This has been a bit of a slow burn, but if this story can stick the landing we might have something special on our hands. Read Full Review

This is setting up to be a very exciting showdown. Astrid feels like the villain that not only Bruce but we the readers need. If done right, this could have some clout in the future. I can't wait to see what happens next. Read Full Review

As the series progresses, Tomasis ability to build towards something more lavish and grand while still delivering exciting new chapters between each new revelation altogether leave fans clamoring for the next. Brad Walker proceeds to be the artist for the job with his clean pencil works and his ability to visually stand apart from his own contemporaries. Once again, Detective Comics proves to be the peak Batman title currently with no end in sight for this uncontested victory. Read Full Review

This is another fantastic issue. While you are able to catch a breath or two, the story doesn't lag at all. The art by Walker is tops, too. This is another spectacular chapter of this title. It hit me on every level and I want the next issue in my hands as soon as humanly possible. Read Full Review

Detective Comics #1004 is my favorite issue of “Medieval” to date. Walker's artwork sells Tomasi's narrative of the tragic origins of Astrid, and the end result builds up to a wonderful crescendo. Read Full Review

Detective Comics #1004 was another stellar issue, and I'm loving this series right now. Read Full Review

Batman appears to be over-matched given Astrid's strong connections to Dr. Arkham and the combat training she received after leaving The Arkham Asylum. However, will she be able to follow through on her threats or is this just another Batman villain who will bite the dust? Time will tell. I highly recommend this story to fans of the classic Batman character. Read Full Review

Detective Comics #1004 provides a satisfying look at the origin of a major new Batman villain. Read Full Review

There isn't a lot of action in the issue because it is mainly focused on Astrid's origins, but there are some great moments that parallel Batman's journey and those moments look great. Read Full Review

I'm all in with Arkham Knight as we finally get the full story on the character. Read Full Review

Gorgeously illustrated and compellingly written, the story of the Arkham Knight is as tragic as it is gripping. Read Full Review

DETECTIVE COMICS #1004 is a masterclass in how to do exposition well. The storytelling is strong, adding pathos to the story. Of course, it's all backed up by excellent artwork, colors, and lettering. Highly recommended. Read Full Review

This issue is mostly just character building for the main villain, and honestly it is really good. Peter J Tomasi once again delivers and is backed up by a killer art team. The only bad thing I can say about this issue is that I would have liked to have seen the story progress a little more than it did, but other than that, it was good stuff. If you are really into this current run of Detective Comics then obliviously this is a must have. Ive giving this issue a 4 out of 5. Read Full Review

I really liked Tomasi's origin for Astrid. For me, it was something new I have not read before. She is a villain who we can sympathize with. I am curious what Batman is going to do. Read Full Review

This is an interesting one-shot that establishes one of the more intriguing Batman villains in years. Read Full Review

I don't know anything about Gotham Knight and I'm not really a big Batman fan, but this issue got my attention in a very impressive way. Read Full Review

On the first read, I was like "really? that's stupid!" with the delivery scene, but on the second read I liked it, and now on the third read I thought it was pretty cool. The Joker reading to her was touching and how she thought of the inmates as her family makes complete sense. Overall the issue is good, I enjoyed it, and can't wait to see where it goes next. Read Full Review

I'm not a fan of over-extending the story, anything more than four or five issues fails to hold my interest. But the creative team of Tomasi/Walker/Hennessy/Fairbairn have kept matters apace and come together to tell and engaging story. I had my doubts at first, but am pleased to have been proven wrong. Read Full Review

Tomasi creates and interesting and natural backstory for the Arkham Knight in this issue. Read Full Review

Seeing all of Gotham's worse of the worse being the one to bring a newborn child is depicted amazingly in this issue. The artwork showing the face of Joker, though having a grin of contempt, has compassion of a caring soul through his eyes as Harley Quinn can barely contain herself as she witnesses a child being born. The action lacks any words to mention in this review. It offers a great background to Astrid's story which will come to blows in the next issue of Detective Comics # 1005. Read Full Review

'Detective Comics #1004' is an unfortunate misstep for the otherwise really entertaining arc featuring the new Arkham Knight. Though this issue delves into the villain's origins, it ultimately feels too disjointed to pull everything together in a successful way. Read Full Review

Detective Comics #1004 is best described as a very well-executed comic that doesn't work at all. Tomasi is a veteran writer who knows his pacing, and Brad Walker does some really interesting art shifts this issue. The problem is, the central plot and its villain don't click. Read Full Review

