Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Detective Comics #942

By Avi Weinryb
October 12, 2016 - 21:33

The cross-title storyline “Night of the Monster Men” started off shaky but ends strongly in this issue. The six-part tale comes to its conclusion via the steady hand of Batman, but the rest of the Bat family pitches in, including Batwoman, Nightwing, Spoiler and Orphan. This quartet assumes control of distinct battlestations, each marked with their insignia. This had a very Power Rangers feel to it, as if these vigilantes were controlling their own “zords”. This did not last long, though; soon Nightwing was literally jumping down the throat of a monster while Batman had a “breathless” showdown with the main baddie, Strange.

This issue was more-than-adequately written and does a good job of wrapping the storyline. Steve Orlando juggles a lot of protagonists so it’s hard to fault him for the flatness of the personas presented, but the dialogue itself is on point and gets the job done. The one standout is Clayface who continues to play a surprisingly helpful role, serving as an ally to the Bat-family rather than as his usual villainous self. As a non-antagonist, he’s surprisingly helpful and this storyline finds creative uses for his powers -- especially in this issue but also in part 4 of 6 of the storyline. I’m looking forward to reading more from Orlando as he finds his footing in the Bat-universe.

Andy McDonald’s artwork is top-notch. He offers strong levels of detail, great panel layouts, and a vivid sense of movement. His depiction of Bruce Wayne on the final page looks a little goofy, but he draws a good Batman. John Rauch’s colors are excellent, with a diverse palette and some bold choices even in spite of the dark and gloomy requirements Gotham City imposes on artists.

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12