With some luck, we’ll look back on this issue as the place where that started to change. There’s a lot going on in this series right now, but it’s felt more like a number of little stories than a cohesive statement. The Review: Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato have been crafting a tonally fascinating but somewhat scattered run on Detective Comics. The Story: Annie Aguila discovers what’s brought the Kings of the Sun to Gotham. Throughout the issue you can feel the writers reaching back to previous thematic strands, notably those from the first issue of the storyline, but only pieces survive the translation to this chapter and the grab bag of plot threads doesn’t feel satisfying.
Though there are still some staples of the Bronze Age present, the tone of hardboiled fantasy that Manapul and Buccellato have been cultivating is largely thrown out in favor of loud moments and fist-first problem solving. Even worse the panel’s dialogue is completely unrelated and you’d not be blamed for having to back and make sure you read right. A few pages later this same recently introduced character jumps out of the comic, never to be mentioned again.
At one point Batman flat out socks an innocent child in the face, seemingly at terminal velocity. The final battle lends itself to some gorgeous panels but it’s highly confused at times and too unevenly matched to live up to its own hype. Despite Bullock’s claims that “The answer was right under nose” there’s a lack of clarity in the reveal that leaves you feeling one step behind all throughout. The issue is very rushed, partly to accommodate some of the more striking visuals. Unfortunately, that plot structure really only works if the mystery has already been revealed. Written by a pair of artists, the book’s layouts build with the tension, leading to a pair of dramatic arrangements that really convey the showdown nature of the issue. It makes you want more, makes this issue feel big and meaningful. That sense of momentum is a great asset for the book. Nonetheless, from the moment this issue opens there’s a sense that you’re racing towards the finale. Well, perhaps more accurately, Tec #33 ended with one. The Review: Detective Comics #34 starts with a bang. The Story: Ever wanted to see Batman punch a flying motorcycle? By: Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato (storytellers)
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