Detective Comics #1004 had elements of a good story. Unfortunately there were some major problems with Arkham Knight's origin. Not the least of is the fact that a major character in Arkham Knight's origin was treated as nothing more than a plot device. It is not to late for Peter Tomasi to turn things around but there will be a lot of work to be done to give a compelling end to Arkham Knight's introductory story arc. Read Full Review

VerdictIf this issue is the actual facts, Detective Comics #1004, has just derailed what was shaping up to be a nice arc. The incidentals of Astrid's origin are so unreal that it calls into question the veracity of the story itself. It feels like there should be something more underneath the surface. While that's always possible, taken for what it is, Detective Comics #1004 comes across like a bad movie script for a comic adaptation from the '90's…bitten by a radioactive insane asylum or some such… what did you think was going to happen when the girl's playmate is the Joker? Read Full Review

"There are no heroes or villains."

The artwork worth the issue. Is the classic villain origins tale but I like what Tomasi did with this Arkham Knight character, clearly the timeline and ages of the Batman characters has some issues but I don´t have a big problem with that. On the other hand, the Arham Knight's motives for attacking Batman were developed in an acceptable way, so a good issue.

Another very enjoyable issue.

Just as I expected, this issue was an origin story for Arkham Knight and it was pretty cool. I find it interesting to see someone raised by villains, It makes sense that she hates Batman. I also really enjoyed seeing the more human side of Joker and the others. I think it was a good origin story that made me like Arkham Knight a bit more as a villain.

Oh, and her father is pretty terrible at being a father and a dick by not letting her know the real reason for her mother's death.

Art as usual for this arc was pretty good.

Well, I kinda enjoyed this issue, but it might be the lamest villain’s origin story that I’ve ever seen lol

If you're going to do exposition, this is how you do it. The full background that we don't often get in new characters. Also, Walker's rendering of Batman is really unique and I respect it - it looks almost like a different series from some of the other characters in a Neal Adam-ish way.

SPOILERS FOR LAST ISSUE AHEAD

THE GOOD:

-I'll be honest, I didn't really hate this issue as much as some other people.

-The art was quite good this issue.

-I thought the story Jeremiah Arkham told was, well… well told. I was never bored, even though I knew exactly how it was going to end.

-I thought that Astrid was a really interesting character here.

-That page with Astrid looking at Arkham and visualizing it as her castle was a really good panel.

-The end was good, and I'm looking forward to next issue.

THE BAD:

-I'm still just very much against the choice to have Astrid Arkham be Arkham Knight. She seemed like a very random character, and I would have preferred a character with more relevance in this story line.

-The villains just seemed very out of character here. more

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myconius - May 31, 2019

myself i can't say i hated it. there actually were a lot of good things in this issue. but personally i have a hard time believing that Batman would leave a riot in progress, to go after escapees. especially when the guy who started the riot is in the forefront flinging Bat-a-rangs that Batman left lying on the ground. you'd think even one of Batman's arch foes would have seen that and somehow took offense to it. i like the idea Tomasi had going, just his execution feels a bit wonky.

myconius - May 31, 2019

but i fault the bi-weekly schedule for this.

ohhaimark - Jun 1, 2019

Very true. I personally enjoyed it for its story. Even thought I would have preferred a character with more relevance in the previous issues, I guess I ended up liking Arkham Knight.

Darkseid24 - Jun 1, 2019

Im just glad, when this arc is over.

myconius - Jun 4, 2019

i'm just going to enjoy it for what it is. i might not be sold 100% but it's still fairly entertaining.

ohhaimark - Jun 4, 2019

Agreed. It’s not perfect, but it’s I find it enjoyable, and a lot better than many of the other current DC story arcs.

myconius - Jun 4, 2019

absolutely! a LOT better that many of the other stories DC has been doing as of late.

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I thought this was pretty good. I really don't think the villains would've ever done what they did here, though.

"Haven't we all at some point?"

What did you expect Jeremiah, raising your daughter in an asylum for mentally ill super criminals? When your kid refers to the Joker as Uncle Joker, know that there will be trouble.

I really don't have much to say about this one. Astrid's backstory seems a bit silly and reminds me of the animation Megamind, but by the end, I grew to like it.

I wasn't surprised by the fact that Ivy, Harley, Grundy and Clayface were helping, they're not Evil. But I was half expecting for the Joker to throw the kid at the wall or something. The other four must have bullied him into playing nice.

