Detective Comics #986

Writer: Bryan Hill Artist: Philippe Briones Publisher: DC Comics Release Date: August 8, 2018 Cover Price: $2.99 Critic Reviews: 20 User Reviews: 27
7.8Critic Rating
7.7User Rating

+ Pull List

Black Lightning, the Signal and Cassandra Cain are working very well together...but now they're up against a foe who can tap directly into their worst emotions and play them like music! When you've seen the kinds of horrors these poor souls have, there's plenty of trauma to work with...and with that, you can turn these heroes into deadly weapons! Meanwhile Batman's "side project" has been revealed-what are the Brainiac Files, and what, exactly, does Batman plan to do with them?

  • 10
    Dark Knight News - Steve J Ray Aug 8, 2018

    This series continues to deliver. I foresee a final chapter that will end this story arc with a bang, adding thunder to all the lightning we've already witnessed. The surprise guest arrival in the Batcave on the final page had me grinning from ear to ear. Now that's a sharp edged cliffhanger, and no mistake. I am excited for and dreading Detective Comics #987 in equal measure, as I can't wait to see how this all ends, but will really miss this terrific creative team. Read Full Review

  • 10
    DC Comics News - Shean Mohammed Aug 9, 2018

    Buy as this issue gives fans, a deeper look into the dynamics between the Bat Family, and how much of an obsessive-compulsive personality Bruce Wayne has. As his need to be in control of things, lead to the creation of Karma and to his temporary defeat by Karma. The story by Hill, I brisk, intelligent and powerful. The art by Briones is vivid and beautiful. This issue pivots from its last installment to something more than a bad guy of the week, to a past sins story. Read Full Review

  • 9.3
    Black Nerd Problems - Mikkel Snyder Aug 8, 2018

    After shifting gears last issue, we are back at full speed, no breaks. The Hill Administration knows how to get the people going, and the epic conclusion is going to be one for the ages. My only complaint is that we are so close to the end and I just want to spend more time with Black Lightning in Gotham acting as a substitute teacher for Duke Thomas and Cassandra Cain with disgruntled TA Barbara Gordan while Batman is working some stuff out. It's a summer blockbuster within a neat 20 pages that I highly recommend. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Geekery Magazine - Chino DT Aug 9, 2018

    Karma proves to be a hard nut to crack for the Batman, and previously it gave a low blow with the attack to The Signal, nevertheless the villain ignores that the bat knows who is hidden behind the mask of Karma. Will this new effort by Batman be enough to stop this dangerous villain? Can this new formation of Outsiders commanded by Black Lightning help Batman to stop this maniac? Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield Aug 8, 2018

    As this arc heads into its final issue in two weeks, it seems clear to me that Hill has a strong enough take on the Bat-family that DC would be lucky to have him on a regular Bat-book. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    GWW - Deron Generally Aug 8, 2018

    Briones' art is amazing and I loved everything about it from the camera angles to the selection of panels. It all worked to help move the story along. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    AIPT - Nick Nafpliotis Aug 8, 2018

    Good thing Batman has some badass help, but there's no way he's beating Karma without them. Read Full Review

  • 8.4
    Forces Of Geek - Lenny Schwartz Aug 8, 2018

    This is a book that is only getting better and better. I would like to beg DC to keep Bryan Hill on as the writer. He's brought back my enthusiasm and excitement for a title that I felt was just coasting. This is some great stuff, kids. Read Full Review

  • 8.2
    On Comics Ground - Travis Tucker Aug 11, 2018

    All things said and done, I liked this issue. It's a good way to bring the action up for the final showdown between Bruce and his Karma. The family's adamant need to disobey Bruce's direct orders is a nice touch, I just that maybe someday soon Bruce will come to appreciate the help and support that he is bestowed. Jefferson coming in as a teacher may be the McGuffin for that subplot so time will only tell. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Big Comic Page - Dave MacPhail Aug 12, 2018

    There is some great pay-off in this issue. We finally get to see Black Lightning take some decisive action and the battle between Batman and Karma has shown this new enemy that he will need more than some fancy tech to outsmart the Bat. The Bat Family is in ruins right now but things aren't quite unsalvageable yet. It will take time for the bonds to be re-forged and for the team to begin working as one unit again and I cant wait for the eventual rebirth to finally happen. Hill and co. are doing a great job at picking up what Tynion started and putting their own stamp on it, and I am definitely looking forward to the adventures ahead. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Monkeys Fighting Robots - Dispatchdcu Aug 8, 2018

    As long as Hill is writing this book, I'm reading it. He continues to give us a hard-nosed detective who thinks, strategizes, and plans for missions. Hill gives readers a Batman that thinks before he leaps and doesn't win at the end with magic metals or wishes. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    ComicBook.com - Matthew Mueller Aug 8, 2018

    Karma's ruthlessness sets him apart from the average villain, and coupled with some lovely art and a compelling hook for next issue, Detective Comics #986 is pretty much a win all-around. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Bleeding Cool - Joshua Davison Aug 9, 2018

    Batman: Detective Comics #986 brings this first part of its Outsiders story to a solid close. The big action sequence is nice, Black Lightning, Batman, and Orphan each get to have moments of badassery, and Briones and Lucas contribute great artwork. This one earns a recommendation. Check it out. Read Full Review

  • 7.5
    Comic Watch - Nicholas Osborn Aug 14, 2018

    The slow burn of previous issues come to a head with a violent clash between the villain Karma and Batman while the others try to rescue a group of children held hostage. A strong artistic direction, interesting character development, and plenty of action help this issue stand out as a quality entry in a just okay arc. Read Full Review

