Steve Geppi, eat your heart out, because Don and Randy got their grubby little hands on a copy of Batman: Detective No. 27.
Don:
Michael Uslan's name is not a new one to comics fans, but he's better known for his role as an industry rep in Hollywood, trying to get well-known and more obscure comics adapted for big and small screens. He was involved as Stan Lee's partner in pen on the Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating... line for DC, and that was far from a creative highlight of the industry. So it was with some trepidation that I approached this graphic novel.
Randy:
You and me both, my friend. I thought that the notion at the center of the story, as well as the title's reference to the first appearance of Batman (Detective Comics #27), was somewhat clever, but I wasn't sure if Uslan had the writing chops to carry it off. After reading this black-and-white preview, unfortunately, my opinions haven't changed a whole lot.
Batman: Detective No. 27
written by Michael Uslan
illustrated by Peter Snejbjerg
published by DC Comics
scheduled for release Nov.19
Don:
For 75 years, a secret society of detectives -- founded by the legendary Allan Pinkerton in the wake of President Abraham Lincoln's assassination -- has fought a quiet war against a group of nihilists known as the Knights of the Golden Circle. Each member of the Secret Society of Detectives is given a number rather than a name. A young man named Bruce Wayne returns home to Gotham City in 1939 after a decade of studying abroad, and he has one goal on his mind: to avenge his parents' murder. His skills and background have attracted the attention of the Society, though, and soon, Wayne finds himself dubbed Detective No. 27.
The best thing this ambitious project has going for it is Peter Snejbjerg's artwork. Those who have sampled his work on Starman, The Books of Magic and JSA knows it boasts a dark edge, one that's in keeping with the conspiracy-theory aspects of this story. He also does an excellent job of capturing not one but two historic periods here. The likenesses of historical figures are strong as well. Snejbjerg brings a gothic quality to the story that puts one in mind of Mike (Hellboy) Mignola's style, and there's an exaggerated, twisted quality in his style that's appropriately unsettling and surreal.
Randy:
We're in agreement here. Snejbjerg's work has not always worked for me, as I really enjoyed his Books of Magic work but was less happy with his role on Starman. His work on Detective No. 27, however, stands out as some of the best work I've seen from him. The art has a feel similar to that of Guy Davis or Cliff Chiang, and it's a perfect match to the 1920's setting of the story as well as the 1800's flashbacks. Given that Uslan's script is somewhat light on the action sequences, it's also worth noting that Snejberg manages to keep things visually interesting.
Don:
Uslan's script isn't without its strengths as well, and chief among them is his incorporation of figures from history and literature as characters. Allan Pinkerton is a particularly engaging character here. Uslan instills in him a commanding presence and a brilliant intellect. He really comes off as something of a visionary here. Uslan's approach here reminds me of Caleb Carr's penchant for historical fiction in such novels as The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness, which, like Detective No. 27, also counted a pre-presidential Teddy Roosevelt among its characters.
Still, there are elements in the script that detract from the more grave and gothic tone of the plot. Uslan gets a bit redundant with the exposition at times. He refers to a plant toxin that warps the mind, and he makes that reference over and over and over again. He also retreads the familiar elements of the Batman origin in far too much detail. He really doesn't deviate too far from canon when it comes to those elements in the plot. Furthermore, the wink-wink approach to referencing mainstream DC continuity is more than a little jarring. I love seeing the Crimson Avenger turn up here, but the Robin and Justice Society nods, for example, are obvious and really don't add much to the story or atmosphere.
Randy:
I'll agree that there are some strengths to be found here, but I'm not sure that the use of historical figures was one of them. To be sure, it's a clever idea, but as you note, the wink-wink references are heavy-handed and clumsy, and I found the historical references to be as clunky as those that referred to DC continuity. Also, as you note, Uslan's script is repetitive, and that wouldn't be quite so tiresome if it weren't repeating elements that aren't that interesting in the first place. Given his role in the Batman film, I suppose it's not surprising that he's decided to take one of Jack Nicholson's memorable lines and turn it into a pivotal part of the story, but given that the line was meant to be an evocation of random madness and not a portent of something darker, it comes off as contrived and not nearly as clever as I suspect it's meant to.
Actually, that's kind of my overall reaction to Detective No. 27 overall. Though there are some fun ideas to be found, such as Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth operating as equals, there's a cheese factor here that's hard to ignore. In trying to make references to DC continuity and history, Uslan makes them look silly, and it works against the darker tone of the story he's trying to establish. Certainly he undercuts the intriguing notion of a secret society of detectives when they all seem to freely hand out their name and "secret" number to random subjects of investigation or street urchins.
I'm afraid that for me, the biggest mystery to be found in the pages of Detective No. 27 is how this story merited the deluxe original hardcover treatment.
Don:
Well, I think it's safe to say that I enjoyed this book more than you did. I see your point about the more expensive hardcover format. While entertaining, I don't know that it's worth the extra bucks for the higher-end format, but the story definitely works as a graphic novel rather than a limited series. I'd recommended this book, but I qualify it with a note that waiting for the softcover might be a wise move.
For more information about Batman: Detective No. 27, visit the DC Comics website listing HERE with a link to preview art.
