- Title: Detective Comics #1000
- Comic Vine: link
- Writers: Scott Snyder, Kevin Smith, Paul Dini, Warren Ellis, Christopher Priest, Brian Michael Bendis, Geoff Johns, James Tynion IV, Tom King, Peter J. Tomasi
- Artists: Greg Capullo, Jim Lee, Dustin Nguyen, Becky Cloonan, Neal Adams, Alex Maleev, Kelley Jones, Alvaro Martinez-Bueno, Tony S. Daniel, Doug Mahnke
Much like Action Comics #1000, the one-thousandth issue of Detective Comics offers a wide variety of stories featuring Batman (with the notable exception of Bruce Timm, but I’ll correct that oversight that here) including a final story setting up the comic’s next arc from writer Peter J. Tomasi and artist Doug Mahnke involving a new vigilante in Gotham City. While I understand the idea in having both Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams work on their own stories, I think putting one of the most famous Batman creative teams back together to craft a new tale would have been a nice nod to fans of their run.
The various stories involve Batman being inducted into a detective guild, Matches Malone hunting down the gun that killed Thomas and Martha Wayne and finding a new use for it, Batman funneling a cult into a warehouse on the outskirts of Gotham where he takes them out one by one, Batman meeting with Leslie Thompkins in Crime Alley on the anniversary of his parents’ death, the Dark Knight Detective tracing a murder back to the League of Assassins, the Penguin gloating after discovering Bruce Wayne’s secret, and a future Bat-Family fighting crime in Gotham.
My favorites of the collection include Paul Dini’s story about the worst henchman in the history of Gotham (whose misadventures are retold by various villains), James Tynion IV’s tale of Alfred making a persuasive argument for Dick Grayson to join Batman in the field as Robin, and a humorous tale by Tom King featuring the extended Bat-Family discussing Batman (including Damian making several digs at Nightwing).
Not quite as successful as Action Comics #1000, Detective Comics #1000 still delivers some strong Bat-tales (with a couple of clunkers thrown in) and plenty of great art featuring Gotham’s hero and his supporting cast. Worth a look.
[DC, $9.99]