Detective Comics #1093 Review (Batman, Tom Taylor)
Summary: While Tom Taylor portrayed Nightwing as a beacon of light, hope, and fun, his depiction of Batman is markedly different. Taylor presents Batman as a flawed hero, emphasizing his more somber and complex nature. Additionally, Taylor subtly points out that, aside from Selina, Bruce has an unfortunate history of poor choices in romantic partners.
3
Kids, stay out of Gotham.
Background – In this issue, Batman suffers a defeat, and tragically, a child dies. Unfortunately, this seems to be happening frequently.
Writing – Batman comics tend to follow one of two familiar paths. The first path, let’s call it Path A, involves a rogue returning to wreak havoc in Gotham or simply to challenge Batman. The second path, Path B, introduces a new character or someone from Bruce’s past, who turns out to be nefarious. A memorable instance of Path B from the New 52 era is when Lincoln March was revealed to be Owl Man. Reading “Hush” for the first time, Thomas Elliot was unveiled as the villain. Likewise, Jezebel Jet was part of the Black Glove. While these narratives can be engaging, they often feel repetitive.
Bruce’s newfound vitality is scarcely mentioned until the end, where Ansema scans his blood at her headquarters and discovers he is Batman. This marks yet another villain who knows his secret identity. Frankly, it seems redundant for Bruce to maintain a secret identity when it feels like every villain already knows, albeit they either don’t care or it’s part of some hero/villain code.
The subplot involving Bruce putting trackers in kids’ clothing is briefly mentioned and then abruptly dropped. This element appears to be an attempt to portray Bruce as overly protective, but in this context, it’s hard to see why this is negative. He’s trying to save the kids, so perhaps their families should cut him some slack.
Despite these issues, the story has its strengths. Ansema targeting children makes her an exceptionally malevolent villain. She has lost faith in offering second chances to any criminals, child or not, bringing her into direct conflict with Batman. Her ability to best Batman and escape after killing another child sets up intense future confrontations between her and Bruce.
It’s also refreshing to see nearly the entire Bat-family assembled. Characters like Spoiler and The Signal rarely appear, so their involvement here is a welcome addition.
Additionally, seeing Bruce take down an abusive parent is gratifying. It’s a reminder that Gotham’s threats extend beyond its iconic rogues and that Batman fights a broader spectrum of criminality.
Artwork – The standout panels are those of Batman attempting to save Spencer Robertson. These scenes, bathed in red light from sirens, fire, or the general sense of danger, are particularly striking. Mikel Janin’s depiction of Bruce holding Spencer’s hand as he bleeds out is rendered with such beauty that it’s genuinely heartbreaking.
Final Thoughts – This book starkly contrasts with Nightwing’s hopeful, fun adventures as penned by Tom Taylor. Taylor’s take on Batman portrays Bruce and Gotham as deeply flawed, where even the good meet grim fates. While some story elements work well, the predictability makes it feel like we’ve seen this all before.
Rating: 3/5
Publisher: DC
Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Mikel Janin
Colorist: Mikel Janin
Letterer: Wes Abbott
Cover Artists: Mikel Janin
Genre: Superhero
Format: Monthly
Release Date: 01/22/2025
About the Author
Matt Fischer Lover of all things nerdy. Reader of Comics for over 25 years. DC encyclopedia. X-Men historian. Spider-Man and Marvel lover. Indie side guy.
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