DC Comics Detective Comics #946 By Avi Weinryb December 18, 2016 - 00:02 Publisher(s): DC Comics Writer(s): James Tynion IV Penciller(s): Eddy Barrows Inker(s): Eber Ferreira Colourist(s): Adriano Lucas Letterer(s): Marilyn Patrizio Cover Artist(s): Alvaro Martinez, Raul Fernandez and Brad Anderson; Variant by Rafael Albuquerque In the fourth part of the Victims Syndicate storyline, we’re treated to some revelatory moments in recent Bat-history. Nothing as intense as what happened in Batman #12, but interesting all the same. Batman has a frank conversation with Robin (Tim Drake) in a flashback, during which the whole Bat-team concept is born. Batman’s insistence that it isn’t a team but a training program is quite amusing for Robin, but there’s some truth to it. Another jolting moment is when Spoiler is confronted by an AI version of Robin, who inadvertently leads her to make a fateful decision that will affect the entire Bat-team as they take on the shadowy Victim Syndicate. This story arc feels like it has picked up some steam and is moving towards a jolting conclusion. Characters are well fleshed out and other than a brief head-scratcher of a cameo by Azrael, this book seems to advance with methodical intention. In throwing together a variety of vigilante personalities, there are conflicts and frustrations but interestingly they are more internal than with each other. The choice of mixing in different artists continues in this issue, but it’s mercifully a three-page deviation this time. It just seems more arbitrary than intentional, but if it means the book is delivered on time, who am I to judge? Art is generally crisp and moody, with consistent, atmospheric moments and fluid action. Plenty of creepy, abandoned buildings in this issue, forming a Gotham City that feels as if it had better days. It adds to the hollow feelings of some characters, feeding back into the brooding that makes Batman and his allies such tragic figures. Fun! © Copyright 2002-2026 by Toon Doctor Inc. - All rights Reserved. All other texts, images, characters and trademarks are copyright their respective owners. Use of material in this document (including reproduction, modification, distribution, electronic transmission or republication) without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.