Stranded far from home, Batman, Harvey Bullock, and the Penguin must form ashaky alliance to bring down the age-old immortality cult known only as Elixir. Butas tensions rise among this unlikely trio, it becomes increasingly doubtful that thisalliance is possible…or that the Dark Knight will ever make it back to Gotham City.
OverallThis final issue of the story arc does a solid job of wrapping things up, while still leaving the door open for a possible return. The main villain's self-imposed prison sentence is set to end in five yearsand Batman promises he'll be waiting. So, I suppose we'll have to check back then. Overall, it's a fun, engaging story, and I especially appreciated the epilogue, where Bullock visits his corrupt ex-partner and leaves him with a vial of Elixir's drug, Sangraal. A fittingly ambiguous gesture to close the tale. Read Full Review
It's a little surprising that this one plot has taken up the entire run so far, but Taylor has found some interesting ways to shift genres while focusing on this one big plot. The ending also has some nice ambiguity to it, as one character makes a surprising decision that proves Elixir may not be gone from Gotham for good. Read Full Review
Detective Comics #1099 is an action packed, joy to read finale to the current story. Next issue is the big Milestone #1100! See you then! Read Full Review
The Elixir saga concludes on a steady but underwhelming note. Taylors writing brings out the best of his unlikely trio. Garbett and Loughridge take readers through the action into a dramatic finish. Once here, time finally runs out on Elixirs powerful hold on the audience. Considering where it was, the ending felt too compact for where it was going. Read Full Review
For all of its momentary 'coolness',Detective Comics #1099 still falls shorts it attempts to pivot the series towards a new, yet still Elixir-laced path. This is a still a solid issue, one that keeps me encouraged to continue reading month to month, but perhaps another story should have been placed here if the looming shadow of next month's supersized anniversary issue forced the team into a hard place with regards to the story's issue count and pacing. Read Full Review
Detective Comics #1099 offers a visually stunning and action-packed start but struggles to maintain its narrative momentum. The artwork is truly exceptional, carrying much of the storytelling weight, but the plot ultimately succumbs to an overwhelming amount of exposition. While it sets up future storylines, the execution of the central mystery feels rushed and over-explained, preventing the story from reaching its full potential. Read Full Review
In the end, this story's reveal imploded all hope for the Elixir storyline. Essentially, it is yet another DC organization of egotistical, self-assured, woefully outmatched losers who make fools out of heroes like Batman or villains like the Penguin. The only consolations seems to be the light sense of humor and the instances of high action and artistic composition. Even unintentionally funny panels like Penguin standing in the doorway doing nothing while Batman braces gunfire is a incidental highlight. Sadly, I do feel like it retroactively makes the previous issues and arcs surrounding this group look indefensibly silly. In spite of this, Elixir is a perfectly fine, middle of the road filler story that isn't going to hurt, despite not being worth the reader's nor Batman's time. Read Full Review
I've enjoyed this story and this is a good chapter in it. I like the team-up, and the scene where Batman leaves so the other two can get the information was classic. Good stuff.
Lots to enjoy in this wrap-up to the Elixir storyline, especially the fun chemistry between this goofy and unlikely trio. However, the ending is a bit weird and anticlimactic with the reveal of the criminal mastermind, along with some loose ends that aren’t fully resolved. Would have liked to know why Ra’s got involved with these goons.
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