have taken over the asylum", and some of the Bat-Fam is caught inside as civilians. I mean pretty interesting, right?
Every issue after that starts days earlier and leads back to the first issue. And with issues 2-4 we have some good pacing as it leads up to the reveal that the miracle treatment keeping Gothams crazies from going all murdery, is the power of Psycho-Pirate.
And that is the high point of this book. We learn that the Towers founder, Dr. Wear, is childhood buddies with the pirate and is using his power to con Gotham city for city funds. Which to me is a brilliant and original idea that I wish had been the author's main focus. But instead they shoed in some extea villain shenanigans by having Dr. Wear also trying to con the Penguin and some joker gang with a pharmaceutical scheme. It was honestly this addition to the plot, around issue 6, where my taste for this story began to sour.
After that the pacing completely deteriorated and events were rushing by with no context or connection to previous issues. I mean in issue 1 Nightwing is seen in civilian clothes hiding out in a closet saying he lost sight of the other members of the Fam when the chaos broke out. But then when we get to the issue where the chaos broke out, which is established as Day 24, its a complete different turn of events. Nightwing sneaks into the Tower as Nightwing on Day 21, where he discovers Psycho-Pirate at the end of the issue. The very next issue it's Day 24 and Nightwing knocks Pirate out and causes all the chaos. Where he is later shown sneaking through an elevator shaft at the start of where the first issue takes place!?
By that point I was beyond frustrated with this terrible story but still determined to see how it ended. Which involved an unnecessary appearance from Scarecrow and an ambiguous ending for Psycho-Pirate.
I wouldn't bother with this book. I keep seeing that Tamaki is some award winning author, but everything I've read from her so far has the plot pacing and story telling of a seizure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2023
Yet another Batman comic with far to little (and for many issues No) Batman.
April 19, 2023
An interesting plotline that has some surprises..with an overall story that lingers..enjoyed it..
April 12, 2023
A strong start in The Tower is undercut by a quick twist and a drawn-out plot that predictably devolves into punching. The gist is that Arkham Asylum is now a tower under the direction of Dr. Wear. He's curing Batman's rogues gallery at a rapid clip - stunning progress! Mayor Nakano is about to give him a big funding boost, but the BatFam thinks something's up. Oh, and Batman is out of town.
A few issues in, we learn Dr. Wear's real identity (), at which point the ending is inevitable. This one didn't need 12 issues. You're really just waiting for the big public reveal, then everyone has to fight their way through the tower. And I mean everyone. Batman might not be here, but the rest of the BatFam is, plus at least three competing criminal elements.
The Tower is decently written with attractive art, but it's simply too long for the thin plot.
A few issues in, we learn Dr. Wear's real identity (), at which point the ending is inevitable. This one didn't need 12 issues. You're really just waiting for the big public reveal, then everyone has to fight their way through the tower. And I mean everyone. Batman might not be here, but the rest of the BatFam is, plus at least three competing criminal elements.
The Tower is decently written with attractive art, but it's simply too long for the thin plot.
January 23, 2025
It’s a solid Gotham Batman comic event that feels a little long but is still enjoyable and got some good twists.
September 19, 2022
This has to be the first time, in recent memory, that a story hasn't had a hundred tie-ins, one-shots, and crossovers. It was a good solid...year(?) of story.
After Gotham made it through Fear State, now they have to deal with the amazing Arkham Tower. They SAY that the former Asylum inmates are rehabilitated, but with no proof how can anybody be sure. We've got Bat-family snooping everywhere. With Batman out of the country, they're left to their own devices. They're going to dig up some dirt eventually.
I don't know if I'm a big fan of the wrap up to the arc though. It feels like we had a massive build to a conclusion and then things kind of fizzled out and got explained away. Overall, it was a good read. I don't think it'll go down as being a remarkable story, but it was a solid piece of work.
Bonus: Lady Clayface cameo! Blink and you miss it.
Bonus Bonus: the backup story is, arguably, BETTER than the main storyline. It has several deep cuts.
After Gotham made it through Fear State, now they have to deal with the amazing Arkham Tower. They SAY that the former Asylum inmates are rehabilitated, but with no proof how can anybody be sure. We've got Bat-family snooping everywhere. With Batman out of the country, they're left to their own devices. They're going to dig up some dirt eventually.
