This title definitely is warranting renewed attention as the creative team is locked in on this new mystery and skillfully unfolding it every month. Read Full Review

This is a fantastic Batman comic, in part because it seems so unlike any other Batman comic that's come before. Read Full Review

‘Detective Comics' new moody operatic story arc continues to deeply explore Batman and Gotham City in a darkly gorgeous but deeply human way building a very interesting new foundation for the city and various well-known characters. Everything about this issue, both main & backup story, radiates the exact vibes one would expect from Batman-related types of stories while bringing a bunch of their own unique powerful energy to play. Read Full Review

As complex as it is mesmerizing, Detective Comics #1063 sees Ram V and Rafael Albuquerque dig deeper into the Gothic mystery that is taking hold of Gotham. Read Full Review

The first issue of Ram V's run was fascinating, moody, and tense, but somehow it didn't hit quite as hard as I expected it to. It felt like a lot of setupbut anyone who let that fool them was selling him short. This second issue takes the strengths of the first issue and builds on them with a Gotham that feels genuinely haunted for the first time in a long time. Read Full Review

The story of the dark and macabre that these creators are giving us dives deep into the horror and gothic storytelling, while remaining within the confines of the a crime-noir themed storyline steeped in growing the mythology that is Gotham City. Theres a depth here that looks to bring us to a Gotham that many creators attempt to create, by making the city as much of an integral member of the cast as the characters involved. If the crew lands the ending, this could be one of those classics that are mentioned alongside with Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers' seminal run. Read Full Review

Albuquerque delivers some beautifully detailed and dark art that is visually engaging and filled with rich, emotional panels that took my breath away. Read Full Review

Overall, Detective Comics #1063 is another invigorating chapter in the series from this new creative team. Ram V continues to engage readers with his dark and gritty mystery tale, while Rafael Albuquerque brings all the emotion of the writing to life with his gloomy and intricate line art that leaves the reader glued to every panel. Read Full Review

FINAL THOUGHTSDetective Comics #1063 has hooked me into continuing to read Ram V and Rafael Albuquerque run moving forward. Diving into how this story Batman finds himself in the middle of involves how the history of Gotham City is worked into its future is fascinating. There is so much potential that is just beginning to be tapped into that I'm excited to find out what Ram V and Albuquerque have planned next for Detective Comics. Read Full Review

Detective Comics #1063 makes for a fine follow-up. For me, the musical angle alongside the fantastic artwork are enough to bring me back next time, but some of my initial excitement has waned with the unsurprising developments here. Read Full Review

Detective Comics #1063 sheds light on some things and drowns Gotham in new shadows, with a larger impending threat incoming it is going to make Batman accept help to defeat what's to come. Now, beverages and snacks will be served down the aisles during this brief intermission. Read Full Review

This is another strong entry into Ram V's first arc on Detective Comics. It deepens the mystery started in the previous issue, while also adding in a few interesting elements such as the Orgham's magic and Harvey Dent himself. If I'm being honest, I'm most interested in seeing how Harvey and Bruce's relationship is impacted by this storyline, but there's also so much else going on here to enjoy. The operatic tone, inclusion of Barbatos, and mysterious magic changing people all work to keep readers engaged and the story pressing forward. Read Full Review

I was hoping Ram V would pick up the pace a bit. However, I enjoy him highlighting the long relationship between Bruce and Harvey. It looks like Two-Face will be returning sooner rather than later. I still can do without Barbatos though. Read Full Review

Keeping the same eerie feel of the previous issues, but focusing more on mystery than action, Detective Comics #1063 also begins to explore who the mysterious visitors to Gotham City are in revealing their connection all the way back the the city's founding through the Orgham/Arkham family lines. It turns out they aren't new visitors, but old owners returned to take back the city and make the world remember their name once more. Read Full Review

Detective Comics #1063 is a downer as Ram V throws a lot at the reader but struggles with character voices and overall focus.  It looks great thanks to Rafael Albuquerque's stylized art, but it's a bit of a slog overall. Read Full Review

I absolutely love the atmosphere of this story. This is a Gothic, slightly supernatural noir tale which is something we've seen Batman in but no nearly as often.

The shadows are think, dialogue borders on theatrical, and the people are viscerally depicted, either frail, spindly or with mounds of muscle and flesh wanting to burst out of the clothes. The artist, a known legend, makes Gotham feel not like a city in New Jersey but a pocket dimension, a dark nightmare world with no equivalent anywhere else. To me, thats how Gotham should look.

The story is macabre and mysterious, we still only have inkling of what's going on but with the presentation you csnt help but be captivated anyway. Excellent stuff overall.

The backup is also great, Dani brings her unique style which fights very well with the presentation of Gotham this book is offering, and we see into Gordon's psyche as he invedtigsted yet another case of corruption.

Fantastic read, fantastic buy. 9.5/10 more

With Ram and Chip hitting their respective strides, the main Batbooks are in a phenomenal place right now. Both runs have their fair share of Morrison influence baked in. Where Chip's feels more direct in taking elements from things like Batman RIP, Ram's feels more spiritually connected. The little crumbs of detail regarding the Orghams and their connection to both Gotham and Barbatos just made me hungry for more. The air of supernatural around the family is building a great sense of mystery, and the use of music (and opera references) throughout the book drenches everything in a perfectly gothic light.

