The grudge match youve been waiting for: BATMAN vs. THE BLACK MASK!
Comic Book annuals should focus on the current story and not tie directly into or continue from the current series. There's needs to be a sense of being self-contained so that readers can read and enjoy the over-sized format. Thankfully this annual does that. There is a tie to Black Mask's previous appearance in DETECTIVE COMICS but this issue can be enjoyed on its own. It also serves to set the groundwork for Black Mask and another Batman villain so there isn't a sense that this is just a story that won't have any impact on the series or character. Batman does give up the spotlight as the focus lies on Black Mask. Let's hope this leads to him having a bigger presence in the New 52. If he survives this annual, that is. Read Full Review
Detective Comics Annual #1 does little to push any of the characters involved forward or make changes to the Bat universe, but it does at least solidify Black Mask and a handful of other villains' places in the New 52. Hopefully Detective Comics can find a stronger sense of identity and purpose as the creative team shifts in the coming months. Read Full Review
As I mentioned before, the dialogue was unintentionally silly at times. But the artwork od Romano and Pere was good. You can see the differences in the styles. Pere has a morestraightforward approach while Romano has a more loose and free style. This issue doesn't bring any new changes in the Bat-Universe. Hopefully, the next year for Detective comics would be much better that the previous. Read Full Review
Tony Daniel delivers a pretty solid stand-alone Batman story but it doesn't really stick out enough to be very memorable. It's not bad by any stretch, but it's not great either. It's a square middle-of-the-road sort of story and earn's a final score of… Read Full Review
The art was pretty darn good. Romano Molenaar was originally supposed to do the full issue, but then Birds of Prey happened. Once again, Pere Perez stepped in and filled in perfectly. You can sort of tell when the change is made, just from a visual standpoint, but Perez alters his style from fill in to fill in, that allows his art to blend in nearly seamlessly. That's how you do fill in art, combined with consistent coloring from page 1 to the end. Read Full Review
"Detective Comics Annual" #1 ends Daniel's run on the series as writer on a not great note. It's not a failure, but I wouldn't call it a success either. Daniel's had some much stronger stories starring Batman over the years (his love letter to the "Batman: Year One" and "Batman: The Long Halloween" era of the character in "Batman: Life After Death" is probably his best), and it's too bad to see it end at this point. Hopefully with a little time off and a recharge, his next comic as writer/artist will be back up to his regular strength. Read Full Review
The story is very fast paced for the size of the issue and much of the dialogue seems superfluous. It's a poor introduction of this retro version of Black Mask. The art for this issue was just as bland. Read Full Review
I found it completely un-enjoyable and totally overpriced. If it had been $4 bucks I might've given it a 3 or 3.5 because the art was alright, but there are way, way way too many better books out there for you to be reading to waste your time on this ridiculous one-and-done book. Read Full Review
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