Detective Comics #1094: Behind Bars

While not the strongest mystery to be printed in this title in the last few years, Detective Comics #1094 does quite a few things really, really well that are indicative of this entire run as a whole thus far. Strong moments of character, tense plot scenarios, and brilliant art have elevated this book past the pulpy core of its story, which still feels right at home in the pages of this title.

Starting off with the aforementioned character relationships, this issue places Bruce playing backup to Damian as he infiltrates a juvenile prison that seems directly tethered to the string of murders targeting young adults. This mission plays into the James Bond side of the character, with a focus on infiltration that may make or break the mystery at the center of this story. Their dynamic and distinctly different approaches to stealth were a joy to read, especially now that both characters have matured past their initial cycle of broken fatherhood. It thematically parallels the lack of faith in juvenile redemption in a system that swallows them up and spits them out for the benefit of others. While not very subtle, I think this is a story that benefits from Taylor smashing down the door as loudly as possible with strong, character-rich fun that bolsters a much deeper and socially important narrative.

On the other hand, the pace this book is moving at helps alleviate fan speculation regarding the obviousness of the story’s main mystery. Any intense swerving in the plot would make the ‘whodunnit’ of it all feel cheap. Instead, Taylor is building upon the obvious to sow more seeds of doubt within the plot. The story, our characters, and the meat of these issues get deeper with each installment, with Taylor’s approach clearly being to tell a superhero story first and a true detective tale second.

Mikel Janín continues to be one of the greatest Batman artists of the modern era, and he seems to simply get better with age. The coloring, panel composition, and imagery capture the Batman mythos in unique ways that perfectly fit Taylor’s ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ approach to the character.