Detective Comics #850

I'm pretty sure this is proof that either we're living in a parallel universe, or I'm in the midst of some sort of highly functional mental breakdown.  But sure enough, I sit here writing the Pick of the Week for Detective Comics #850.   I want to say I've never picked a Batman family book as the Pick before, yet I'm not 100%. But I'm pretty damn sure this has never happened before, so let's enjoy it while it lasts.

I've been on the record before as stating that I don't like Batman.  To be honest, I'm not sure if that's entirely true.  I like the character just fine.  Great concept, amazing history, I love the 1960s campy TV show and movie, I've enjoyed ALL the Batman movies (for differing reasons of course), I adore the early-mid 1990s animated series, and there have even been a few comics here and there that I have enjoyed.  What I dislike about Batman comics is all the baggage (coming from the X-Men fan...I know, irony, right?) There are like 17 titles (well not anymore soon I guess, but for the past 10 years + there have been), and there is just story upon story that all seem to be doing the same thing.  Telling some sort of mystery with some sort of twist with some sort of wacky villain.  Batman in the comics just seems to be rerun after rerun.  When there have been innovations with Batman comics, they're either works of genius (The Killing Joke, Dark Knight Returns etc), embarrassments (Az-bats), or just too heavy for me to even think about getting involved in (No Man's Land).  So when it comes to the comics, I'll pass on Batman.

Except for the fact that the one writer who I've consistently enjoyed on Batman has been Paul Dini.  That's one of the main reasons why we asked Mr. Dini to join us here on iFanboy with his "200 Words With Paul Dini" column, because he's provided us years of enjoyment of comics and television.  It was his Mad Love with Bruce Timm that first introduced me to his work, and I've enjoyed it ever since, including many, many Batman cartoons.

So when it was announced he'd be the ongoing writer on Detective Comics a couple of years ago, I put aside my bias against the bat and started buying it.  The one and done stories were classic Dini-style Batman stories and there were some great moments, such as J.H. Williams art in the beginning and the Joker Christmas issue.  But as Batman R.I.P. creeped closer, it seemed inevitable that Detective Comics, in its own little world, would get sucked into the event.  And when it was announced that it would be a multi-issue arc featuring Hush as the villain, I think I visibly cringed.

Hush, the creation of Jeph Loeb in collaboration with Jim Lee (now unceremoniously celebrated in Absolute edition), was one of Loeb's more annoying creations, in my opinion; a real snooze of a villain.  I thought that if anything would test my patience in my dalliance with Batman comics, it would be Hush.  But then Paul Dini did something pretty damn cool.  He proved the axiom:

 "There are no bad characters, just bad writers."

Believe it or not, I've been on board with this story arc all the way.  After the first issue impressed me, Detective Comics rose the ranks of my stack, until this week when it was the first book I read because I couldn't wait to see how it would end.  That's impressive in my book.  Dini's arc with Hush spanned the Batman universe, pulling in all his supporting characters in a natural, effortless manner.  He presented a mystery and challenge for Batman, that involved real stakes, the life of Catwoman, hanging in the balance.  At no time did this issue (or this arc) suffer from the cliches and weight or baggage that I expect from Batman stories.  Now, I'm not reading any other Bat-titles, so I have no idea how this fits into the greater R.I.P. event, but I honestly don't care.  You can take this set of issues and hand it to anyone mildly familiar with Batman and they will read a thrilling story that really lets the character of Batman shine.  In addition to doing that, Dini has ever so subtlely moved the status quo of Batman forward by providing a touching and emotional ending where Bruce Wayne is finally honest about his feelings towards Selina Kyle.  That's drama I can appreciate and it was a welcome ending in addition to the resolution of the conflict, in a manner that was believeable, clear and made sense. 

All the accolades don't just go to Dini.  The artwork of Dustin Nguyen deserves some special attention as well.  First off, the painted style covers that Nguyen has created for this run of his on Detective Comics make me want to see him do a comic entirely in this style.  But to then shift gears and provide pencils that are so tight and work within the confines of each scene appropriately, is just a sign that Nguyen is now an artist I'm going to keep my eye on.  Character moments are done with class and style, with pacing that allows the storytelling to progress at the proper speed.   And then the shift in action sequences, with clear storytelling from action scene to scene shows how this is an artist that has come into his own.  It's stellar work.

It takes a lot to make me admit that I'm wrong, but I'm man enough to admit it and from now on I can't in good conscience say that I don't like Batman.  Instead I will have to adjust my defense to the fact that I just don't like bad Batman comics. 


Ron Richards
I'm still not buying any other Bat-titles, so don't get too excited
ron@ifanboy.com