Detective Comics #1046

Writer: Stephanie Phillips, Mariko Tamaki Artist: David Lapham, Dan Mora Publisher: DC Comics Release Date: December 29, 2021 Cover Price: $4.99 Critic Reviews: 12 User Reviews: 34
7.9Critic Rating
6.9User Rating

+ Pull List

“Fear State” aftermath! Bloody, broken, and beaten…Batman had a mission after The Joker War. He would no longer look over Gotham City from Wayne Manor; he would move to the heart of the city, get closer to its people and its problems. The fight he pursued would be different, but after Fear State he finds himself disillusioned. He is no longer the protector the city needs, and definitely not the one it deserves. Batman’s last night in Gotham City before his international sojourn is here. Backup: Harley Quinn guest-stars in the culmination of “Foundations”! Must Gotham City have an Arkham facility, and if so…will it be any diffe more

  • 10
    But Why Tho? - William J. Jackson Dec 28, 2021

    Detective Comics #1046 ended 2021 by saying goodbye to the over-the-top stories that dominated the Batman line. It laid out the future in an accessible way and I look forward to 'Shadow of the Bat.' Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally Dec 28, 2021

    Dan Mora delivers some breathtakingly beautiful art throughout the issue. The characters are dynamic and stunning to look at and the panels capture the imagination. I also really enjoyed the cameo from another story Mora does the art for. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Dark Knight News - James Attias Dec 28, 2021

    Wow… the last issue of Detective Comics of 2021, what a year it's been! I hope you've all enjoyed the books, and my reviews, as of the first 12 weeks of next year; DC's oldest series is going weekly! So, be sure to keep reading and enjoying one of the milestone titles of comic book history. After a thousand plus issues, I'm still hooked, and Detective Comics #1046 is the end of one road and the first step along the next! Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    DC Comics News - Matthew Lloyd Dec 28, 2021

    Detective Comics #1046 is a wonderful lead-in to next month's "Shadows of the Bat." It features an outstanding focus on character and genuine feeling of family and relationships between the Bat characters. Gotham may "need" Batman, or maybe it's vice versa, but there's an incredibly competent group of heroes to safeguard the city in his absence. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    AIPT - Reg Cruickshank Dec 28, 2021

    Detective Comics continues to be the Batman comfort food I need in the current landscape of comics. Fun, tried, and true to the world and characters. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    COMICON - Scott Redmond Dec 31, 2021

    With this issue we're delivered an ending that is also a solid beginning, casting an eye towards what is to come in Detective Comics for 2022. The character-centric street-level focus of this book continues to make it one of the best runs of this book in quite some time, and should only get better as it delves deeper into the bat-family as a whole very soon. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield Dec 28, 2021

    Grounded in characters like Nanako and Deb Donovan, it's an intriguing run and this feels like the calm before the storm. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Weird Science - Joey Casco CSW/CSS Dec 28, 2021

    The art is top-notch, and I loved the action. I actually liked everything about this issue from the story to the character interaction. The Batfamily involved are great here, and true to their individual character. I just don't like the idea of Arkham Tower and don't really care about whatever is going on with Deb Donovan. Good stuff, though. It ended this thing with a good one. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    The Batman Universe - Theodis Wright Dec 28, 2021

    Next week begins Shadows of the Bat, and I can't wait. Tamaki used this issue to perfectly set up the next few months of a Gotham City without Batman. It's now time to get things started. See you next week. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Lyles Movie Files - Jeffrey Lyles Dec 28, 2021

    Detective Comics is still searching for a clear angle. Maybe its in a team book? It worked before and it could succeed again. For now this Fear State epilogue wasnt worth revisiting. Read Full Review

  • 4.0
    ComicBook.com - Christian Hoffer Dec 29, 2021

    This comic is mostly setting up the next major arc of the Batbooks, with more mood setting and piece laying than actual story. Read Full Review

  • 3.5
    Batman-News - Casper Rudolph Dec 28, 2021

    I don't want to be this negative, but I can't recommend this comic in good conscience. It's trying too hard to be too many things at once and as a result nothing really works. This is another setup for "Shadows of the Bat" at best. At least you get to see many Bat Family members in one issue, though. That's still pretty cool. Read Full Review

  • 8.0

    Maybe it's the optimism I've had from the fact Batman is doing better since Tynion left or maybe that the whole fear State thing is over (I'd say both), but I'd say this was pretty good for a prelude. While I'm not thrilled about Batman being gone through most of this, I guess it makes sense to show what's happening back in Gotham while he's out of town.
    It's amazing how Gotham learns so little from its mistakes. But without some kind of Arkham, what will it do? Letting the Justice League take matters into their own hands proved to be a disaster as proven in Salvation Run many years ago. So I guess their options are limited. Sucks to be that city.
    I am truly glad Fear State is over, so now maybe we can see this series pursue its o more

  • 7.5
    Psycamorean Jan 4, 2022

    This was a slower issue, and not really necessary, but for what it was, it was well written, and I liked the art.

  • 7.0
    Reaper74 Jul 5, 2022

    Standard filler issue with all setup for the next arc. Only important to set up Batman leaving Gotham. The art is nice so it helps the “story”.

  • 6.0
    UxasIs Dec 31, 2021

    Detective Comics - 6.5/10, yeah this one just didn't do much for me. Nice art but the story just felt repetitive here and wasn't very additive to the experience.

    Arkham Rising - 5.5/10

  • 5.5
    Lal Dec 28, 2021

    While the art is beautiful, this was by far the weakest issue in this run so far.
    Most of the characters didn't really do anything important and overall the story wasn't very clear or compelling.
    I really hope the shadows of the bat event would be better written and have a clearer direction.

  • 5.0
    Hydro-Man Dec 29, 2021

    DC Comics. Where great artists (Dan Mora, Ivan Reiss) go to die.

    Hopefully Mora finds greener pastures on Mark Waid’s World’s Finest run. That is if Waid can get out of his own way and I am confident he can.

    Poor Ivan Reiss is taking over ‘Tec. Guy has the worst luck ever. Great, event-level artist punted from one shitty comic to the next…

    + LikeComments (4)
  • 1.0
    Bats20832 Jan 2, 2022

    Yes, 2022 can get worse. Horror Comics writers and Mass-Murder Apologist Comics writers now control DC Comics so-called "Detective Comics" in Detective Comics Issue # 1046. Horror Comics writer Mariko Tamika writes for character Spoiler aka "Batgirl" Stephanie Brown: "Maybe its one thing to be the Dark Knight. It's something else to be a hero." The EC Comics Gotham Books gang would know who is a "hero" alright. In "Out and Gone," Mariko gleefully kicks The Batman out of Detective Comics. Watch the sales of Detective Comics without Batman, Mariko. Other than that, some Dr. Meridian is supposed to keep an eye on a crank Dr. Ware who is creating a new Arkham Tower to help psycho criminals get loose... or as they will call it "heal."
    more

  • 1.0
    RKS Jan 1, 2022

    Ugh. Let me ask you this, is it even really a Batman book anymore if Batman only appears in 5 pages of a 22 page story? It's obvious that Tomaki wants to prominently feature "Strong female characters" but this doesn't have to mean that you make Batman a secondary character in his own comic book. What is planned for the next 12 months looks even worse...The back up story isn't any better. It's hard to find a decent story being published by DC currently. Save your money kids.

    + LikeComments (3)
  • 1.0
    Merlyn Dec 28, 2021

    Both stories are just awful.

    + LikeComments (2)
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