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DETECTIVE COMICS #764
Highly Recommended (9/10)
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DC Comics
"Hearts"
Writer: Greg Rucka
Pencils: Shawn Martinbrough
Inks: Jesse Delperdang
Colors: Wildstorm FX
Letters: Todd Klein
Editor: Bob Schreck
"Josie Mac: Lost Voices Part Two"
Writer: Judd Winick
Artist: Cliff Chiang
Colors: Lee Loughridge
Letters: John Workman
Editor: Matt Idelson
Price: $2.50 US/$4.25 CAN |
It might be time for Detective Comics to go back to being a
non-Batman book, because the most interesting story elements for me are ones
that are only tangentially related to Batman in the first place. Bruce Wayne's
bodyguard Sasha, the new choice of unit commander for Major Crimes and psychic
Gotham cop Josie Mac are the stars of this issue, and that suits me just fine.
While I'm certainly enjoying the strange relationship of Vesper Fairchild and
Bruce Wayne and the interaction between Sasha and Batman, it's the strong female
supporting characters who make this book for me, and this issue really lets them
shine.
There are elements of the
story with Sasha that I don't like, to be honest. Her growing crush on Bruce
Wayne seems unprofessional and her rivalry with Vesper Fairchild has only served
to highlight that element, and I still don't like her as a costumed heroine,
particularly one who has no codename... if Batman wants to warn her in a fight,
what does he yell, "Look out, bodyguard lass?" However, these are the elements I
don't like, and they still offer up some intriguing story moments in Rucka's
hands. Bruce Wayne's erratic behavior with Vesper leads me to believe he's
growing attracted to Sasha and trying to hide it, and Sasha's willingness to
stand up to Batman is something that not even long-time partner Nightwing can
always claim.
The really strong aspect of
the lead story this time, though, is the story of Shift Commander Maggie Sawyer.
I always loved the character in the Superman books, but she hasn't been
well-used in quite some time, and she's a great replacement for Harvey Bullock.
Replacing Bullock with an equally interesting character was a tall order, and
Rucka delivered. I especially like the tension that her new job is causing in
her relationship, a realistic element that goes along with all the other police
procedural stuff we have seen in this book.
Ever since the Oracle story
by Brubaker and Lieber, though, it's the backups in this book that have really
shone. Josie Mac is a fine serial, one that could stand on its own in an ongoing
or limited series. Winick gives Josie a personality that is competent and
professional but also has an element of rookie idealism, and making her partner
such a slimebag provides for some nice comic relief moments. There's a good
mystery going on in the story too, following the lead of a kidnapping and
watching Josie try to use her powers without revealing them.
Artwise, the book continues
to be a treasure as well. Martinbrough's work is solid, especially for some of
the subtleties that Rucka imparts, such as the scraping off of the window in the
precinct or the confrontations between Sasha and Bruce, and this is one of the
issues where the coloring seems to work. Cliff Chiang is a true find, with a
gritty and distinctive style that really helps to set the mood of Josie Mac.
With any luck, we'll be seeing a lot more of him in the future.
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