Detective Comics #23 Review

In Detective Comics #23, writer John Layman seems determined to give his readers a master class in how to pace a plot. While we often compare comic books to other serialized media like television shows, it's frequently the pacing that trips up writers. Layman proves that he knows exactly what he's doing in this issue, as Batman clashes with the cop-killing Wrath while their civilian identities engage in a much more delicate corporate tête-à-tête between.

Where Layman truly shines is in his ability to capture Bruce Wayne's voice. Comic book voiceovers are hard. Those tiny little boxes often wind up serving as unnecessary narration to the action happening on the page or as bloated exposition, but Layman uses them wisely. Batman's internal monologue is as integral a storytelling device as the book's visuals and the character's dialogue and, as such, it's given equal consideration to great effect.

In terms of the book's mood, Jason Fabok's art is a perfect complement to Layman's writing. This is Gotham as it should be -- dark with scattered splashes of light. Blond's colors add a touch of sleek modernity without tempering the grit of the city's streets.

Layman's story is almost cinematic in its structure -- there are plenty of moving pieces on this chessboard, but they're led around the field of play in such a way that they support one another. That being said, some moments aren't quite as successful as others, particularly the flashback scene that sheds a little light on the backstory for a character who died in the previous issue. Detective Comics #23 is so tightly orchestrated that these missteps are more noticeable than they might have otherwise been.

Melissa Grey is a lover of all things cats, comics, and outer space. She can be found on MyIGN at MelissaGrey or lurking on Twitter @meligrey.

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