Behind the Capes

Read the finale for yourself! "Batmen Eternal, Finale" Creative Team: James Tynion IV - Script, Eddy Barrows - Pencils, Eber Ferreira - Inks, Adriano Lucas - Colors, Sal Cipriano - Letters, Barrows, Ferreira & Lucas - Cover, Dave Wielgosz - Assistant Editor, Chris Conroy - Editor, Jamie S. Rich - Group Editor, Batman Created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger DC Comics' Solicitation: "This is it—the unbelievable conclusion of James Tynion IV’s Batman epic! It’s the last stand of the Gotham Knights, fighting a monster they helped inspire...and a destiny they won’t accept! What will become of the greatest crime-fighting team Gotham City ever saw?" Defining Your Destiny Detective Comics 981 is a wrap-up for James Tynion IV, who has been on the title since Rebirth in 2016.  Throughout this arc (which began in issue 976 ) our heroes have been struggling with the dark future that seems to be imminent.  Our villain Ulysses wants to speed up its coming thr...

Get your digital copy here ! Batmen Eternal, Part 5 James Tynion IV - Writer, Scot Eaton - Pencils, Wayne Faucher - Inks, John Kalisz & Allen Passalaqua - Colors, Sal Cipriano - Letters, Alvaro Martinez, Raul Martinez & Brad Anderson - Cover, Dave Wielgosz - Assistant Editor, Chris Conroy - Editor, Jamie S. Rich - Group Editor Initial Reactions This was a pretty cool issue.  There was plenty of action, but the heart of the issue is at the end.  Our heroes seem to finally be making the turn against Brother Eye and his soldiers thanks to the strong ties of the Bat Family.  With this being the final arc for Tynion IV, we are wrapping up in a great way.  If you have enjoyed Detective Comics since Rebirth, I think you will appreciate this issue. The Story The issue opens with Montoya and Bullock bantering about going through some old paperwork.  Montoya receives an urgent call from Kate Kane telling her to run.  Before they could move, the...

Check this issue out now! Batmen Eternal, Part 4 James Tynion IV - Writer, Philippe Briones - Artist, John Kalisz - Colors, Sal Cipriano - Letters, Alvaro Martinez, Raul Fernandez & Brad Anderson - Cover, Dave Wielgosz - Assistant Editor, Chris Conroy - Editor, Jamie S. Rich - Group Editor Initial Reactions If you are a Tim Drake fan, it has to be hard to see what is happening to him in this issue!  All he wants is to protect people, yet Ulysses is twisting his plans to bring about an authoritarian State in Gotham.  This issue does a good job of progressing the story and is visually stunning.  By the end of the issue, Gotham (and our heroes) are in really bad shape, and are definitely under the thumb of Ulysses and Brother Eye. The Story The issue begins with a cold open of Tim being shown the future deaths of his teammates while Ulysses is taunting him through Brother Eye.  Meanwhile, his physical body is fighting Cassandra in the Batcave under th...

Need your own copy? You can buy it here ! Batmen Eternal, Part 3 James Tynion IV - Writer, Javier Fernandez - Artist, John Kalisz - Colors, Sal Cipriano - Letters, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira & Adriano Lucas - Cover, Dave Wielgosz - Asst. Editor, Chris Conroy - Editor, Jamie S. Rich - Group Editor Initial Reactions Detective 978 is another strong issue in this series.  In it we see the full evolution of Ulysses as a formidable villain.  I'll be honest, I have not been the biggest fan of his character, but this issue serves as the turning point.  He has officially gone off the deep end, and we will have to wait and see what this truly leaves for our heroes.  While I definitely recommend this issue, you may be confused if this is your jumping on point.  If you need a catch-up, check out the first two issues in this arc ( 976 & 977 ) The Story The issue picks up with the aftermath of the attack in the previous issue.  Batman and Red Rob...

Need a Copy? You can Find it Here ! Batmen Eternal, Part 2 Writer - James Tynion IV, Artists - Javier Fernandez, Eddy Barrows & Eber Ferreira, Colors - John Kalisz & Adriano Lucas, Letters - Sal Cipriano, Cover - Alvaro Martinez, Raul Fernandez & Romulo Fajardo Jr., Assistant Editor - Dave Wielgosz, Editor - Chris Conroy, Group Editor - Jamie S. Rich Initial Reactions I know it sounds a little weird, but I have a soft spot for dystopian fiction.  I enjoy the moral themes that this type of writing presents.  This may be one of the main reasons I have been drawn to the stories in Detective Comics.  The opening sequence in this issue is both stunning and devastating for Tim Drake, but we finally get to see why his future self is so worried about Kate Kane.  I still have to be convinced on the character Ulysses, but I do like some of the schemes he is coming up with in this issue.  I am really liking this arc, and I can't wait to get into i...

Batmen Eternal, Part 1 Writer - James Tynion IV, Artist - Javier Fernandez, Colors - John Kalisz, Letters - Sal Cipriano, Cover - Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira & Adriano Lucas, Assistant Editor - Dave Wielgosz, Editor - Chris Conroy, Group Editor - Jamie S. Rich Initial Reactions Since I have started reading Detective Comics for its annual a couple months ago, I have noticed that the issues have not had a lot of action beats.  Given the story Tynion is giving us, I am fine with it because he is navigating the interpersonal relationships between the team in a satisfying way.  Outside of Batman and Tim Drake, I do not have strong connections to the Gotham Knights, but as we progress through the story, I find myself caring a great deal for them, especially Cassandra.  This issue begins a new arc, and the setup done in this issue has me really excited for what is to come. The Story The issue begins several weeks ago, with members of the Yakuza, led by someone kno...

The Trial of Batwoman Writer - James Tynion IV, Pencils - Alvaro Martinez, Inks - Raul Fernandez, Colors - Brad Anderson, Cover - Martinez, Fernandez, Anderson, Asst. Editor - Dave Wielgosz, Editor - Chris Conroy, Group Editor - Jamie S. Rich Initial Reaction This issue does not pull any punches.  We get to see a rare look inside the psyche and rationale of Batman, especially when it comes to his team.  While the book is light on action, I don't think you'll miss it.  It is also not really as much a trial as it is a "family" meeting.  The ending, while not particularly surprising, does seem to set a new status quo for Batwoman.  If you like issues that examine the characters, you will enjoy this issue. The Story The book begins with a flashback to the burial of Kate's mother.  Bruce and Alfred are there, and even throw the traditional shovel-full of dirt onto the casket.  After the funeral is over, Kate and Bruce bond over the loss of their p...

Knights Fall Writer - James Tynion IV, Artist - Philippe Briones, Colors - Allen Passalaqua, Letters - Sal Cipriano, Cover - Guillem March & Jason Wright, Assistant Editor - Dave Wielgosz, Editor - Chris Conroy, Group Editor - Jamie S. Rich Initial Reactions This is a jumping-on point for me with this book.  I think this is a strong entry which asks some tough moral questions.  We deal with the issue of justified death as well, where to seek identity, and who deserves redemption.  I am excited to get into this issue and talk about these things in more detail. The Story We open with a very emotional (and beautiful) credits page which shows Orphan holding her teammate Clayface, who has just been shot.  The rest of the team comes running to the scene, asking what happened.  Dr. October confirms that Clayface is definitely dead, and Tim Drake knows exactly who took the shot.   It was Batwoman!  She is on a rooftop, where Batman an...