COMIC REVIEW: DETECTIVE COMICS #818
Author: Bill "Jett" Ramey
Saturday, March 15, 2006

Story Arc: "Face The Face"
Story Title: "Face The Face," Part 3 of 8
Writer: James Robinson
Art by: Leonard Kirk and Andy Clarke
Cover Artist: Simone Bianchi

So my wife comes in with the mail and with her is the latest copy of DETECTIVE (issue #818). Thus, I go to reading the thing as soon as I can get it out of the rapper. I’m digging this “Face To Face” storyline, alright. I must say this was the best one so far! If you’ve yet to get back into the Bat-comics (like I was myself until about two months ago), this is the time to do jump back on board. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

'TEC #818 opens up with The Batman and Robin at the murder scene of the latest Bat-villain. I won’t spoil it for you, but it’s one of the lesser rogues and a female one at that. Two gunshots to the head is what did her in. The thing is the shots hit her at the same time and were fired from one gun -- a double barrel handgun. See where this is going?

On the scene as well is Gotham PD detective Harvey Bullock being his typical “charming” self towards The Batman. In fact #818 -- ala Gordon‘s “prediction” at the end of BATMAN BEGINS -- Bullock insinuates that The Batman is the cause for all the goofy-ass criminals that are found in Gotham. The Batman of course doesn’t get caught up in any sort of war of words with Bullock and simply sticks to checking out the crime scene evidence. Oh, and Gordon is there as well doing the Gordon thing.

By now, dawn is approaching and it’s back to The Batcave for The Dark Knight Detective. And that’s the great thing about this issue -- The Batman is depicted as the excellent detective that we all know and love. It looks to me as if DC is bringing the character back to his dark detective roots. I for one am all for it. It reminds me of the stories from the 70s I grew up on.

In The Batcave, The Batman is up to -- guess what -- detective work. Go figure -- the mag is titled “Detective” isn’t it? At any rate, he figures out all the details of the aforementioned double gun shot wound found on the recent victim. He suspects Harvey Dent, but mentions to Alfred that Harvey isn’t Two Face anymore. Nonetheless, all signs point towards Dent.

Speaking of Dent, he shows up again in the story, sporting a buzz cut for some reason. He’s watching The Batman and Robin from a distance and makes note of how well they are now working together -- almost like The Bat and the original Robin. Perhaps the first “boy” had something to do with his training? And Two Face shows up as well -- sort of. Buy the issue and you’ll see. This is getting good.

Speaking of Robin, there is a great scene between Bruce (yes he’s Bruce when this takes place, not The Batman) in the cave discussing Tim Drake and makes note of him now being an orphan. Bruce is about to do something that is going to affect Tim and his relationship with Bruce (and Alfred) for the rest of his life. I won’t spoil it, but it is certainly significant.

The story ends with yet another Bat-rogue being taken out -- but by whom? Is it Harvey as it looks to be?

There is also a backup story included with The Batman meeting up with this ex-cop/current PI Jason Bard. The Batman is there to make Bard an offer; one that he can’t refuse. Very cool scene and I’m liking this Bard character myself. Another member to the Bat-team coming?

All in all, I dug this issue tremendously Great writing and artwork. I’m really looking for the part 4 coming up in the next edition of BATMAN. I’m glad I’m back -- they’ve got me hooked.