Detective Comics #9 Review

Detective Comics # 9 is written and drawn by Tony S. Daniel with a backup story written by Tony S. Daniel with art by Szymon Kudranski.



This issue ties in with the Night of the Owls event that is running through most of the bat books.  In this story, Batman heads to Arkham to save Dr. Jeremiah Arkham from an attack by a Talon.  Prior to the attack, we are taken through the asylum with a narrative by Dr. Arkham.  Some villains have been updated since the new 52, and this provides the reader the opportunity to get caught up.  Prior to DC's big relaunch, Roman Sionis, known as Black Mask, was killed.  In the new 52, however, he is alive and well, residing in Arkham Asylum.  Dr. Arkham alludes to the fact that the mask is the villain and not necessarily the wearer.  It's also insinuated that Dr. Arkham may have worn the mask before, a story line that did occur prior to the new 52.  Once the Talon attacks, Dr. Arkham frees Roman Sionis and gives him the mask.  Batman stops Black Mask and the Talon, then takes Dr. Arkham to safety.

In the backup story, Two-Face is being offered a chance to regain his position as district attorney.  All he has to do is eliminate the person who is blackmailing the state prosecutor, and the state prosecutor has promised to help Harvey get his job back.  On his way to finding the blackmailer, Two-Face is attacked and kidnapped by ninjas.

A lot of questions were brought up in this issue.  There is definitely a ton of ambiguity in the new 52, especially in regards to Batman as to which pre-relaunch stories were kept and which were not.  The fact that Two-Face would even have a shot at getting his district attorney job back lets the reader know that he is either A) only very recently been turned into Two-Face or B) has been very good at covering up the crimes he's been committing.  Either way, there are way too many questions with no answers in the foreseeable future.  As good as Batman was prior to the new 52, I wish they just would have started all over like the other books.

What about you?  Glad they didn't change Batman too much?  Wish they would have changed more?  Leave your comment below.