Detective Comics #1089 Review

Detective Comics #1089

I have a sense memory of when I read the very first issue of Ram V et al.’s Detective Comics. I remember, way back on July 26th, 2022 (back when they used to release DC Comics on Tuesday!), when I read this issue, that it was destined for greatness. When I moved to Toronto in September last year, this was the first book I added to my pull list. It’s very easy to see why I’m very fond of it.

I’m so fond of it that I wrote a long piece on how it portrays the idea of Batman, a myth, as a god, and it’s something I’m really proud of. It’s one of the few books I tell everyone to read, to give it a chance because it’s really that phenomenal.

Here we are now, at the very end.

Detective Comics #1089 wraps up the third act, and thus the whole opera of Gotham Nocturne, the main story of which was penned by Ram V, joined by an assortment of artists, along with backups by various creative teams that continued to build onto the main narrative, always in sync with one another.

The cover of this issue by Evan Cagle, interestingly, feels like a continuation of the last page of this issue itself. Like the title of the backup by Dan Watters and Christopher Mitten, Luftpause, it too symbolizes that the myth, the legend of the Batman doesn’t end here. It’s just pausing for a moment, and that’s okay. 

The opening of this issue is all about wrapping up loose ends, and in that regard, it feels the slightest bit rushed, where maybe another issue or two could’ve helped pad out the epilogue and helped it sing better. Yet, as the story progresses, it maintains its strong thematic core about myths and the people behind them, keeping the idea going on how the idea of Batman will always live on, inseparable from Gotham, while Bruce Wayne is allowed to live, breathe, and be a person. Beautiful stuff by Ram V, Guillem March, Luis Guerrero, and Ariana Maher.

The “backup” that takes place before the final pages is also great; looking at the characters we’ve been focusing on through the rest of the backups in the series and where they are now that the myth that died is back in full force, and it’s phenomenal. Great work by Dan Watters, Christopher Mitten, Triona Farrell, and Steve Wands.

It’s been a phenomenal journey from beginning to end, truly. I’m still processing, still re-reading, and I can’t wait to write more about this book. But until then, thank you to Ram V and everyone else involved for taking us through a ride that is – genuinely – one of the best comic runs I’ve ever read.

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Finale Part 2
Writen by Ram V
Art by Guillem March and Luis Guerrero
Lettering by Ariana Maher

Luftpause
Written by Dan Watters
Art by Christopher Mitten and Triona Farrell
Lettering by Steve Wands