Detective Comics #939: A Review

DC Comics
Detective Comics #939: A Review
By Zak Edwards
September 2, 2016 - 18:30

DC Comics
Writer(s): James Tynion IV
Penciller(s): Eddy Barrows
Inker(s): Eber Ferreira
Colourist(s): Adriano Lucas
Letterer(s): Marilyn Patrizio

Detective Comics #939 continues a great trend for the Gotham line, which may just be at its strongest in a long time. Almost every book in and around Gotham has been commercially and critically successful. But what I absolutely love about Rebirth’s shake up is the chance to get to know these books as a coherent whole.

Clayface helps through fear, just like his boss. Pencils by Eddy Barrows, inks by Eber Ferreira, colours by Adriano Lucas, letters by Marilyn Patrizio.

Sure, comics aren’t exactly well-known for their ability to stay cohesive, or even coherent, but Rebirth has taken the Bat-books and made them something multifaceted. There truly is a book in here for almost anyone. Want kick-ass lady-heroes? Batgirl and Detective Comics have those in spades. Loved Snyder’s New 52 run? All-Star. There’s even all-ages fun with Gotham Academy.

Compare that to the New 52. When it launched, the books were a wide range of quality, but they all reeked of that relaunch’s doubling down on gloom and doom. Every book was dark: Batgirl was working through her Joker trauma. Joker had a penchant for face-carving. Even Catwoman was… pouring diamonds down her costume (it happened at night. Still counts).

But even with a uniform tone, New 52’s Batman books were confusing. Morrison’s run was not to be interrupted, so DC tried to balance a total shift and a holding onto the past. It didn't really hold together, but then again, comics rarely do

Here, in 2016, Rebirth is making Batman comics something everyone can get in on, and Detective Comics is perhaps one of the most fun in the entire line, certainly in this latest issue.

Detective Comics #939 isn’t the most thought-provoking book out in its week (that honour, for my money, would go to She-Wolf #3), but it is one of the most exhilarating. Faced with an army of drones threatening to take out hundreds of innocents, Batman’s team spend almost the entire issue running over rooftops, saving people, and beating up bad guys. It’s great fun, whether it’s Clayface’s self-deprecating humour or yet another moment where Orphan kicks complete ass. And yes, it’s actually that simple.

While some may find these stark transitions jarring, I think they helped pace the pages.

This is all rendered in beautiful visuals by the talented and obviously hard-working art team. The art team shake-up was bound to happen eventually, but I am amazed with what these team's can put together. Some may recognize Adriano Lucas' dreamy colourings from the flashback last issue, but he takes on the entire issue here. But just like Batman’s team, every artist on this book gets their moment to shine as well. Adriano Lucas’ colour palettes shift from flashback to the main story with great effect, Eber Ferreira’s inks add gravitas at the precise right moments, and Eddy Barrows pencils shine with style and detail throughout.

Detective Comics, and the Batman line in general, has an amazing line right now, with something for everyone. I was the last person to expect Detective Comics to become a personal favourite, but this book is a ton of fun. By giving Batman a team, the feel is totally different from what’s expected, and the story balances character beats with some amazing action.

tl;dr review: This book is a ton of fun and looks great doing it.