Gotham Nocturne: Act Three – “Crescendo” – Part one, and “Cassandra’s Story”.
Writers: Ram V and Alex Paknadel
Artists: Javier Fernandez and Robbi Rodriguez
Color Artists: Dave McCaig and Patricio Delpeche
Letterers: Ariana Maher and Steve Wands
Review by James Attias
Detective Comics #1084 feels like a fresh start. It’s a good read, and dare I say it… quite entertaining?!
He’s Back!
I haven’t hidden the fact that Ram V’s run on this title hasn’t been my favorite, but I do try and pride myself on being fair and not judging all comics the same way, and tarring them all with the same brush, and this issue’s the reason why. It was an entertaining read that showed us that, if a writer has a vision for a book or a character, we need to stick with it and give them the benefit of the doubt.
This issue isn’t my favorite Batman issue of all time, and it isn’t going to win any awards, but it was a good comic with decent art. So let’s not waste any time on the few gripes I had, let’s talk about the good.
Detective Comics #1084 showed us Batman’s return to Gotham after a long time away, recovering from his defeat at the hands of the sinister Orgham family. We see his allies welcome his return, and his foes address the idea that Batman may be a supernatural force unable to be killed. These are the moments you want in a Batman comic.
There were a few instances where Batman had something of a smile on his face, which is a very risky move in comics and movies. If done wrong the character’s immediately laughed off as a bad version of the Dark Knight, but sometimes these instances can give readers the exact feeling they may want. I was glad to see it, even if I was slightly uncomfortable seeing the Dark Knight smile. It either means someone’s about to face justice at his hands, or something isn’t quite right. Only time will tell.
Honor the Bat
The backup story in this book, which didn’t have a title, was a great read. We see Cassandra Cain fighting to honor the Batman who she fears is dead (this story takes place before the rest of the issue). She’s always been a quiet, if not silent character, so when she talks/is spoken to, it’s always impactful. She’s the world’s greatest fighter, and she’s honoring her lost mentor in the only way she knows how.
Truly genius writing in this one. Highly recommended.
Conclusion
Detective Comics #1084 is a step in the right direction for this title, I hope it keeps going and finishes the run on a high.
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment