Detective Comics #1067 from DC puts Gotham and some of its villains in the spotlight. ‘Gotham Nocturne Act I: Something In The Way, Part II,’ is written by Ram V. Ivan Reis provides those amazing pencils with Danny Miki inking them to give Gotham and Batman their characteristic brooding shadows. Dave Stewart colors this issue’s first story in cold blues and troubling fiery hues, while Ariana Maher ties it all up with well-choreographed lettering. ‘A Tale Of Three Halves’ is written faultlessly by Simon Spurrier, with freakishly good art by Hayden Sherman, amazing colors from Nick Filardi, and clear, inventive lettering by Steve Wands.
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Last time, the Batman fought Gael of the Orgham family while Mr. Freeze fled the scene. Gael was in his werewolf mode, but Batman hasn’t made that connection yet. Anyway, they were flash-frozen by Freeze’s farewell, and our hero was left in a bad state. By now, readers should be accustomed to Batman being down and out in this storyline. While he affects an escape (kinda sorta), it’s telling of Reis and Miki’s beautiful art and inks that I spent lots of time admiring panels of unconscious Bats on his face getting literally dragged by Gael. Great work all around in every respect; when the hero as a limp doll is a wonderful lesson in paneling.
Batman is saved, and the discourse between him and Freeze is magnificent. I love Mr. Freeze, perhaps more than any Gotham Rogue (even Two-Face). Seeing Gotham’s old bad guys get such respect and depth of character here while the city gets chewed up by the new ones is what makes Batman comics some of the most popular. It isn’t even really Batman. His supporting cast just hits, and this issue is all about it. The Orghams get super eerie later on, and drama unfolds hard, but V is charting a steady run of Gotham and its main movers shifting, squirming, under the presence, gutting what’s left of Gotham’s fragile spirit. There’s even a touch of crossover from the annual as things begin to gel, but boy, do things open up with this issue.
Detective Comics #1067 is five stars just on the first story. Writing, art, inking, colors, lettering, editing: all done from a place of love and attention. There’s a really cool Bruce moment here, and again, poor Bruce is more interesting, and him getting more ‘air time’ now is a must. Please keep it going.
‘A Tale Of Three Halves’ offers something like closure as Harvey continues the descent in his mind against the scarred persona of Two-Face. I’ve had nothing but praise for it from the start. Sherman’s glorious, eerie artwork. Filardi’s magnificent blasts of reds, magentas, and other colors throughout Harvey’s psycho-delic road trip, Wands’ creepy Two-Face voice balloons. But Spurrier really made the tug-of-war humane this issue. Everything I’ve felt about the character came to the fore in this part, and I really would love to see Two-Face as Gotham’s best antihero for the long haul. Loved this so much.
Gotham lives and breathes as it spasms into whatever the future holds. I can’t wait to see what Barbatos will mean for Batman and the Orghams and what Two-Face and Freeze might do next. So many good moving pieces. Find the space to add this to your collection, folks.
Detective Comics #1067 is available wherever comic books are sold.
Detective Comics #1067
TL;DR
Gotham lives and breathes as it spasms into whatever the future holds. I can’t wait to see what Barbatos will mean for Batman and the Orghams and what Two-Face and Freeze might do next. So many good moving pieces. Find the space to add this to your collection.
