Detective Comics #995 // Review
The dynamic duo, Peter J. Tomasi and Doug Mahnke, return to collaborate on yet another one of DC’s flagship characters and ongoing titles. This time around, raising the stakes for the series with this intense chapter and bringing new horrors upon Batman and readers alike. Kicking off with an utter bang this run also draws one step closer towards the milestone issue #1000 and 80 years of Batman all together.
Batman faces a new failure and must seek answers in the process. With a long-standing Batfamily member dying in this issue, Bruce has to find answers, winding up in none other than Arkham Asylum. Never quitting after even the worst of defeats, the Dark Knight aims to solve this mystery while managing to bring back the actual Detective aspect of the title, something readers have long since asked for.
Tomasi displays how to draw out raw emotions and make them completely believable in the process yet managing to never let anything feel cheap or undeserved. Crafting a bittersweet symphony of emotions with his overwhelming understanding for Batman as a character and his corner of the DCU are a breath of fresh air for fans looking for an alternative Batman run or for anyone looking to jump into this brand new run. Taking all the best aspects of the Caped Crusader and bringing all new challenges his direction, Tomasi understands the universe, these characters, and most importantly how to tell a well crafted story that stands the test of time.
The horrific nature of Mahnke’s pencils adds an extra layer of suspense and horror perfectly suited for a noir detective series but more importantly this issue specifically. The intensity of Batman doing everything he can to save a life only to fail, the emotion leaps off the page with Mahnke’s signature style, adding an extra layer of suspense and empathy for the characters. Horrific splendor are words to encapsulate the evocative nature of Mahnke’s pencils, leaving an almost horror comic feeling to this initial arc of the run.
Tomasi and Mahnke prove time and time again to work incredibly well together, to say the least, and can expertly weave an epic memorable title after title. The long two standing Dc comics royalty knows these characters inside and out and working together create what hopes to be one of the best Batman runs in years.
Grade: A