The backup, once again, was great too. Moving Gordon out of a more official government position has been a really smart move for the character and allows for more interesting, morally-flexible storytelling. more

V, Albuquerque & Stewart serve up a big sexy slab of sinister, writhing gothic horror. Maybe this isn't what everyone wants from Batman, but it sure is what I want

I feel like we all know enough about Batman by this point so if there is a complaint about Ram V or another writer trying to establish a new character it stands to reason they would try to give those newer characters depth so readers don't complain about them down the line for being underdeveloped and one-off. I for one am intrigued at this blooming antagonist. A rich, foreign entity trying to secure Gotham for themselves. It's not wholly original but most stories aren't. The deeper story is going to be how they fill that power vacuum within the criminal element and this disease that is mutating people.
Its dark, gothic tones are exactly what I want from a Detective Comics run. The dialogue coming from Batman as he enters Blackgate and even Bruce's is his discussion with Harvey is poetic, almost melodic. Accompanying the fantastic flow of the words is beautiful dark art by Albuquerque. I think it had been some time since I last saw his art and I was more critical of it last issue. Its rough, lines aren't always smooth but in going back and looking at some of his work that I have loved it's all the same. The colorist is different but they bring a different light or lack thereof in this version of Gotham that evokes a mysterious and sinister tone.
It may be a personal thing but I've felt that Tec was a bigger showcase of characters within Gotham city and Batman's interactions therein. Granted it's a much more recent occurrence of these types of stories but it gives Tec a way to differentiate itself from the mainline Batman title and this is solid in that approach. more

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Batmanaholic - Aug 24, 2022

Hey look one week later we see eye to eye on a Batman book. Did hell feeeze over?

Hex - Aug 25, 2022

We may have disagreed heavily on that Riddler book but at the end of the day it seems like we are just both big Batman fans and that is what is important. I am glad you are enjoying this and Zdarsky's run. We're very lucky as Batman fans to have two ongoing books as solid as these have been.

Hex - Aug 25, 2022

I myself have some takes on Batman runs and writers that are definitely not in line with the majority. I neglected to remind myself of that and certainly got more heated than was necessary in that regard. It's hard to see someone rail against something you feel so strongly for but that is the entire point of this site. To see differing opinions and hopefully generate discussion. While I don't agree with your rating on that, I respect your opinions as your own and am very glad you like this one.

Batmanaholic - Aug 25, 2022

Oh ya buddy no worries, we are just two massive Batman nerds. Who can agree this run kicks ass, while simultaneously being on compete opposite ends of the riddler special lol. I

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We are seeing pieces of the puzzle set out for us to observe, and it only makes me more excited to see the full design. Ram V is re-inventing the city of Gotham, and the coming of the Orghams will put our beloved crusader against eldritch horrors and a demonic mystery threatening to consume him from within. The music aspect is so cool, and Harvey easily stole the whole issue. Rafa's art is fantastic as well, and I can't wait to see what is in store for the future of this title.

I really like both stories here, but I wish theyd be told in their own arcs. Split like this, it splits my focus and I can't fully appreciate both.
Maybe I'm getting old, LOL.

The second half story with Gordon is the better of the two, feels like old school Vertigo. The art is amazing.

An exciting second issue. Though The rehabilitated Two-Face thing is getting very old, the rest was pretty good. It looks like the Arkham connection is going to be a mystery for a while, but Batman has a lot to keep him occupied. Now Two-face is on his way back once again. that's why the rehabilitation thing gets tiresome. It never lasts, and no one expects it to. As for Gordon, we don't need him in a side story just to add a dollar to the cost of the book. We need him back in the Commissioner's office and the rooftop giving Batman the news on what's shaking up Gotham.
So far Ram V is doing well and Albuquerque is giving great art that goes with the setting. I'm looking forward to seeing what's yet to come.

I liked V’s first issue and his second one is solid, too. It’s strange and almost seems like an out-of-continuity tale but I’m intrigued.

Loved it,

Great pacing, amazing art, I love what they did with Harvey sent with the gothic opera mask, and can't wait too see what happens with him next issue.

I love barbatos as a villain, I have since I first read morrison's run and loved him in metal aswell.

I love the creepy feel of this book, all in all, I can't figure out why any Batman fan would not at-least enjoy reading this book.

This boona dm zdarsky on the main title is the best Batman we have gotten in a while, that is not a a black label mini series.

Can't wait for the next issue!

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Batmanaholic - Aug 24, 2022

* this book and zdarsky

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I still have no idea what this arc is even about or where it's going. I like Two-face as a character, but he's not acting like Two-face. I'm not really sure what timeline this takes place in. I really liked Ram V's Catwoman run, but I don't know how long I'll keep going with one unless there's a big reveal soon. Especially at $4.99 with a crappy Gordon story that I don't need.

Ok issue. So of it comes off a little bit trite to me. I love the gothic feel of the book and the plot is building nicely. I just wish it wasn’t so “artsy”. It feels like Ram is trying to hard to elevate Batman. Sorry not needed.

After a very strong first issue, the writing here felt considerably more pedestrian. The story seems to be heading into a somewhat more "normal" and predictable (and much less interesting) direction and the aesthetic elements feel also very forced. What happened? The first issue seemed to be juggling its different elements so well, but in here it's like they don't mesh at all and the gothic elements are here "just because".

The cringe dialogue and narration were pretty jarring to get through.

Cringe dialogue that sounds like a middle schooler's idea of "dark poetry" and a story that, like all of Ram V's stories, will concentrate on minor characters than his main character and will have half of the plot unexplained by the end. Ram V is the newest in the line of writers who are elevated just because - the last one was Tom King

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Hex - Aug 23, 2022 (edited)

Bats20832 - Aug 24, 2022

A LOT of fans share your opinion on this series. Unfortunately, most people who would be critical of thisi type of story are not throwing their money away at and not bothering to comment. Last issue was enough for me.

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