Comic Review: Detective Comics # 947 (DC Comics)

The Victim Syndicate arc comes to an end in Detective Comics issue 947.

After the battle with the Victim Syndicate, Spoiler (Stephanie Brown) finally arrives on the scene. As the Bat Family unite, Spoiler flips the script in the team and decides to threaten them with an ultimatum, either hang up the capes or risk leaking information about the identities of the whole team. How will this affect the Bat Family? What will become of Stephanie Brown? And where will it take the Bat family next?

Tynion delivers a satisfying conclusion to the Victim Syndicate arc, throwing in curve balls and delivering a more reasonable Batman that questions his influence and motivation with every exchange and interaction. It’s the most level headed Batman I’ve ever seen since the Bruce Timm 90s cartoon.  Although I will admit that it is a bit annoying that some characters would reveal their faces in front of the Syndicate (excluding Batman, and Batwoman), the motivations and dialogue is cleverly written with plausible responses to the conflicts that were presented in this arc. Tynion manages to tackle the question of Batman’s existence and whether or not it does better or does worse for Gotham in a way that is rarely displayed. My fave moments in this issue tend to be the Clayface scenes because he’s one of those characters that you hope never has to fall from grace. It’s interesting to see how Lex Luthor has been a good guy since Geoff Johns and David Fincher’s Forever Evil/ JL run, and to see Clayface as a good guy makes one wonder how long it’ll take before Clayface enters a life of crime again. Hopefully not, until then, I hope he remains as the Metamorpho of the Bat Family.  

Martinez art serves its purpose filling in as a fitting transition from Ed Burrows art from the last issue. The artwork is great and accomplishes the overall visual aesthetic that Burrows also incorporates. Fernandez’s inks help to solidify Martinez’s figures, helping them to look sharp and clean. Anderson does a great effort in utilizing the gloomy colors that cement the overall visuals that are displayed in prior issues effectively. Admittedly although Stephanie Brown is acting in grief, her actions in terms of her acting out of anger is a bit weak, but it doesn’t take you off of the story. Regardless. I enjoyed this issue, I give it a 9 out of 10.