Detective Comics #41-49: THE VERDICT!

No Joker! No Batman? What in the world is goin' on in Gotham, DC? Well, I've read the last eight issues of Detective Comics and I' m here to give YOU the VERDICT!

Detective comics is known as the birthplace of the caped crusader, Batman himself. But what happens in a post-Convergence world when there's no Batman? Well, the GCPD come up with their OWN version of the dark knight! Now, I was there when the first pics hit the internet. I mean, robo-bat? Really? I was highly skeptical of the new design and the fact that none of the Batman family of heroes would be manning it. I was relieved to find that the new Batman would spend sometime outside of his mech suit. I mean, the baddies of Gotham need a good ole fashioned butt kicking every now and then!

Between Batman comics and Detective comics, DC did a good job easing us into the idea. Harvey Bullock got center stage in Detective with a cool story arc. There was a lot of character development and pathos. Real engaging. THEN, they spend two issues with a special appearance of the Justice League which I really think we could have done without. Add an issue to simply drive the ROBIN WAR story that leaves you more dizzy than curious and you have a disconnection from the drive of the original arch. If it were not for the new story, Bronze Age: Blood of Heroes in issue 48, all would be lost.

The first arch was great story telling. Pushing the Justice League and the Robin superstory just confuses the issue and leaves our heads spinning. Hopefully this new story arch will get it back on track.

I don't think this is spoiler, but if you haven't read issue #41-48 of Detective comics, you might want to skip this next part.

The development of Gordon as the new Batman is at times genius and other times insane. The fact that we went from frumpy old Gordon with the glasses and woolly mustache to a younger looking Gordon who still complains about the aches and pains of his age, but sports a red mohawk. You have to remind yourself constantly that this is the same Gordon. His interaction with Bullock, as well as, Dick Grayson and on the phone with his daughter as she fights crime as Batgirl is all priceless. I think, with time, if they can lay off the crossovers (but you know Marvel and DC), they could build a decent story.

The artwork was not spectacular but a lot of the splash shots were grabbing.

We did get to see a Bruce Wayne who has forgotten he was ever Batman. That cannot last and you know it. It was funny that Bullock refused to give up on the hunt for the Bat; balking at any mention of him being dead. The Joker's Daughter and the big Joker bot were a bit overkill. But it was worth it when Gordon laid into her putting her in her place as a wannabe!

So, after pouring over these eight issues, what is the verdict?

I give the whole series 3 Jack Eds outta 10. BUT, if you skip the crossovers, I jump it to a 7 out of 10.

So jump on board this new story starting in Detective #48. It's strange and vastly different. And, one thing they get right with Gordon is that he IS a detective of sorts. Maybe not in the 'league' of the Dark Knight, but living up to the legend that is the Commissioner. And maybe go back and grab #41-44 to see the beginning. The future however is yet to be seen.