One question though. Who was the guy with the metal jaw we saw when the riot broke out? The one at the page with Killer Crock.

And just like that, Pete Tomasi continues to save Batman one issue at a time. more

Wow, Batman is looking great for 50+.

Points off for the cockamamie timeline.

Now that's what I call a hell of a good origin story. For the most part, because there's few elements of it I don't necesarily enjoy.

It was a great idea to humanize Arkham prisoners. I'm really tired of the "good versus evil" war, with one side not having and flaws and the other not having any redeeming qualities. Let the DCU be more grey where it can be, because the constant pursuit of darkness by writers such as Tom King or even Scott Snyder, makes it less appealing, less diverse, and less realistic. It's little things like what we see in this issue that make us emphatize with these characters, otherwise serving as antagonists. Even Joker, albeit whether or not Tomasi made him too sane and compassionate, I'll leave to you to decide.

What I didn't like, however, is Astrid's motivation. It's rather shallow and despite being personal, it falls flat compared even to one of Batman's newest enemies, Karma, who also has a grudge against Bats himself.
I certainly hope she'll develop as a character, because so far her connection to other baddies has plenty of potential which could be utilized. We'll see. more

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myconius - May 31, 2019

i'm hoping this will be the last we see of the Arkham Knight. the origin is just weak sauce. ....Tomasi has been really good at making villains sympathetic. look at Nobody from his New52 Batman&Robin. that was a villain done right. ..even though Damian did him dirty. but still, hellova compelling story there!

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Well the art was good and most of the dialogue except for Damian, that felt odd. Her backstory was eh ok. He's truly a terrible father if he just home schooled her and let her at times go around in Arkham. Joker felt out of placed though with the other villains.

there were things i did enjoy about this issue, mostly the art. the art was excellent.
but the big shocking reveal for the motivation behind the Arkham Knight was extremely forced and very poorly handled.

like i said there were good things about the issue, but i'm honestly very disappointed.
will go into more detail later after i've had a chance to re-read this.

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Darkseid24 - May 22, 2019

It’s rather the timeline& portrayal of the villains, that ruins it for me. The idea of AK protecting the inmates is fresh, but the timeline just doesn’t fit at all.

myconius - May 22, 2019

i'm extremely disappointed in this issue. the cheap shock was pretty unbelievable. i find it hard to believe that'd happen under Batman's watch without him having absolutely no idea of it. especially with one of his own damn batarangs.

Darkseid24 - May 22, 2019

There were many elements I couldn’t believe. Maybe it turns out, that Joker was the one ordering the prisoner to kill her, but that wouldn’t fix the timeline,

myconius - May 22, 2019

and i was really digging this arc so far. this issue was too hard to swallow. there's no WAY Batman wouldn't have known about this.

Darkseid24 - May 22, 2019

I know, but as for me I had problems with the arc from the very beginning. Maybe it gets explained in the last issue

myconius - May 23, 2019

i wish i could be as optimistic at this point. but this issue pretty much ruined the arc. i just can't see Batman leaving the Asylum before detaining the one responsible for starting the riot.

Darkseid24 - May 23, 2019

That’s true, but it’s only one issue& I’m already looking forward to the next arc, since I have given up this one issues ago.

myconius - May 23, 2019

hahahaha! yeah. i was trying to be positive about this arc from the start. i was really hoping Tomasi would callback to Astrid's ancestor Amadeus Arkham, who actually founded the Asylum and eventually went mad. that could have been awesome to tie the story into 'Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth'. but oh well. it'll be just a mindless action romp. at least the art and the action was good. as well as some humorous dialog a points.

Darkseid24 - May 23, 2019

I overall hoped for more& didn’t really think of the Arkham family. At least she’s her own character now, but with too many flaws. Wonder if she will ever appear again.

myconius - May 24, 2019

we probably won't see her again, unless Tomasi throws her in for a little cameo, like he did with Titus a few issues ago.

Darkseid24 - May 24, 2019

That would suck though, I mean first DC starts the hype& then we never see her again.

myconius - May 24, 2019

Darkseid24 you were very right to be apprehensive of them bringing the Arkham Knight into the main comics. i should have headed your warnings.

Darkseid24 - May 25, 2019

Yeah, ever since Darkseid War I‘m quite pessimistic, when new comics are announced, especially when my favorite characters are in it. These days you always have to worry that DC is messing them up. I unfortunately was right with comic AK.