I don't know if I'm a big fan of the wrap up to the arc though. It feels like we had a massive build to a conclusion and then things kind of fizzled out and got explained away. Overall, it was a good read. I don't think it'll go down as being a remarkable story, but it was a solid piece of work.
Bonus: Lady Clayface cameo! Blink and you miss it.
Bonus Bonus: the backup story is, arguably, BETTER than the main storyline. It has several deep cuts.
September 19, 2024
Loved this collection. I was hooked from start to finish.
March 20, 2023
Oddly enough, this should be labelled as "Detective Comics Vol 3" Not sure why they stuck it at "2.5", but it can't be helped at this point.
Story Highlights:
- So many things have happened with Arkham Asylum in recent years, the city has finally decided to do something about it. The creation of Arkham Tower... run by Drs Wear and Ocean, the criminal inmates of the Asylum seem to be getting much better and peaceful.
- Doctor Ocean is eventually revealed to be Psycho Pirate, who is using his mind control abillites to keep all the criminals in line.
- When Psycho Pirate is unable to maintain his hold on so many, there is a riot by the prisoners. Caught inside are Huntress, Spoiler, and Mayor Nakano's wife, Koyuki.
- The riot leads to the death of Dr Wear, who it is revealed was using Psycho Pirate to run a money scam on the city (Miracle cure needs funds, take the money and run) AND Koyuki
- Near the end of the story, Scarecrow takes over and tries to use Nightwing to rule... but some have overcome fear.
- The Mayor places it in the care of Dr Chase Meridian, and she'll probably be a great force to help unfortunate people...
- We end with a quote from Riddler... guess he's up next.
Overall, a pretty good story if a little long.
Recommend.
Story Highlights:
- So many things have happened with Arkham Asylum in recent years, the city has finally decided to do something about it. The creation of Arkham Tower... run by Drs Wear and Ocean, the criminal inmates of the Asylum seem to be getting much better and peaceful.
- Doctor Ocean is eventually revealed to be Psycho Pirate, who is using his mind control abillites to keep all the criminals in line.
- When Psycho Pirate is unable to maintain his hold on so many, there is a riot by the prisoners. Caught inside are Huntress, Spoiler, and Mayor Nakano's wife, Koyuki.
- The riot leads to the death of Dr Wear, who it is revealed was using Psycho Pirate to run a money scam on the city (Miracle cure needs funds, take the money and run) AND Koyuki
- Near the end of the story, Scarecrow takes over and tries to use Nightwing to rule... but some have overcome fear.
- The Mayor places it in the care of Dr Chase Meridian, and she'll probably be a great force to help unfortunate people...
- We end with a quote from Riddler... guess he's up next.
Overall, a pretty good story if a little long.
Recommend.
July 6, 2025
I really hate the way DC numbers these collections (Marvel is also guilty of this). When I left off, I had finished Batman: Detective Comics, Vol. 3: Arkham Rising which ended with issue #1046. When I searched for Vol. 4 I noticed it started with issue #1059. What happened to the intervening issues?? It turns out that they are collected here in an unnumbered volume (technically two unnumbered volumes, as the second part is Batman: Shadows of the Bat - House of Gotham). Apparently, these issues were part of a two-part "event" where chapters were published weekly for three months. It took me way more time than necessary to figure this all out. In any event, this collection of Detective Comics #1047-1058 follows directly from the events of Volume 3, Arkham Rising. Batman is off somewhere else, so Gotham City is being protected by the rest of the Bat-family. Arkham Asylum has been replaced by Arkham Tower (a high-rise office building in the middle of Gotham--even in the best of circumstances this is a very bad idea) under the supervision of Dr. Wear. It turns out that Dr. Wear is really just a con man out to fleece the city by pretending to have a cure for the insane criminals housed in Arkham. In actuality, he has co-opted the Psycho Pirate into calming the inmates long enough to collect his bogus operating money from Gotham's mayor. Of course, things don't go as planned, with other super-villains mucking things up. The whole thing turns into a hostage situation as Dr. Wear's plans fall apart. Mariko Tamaki's script jumps back and forth from flashbacks to flash-forwards in a nonlinear and sometimes confusing way. Then, there's a deus ex machina that swoops in near the end to resolve everything (three guesses as to what it is, and the first two don't count). Not a horrible story, but not remarkable, either. The artwork is divided into three teams: Ivan Reis/Danny Miki, Max Raynor, and Amancay Nahuelpaneach, doing a block of four chapters each. Their styles are compatible, doing gritty, realistic drawings (but Reis/Miki are definitely the best). The collection is rounded out with a gallery of the variant covers by assorted artists.
