“Lost and Found”, “Your Role In The Community”, “The Knife And Gun Club” and “The Fall”
Writers: Tom Taylor, Mariko Tamaki, Greg Rucka and Dan Watters
Artist: Mikel Janín, Amancay Nahuelpan, Álvaro Martinez Bueno, and Bill Sienkiewicz
Color Artist: Arif Prianto, Giovanna Niro,
Letterers: Wes Abbott, Ariana Maher, Tom Napolitano,
Review by James Attias
Detective Comics #1100 is an oversized milestone spectacular showing off multiple stories from the world’s greatest detective!
Lost and Found
Our First story is a silent tale, written by the ongoing author Tom Taylor. It’s a magnificent story that shows no crime is too small for the Dark Knight. We see a young (we assume) deaf boy who is out looking for his dog who was taken by criminals. This immediately pulled at my heart strings and if Batman hadn’t taken the case I bloody well would have myself. It’s a true testament to storytelling when no words are spoken but we’re treated to one of the most tender, fun and Batman stories I’ve read in recent times. Bravo!
Your Role In The Community
Our second story is written by Mariko Tamaki, who was writing this title when I first started reviewing it a million years ago. So I had no doubt this story would be good. This one takes us on the journey of both Batman and Bruce Wayne and how they’re helping the Gotham community. By day Bruce Wayne is signing big fat checks and by night Batman is fighting crime and saving lives. We see a good side to Bruce in this story, about how he is always striving to do more. I mean the guy has saved the city, the world, the universe and the multiverse how many times? But yeah, still trying to be better. THAT. Is Batman. THAT. Is why people like me, and many of us at Dark Knight News love this character so much. He doesn’t do it for glory. He does it because it’s what heroes do. Another wonderful story.
The Knife and Gun Club
Next up is a trip to the E.R. This one shocked me at the beginning. We start off with doctors in the emergency room, listing off the wounds, breaks and all around state of a bunch of criminals who are being wheeled in. Something that you don’t often think about when reading comics, you see POW, BAM and. WHAM and you think cooool! Super heroes! But in reality they are being brutally beaten by our heroes. We see a seasoned doctor telling a newer one that if things are bad now, before Batman came along, they would wheel in bodies, not wounded. Which really did open my eyes. Loved the way this story was written, really great little contained story that will change how I read superheroes going forward. Loved it!
The Fall
Our final story is probably the most stylized, we have a difficult to identify Villain, daring Batman to let him die. He jumps off of a Gotham skyscraper. Batman needs to save him, because… He’s Batman. This story is about all of the choices, the thoughts and the thinking that happens when Batman is skydiving towards the ground trying to save someone before they both end up as sidewalk pizza. A really well told story about the thrill, the adrenaline, the calculation. We’ve all seen movies when someone is pursuing someone during a fall, making themself move faster. This was a love letter to Batman being better than everyone, because of his mind. It’s not just a thrill. It’s Batman.
Conclusion
Detective Comics #1100 is a great issue that shows a variety of the reasons why we love Batman! Highly recommended.
Review Written to Honor Steve J Ray – May he Rest in Peace.
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment