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This story continues to be a big disappointment.
Talking about timeline errors, what are the biggest problem in this issue. If Astrid currently is like 15-20 years old& villains like Harley& Joker were all already in Arkham before she was even born, it would consequently mean, that Harley is like 40-45 years& Joker 55-60 years old. Same would go for Batman. This might have worked at the end of Pre52, but not in New52/ Rebirth, especially because it was stated back then, that Batman is in action for 5 years, when New52 started& nothing was changed ever since. So do writers& editors even care about logic& timeline?
What also made zero sense was the portrayal of the villains. I really can’t see Joker as someone, who is honestly happy about a newborn in Arkham, he’s rather the kind of guy, who shoots the mother in the womb before the baby is born. Or who shoots the baby in front of the mother’s eyes. Same goes for Harley. I can imagine her not killing or hurting a mother, when she’s not with Joker, but back then she would kill everyone Joker wants to see dead. So Joker was totally out of character. Same goes for the inmates overall. It’s implied here, that they would all be friendly& nice, if people were just friendly towards them, while this might go for some, it definitely doesn’t for all. Especially Joker& not even Grundy.
It also is quite lame, that it wasn’t even Batman, who accidentally killed her mother, if Tomasi at least went through with that, but not even that.
However the art was great& I love the cover. Some of Damien’s lines were funny too.
And at least comic Arkham Knight is someone, who wants to protect the inmates it seems, what is something fresh& new, but I’m asking myself where was she the entire time, when Batman beat his way through Arkham? Tomasi created a real messed up AK& yet one, who still has a point, so maybe the story works if more explored. However timeline errors& the portrayal of the villains ruins it for me. It sounds like something that is great on paper, but wasn’t thought through well. more

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egonnn244 - May 26, 2019

Regarding the timeline. I think when Supermen merged together, the universe got back the missing 10 years. So now, our heroes were active a lot longer than 5 years, what was stated back in New 52. For my head-canon, I'm taking that Batman and the rest operate for 15-20 years already.

Darkseid24 - May 26, 2019

That was never stated in Rebirth. Rebirth just brought some old characters back, but didn’t reboot or merge the timeline. And if so Harley would be 40 years old, which she definitely is not.

egonnn244 - May 26, 2019

It was never explicitly stated, but we saw in Jurgen's Action Comics, Superman's "new" memories with Jon being born on Prime Earth in Fortress with Wonder Woman and Batman around, Perry White holding him, Supes in his red trunks, in his Blue suit, in his New 52 suit. And Jon was stated to be 10 years old, so the timeline had to change. I believe it was a story arc called "The New World". Around issue 975 or something like that.

Darkseid24 - May 26, 2019

That contradicts Batman& other characters, since they are still New52 timeline. However the 5 years never made much sense.

egonnn244 - May 27, 2019

I don't think they are still in the New 52 timeline. In New 52 Dick Grayson was 15 or 16 when his parents died. Rebirth changed it back to 9 or 10. Same with Tim Drake, where it brought back the fact that he saw Dick's parents die in the circus when he was very little. At least that's my take on the matter. No writer or DC itself ever stated anything explicitly so you can interpret it any way you want. My way just works better for me.

Darkseid24 - May 27, 2019

Or it’s just messed up overall. Characters like Harley are still New52, Forever Evil, Darkseid War Batman& Robin Eternal are still canon. Mr Freeze Origin went back to normal I think. So I Guess some New52 things aren’t canon anymore, while others are. It’s however not Pre52 timeline, since Knightfall& NML aren’t canon anymore. Same goes for War Games& other stories.

egonnn244 - May 27, 2019

I think is just blend of both really. Stuff from N52 that was good and stuff from pre-N52 that works with whatever was left form N52. They hinted for example, that Reign of Supermen is back in canon and destruction of Coast City also, but both without Superboy since he was lost on Gemworld, apparently.

egonnn244 - May 27, 2019

or... it's just messed up :) But for me, if I enjoy the story, I can let some inconsistencies slide.

Darkseid24 - May 27, 2019

Yeah I guess you are right. I’m glad some Pre52 elements are back, but I’m also glad Pre52 isn’t fully back, because if writers are messing things up I can at least tell myself it’s not Pre52 anyway. I wish Darkseid War or New52 JL never happened, but both are still canon unfortunately.

egonnn244 - May 28, 2019

Man, they really messed you up with their take on Darkseid, didn't they?

Darkseid24 - May 28, 2019

Yes they indeed did. I hope JL Odyssey fixes him.

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