Detective Comics is celebrating issue #1100 this week with four stories of some of the comic’s biggest creators. Four stories with Batman help the boy, save the man who is falling in his death, and play his role in helping Gotham, and get a closer look at how the hospital works in the world with Batman. It is a well-curited anthology with stories that feel different from each other, exploring the different aspects of being a hero.
Detective Comics #1100 begins with the story of Mikel Janine and Tom Taylor. This is fully told without dialogue or captions. It opens when a boy places a lost dog flyer. As a matter of fact, the incident attracts Batman’s attention thanks to the boy running, and soon Batman becomes the case of Ace. The story is visually impressive with warm oranges and sickly greenery. A heartfelt end, it reminds me that being a superhero sometimes means helping people who have lost their animals.
The next story is entitled “Your Role in the Community” by Tanaka Mariko and Amankai Naielpan. The story juggles two plots. One involves Batman chasing the Joker across Gotham, and the other includes a charity dinner with Bruce Wayne taking part. Because he’s late, Bruce sits close to the journalist and wonders whether money actually changes anything. The story ends with a great twist as only Bruce knows how Batman saved important people in his community, alongside Batman chasing after the Joker and inevitably abandoning his pursuit to save lives.
Naerpan pulls one out of the chase scene, keeping the tension high. The visual also offers fun motorcycle tracking between the Joker and Batman.
Give me the entire miniseries of this!
Credit: DC Comics
This was a weaker story for me. Partly because many of the dinner seemed slow as the women were focusing on women checking the names of stretches. The combo doesn’t feel too deeply about asking the Bruce than making strong claims.
Next is The Knife and the Gun Club by Greg Racca and Alvaro Martinez Bueno. If you’re a fan of Rucka’s Gotham Central, you’ll love this. This sees the hospital’s realistically rendered appearance thanks to Batman and Robin and how it deals with bruises and cuts more than ever. Frankly, I was really into the characters and the setting. I hope Rucka does an entire series focused on Gotham’s hospitals. The story also makes a strong argument about why Batman is good for the city.
Bueno captures the gloomy vibe, as Robin delivers the visuals with a charming cutaway, like he kicks a clown with Glee, and explains what it looks like before Batman appears. The closing moment adds a cute, sweet moment that Batman reflects the good he does. What sparkles this very well is the character’s acting.
Last but certainly, Dan Watters and Bill Syenkiwitz cooperate with “The Fall,” which focuses on one scene as Batman jumps out of a building to save those who jump. Sienkiewicz becomes easy to see with his unique style, creating a visual style of chaotic and creepy noir. Watters draws attention to the caption detailing how Batman tries to speed up to catch a man before Batman hits the street below. All the show stoppers of it are all the final pages to get closer to the falling man’s glasses.
Detective Comics #1100 is a milestone issue that offers four different, beautifully crafted stories that showcase different aspects of Batman’s heroism, from intimate compassion to high-octane action, and solidifies it as a must-see celebration of the Dark Knight. It’s likely that at least one of these stories will stick to you all the time after you’ve finished reading them.
“Detective Comics” #1100 offers four different stories
Detective Comic #1100
Detective Comics #1100 is a milestone issue that offers four different, beautifully crafted stories that showcase different aspects of Batman’s heroism, from intimate compassion to high-octane action, and solidifies it as a must-see celebration of the Dark Knight. It’s likely that at least one of these stories will stick to you all the time after you’ve finished reading them.
A powerful anthology structure with a variety of tones and perspectives in Batman
The dialogueless opener between Tom Taylor and Mikel Janine is heart-warmingly visually impressive
Tamaki and Amankai Nahi Elpan offer thrilling Joker Chase Art and Layered Story
Greg Racca and Alvaro Martinez Bueno offer Gotham Central style look to Gotham Hospital, full of character depth
Dan Watters and Bill Syenkiwitz are closed with a stunningly atmospheric exhibit that drives visual storytelling
Anthology format means that some stories may be too short or you might want more
One weak entry: charity dinner sequences are dragged, slow paced, and there is a conversation that feels surface level like journalists questioning the Bruce without making engaging cases.
