Batman

• Title: Detective Comics #1002
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
• Artist: Brad Walker

The post-anniversary arc for Detective Comics centers around a new group of medieval-looking vigilantes hitting town. In the latest issue Batman squares off not only against the self-appointed Arkham Knight but his entire larping group.

With Batman getting his butt kicked all around Gotham, Damian heads out on an investigation of his own. Unfortunately, the Boy Wonder walks right into a trap left by Arkham Knight’s group who attempt to lure Damian to their way of thinking. They obviously don’t know him very well, as Damian takes the first available moment to attempt escape.

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• 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).

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• Title: Detective Comics #998
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: James Tynion IV
• Artist: Doug Mahnke

Batman‘s investigation into the recent attacks on the close allies of both Batman and Bruce Wayne leads him down another false path as the Dark Knight Detective confronts Dr. Hugo Strange (who is intrigued by, but innocent of, the accusation Batman lays at his feet). And when another friend is attacked by the bizarre monster, Batman will go to great lengths to make sure it doesn’t do any more harm.

Detective Comics #998 is most notable for Batman donning the Hellbat armor to save the Demon from an attack. The attack also seems to imply that there is some kind of mystical, and not just monstrous, force behind the recent attack on Batman’s friends.

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