January 21, 2023
I really enjoyed The Tower and it is by far my favourite bit of Tamaki’s run so far.
A 12-part epic that gives itself room to breathe and doesn’t bite off more than it can chew. The pacing until the end is spot on and it uses time very effectively to build atmosphere and suspense, with a beautiful sense of inevitability.
There’s a good mystery to the first third of the arc until Psycho Pirate is revealed. Then it’s watching and waiting for Dr Wear’s house of cards to crumble and that’s just as delightful.
The focus on the Batfamily rather than just the man himself is also very welcome, with Batman out of the country for the majority of the story. The focus on Batwoman and Huntress in particular is impressive, and it’s always great to see Nightwing, Oracle, the Batgirls and Robin (Tim).
Tamaki also does impressive work with Dr Tobias Wear who, despite knowing his fate from almost the start, proves to be a very compelling character. We’re never quite certain of who he is beyond a conman and that works very well.
Where the story doesn’t quite work is the ending. Scarecrow steps into the role of lead villain but without any set up or foreshadowing. I adore him and his characterisation is spot on but he’s defeated just as quickly as he appeared so his inclusion ultimately feels pointless. The ending is also sadly a little rushed and underwhelming.
Despite this, The Tower is definitely a great read and a great Bat-story.
A 12-part epic that gives itself room to breathe and doesn’t bite off more than it can chew. The pacing until the end is spot on and it uses time very effectively to build atmosphere and suspense, with a beautiful sense of inevitability.
There’s a good mystery to the first third of the arc until Psycho Pirate is revealed. Then it’s watching and waiting for Dr Wear’s house of cards to crumble and that’s just as delightful.
The focus on the Batfamily rather than just the man himself is also very welcome, with Batman out of the country for the majority of the story. The focus on Batwoman and Huntress in particular is impressive, and it’s always great to see Nightwing, Oracle, the Batgirls and Robin (Tim).
Tamaki also does impressive work with Dr Tobias Wear who, despite knowing his fate from almost the start, proves to be a very compelling character. We’re never quite certain of who he is beyond a conman and that works very well.
Where the story doesn’t quite work is the ending. Scarecrow steps into the role of lead villain but without any set up or foreshadowing. I adore him and his characterisation is spot on but he’s defeated just as quickly as he appeared so his inclusion ultimately feels pointless. The ending is also sadly a little rushed and underwhelming.
Despite this, The Tower is definitely a great read and a great Bat-story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2023
From the ashes of Arkham Asylum grows Arkham Tower - only this time, the facility is in the centre of Gotham City. But the shadow of Arkham stretches long, and even a shift in location won't stop the new treatment centre from being infected by madness. With Batman out of town, it's up to the rest of the BatFamily to get to the bottom of this latest Arkham mystery from the inside and the out.
This was a 12 issue weekly story when it was published in single issues, so the momentum was great. I'm sure having it all collected together will only enhance that. And, unlike most 12 issue stories, there's enough story here to justify it being that length. There's a lot of characters to be juggled, but everyone gets time to do something fun, even 'new' characters like Doctor Wear and the comic book reintroduction of Chase Meridian. The way everything falls apart (as we all know it's going to) also feels very Gotham-like, but it does leave the Tower relatively unscathed so it can continue to be a fixture in the city for a while longer.
The artwork is divided into three groups of four, with Ivan Reis, Amancay Nahuelpan, and Max Raynor each taking a group. Obviously Reis is the best of the bunch, but the others are no slouches either, especially given the accelerated schedule on this story.
If you want a Batman story sans Batman, The Tower's a good place to go. It's a chunky volume, but it justifies its existence, and the pedal never lets off the gas all the way through.
