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DETECTIVE COMICS #761 (Best of the Week!)
Highly Recommended (10/10)
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DC Comics
"In Thirty Days"
Writer: Greg Rucka
Pencils: Shawn Martinbrough
Inks: Jesse Delperdang
Colors: Wildstorm FX
Letters: Todd Klein
Editor: Bob Schreck
"Trail of the Catwoman Part Three"
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Darwyn Cooke
Colors: Matt Hollingsworth
Letters: Sean Konot
Editor: Matt Idelson
Price: $2.50 US/$4.25 CAN |
Though the stories in this issue are all very different, they all have one thing in common: They treat Batman as more of an outsider, a force, something unknowable. The result is a book that feels fresh, focusing on aspects of the character and his environment rarely seen, and working with newer characters. It doesn't hurt of course, that these characters, whether it's Sasha Bordeaux, Detectives Montoya and Allen or Slam Bradley, are all interesting characters in their own right, or that the writing and visual style of the book is different and attractive as well. And yes, for those of you who have been following my reviews, that means I've finally been won over to the unusual coloring scheme
that Wildstorm FX is using on the book.
Ever since her introduction, Sasha has
become a fascinating character. We really don't know that much about her, but
she clearly has a drive to do the right thing, and pairing her with Bruce Wayne
seems to have taken her life in a direction that suits her. The sequence this
issue that shows her training, a constant background to the other stories going
on, gives a feel for how hard Batman pushes his people and for how hard she's
trying. And the barely-concealed jealousy/disdain for Vesper Fairchild humanizes
her, making her more than just another soldier in Batman's war, reminding the
reader that she's also a woman and a possible romantic interest.
As fascinating as the ongoing story of
Sasha is, though, I'm more intrigued by the police drama at the center of this
issue. It ties into an unresolved issue from "Officer Down," the unusual choice
for an ending that was made, as well as into the past story with the Mad Hatter,
and helps to illuminate some of the pressures that Gotham cops face. Rucka has
built a terrific ensemble with the Gotham PD, and has done spectacular work in
particular with Montoya, Allen and Bullock, three very different types of cops
who share a fairly close relationship due to the common thread of their jobs.
The backup story continues to impress as well, and I'm now anxiously awaiting the new Catwoman ongoing. Brubaker and Cooke are telling a
story in the old school pulp vein, with hard-boiled narration, sleazy characters
and a secret agenda for everyone involved. This issue features a run-in with
Bruce Wayne and Batman that really illuminates the characters, as we see them
from the point-of-view of an outsider with no involvement in their affairs.
Wayne comes off as dark and moody, and Batman comes off as utterly terrifying
and ruthless. Then, of course, there's the woman of the hour, who makes a
fantastic entrance to wrap all of this up. Honestly, even if the lead feature
wasn't any good at all, I'd be tempted to drop the $2.50 every month just for
the 8 pages in the backup, and I can't think of a higher compliment than that.
Combine that with a lead feature every bit as strong, and you've got the best of
the Batman books, and one of the best of DC's current books as well.
Email Randy Lander comments about this review. |
