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Detective Comics #934


(SPOILERS ahead, and I don't just mean the character)

The reason DC Rebirth has worked is because they have started focusing on stories. It's a simple rule that I wish more superhero comics stuck to in general. See, here's the thing: unless you have an unhealthy obsession with these characters, which means keeping up with every branching storyline and subplot and spinoff regardless of whether you're actually enjoying them or not, all anyone has ever cared for when reading superhero comics have been colorful characters fighting crime in larger than life scenarios and emotionally stirring milieus. Granted, over time, they've become more psychologically refined, which makes their antics feel charmingly out of place. But that's all anyone needs: good art, good writing, and above all, a good story. And this is what DC is doing so well now. Take Detective Comics. I just read the first issue (and I know it's been a while since it was released), but here we have a threat (someone's manufacturing highly advanced drones to take down vigilantes in Gotham City), a plan (Batman recruits Katherine Kane to train a ragtag group of do-gooders), a surprise (Clayface?! I've always been a fan of the character ever since the days of Batman: The Animated Series, so it's good to see him back in the spotlight, as a good guy, no less!), and optimism in the face of imminent doom (which has always kept me coming back to Gotham, which otherwise in its modern incarnation is bleak as all hell, to the point of being depressing). Then there's the good old cliffhanger splash page:


Turns out our heroes have bitten off more than they can chew! However can they triumph over such eeevillll?

See, DC? That wasn't so hard, was it? Now all you need to do is bring back Martian Manhunter...and we'll call it a day.
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