An Unseen Enemy Targets Batman’s Allies In Detective Comics #995
by Josh Davison
[*Mild Spoilers Ahead!]
Dr. Leslie Thompkins has been poisoned with a variation of the Joker Toxin and is currently dying in Batman’s arms. The Dark Knight takes Thompkins back to Wayne Manor where Alfred attempts to treat her with an antitoxin. While there, Alfred is targeted for a different sort of attack…with a rapier. Naturally, this only further infuriates Batman, and he, after treating Alfred, goes to Arkham Asylum to discover who is targeting those close to him in these deadly attacks.
Detective Comics #995 does reveal the fate of Leslie Thompkins in all of this, but I’d rather not spoil if she lives or dies of course.
This issue is almost entirely plot advancement and a bit of character work. That makes for an intense and even emotional issue. You don’t get an indication of who is doing all of this, and there is still the deniability that, whoever it is, doesn’t actually know the secret identity of Batman. Then again, this mythos is built from the ground up to provide ample trap doors so that Batman’s enemies can seem like they know his identity without actually knowing it.
Regardless, it is a compelling read, it ends before you know it. The ending in Arkham is quite good and leaves you on the edge of your seat for next issue.
Doug Mahnke continue to impress with his phenomenally detailed and atmospheric artwork. He understands how to make Batman intimidating and how to wring out some visual emotion out of Bruce and those around him. It’s a damn good-looking comic, and Jaime Mendoza and David Baron keep things visually appealing on the inking and color art end of things respectively.
Detective Comics #995 is a fast-moving and high-impact issue of Batman. Tragedy and sorrow once again find their way into Bruce Wayne’s life as those he loves are targeted by an unseen enemy. Peter J. Tomasi keeps things engaging in the script while Mahnke, Mendoza, and Baron keep the visuals of an especially high quality. This one earns a recommendation. Check it out.
Detective Comics #995 comes to us from writer Peter J. Tomasi, artist Doug Mahnke, inker Jaime Mendoza, color artist David Baron, letterer Rob Leigh, cover artists Mahnke, Mendoza, and Baron, and variant cover artist Mark Brooks.
