Detective Comics #1075 cover, via DC Comics.
Batman: Detective Comics #1075 — Ram V, Dan Watters, Writers; Francesco Francavilla, Aaron Campbell, Artists; Patricio Delpeche, Colorist
Ray — 9.5/10
Ray: As Ram V gets ready to begin his biggest storyarc on this title yet, he calls in one of the heaviest hitters in the art world for a one-off issue that takes us deep inside Batman’s psyche. Francesco Franvavilla is best known for his horror work, but his psychological and character-driven stories are just as strong, as we see here in a heartbreaking moment between the Batman and his much-younger self in the moments after tragedy. Batman is lost in his own mind, hunted by the Orghams, and presumed dead by many, but his mind still drags him back to Crime Alley — and in some ways, it seems like he never left. And of course, Barbatos — in some ways, the greater-scope villain of the last two decades — is waiting in the wings.
Haunted. Via DC Comics.
At the same time, Fielding and Nash, the two officers assigned to pursue Batman, are getting closer and closer to the trail. Fielding, who has a past encounter with Batman that haunts him, is getting closer to the truth — but his partner has a secret of his own. As they fall into the Orghams’ trap, it becomes even clearer just how far this mysterious family will go to neutralize their enemies and how little they care for the average person who stumbles in. But despite this, Arzen Orgham seems to have some surprising hidden layers, and when he has the Batman at his mercy, he hesitates. We’re about to embark on an epic journey through time, and Ram V has done an amazing job of getting us invested in what’s to come.
Speaking of getting us invested, extra kudos goes to Dan Watters and Aaron Campbell for their heartbreaking backup, focused on Bruce in the moments after his parents were killed. As he’s returned home to Alfred, the butler tries his best to pull the boy out of his grief — but he’s not the only one trying to form a connection. Jointly narrated by Alfred and Barbatos, it does an amazing job of both fleshing out the mysterious villain, and showing us why Alfred is so important to the Bat-family ecosystem even when he’s not physically present.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
