DC Comics is in the last stages of the “Knight Terrors” story. “Knight Terrors” features a new villain at DC called Insomnia who put the DC Universe to sleep. Insomnia is searching for The Nightmare Stone in the dreams of various DC heroes and villains. Over in “Knight Terrors: Detective Comics” #2 readers got to see Jim Gordon’s haunted DC past used against him. Gordon ran into the nightmarish Good People of Gotham while he saw his former Superheavy Batsuit utilized against him as well. The creative team of writer Dan Watters and artist Riccardo Federici dug deep into Gordon’s past in the context of his family as well. Jim’s conversation with his daughter Barbara from last issue exposed how his tense personality is starting to buckle under pressure. The second chapter of “Knight Terrors: Detective Comics” shakes things up by introducing additional artists Mike Perkins and Stefano Raffaele, will these two creators be able to evoke the incredibly specific tone of this “Knight Terrors: Detective Comics”? Join us as we witness what horrors Detective Jim Gordon will suffer through in the echoes of his past in “Knight Terrors: Detective Comics” #2!
Cover by Riccardo FedericiWritten by Dan Watters
Illustrated by Riccardo Federici, Mike Perkins and Stefano Raffaele
Colored by Brad Anderson, Mike Spicer and Lee Loughridge
Lettered by Steve WandsAfter seeing diamonds violently pour out of a woman’s mouth and the metal of his old Batman robo-suit soldered onto someone’s flesh to wear around Gotham…Jim Gordon slowly realizes that “the good people of Gotham” being represented by monstrous ideations of power, wealth, and knowledge…aren’t very good people at all. Jim’s investigation leads him to a mysterious clock, and he goes to Oracle for help to trace who or what is causing this nightmare…but whether he is able to wake up from it at all will be up to more than just himself.
Author Dan Watters opens the pages of “Knight Terrors: Detective Comics” #2 with a fascinating opening sequence lending additional characterization to The Good People of Gotham. Watters also takes advantage of this sequence to introduce more plot threads from recent Batman continuity. As horrific as The Good People of Gotham are, the relationship and schemes with The Pentapriests might be even more horrifying in “Knight Terrors: Detective Comics” #2. Among the crowded sea of DC’s “Knight Terrors” books, the amount of villains and plot threads in “Knight Terrors: Detective Comics” makes this tie-in series stand out among the rest of the pack. Jim’s final battle against the character occupying his Superheavy Batsuit is just as climactic as readers would have hoped. Watters does a fantastic job introducing a personal element to the story that makes “Knight Terrors: Detective Comics” #2 a great showcase for Jim Gordon. “Knight Terrors: Detective Comics” #2 breaks up the formula of “Knight Terrors” tie-ins by extending the story past Gordon’s dream. Getting to see the next steps in Gordon’s family relationship following the main feature was intriguing. Also, witnessing the final page open a plot threat for upcoming “Detective Comics” issues is thrilling. More “Knight Terrors” tie-ins should have used existing plot threads from the characters past like “Knight Terrors: Detective Comics” #2 does with Barbara and Gordon’s Superheavy Batsuit returning.
On top of a strong script from Watters, Riccardo Federici, Mike Perkins and Stefano Raffaele deliver great interior art in “Knight Terrors: Detective Comics” #2. Federici is surprisingly good at illustrating normal characters in intense situations. Some of the final pages with Barbara and Jim capture the psychological tension of the story through the expressions of characters alone. The fight sequence between Gordon and his Superheavy Batsuit was rendered with lots of detail on the villains and lines on Gordon’s coat. The level of precision that Federici evokes on the page is enthralling. Federici’s depiction of the masks on The Good People of Gotham also lends another sinister element to the comic book. Federici’s art is still best used with the violent Pentapriests. Federici showcases the villains with strange, nightmarish anatomy that covers the strengths of his more cerebral artwork. Mike Perkins and Stefano Raffaele also evoke the tension of “Knight Terrors: Detective Comics” #2 beautifully. Perkins work in the issue breaks the clean line of Federici to explore a darker side of Watters script. Perkins illustrated The Pentapriests with a curvy line that evokes even more horror from these characters than Federici does in certain panels. The last page of the comic book features yet another change in art from Stefano Raffaele who captures a dark element of “Knight Terrors” before the sun even does down.
After experiencing “Knight Terrors: Detective Comics” in full, I’m particularly impressed with how deep Watters uses the script to craft scenarios that fracture Jim Gordon’s mind even farther. The Good People of Gotham ended up having a tragic origin story loaded with intrigue, making the first chapter of “Knight Terrors: Detective Comics” one to go back to thanks to the additional context. Also, using so many past elements of continuity in mysterious new ways bolstered the quality of this comic book immensely. “Knight Terrors: Detective Comics” #2 features stylized, haunting art from Riccardo Federici, Mike Perkins and Stefano Raffaele that suits the eclectic script from Dan Watters incredibly well. If you are looking for a “Knight Terrors” comic book that will challenge you psychologically, “Knight Terrors: Detective Comics” #2 is a great read. If you are looking for a haunting Jim Gordon story, “Knight Terrors: Detective Comics” is also for you.
Final Verdict: 8.5 – The bleak, psychological aesthetic from “Knight Terrors: Detective Comics” #2 captures the full potential of DC’s “Knight Terrors” premise.
