REVIEW: ‘Detective Comics’ Issue 1113

Detective Comics Issue 1113 is published by DC Comics. Written by Tom Taylor, art by Jeff Spokes, and letters by Wes Abbott.

This is Part Two of Week Four of the Batman: Bad Seeds crossover. Batman has to prevent a poisonous pesticide from being unleashed on Gotham.

This issue picks up where a previous chapter left off, handing the story over to another creative team. In Batman Issue 13, the Dark Knight fought his way through a police station full of soldiers and ended up on the roof with Vandal Savage. Detective Comics Issue 1113 takes place immediately after, keeping the intensity high from the start. We’ve seen Ivy’s opening punch; this is Savage’s return. Zeppelins carrying a vicious herbicide are about to be flown over Gotham, with the potential for innocent casualties.

Detective Comics Issue 1113 is just as action-led as the other issues, and there is a brilliant progression in elevation. We’ve gone from the bottom of the street to the rooftops and now taking ot the skies. This event is truly involving every level of Gotham. A long-awaited fight between Savage and Batman is only the beginning; the much more important task is to stop the zeppelins.

The comic has a terrific sense of movement and intensity, moving between the targets. The zeppelins require careful consideration, as any rogue bullet could cause devastation. The spores and pollen in the air are also causing problems for machinery. And this is just one frontier of a much larger war.

Detective Comics Issue 1113 is about more than just Batman’s personality; his influence is at play, too. There is phenomenal dialogue written by Taylor, with so much venom on the lips of both Savage and Batman. Savage is a wonderfully Machiavellian villain, happily revealing everything about his plan because he knows he’s above the law. Batman deals with him swiftly, brutally, and effectively.

There wasn’t much narration in Batman Issue 13. But in Detective Comics Issue 1113, Batman’s thoughts pepper the pages alongside the action. They detail his thoughts as he moves, problem-solving on the fly. Bruce’s relationships with the cops are a major theme in this crossover, and that’s where his influence comes into play. Batman actually tries non-violence at almost every opportunity. When speaking to cops or over the radio, he urges them to put their weapons down and help save the city.

Batman may be a symbol of violence, but he really doesn’t want to engage with it unless it’s necessary. The fight between genuine cops and the corrupt ones working with Savage is becoming a key feature of this story. It’s nice to see genuine conversations between Batman and the good cops, because it’s a sign of the fight the city still has.

The art is gorgeous. Vandal Savage is a man who never really wears a costume, yet is just inherently formidable and intimidating. When standing tall, he’s bigger than Batman. Their fight in Detective Comics Issue 1113 is a flash of gadgets and close-up action. But then there is fluidity when Batman takes off. There’s something very cool about a zeppelin, which is probably why Taylor and Spokes include them in this issue. They’re bigger than planes or helicopters, slow and ponderous in their flight. And they’re big balloons of flammable gas.

There’s a lot of movement around and on them as they hover above Gotham. With the guns so dangerous on board the limps, there is an emphasis on physical violence and breaking the weapons. And the entire action takes place in the skies above the city.

The colors represent the city getting darker as Bad Seeds ventures further into the night. The brightest color in Detective Comics Issue 1113 is the yellow of the zeppelins and Savage’s shirt. In some comics, the blue of Batman’s cape and cowl is a much brighter blue. But here, it is closer to grey and black, again accentuating the book’s grittiness. The lettering is very clear and easy to read.

Detective Comics Issue 1113 displays the remarkable synergy within the crossover. Even though the event moved into a different comic, many of the same elements remain key to the story. The action is sensational, and the consistency within the transitions demonstrates incredible communication across the editorial teams. This chapter is the perfect mix of comic-book madness, engrossing drama, and connection. There are zeppelins filled with poison and killed plants on the ground, but also an exhilarating fight against corruption and senseless death.

Detective Comics Issue 1113 is available now wherever comics are sold.