Detective Comics #28 is a straightforward, yet strong, chapter in the entertaining Gothtopia mini-event. You'll find solid artwork and strong writing in this issue that drives the story forward at a brisk pace without feeling rushed. Bat-fans already know this is a must read, but anyone on the fence about reading Detective should definitely dive in. Layman and Lopestri have a great story waiting for you. Read Full Review

I'm really enjoying the Gothtopia story acr, but feel sorry for people who aren't getting the full effect by reading all the tie in issues, and it might be a hindrance to readers.  But even without the tie-ins this is a great issue full of the Batman we all know and love.  The chemist, the detective, the escape artist, and the ninja, this issue has it all, and being chock full of our favorite baddies doesn't hurt it either.  So go check out this story that really feels it was made for Bat fans. Read Full Review

It's going to be sad to see Layman leave this title, and Gotham in general once his Eternal issues are published, but at least his last solo story has turned out to be really fun so far. This issue, while having it's minor faults here and there, sets up what is sure to be a crazy conclusion, while providing entertaining team-ups we don't get to see too often, like Batman and Ivy. Really looking forward to the conclusion, that's for sure. Read Full Review

Story lines that bleed into other series, with information that really helps out the reader, are a bit of a bummer, and DETECTIVE #28 feels like it's missing a bit more of that Gothtopia world; however, this issue is one fun ride that makes this series feel like a detective book again. The writing and art mesh incredibly well together and it's one fantastic roller coaster of a ride. On it's own, this side of Gothtopia feels like it's missing a little something, but by the end of the issue, you'll forget all about that because this is a well crafted and incredibly interesting story. Read Full Review

Gothopia has picked up momentum after a slow start, and the conclusion should at least be a interesting sight. Read Full Review

It's worth noting that this book's interior art is provided by Aaron Lopresti, who has collaborated with Layman on recent projects. I like his style and think he did a very good job. All you Jason Fabok fans will at least be happy to know that he provided cover art. Just know that's the last you'll see of him on Detective for the foreseeable future because he's hard at work on the upcoming weekly Batman:Eternal. Regardless of whatever artist worked on this, I highly recommend picking up this issue if you've enjoyed Layman's run or are looking for a Batman story that's a bit "different". Read Full Review

Aaron Lopresti does a solid job with the art in this issue. It's certainly enjoyable to look at but it never goes above or beyond what was called for. There were no glaring mistakes and the only complaint is that the inking in the daytime Gothtopia needed to be a bit heavier. Read Full Review

Aaron Lopresti handles the art as regular artist Jason Fabok most likely leaves to begin his work on the upcoming weekly Batman Eternal series. Lopresti's art works for the story, but his lines looks much more angled and sharp than they have in the past. He's got a couple really nice splash pages within, including a nice double-page spread where Batman resembles Hannibal Lecter. Overall this issue is a fun read, but not something we haven't seen before. There's been plenty of “Batman locked up in Arkham” stories preceding this one, so it will be interesting to see if the rest of this story arc can provide us with something that's new and unique. Read Full Review

Unfortunately, Jason Fabok doesn't illustrate this issue, and it's probably safe to assume he's moved onto Batman Eternal by now. Aaron Lopresti fills in instead. His art is solid, but it lacks the texture and power Fabok brought to the series. If anything, he would have been better suited to the bright, shining realm of Gothopia rather than the dank halls and twisted inhabitants of Arkham. Read Full Review

The story is nicely plotted and going at a nice pace, but the flimsy excuse for how Gotham is under Scarecrow's influence hurt this one a lot for me. If you can ignore that then I think you'll enjoy it quite a bit. Granted, we've seen Batman try to escape from a villain-controlled Arkham Asylum before but having him partner with Pamela Isley is a rare sight. Read Full Review

Gothtopia seems like it can be an interesting story, let's just hope that future issues will be more engaging for readers in the context of the overall story. Read Full Review

John Layman and Aaron Lopresti create an interesting Scarecrow story that reminds readers why he is one of Batmans greatest foes. Casual Batman readers, and fans of the Scarecrow in particular, will enjoy this Gothtopia storyline. The action in this book takes a back seat to the mystery-solving detective side of Batman, but this is Detective Comics after all. Read Full Review