This was a 12 issue weekly story when it was published in single issues, so the momentum was great. I'm sure having it all collected together will only enhance that. And, unlike most 12 issue stories, there's enough story here to justify it being that length. There's a lot of characters to be juggled, but everyone gets time to do something fun, even 'new' characters like Doctor Wear and the comic book reintroduction of Chase Meridian. The way everything falls apart (as we all know it's going to) also feels very Gotham-like, but it does leave the Tower relatively unscathed so it can continue to be a fixture in the city for a while longer.
The artwork is divided into three groups of four, with Ivan Reis, Amancay Nahuelpan, and Max Raynor each taking a group. Obviously Reis is the best of the bunch, but the others are no slouches either, especially given the accelerated schedule on this story.
If you want a Batman story sans Batman, The Tower's a good place to go. It's a chunky volume, but it justifies its existence, and the pedal never lets off the gas all the way through.
April 27, 2023
3.5 stars
The first half or so is really fun and reminded me of the best parts of Tynion’s Detective Comics run with its heavy focus on BatFamily characters; Oracle, Batwoman, Spoiler, Orphan, and Huntress all get plenty of pages, plus a bit of Nightwing, and refreshingly almost no Batman himself. The story opens in media res and jumps chronologically around a procedural thriller plot to retake a new Arkham facility from the inmates. It’s fast-paced and high-stakes and reads pleasantly like a superhero spin on the hostage action thrillers that were popular in the 80/90s.
But then it just goes on and on, and while some interesting exposition gets filled in along the way, there’s not enough of interest to justify running almost 300 pages. There’s a reason Die Hard wasn’t over three hours long! The Deus Ex Machina anticlimax also makes a lot of the intricate plotting that came before feel pointless.
I loved the covers, though!
The first half or so is really fun and reminded me of the best parts of Tynion’s Detective Comics run with its heavy focus on BatFamily characters; Oracle, Batwoman, Spoiler, Orphan, and Huntress all get plenty of pages, plus a bit of Nightwing, and refreshingly almost no Batman himself. The story opens in media res and jumps chronologically around a procedural thriller plot to retake a new Arkham facility from the inmates. It’s fast-paced and high-stakes and reads pleasantly like a superhero spin on the hostage action thrillers that were popular in the 80/90s.
But then it just goes on and on, and while some interesting exposition gets filled in along the way, there’s not enough of interest to justify running almost 300 pages. There’s a reason Die Hard wasn’t over three hours long! The Deus Ex Machina anticlimax also makes a lot of the intricate plotting that came before feel pointless.
I loved the covers, though!
November 24, 2025
The Tower is too long, but it's an investing slow-burn crime story presented through great art.
This story might have been told in fewer issues than 12-- though I admire the ambition to have a story longer than 6 issues, for a change. The biggest issue with Shadows of the Bat's story is that it reveals its endgame very early, then plays catch-up, killing mystery. I wish Mariko Takami would have had more faith that her enticing investigative plot would interest readers until its pay-offs. I know I would have better enjoyed the book if its web of well-motivated characters unravelled chronologically.
I love how the art presents the dimensions of its bodies. I'm more mixed on the colouring-- which presents a strange glossy style I found unappealing. Though the beautiful oranges, sickly greens, and bloodthirsty reds stood out positively.
Shadows of the Bat: The Tower is Pretty Darn Good.
This story might have been told in fewer issues than 12-- though I admire the ambition to have a story longer than 6 issues, for a change. The biggest issue with Shadows of the Bat's story is that it reveals its endgame very early, then plays catch-up, killing mystery. I wish Mariko Takami would have had more faith that her enticing investigative plot would interest readers until its pay-offs. I know I would have better enjoyed the book if its web of well-motivated characters unravelled chronologically.
I love how the art presents the dimensions of its bodies. I'm more mixed on the colouring-- which presents a strange glossy style I found unappealing. Though the beautiful oranges, sickly greens, and bloodthirsty reds stood out positively.
Shadows of the Bat: The Tower is Pretty Darn Good.
April 28, 2023
I cannot wait for Tamaki's run on Detective to end. The writing is so shoddy and poorly thought out. The volume that immediately preceded this was about Arkham Tower being built and a discussion among the Batfamily about mental health. But this immediately starts with the Batfamily investigating shady stuff within the Tower. They've already decided it's bad between issues. The whole thing is so the doctor in charge can run a insurance scam for $6 million? The skyscraper probably cost over a billion dollars. He should just have become a general contractor. He could have bilked the taxpayers out of far more while building the damn thing. For only one person writing this weekly story, the writing is kind of all over the place. It doesn't hold up from issue to issue well at all with lots of inconsistencies.
