Batman: Detective Comics #1103 – Tom Taylor, Writer; Mikel Janin, Artist
Ray – 9/10
Ray: The second big arc of Tom Taylor’s Detective Comics has upped the intensity, with a ticking clock over Batman’s head. He’s been infected by an anti-fear virus that will strip his mind of the ability to recognize danger before eventually driving him to self-destructive behavior that will likely kill him. He barely escaped with his life as he encountered the mastermind behind the plague, a mysterious criminal named The Lion. And now, his quest has taken him to Metropolis to get in contact with the most feared and powerful person in the city – not Superman, Lois Lane. Batman doesn’t need a fighter, he needs an investigator as he tracks down the source of the virus, and she’s able to get him into STAR Labs, where it all apparently originated from. And it becomes clear that this isn’t the first time the virus has gotten out. All the designers are dead from reckless behaviors that seem to be caused by it – all but one.
The sole survivor, an agoraphobic scientist who has been operating remotely, has overcome his fears thanks to the virus – but that might not be a good thing. He’s gained the confidence to start dealing with Intergant and potentially spread danger far and wide. At the same time, the Lion is ready to put his own plan into effect – and it starts with kidnapping the Scarecrow, who he has a personal grudge against. If these names seem a little on the nose and especially timely, you’re not wrong, but the Bat-line has always leaned into these meta references. This is sort of a bridge issue before the next big battle, but it’s elevated by some great lines by Lois Lane as well as a real sense of tension. Batman has a sense of fatalism to him here that we rarely see, as he knows that his clock might be running out and he’s just trying to do as much good as he can while he’s still able.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes
