Batman: Detective Comics #1091 – Tom Taylor, Writer; Mikel Janin, Artist
Ray – 9.5/10
Ray: One of my favorite things about Tom Taylor’s work is that he always has something big on his mind. His books aren’t “political” in the way some are – they’re not polemics, but they’re stories that tackle real issues through the filter of a fictional world. This book is about the prison-industrial complex and the way the rich are increasingly seeking to find a way to cheat death – with Batman in the middle of both. Someone is kidnapping street kids, all ex-criminals, and the teenage hood who Batman stopped last issue has turned up dead. Few seem interested, with even Bullock being rather casual about it – and Batman takes it personally, feeling like he failed the boy. When another goes missing, he sees it as his chance to make up for it – but the problem is, the mystery villain isn’t the only one after the boy, and Batman’s own body is starting to let him down.
That’s where the other big plot here comes into play – an old friend of Bruce’s, one who owes everything to Thomas Wayne, is now peddling an experimental anti-aging drug, one that could turn back the clock for Batman. There’s a fantastic conversation between Superman and Batman about this prospect that is subtly some of the best Superman writing around in what’s already a golden age for the character. And Batman makes the choice to go ahead with it, and it almost feels too good to be true – which it probably is. The connection between the two plots seems almost too obvious, given the rumors about similar things, so I’m guessing there’s a big swerve here. I’m not sure what it’ll be, but Taylor has wasted no time zooming in on some of the big unanswered questions looming over Batman, and giving us a fascinating twist on themes we’ve seen before. I was a little surprised there was no follow-up on all the Thomas Wayne stuff from last issue, but Taylor has already set up a lot here.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
