Batman: Detective Comics #42
Writers: Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul
Artists: Fernando Blanco and Brian Buccellato
Cover Artists: Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato
Publisher: DC
As a reader who has never really found Harvey Bullock to be a particularly riveting character, the spotlight given to him during Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato’s run has been wonderful. Their character driven arcs, where he plays a major role, tend to be their most compelling stories. The same goes for this current arc. Everything about Harvey, him dealing with his partner, him handling Montoya’s return, and him dealing with Gordon becoming Batman is done remarkably well. So well in fact, the issue could have been better served if it spent less time focusing on how Gordon is handling being Batman, which Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo are doing a great job of handling over on the main Batman title, and spent more time on Bullock’s side of things. 3/5
Midnighter #2
Writer: Steve Orlando
Artists: Alec Morgan and Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Cover Artists: ACO and Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Publisher: DC
Only two issues in and already it seems like Midnighter has had more character development than some characters see in months. Steve Orlando has done such a great job with this issue, where he clearly and concisely lays out the tone of this series. He lays down the foundation of who Midnighter is and begins to explain why he is the way he is. This series, it turns out, is as much about Midnighter finding himself, after coming out of long term relationship, as it is about us learning about Midnighter. Even as the character development takes place, we still get a nice bit of action in the form of a woman hellbent on avenging her husband’s death. Alec Morgan’s art, with Romulo Fajardo Jr. on coloring duties, isn’t the prettiest book you’ll read, but its rough, gritty nature perfectly suits the tone of series. 4/5
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Arnab Pradhan
arnab@comicattack.net
