The Good
Batman goes on the hunt to find out who Anarky is and who gave Anarky the info they needed to hack Gotham's databases. He comes across one deadend after another. Also,it's the return of Matches Malone!
Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato reintroduce Anarky to the DCU is stunning fashion. The punk-rock style and way Anarky goes about things is a cool take on the character as he walks the line between hero and villain. Well, of course he's the bad guy, but the reader can understand and even empathize with him (or her?). Anarky wants to create a better tomorrow for all Gothamites and give those who want it a fresh start without each person's history weighing them down. The thing is, you can't really do that... I'm really digging the direction Buccellato and Manapul are taking this arc and this character. Easily, this is the first time I've really enjoyed this character.
As I've said before and I'll probably say again, what I really love about DETECTIVE COMICS is that it is a book that focuses more on the detective aspect of Batman. We're not stuck inside of Batman's head here. In total, there's two instances of inner-dialogue, but aside from that, it feels like we're there with Batman, discovering what he discovers as the issue moves forward. In addition, the book moves around Gotham and not just around Batman. We get to see some more Harvey Bullock here as he crashes the set of "Wake Up Gotham." We hear the voices and opinions of other people in this city and not just the main players of the book, which is a very cool addition to the series and makes the city feel more real and vibrant.
This issue leaves the reader at a place where how people view Batman is going to change. Without spoiling anything, the final page will lead to some interesting developments in future issues of the series and with what happens, it's going to be a bit of a perspective flip for some Gothamites coming soon and I'm excited to see how all of this plays out.
Finally, it's hard not to talk about this book without talking about how the art from Francis Manapul and Buccellato is undeniably beautiful. Manapul's page layouts and panel positioning is brilliant. He mixes things up and takes a step back from traditional page layouts to keep the book fresh and interesting, but it doesn't get to the point where it becomes too conceptual and hard to follow. Not every page is like this, but the ones that are bring a bit of excitement to the scene, even before the reader knows what's going on. This is some of the best looking art at DC right now.
The Bad
This is a Batman book that encompasses a bit more of the people of Gotham rather than just Batman. Some folks may not like that, but it's something I find a bit more endearing about the book.
The Verdict
DETECTIVE COMICS continues to roll on as an exciting series that Buccellato and Manapul have really elevated to all-star status. This book is smart, fun, and features stories that really put the characters in it to the test. Also, the art is simply phenomenal. This new story, featuring Anarky, is changing a lot of the folks in Gotham and I cannot wait to see what it in store next in DETECTIVE COMICS.
