written by Mariko Tamaki and Dan Watters
art by Dan Mora, Lee Bermejo, Jordie Bellaire, and Aditya Bidikar
cover by Dan Mora
ON SALE 7/27/2021
$4.99 US | 40 PAGES | FC | DC
As we start a new arc in an ever ongoing story, what do Mariko Tomaki, Dan Mora, and company have in store for us in Detective Comics #1040? Let’s head to the Gotham City Police Department and find out?
We pick up this month’s issue without the slightest pause in the action, which I love. New arc, but a continuing story. This run will work nicely in one of DC’s oversized trades!
After the events of Detective Comics #1037, Bruce finds himself at a different precinct for somewhat of an extended stay.
This gives Oracle (Barbara Gordon) a chance to check in with an inside source to take a quick look-see on Helena Bertinelli, and Deb Donovan, both of who were admitted into the hospital because of the attacks they’ve suffered in previous issues.
We quickly find out that one of our patients has exited the building with a wonderfully placed editor’s note on where to catch up on that story!!
I love the fact that DC editorial continues to be firing on all cylinders and have all the Bat-books sychned up almost perfectly! It reminds me of mid 90’s Bat-books!!!
We then take a bit of a detour in the form of a flashback sequence that while doesn’t have much to do with our main story at all, certainly provides Dan Mora an prime opportunity to flex his artistic muscle a bit. The coloring by Jordie Bellaire is key to this and makes it stand out to me! Trust me, you’ll know it when you see it! And while this flashback sequence goes on for a good number of pages, we do finally get back into the present, and back to our Mr. Worth/Penguin story is given ample space too! The cliffhanger also fits into the story perfectly in my opinion but will have some fans a bit upset I’m sure.
BACKUP:
The backup provides a prelude of sorts for what to come in the coming months of Detective Comics. It’s a Kirk Langstrom/Man-Bat story that is written by Dan Watters, and art by Max Raynor. The art is spectacular and the storytelling is way above average. I for one though would have preferred more Huntress backups in the TEC book than a one shot Huntress book and a new backup in TEC, but beggars can’t be choosers. I’ll trust the “plan” that DC has in mind for this book. It certainly is working thus far!
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Detective Comics remains at the top of my read pile whenever it comes out. I find the pacing, storytelling, and editorial work all top-notch, at least for this reviewer’s liking. And the art tandem of Mora and Bogdanovic in this book is hard to beat. Each gets a break, but the quality NEVER suffers. If you haven’t given Detective Comics a chance recently give it a chance! You may be surprised!!