September 30, 2022
Overall I really enjoyed this! This is an action-packed Bat-Family story that in the end was a ton of fun. It's fun to see other Bat-Family members get the spotlight for a bit and see some of the character work that is done there. Great art throughout too! Definitely an intriguing concept of creating a new Arkham to help the criminals instead of just punishing them, which I think is explored well. The pacing can be a bit slow, but there's enough suspense, action, interesting characters, and great art to not make it an issue. I recommend checking this out if you've been following this Detective Comics run and like big Bat-Family stories!
February 11, 2023
A fun little event that revolves around the Arkham Tower that is being used to rehabilitate prisoners. How they are being rehabilitated, and the ulterior motives of those running the Tower are what make up the crux of the story. The Bat family handling the situation due to Batman’s absence (he’s out of the country during the events of Abyss) added an interesting element to the event. It’s always fun to see how the team maneuvers and works together, without Batman calling the shots.
The villain at the heart of the story wasn’t that big of a reveal, but made sense for what they were going for.
All around a fun, self contained event storyline.
The villain at the heart of the story wasn’t that big of a reveal, but made sense for what they were going for.
All around a fun, self contained event storyline.
March 30, 2024
Honestly I kinda enjoyed the writing more than the plotting... the villain plot was really kinda lame, but the journey was enjoyable. Covers by Irvin Rodriguez are sick AF
Bugs the hell out of me when they're at James Wear's funeral at the end of the story—but nobody in the story knew him at all since it was a stolen identity! They should've had the guy's actual name on the tombstone SMH isn't that what an editor is for
Bugs the hell out of me when they're at James Wear's funeral at the end of the story—but nobody in the story knew him at all since it was a stolen identity! They should've had the guy's actual name on the tombstone SMH isn't that what an editor is for
January 22, 2025
I went into this with middling hopes, a lot of batfam events as of late have shallow
This was an excellent surprise.
Gotham has raised a tower to replace arkham asylum and a doctor is promising a miracle cure... that's working?
Batman is MIA so the rest of the bat family do some investigations.
Actually do this. There is under cover, chasing leads. A mystery.
Feels like a bat book of old.
Worth a punt
This was an excellent surprise.
Gotham has raised a tower to replace arkham asylum and a doctor is promising a miracle cure... that's working?
Batman is MIA so the rest of the bat family do some investigations.
Actually do this. There is under cover, chasing leads. A mystery.
Feels like a bat book of old.
Worth a punt
November 14, 2025
This had potential, but I was so lost at the beginning, and my interest was not increasing. I like that it was *supposed* to be about the Bat family, but at the end, it’s just Batman solving everything. There were some good moments toward the last third of the story. And I liked the art in this whole arc, especially Nahuelpan’s. But the main antagonist did not work, and there were some questionable decisions made from our heroes.
March 19, 2023
This story is awesome. Maybe one of my favorite Batman stories in years, and it mainly involves the sidekicks, for lack of a better term. I’m not going to say much more other than it’s a solid work of storytelling and I literally couldn’t put it down. Took me a couple hours but I finished this bad boy all in one sitting.
September 17, 2023
A taut thriller about Gotham's awful idea to reopen Arkham as a tower downtown, Tamaki's work is cinematic and gripping. Batman barely features, and the supporting cast get to shine. I enjoyed the humorously mundane aspects of the criminal scheme even more than I liked the usual Rogues duking it out with our heroes.
March 19, 2024
There is a decent mystery story here well told and I enjoyed this volume more than I was expecting to. The artwork fit the mood, and I may have wished the pacing at times to be a bit tighter, I’m putting this down to a mild preference rather than any major flaw.
October 4, 2025
I actually really liked this!
Even though the cover art for each issue kind of Uncanny Valley weirded me out, I thought this was a great Bat-Family story.
But I'm a sucker for Kate/Batwoman so of course I loved she was featured in this.
Even though the cover art for each issue kind of Uncanny Valley weirded me out, I thought this was a great Bat-Family story.
But I'm a sucker for Kate/Batwoman so of course I loved she was featured in this.
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