Detective Comics has announced a new creative team will be taking over this summer.
DC has announced that writer Ram V. and artist Rafael Albuquerque are set to deliver an opening four-issue arc in July. Beginning in issue #1062, Batman becomes embroiled in a music-themed mystery called “Gotham Nocturne.” With Ram’s writing credits for Catwoman and Batman: Urban Legends and Rafael’s art on All-Star Batman, the pair are more than familiar with the world of The Dark Knight. Coming fresh off of the conclusion of Mariko Tamaki’s “Shadow of the Bat” 12-issue story, the pair will have their work cut out for them. Tamaki, it should be noted, is the second woman to pen a Batman title after Devin Grayson in Batman: Gotham Knights.
Detective Comics – “Gotham Nocturne” And Beyond
Ram V:
It’s a thrill to be writing a title with the kind of history and pedigree [this book has,]” Ram expressed. “When the opportunity first came across my desk, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. For me, the draw of Batman as a character and that of the world around him had always been this blanket of tragedy that lay above it all. So, with that perspective, ‘Gotham Nocturne’ is a quintessentially Batman story, told with the aesthetics of a gothic opera.
Backup stories for Detective will be provided by Si Spurrier and Dani, which will focus on former Commissioner Jim Gordon’s return to Gotham City as a private investigator. As revealed in the ongoing Joker series, Gordon has retired from public life and has been investigating the Clown Prince of Crime on behalf of a secret organization with Barbara providing information.
Rafael, who has also drawn backup stories for the Caped Crusader’s exploits, is just as ecstatic about this upcoming story:
Batman is a legend we all grew up with and most of us spent a lot of time just imagining what we would do if we were in this position. That’s how serious Batman is to me and I have been lucky enough to do a little bit of it over my time as an artist. Ram V brings something special to the table. Unique. Ram’s story not only matches my vision of this beloved character but also twists it, elevating it to another level, making me want to be part of this special new take, that I think is going to be as special to the fans as it’s been for me.
DC offers this synopsis:
The story starts with “Gotham Nocturne” part 1 of 4: “Overture.” Something is terribly wrong with Batman. No matter the tests Bruce takes, nor the numbers he counts, the greatest detective in the world can’t pin down the source of this creeping dread—of his own inner demons and a looming mortality.
He’s not alone in the grips of this terror, as it seems real demons are creeping through the shadows of Gotham City, answering the clarion call of a strange melody that’s haunting Gotham…and seems to be turning its denizens into something else.
The curtains are rising on a new, terrifying mystery as Batman tries to figure out what’s happening to both the city he protects and his own mind in this lush, operatic mystery.
Some of Rafael’s posted designs offer one spoiler, and that’s the involvement of Talia al Ghul.
Official Source – Ram V, Rafael Albuquerque, & Dave Stewart taking over DETECTIVE COMICS in July (comicsbeat.com)
