/999.jpg "Detective Comics #999")
The truth behind the gauntlet Batman has been forced to run-a violent odyssey that endangered the lives of everyone who made him who he is-is revealed at last...and the mastermind working to unmake the Batman must be seen to be believed! Is there a goal here beyond destruction? Will Batman emerge stronger...or with a mortal wound at the exact moment that his most dangerous challenge yet is on the horizon in next month's DETECTIVE COMICS #1000?
RATED T
This issue will be polarizing. On the one hand it's a decent and somewhat heartwarming ending to Tomasi's first Detective Comics arc, on the other, however, it suffers from the same problem long lasting TV series (or nowawayd cinematic universes as well) do - lack of stakes, tension and actual lasting consequences.
Leslie's death few issues earlier was shocking, but at the same time somewhat cathartic - for once a long running comic did something risky and shown that no one's completely safe. Something Heroes in Crisis fundamentally failed to accomplish.
Seeing all of that shock turning out to be just smoke, with no fire, disappointed me. Not that I want to see characters getting killed off one by one to barely establish a villain and show how dangerous he is, but at the same time playing safe all the time can hurt the series. Especially when Clayface turned out to be alive some time ago, rendering his death, and the entire conflict between Batman and Batwoman pointless. It really feel like a cheap cop-out, like the typical "it was just a dream" twist.
Comic like this one are the reason why I prefer self-contained stand-alone trade paperbacks, having a proper beginning and an end, and not having to follow something, or lead somewhere else.
© 2025
i'll be honest, this was one death i was happy to be a fake out. thought it wasn't really a dream per-say, it was a VR that Bruce subjected himself to. i may have misunderstood it, but i thought Bruce's own life were in jeopardy from this VR he subjected himself to. i did enjoy the reveal, though i do think last issue should have had Lucius Fox in place of Silias Stone. that was just totally forced and unnecessary plug for Cyborg. so not needed.
I‘m happy Leslie is alive.
Makes me enjoy this story way more
Oh, I don't complain she's alive - I like her, and the more characters there are for Bats to interact with, the better. I complain it was a rather cliche and tired twist.
I see.