Detective Comics #974

"Knights Fall" is the latest in a long line of Detective Comics issues to deliver pure excellence. Yes, Batwoman's act was awful, but was it truly wrong? This will have ongoing repercussions in the weeks to come, and with the return of my favorite art team of lvaro Martnez and Ral Fernandez in issue #975, I'm more excited than ever. Read Full Review

Buy, as this starts another great story arc, one that will change the team forever. Read Full Review

The payoff final page indicates the trouble is just getting started for the Knights. That's bad for them and great for us as DC's best team book is back in a big way with no chance of relinquishing its throne. Read Full Review

A brilliant, brutal, character-driven issue that drives home the consequences of the war the Bat-family faces every day, this prelude to next issue's anniversary issue picks up seconds after Batwoman fired a high-tech bullet into Clayface's brain. Read Full Review

Batman: Detective Comics #974 is a rough and emotional ride in the aftermath of Clayfaces death. You are able to see all sides of the ensuing conflict, and its sad to see a character like this go. This one is definitely recommended. Give it a read. Read Full Review

The Fall of the Batmen story arc ended with a shock that keep everyone's mouth open, now it is the after math and it will test the Gotham Knights even further than before. Read Full Review

A well done and enjoyable issue that seems to set up some interesting stories going forward. Read Full Review

Detective Comics #974 pays off multiple arcs in climactic fashion, and longtime readers are also rewarded with promising new subplots and directions for the cast. Read Full Review

It's still good, but it's not as satisfying as the earlier issues. I'm genuinely curious about what's going to happen next, but this run may have already peaked. Read Full Review

Though Detective Comics #974 is a somewhat abrupt end to an arc, it teases some very interesting developments in the immediate future to make up for it. Read Full Review

Big moments, great character development and some people will never be the same in a pretty major Detective Comics. Read Full Review

While the events that transpire in the wake of Clayface's death are somewhat predictable, it's the intensity of the interactions between the characters that still makes this a worthwhile read. Read Full Review

Despite the small mystery in this Detective Comics of who shot Clayface, there really was not much that transpired. The wheels fell off the team's wagon, as they had been building to for some time. Red Robin is clearly having a crisis of faith as his support system crumbles, and he thinks that he is just like Bruce. Very interesting, as Bruce seems to be turning a corner with his personal relationships. An interesting aftermath and clean up tale, but not a mind-blowing revelation by any means. The story is OK, but just a bit flat. Nice artwork, but the book suffers from lack of any consistent style. Read Full Review

James Tynion breaks up the Gotham Knights here, but the same old issues seem to be hanging around.  Mainly, this book is boring and I need something to get me excited again.  Unfortunately, the cliffhanger doesn't point in that direction and I keep wondering how much more of this I can take. Read Full Review

I was hoping things would be better but instead they're just mediocre. Tynion is just hitting the wrong notes for me; I'm actively rooting for this team to disband so we can get on with our lives. Briones art is mostly nice but he's stuck drawing simply boring conversations. Read Full Review

Though a strong and logical progression from last issues climax, the breakup of the team is a bit disappointing after all the work Tynion did to bring everything together. Read Full Review

Seems to avoid tackling the big question about Batwoman and spends the rest of the time resetting things for future stories. Read Full Review

daddyT

Feb 18, 2018

I don't review this every week but it has just been so good lately I had to drop by just to say "is James Tynion IV the best Bat writer we have right now?" I think so!

Nihilist

Feb 14, 2018

Emotion driven issue, showing how every major character in the series reacts to Basil's death. It's bittersweet - on the one hand we mourn Clayface, who was so close to officially redeeming himself, on the other we see that even after his death, he can be a force of good. It was really heartwarming to see Glory being cured from her condition, right after we've seen how she became Mudface in the recent Detective Comics annual. The most important thing for the series as entirety, was how one decision divided the entire team. I've never been the biggest fan of Cass, but I absolutely loved how she torn apart Batwoman's chest symbol and said what it stands for. Only the reader can answer whether or not was Kate's choice a necessary evil. I loo k forward to see what's going to happen in the near future - is Batman going to establish a new team, or look for a way to reunite the current one, if that's even possible? more

Dispatchdcu

Feb 14, 2018

So here is the thing: We need to move on past this "team" idea and I'm ok with it. We need to cut ties with Batwing, Azrael, even Batwoman and Especially Clay face. It's run the course and I happy to see what looks to be a separation. And everyone saw it coming, I'm sure. But the end is what's killing me. I have no problem with the book going in the direction of Brother Eye... I really don't. But I don't want Ulysses being the one pulling the strings , especially in a Batman shirt. This seemed like we were turning over a new leaf , new chapter for Tynion and starting to go in a new direction that I can get behind... just not Ulysesses as the bat guy. What I would love, is Batwoman becoming a villain, but more an anti hero than anything. She was valid in her reasoning for shooting Clayface and I can get behind that. Two sides of the same coin, Batman and Robin, vs Batwoman, her dad, Batwing, azrael, and brother eye. I hope we head that way. Would of went higher if the end was a bit different If you like what you heard, love talking comics, and are interested in joining a DC book club, hit me up at dispatchdcu@gmail.com. Catch you all later! Peace more

SloboSOY

Feb 15, 2018

Sad & a little not what I wanted to read. I didn't like the future version of Batwoman in the start of his own ongoing. So see that happen didn't please me. And I don't like Ulysse so the end don't make me the need to see the next issue. But I will be there. Because Tynion IV use well the cast & even the evil/support characters. The only good thing was that with the chock maybe Red Robin will become likable again. Cover - There too I take the variant. Good but not related to the story 1/2 Writing - Tynion IV do a impressive job. This isn't because I don't like what I read that I can't see the work on the characters. I'm one that will regret him onboard of Detective Comics. 2/3 Arts - This's good. Very very good. 3/3 Feeling - Dark but Logical ... No easy end/easy win for the Batfamilly.1/2 more

Sav

Feb 14, 2018

The artwork was not good. There was an obvious change from past issues. Kate looked horrible. The story got away from Basil's death and immediately was about everyone else. 'We don't kill, but damned if we don't make everything about ourselves.' I'm still confused by Tim's feelings on anything. And purple girl (what's her bucket), good riddance. She made no sense. Bring back bluebird. This is a weird and good way to push the issue of whether killing is right or not for the bat. Though I do think it's a bit self-righteous of them to say they're better than others by not killing. That's kind of a slap in the face of every person who's ever pulled a trigger to defend others. I mean that in regards to this specific issue. Really, what o ther decision would have been best for everyone in that city? Props to this issue for having me ready to choose sides. But that's the only points I give it. I am really disappointed in the artwork. It just seems lazy. more