Review: Detective Comics #1001

“Medieval”

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Artists: Brad Walker and Andrew Hennessy
Color Artist: Nathan Fairbairn
Letterer: Rob Leigh

Review by Steve J. Ray

This is it! Finally we have the Arkham Knight in main DC Comics continuity. Who is he? What does he want? Who are his Knights Of The Sun? In this issue Peter J. Tomasi gives fans a (tiny) bit more information about the character he introduced in the exceptional Detective Comics #1000.

It’s clear that the Knights are targeting Batman, as the corpses of thousands of nocturnal chiroptera all across Gotham City clearly show. The question is though, are they a force for good, as this introduction seems to suggest? Or does their battle against the dark only show them to be zealots, wanting to fight fire with fire?

Their Moments In The Sun

I love the way that DC Comics keep really strong continuity within their titles, but you can read books like Detective Comics, Batman and Justice League as completely separate entities. Readers DON’T have to pick up every single title if they don’t want to. (Please do though, as they’re all great!) What I also love is the way that, when a lesser known character makes a welcome appearance, the tiniest of footnotes can give us clear recaps of their histories. I’m not one for spoilers, so let me just say that the wife of a Justice League Dark member shows up in this issue. It’s lovely to see her, as her absences of late have been niggling at the back of my mind.

The pencils and inks in this issue have been handled by the brilliant Brad Walker and Andrew Hennessy respectively, giving the incredible Doug Mahnke a well deserved rest. Mr. Mahnke would be proud. Apart from one panel, where Bruce Wayne has a pointy Pinocchio nose, the art in this issue is exceptional.

Drawing all those bats must’ve driven these two fine artists, well… batty. Sorry…

Nathan Fairbairn’s colors and the lettering work of Rob Leigh are also spot-on perfect. The action sequences are loud, and the use of color, sound effects and dialogue all help to make the work of Walker and Hennessy look all the more excellent. Since the new creative team took over this series has just been on roll, and it’s one that I have every faith will continue throughout this story arc, and beyond.

Conclusion

The Arkham Knight and his army are truly forces to be reckoned with. Their futuristic technology, weapons and armor are a serious threat to Batman, and the issue ends on the type of cliff-hanger that I hate, yet truly appreciate. I’m really glad that this title’s still on a two issue per month schedule! Still, this means that there are still 14 long (k)nights to sleep through before we get issue #1002.

Images Courtesy Of DC Entertainment

(This review was originally published on the Dark Knight News website on April 10th 2019)