The Harvey Bullock ongoing…I mean, “Detective Comics” makes its return this week with the new Batman and the task force that works along side him. This is a great place to jump into the series and if you’re still on the fence, read on for our spoiler free review.
Written by Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul
Illustrated Fernando Blanco
Following the events of ‘Endgame,’ get ready to ride with the GCPD in a whole new city! Harvey Bullock is leading a Bat task force, but what are his duties, and can he be trusted? And what kind of welcome awaits his new partner, Renee Montoya?
Before “Convergence”, there was the “Endgame” storyline through the Batman titles. Before that, there was “Zero Year”. Mixed into that were two arcs (one better than the other) and lots of standalone issues. Unfortunately, “Detective Comics” has not really reached its potential. With everything sort of relaunching in a sense after “Convergence”, and a new Batman working the streets of Gotham City, Brian Buccellato, Francis Manapul and Fernando Blanco have a great opportunity here to start something brand new.
“Detective Comics” #41 finds Jim Gordon/Batman dealing with some generic bad guys in the middle of Gotham City. While this is happening, Harvey Bullock is spending the night with his new lady friend, Nancy, another GCPD officer. Commissioner Sawyer wants Harvey to take the leadership role in the new task force designed to work with the new Batman but Harvey is determined to continue his search for the real Batman, who he believes to still be alive. After he refuses the job, he goes out to a bar with Nancy and runs into fan favorite character Renee Montoya.
“Detective Comics” #41 does a lot of things right. Batman is very much involved in this issue but Buccellato and Manapul don’t position him as the main character. His involvement is necessary but Harvey Bullock is really the star of the issue. He’s a character that when written properly, is one of the most complex characters in the Batman universe. By this point, one of the best things happening in “Detective Comics” is the handling of this character. Manapul and Buccellato have a great handle on his voice and mannerisms. They let him be cantankerous but also oddly likable and a character you can invest yourself in. His belief in Batman has been one of the most interesting things to happen in the series and for him to be attached to the now gone “original” Batman, adds a nice level of tension between him and Jim Gordon/Batman (which he’s still in the dark about).
As it was shown in almost every single promotional item, Renee Montoya makes her triumphant return to Gotham City and it doesn’t disappoint. She doesn’t come into the series in some mysterious or Earth shattering way. Buccellato and Manapul have her come in naturally and they establish her as a part of the cast immediately. It’s nice to have her back but this team made her entrance so easy, it again makes me ask why this wasn’t done a few years ago. The twist at the end sets up a really intriguing story going forward but it’s the relationship between this task force and the new Batman that I want to see explored deeper. These are cops who have a history with each other and with Jim Gordon and Maggie Sawyer in new positions, there’s a lot to examine.
Francis Manapul does not do the art and it’s noticable. Fernando Blanco does not do a terrible job, but we’ve been spoiled by the gorgeous style of Manapul. Blanco opens the issue with a few really cool pages that go back and forth between Batman fighting and a sex scene between Harvey and Nancy and the entire effect feels like a noir movie. In these pages, the biggest detriment is the coloring by Buccellato because the shadows don’t feel quite right. It’s too dark in some panels and too light in others. Blanco does a fine job as far as the action scenes go and with Batman he definitely makes him move differently than Bruce Wayne. A brawl that breaks out in the bar features fighting that’s bruiser-like and more messy. Blanco does struggle a bit with drawing Harvey Bullock because he doesn’t look the same throughout.
“Detective Comics” #41 is a really solid read that is new reader accessible and sets up a potentially great story arc. If you want a Gotham City title that puts more focus on the street level activities then this is your book.
Final Verdict: 7.8 – Some stumbles on art but the story is great and will only get better.
