Review: Batman: The Detective #3

Review: Batman: The Detective #3

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Tom Taylor

Penciler: Andy Kubert

Inker: Sandra Hope

Colorist: Brad Anderson

Letters: Clem Robins

Review by: Kendra Hale

Summary

When last we left Bruce Wayne in Batman: The Detective #2, some heavy things had begun to go down. The villainess is making her moves against Batman and starts by sending her clear message of intent by murdering Henri Ducard.  Enter Batman: The Detective #3 as our story goes back to the past, and we get an intimate look at Bruce’s personal life. 

After Noon =  3 P.M.

In the past, Paris to be specific, readers are treated to how Bruce and Henri gained the roles of mentor and student. Seeing Bruce as a young man, just learning what he wants the role of Batman to encompass, and learning from the best manhunter in the world. It isn’t easy to earn this title of student, but Bruce is nothing if not determined. 

Henri Ducard, in the beginning, is all that Bruce seems to want from a Mentor. But as the saying goes, you should never meet your idols. Things aren’t as clean up close as they look from afar.  But to be fair, I saw Henri being true to who is his and not being ashamed or apologizing, this is worth noting and taking in account for good or bad. 

Positives

While the closing scene of Batman: The Detective #3 leaves our jaws dropped, the walk down memory lane is certainly one to remember. There is mystery, action, emotion. Those elements are raised by the writing and the art team for this book. Tom Taylor, Andy Kubert, Sandra Hope, Brad Anderson, and Clem Robins have become a seamless team with each part of the flow enhancing the one before it. 

I always love seeing new sides to how Bruce became Batman. This is honestly one of the more emotional story lines I have seen, which seems to be a theme for the series as well. Bruce fully realizes who Batman will be, and also, some might say more importantly, what lines he will not cross in his journey. 

Negatives 

Nothing about this series so far has been a negative. Normally, I would say that there are enough rehashes of past events for those members of the Trinity. However, this doesn’t feel like any kind a rehash. It is new, with a dash of old nostalgia. The emotions and the scenes are staged with care and passion. 

Verdict

Batman: The Detective #3 was a joy to read and the series has been eye opening.  It is really cool to see sides to Bruce Wayne that aren’t really highlighted and are on full display in raw openness. It is a siren’s song calling us to fall in love with an already beloved character all over again. 

Images Provided Courtesy Of DC Entertainment.