Detective Comics #18 Review

In Detective Comics #18, John Layman continues the story of the power struggle at the heart of the Penguin's illicit operations and I almost wish he hadn't. As the Penguin loses hold on his empire to his former assistant Ogilvy, who is now calling himself Emperor Penguin, one is left with the difficult task of attempting to take seriously a character who willingly chooses to go by the only moniker more laughable than the Penguin.

The cover for Detective Comics #18 would have you believe that the issue is set to deal with the events of Batman Incorporated #8, as a grieving Batman mourns the loss of his son and his sidekick, Damian Wayne. Layman takes an all too brief detour to allow Bruce Wayne to digest Damian's death and it's the issue's strongest and most poignant moment by far. It's a fleeting moment embedded in a story that otherwise provides little in which the reader can emotionally invest but it's profundity is almost enough to make up for the issue's other shortcomings. One can't help but think that the issue would have been better served had Layman taken the time to more thoroughly explore Batman's psyche in the wake of a tragedy that should, theoretically, shake him to his core.

Jason Fabok's art continues to be the book's strongest selling point. His expressive figures and gritty vision of the Gotham adds a dark, atmospheric feel to an otherwise lackluster story. Fabok expertly captures Bruce Wayne's grief and its an exercise in artistic restraint that is perfectly in character. The storm of emotion bubbling just under Bruce's stoicism is practically palpable as a single, defiant tear escapes the desperately tight grip Bruce has on his emotions. Jeremy Cox's coloring deserves a great deal of credit for this quiet but powerful moment as it pulls the reader into Bruce's darkness with him.

Unfortunately, the issue's main storyline is far less successful as its exceedingly hard to care about the struggle between the Cobblepot and Emperor Penguin. Victor Zsasz is the issue's only villainous saving grace and I certainly hope that Layman chooses to focus more on him in the next issue.

Melissa Grey lives in a box in the sky that's bigger on the inside. She can be found on MyIGN at MelissaGrey or lurking on Twitter @meligrey.

Source : ign[dot]com