Detective Comics #871
by Scott Snyder, Jock, Francesco Francavilla, David Baron and Jared K. Fletcher
Synopsis: Batman talks about going to prom and also begins solving a mystery.
01. In a month filled with exciting new Bat-book releases, writer Scott Snyder distinguished himself from the pack by dropping some interesting science.
“…the run will also be about the dark and mysterious relationship the city has with Bat. Because for Bruce, Gotham has produced the Joker, Two-Face and all the great villains we know and love as dark and twisted reflections of Bruce himself. And now, with Dick in the cowl, the city seems to be changing, becoming meaner, more vicious. Which makes him wonder – what if being Batman in Gotham means having to face your worst childhood fears come to life, in the flesh? What if Gotham is like a black funhouse mirror to whoever wears the cowl?”
He thought about Batman so hard he found a characterization set for Gotham City. That’s just rad.
02. The book lives up to the promise of the quote. Snyder lays down some great character moments, while showing that he’s thought about the entire canvas he’s painting on, and not just the painting’s main subject. While the mystery at the story’s core is given the proper gravitas it needs, he’s not afraid to remind the reader that they are reading comics – dropping a humourous reference to the Anti-Monitor and Dick’s old fly-ass Nightwing booties. It’s a dangerous move, but one that pays off quite well, keeping the comic enjoyable and as things take a turn for the somewhat grotesque.
03. Commissioner Gorden comes off quite well in both stories – first in a chat with Dick about going to the prom with his daughter (as well as the details of the crime in question) and then in the back-up story, in which something else returns to haunt him. You can really feel the weight the man carries on his shoulders, but you get the sense that he’s not going to let that weight drag him down. At least, not for long.
04. The art by both Jock and Francesco Francavilla is amazing. Jock’s pages are more sparse and carry a modern sheen, with a cinematic overlay, whereas Francavilla’s are seeped in the juices of old pulp, using shadows and tilted camera angles to great effect. Very different, but both perfect for what they were meant to convey. In the midst of a lot of strong new books, this is one of the strongest, and I can not wait for the next issue.
