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Detective Comics #872
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Scott Snyder
Art/Cover: Jock
Second Feature Art: Francesco Francavilla
Price: US $3.99
Release Date: December 29, 2010

***CAUTION: This Review Contains Spoilers!***

“The Black Mirror” Part 2

Just like last issue, we’re introduced to a new Bat-toy. Two of them, to be exact! A new Batcycle! It’s more like a Batunicycle, or a Segway. Yeah, a Segway on steroids! The second is a mask that manipulates and bends light, projecting an image to look like anyone you wish! Sweet! Dick uses this mask to get himself into a Mirror House auction. The first item up for bidding? It’s something from the past, so deliciously twisted, that you’ve got to see it for yourself to believe! It makes me wonder what other kind of sick ideas Scott Snyder has in that brain of his! That man is a GENIUS! Just when we think Batman is going to get to the bottom of this Mirror House business, he’s been made. Things aren’t looking good for him at all as we’re left with a nightmarish cliffhanger. How will our hero get out of this one?! If this Batman were George Clooney, he would say, “Damn, we’re in a tight spot!”  Hands down, this is the BEST cliffhanger ending of 2010. There has to be an award for that out there, somewhere. If not, I’m making one!

The art for this story is just incredible. Jock was born to draw Batman in gritty, gloomy Gotham. There’s a scene where Batman drops out of Barbara Gordon’s tower window, that is absolutely breathtaking. You can even hear Batman’s cape flapping in the wind, it is so perfect. Take a look at that and tell me Dick doesn’t make a good Batman. Go ahead. I dare you.

“Skeleton Cases” Part 2

As Batman is diving out the window, as stated above, Babs gets a visitor. Dear old dad. The Commissioner and Barbara go down to the coffee shop to talk. It seems Barbara’s brother, James, is back in town. Now, he can’t actually prove it, but Commissioner Gordon is highly suspicious. This upsets Babs and she wheels out of there. But the Commish isn’t sitting alone for long. Speak of the devil….

Now, while this story is good and beautifully drawn and colored by Francesco Francavilla, I’ll be honest and say that I’m not getting the full effect and hard punch that everyone else is feeling. I have no prior knowledge of the son, James Gordon. But, from the conversation Babs and her dad have about him, I can tell that he’s not one of the good guys. Maybe one of you fine Comic Attackers can fill me in a little. I’m not ashamed to admit my ignorance. Perhaps I should do a little research.

Detective Comics #871 was BADASS and got me excited about reading the series again. I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with it. The many holes in my long box are evidence of that. Detective Comics #872 takes that level of BADASSNESS and kicks it up 100 notches. BAM!

Aron White
aron@comicattack.net