  • 6.8
    Weird Science - Jim Werner Aug 7, 2018

    Bryan Hill does so much right in this issue and arc, but the lack of meatier story hurts it overall.  I still am into this run and want Bryan Hill on some sort of Batman book for a real long time, but I can't give this one top marks. Read Full Review

  • 6.7
    Sequential Planet - Pashtrik Maloki Aug 11, 2018

    Hill's tenure with Detective Comics had a promising start, but unfortunately, it did not maintain that promised level of quality. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    The Batman Universe - Tony Hammack Aug 8, 2018

    I like and dislike this issue. Hopefully, Hill will get the story moving along in the forthcoming issue. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Kabooooom - Matt Morrison Aug 8, 2018

    With this issue, I'm finally convinced that Bryan Hill has gone off the rails and the Bat-Office is ignoring the rest of reality for the sake of the story they want to tell. Read Full Review

  • 5.5
    Batman-News - Elena Carrillo Aug 8, 2018

    While this issue is mostly action-packed and the fight between Karma and the Dark Knight looks amazing and brutal, there are story and action points throughout that undercut the tension that Bryan Hill had done such a beautiful job building previously, and maybe too many clichs and conveniences along the way. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    Comic Book Bin - Philip Schweier Aug 8, 2018

    Twoissues ago I suggested there might be a resurrection of the original Outsiders,and this issue sees DC take a step closer to that. If the intent is to resurrectthe original team " either a brief reunion in Detective Comics or as a prelude to a new ongoing series " Im allfor it. But if its going to be series of teases, Id just as soon DC stopright now. I had enough of that kind of thing in high school. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Spacey Medicine Mar 5, 2019

    This was good, but I'm not sure, I think it felt a little rushed to me?

  • 7.5
    Dani Aug 10, 2018

    This issue wasn't as good as the last one but it was decent and hit all the right notes. It seems like we are shaping up for an Outsiders spinoff; with the final member making their appearance. If this arc is a segue into an Outsiders title, then it has done a good job introducing the key players and their future roles on the team.

    The artwork in this issue was good.

    Although this was just a decent issue, I still recommend it because this arc as a whole has been great.

  • 7.5
    Batman Jones Aug 8, 2018

    I don't rightly know how to rate this one. I want to LOVE what Hill's doing. I've been so looking forward to it and on paper it checks all the boxes. Even the 'surprise' appearance of a new character at the end failed to really enthrall though. I can't put my finger on why I'm not enjoying Bryan Hill's run so far except to say maybe that it feels a bit paint-by-numbers?

    And the numbers are great which is to say the blueprint is great. As I say, I'm for this book. I'm for this Outsiders roster and I get a flash of what I feel like is missing when Batman lays down the law on Black Lightning's behalf. I couldn't tell you why that moment woke me up, only that I was flagging trying to follow an otherwise dull story, thinking to myself more

  • 7.5
    Nihilist Aug 8, 2018

    So far, I enjoyed the entire ac with Karma - with every issue, he's becoming more and more interesting character, one that is literally scarred by Batman, and his crusade is very, very personal.
    There's more drama revolving around Black Lightning and his "pupils", take it or leave it. And while it's up for dispute whether it works against character development of Batgirl and maybe Orphan as well, little tensions among the main cast of characters always add some flavour to a comic, spice things up, make them a bit more realistic, I suppose.

  • 5.0
    SloboSOY Aug 9, 2018

    From the start of the new arc Detective comics disappoint me more & more & the time to chose to end my sollicitation is now.
    Tynion IV made a very good job and I hope that now reader rethink is working. Yeah I'm not very nice with Bryan Hill because he trie.
    But even DC seems to have other writer for Detective Comics. So themselves see that they made a mistake. For those like me how hope to see a new Outsiders team form a rank they will be disappointed. The story is more focus on Bruce, even if Lightning as a role to play & even with the cliffhanger. I'm happy to see cassandra well used. But Barbara & Signal aren't at all. Duck is even absent for this issue.
    I don't like the identity for Karma, the fact he's blind was too muc more

    + LikeComments (2)
  • 10
    Greg Hound Aug 8, 2018

  • 9.0
    cincyfan Oct 8, 2020

  • 9.0
    Psycamorean Oct 20, 2018

  • 9.0
    EDiakota Aug 9, 2018

  • 8.5
    iPodwithnomusic Jul 31, 2019

  • 8.5
    Spider-Man Prime Sep 4, 2018

  • 8.0
    Omer Sep 21, 2018

  • 8.0
    Bigbooty Sep 1, 2018

  • 8.0
    KFuqua Aug 14, 2018

  • 8.0
    Jason The Dude Aug 12, 2018

  • 8.0
    Ken b Aug 8, 2018

  • 8.0
    sebastianorellana95 Aug 8, 2018

  • 8.0
    Arachal18 Aug 8, 2018

  • 8.0
    Dorival Aug 8, 2018

  • 7.5
    DoctorLaze Dec 23, 2018

  • 7.5
    mrDovydas Oct 16, 2018

  • 7.5
    CraigR Aug 15, 2018

  • 7.5

  • 7.0
    Adsun22 Dec 9, 2019

  • 7.0
    WhistleBlower Aug 8, 2018

  • 6.5
    CesarCastanha Aug 10, 2018

  • 4.0
    Marvelll Jun 30, 2020

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