by Randy Lander

DETECTIVE COMICS #771 Recommended (7/10) DC Comics "Access" Writer: Greg Rucka Pencils: Steve Lieber Inks: Mark McKenna & Robin Riggs Colors: Jason Wright & Wildstorm FX Letters: Todd Klein Editor: Bob Schreck "Josie Mac: Lost Voices, Part Nine" Writer: Judd Winick Artist: Cliff Chiang Colors: Lee Loughridge Letters: John Workman Editor: Matt Idelson Price: $2.50 US/$4.25 CAN Ever since "Fugitive" began, I've been a little less happy with Detective, because the story didn't really tie into the ongoing "Fugitive" tale and it was referencing stories that I didn't remember all that well. However, as the story goes on, I've realized that it is Rucka delving into a subject that he knows well, that of espionage, and putting Batman into the center of it, which is a pretty interesting idea. In addition, Lieber's artwork, though not as sharp and crisp as it is when he inks his own work (or when it's in black and white) is pretty solid, and the backup of Josie Mac continues to entertain. What I have enjoyed about a lot of Rucka's work, and particularly his Batman work, is that he knows how to write an investigation. It's appropriate that these stories take place in Detective Comics, as the story focuses less on action or the psychological sides of Batman, but more on the mystery that he's trying to solve. The intricacies of Checkmate involvement, the variety of players and the wheels within wheels that are represented by the drug trade, Checkmate and a rogue assassin all make for a compelling mystery that is suitably difficult for Batman's supposed level of skill. The downside to this complex mystery, and Batman's competence in solving it, is that there's less room for the psychological impact of the "Fugitive" story. Batman seems not at all different here from the man we've always seen, and the "no Bruce Wayne" psychosis that seemed such a part of the point of Fugitive is nowhere to be found. However, Rucka does focus in on an interesting aspect of Fugitive, with detectives investigating Alfred, which is a lot of fun given what the reader knows about Alfred, and also with the way Rucka is presenting Detective Allen as a credible threat to Alfred despite this secret he won't be able to uncover. On the art side of things, Lieber continues to show off his strong anatomy and storytelling skills, although I confess that I find his work more enticing in black and white, where the detail seems clearer. Too many panels in this issue were filled with flat background colors, as opposed to backgrounds, and I doubt it would have stood out as much in black and white. I did think that the colorists did a very nice job of making the gray and black Batman pop out from the colorful backgrounds, however. Meanwhile, in the backup, Josie Mac and Batman confront Two Face, which is not where I would have expected this series to go but is surprisingly good as a continuation of the story. There's still plenty of mystery in this case, particularly with Two Face's revelations at the end, and Josie's less-experienced viewpoint is still a joy to read. In addition, Cliff Chiang's artwork is terrific as always, stylistically similar to the "Slam Bradley" backup that came before. Email Randy Lander comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.