Detective Comics #986

This series continues to deliver. I foresee a final chapter that will end this story arc with a bang, adding thunder to all the lightning we've already witnessed. The surprise guest arrival in the Batcave on the final page had me grinning from ear to ear. Now that's a sharp edged cliffhanger, and no mistake. I am excited for and dreading Detective Comics #987 in equal measure, as I can't wait to see how this all ends, but will really miss this terrific creative team. Read Full Review

Buy as this issue gives fans, a deeper look into the dynamics between the Bat Family, and how much of an obsessive-compulsive personality Bruce Wayne has. As his need to be in control of things, lead to the creation of Karma and to his temporary defeat by Karma. The story by Hill, I brisk, intelligent and powerful. The art by Briones is vivid and beautiful. This issue pivots from its last installment to something more than a bad guy of the week, to a past sins story. Read Full Review

After shifting gears last issue, we are back at full speed, no breaks. The Hill Administration knows how to get the people going, and the epic conclusion is going to be one for the ages. My only complaint is that we are so close to the end and I just want to spend more time with Black Lightning in Gotham acting as a substitute teacher for Duke Thomas and Cassandra Cain with disgruntled TA Barbara Gordan while Batman is working some stuff out. It's a summer blockbuster within a neat 20 pages that I highly recommend. Read Full Review

Karma proves to be a hard nut to crack for the Batman, and previously it gave a low blow with the attack to The Signal, nevertheless the villain ignores that the bat knows who is hidden behind the mask of Karma. Will this new effort by Batman be enough to stop this dangerous villain? Can this new formation of Outsiders commanded by Black Lightning help Batman to stop this maniac? Read Full Review

As this arc heads into its final issue in two weeks, it seems clear to me that Hill has a strong enough take on the Bat-family that DC would be lucky to have him on a regular Bat-book. Read Full Review

Good thing Batman has some badass help, but there's no way he's beating Karma without them. Read Full Review

Briones' art is amazing and I loved everything about it from the camera angles to the selection of panels. It all worked to help move the story along. Read Full Review

This is a book that is only getting better and better. I would like to beg DC to keep Bryan Hill on as the writer. He's brought back my enthusiasm and excitement for a title that I felt was just coasting. This is some great stuff, kids. Read Full Review

All things said and done, I liked this issue. It's a good way to bring the action up for the final showdown between Bruce and his Karma. The family's adamant need to disobey Bruce's direct orders is a nice touch, I just that maybe someday soon Bruce will come to appreciate the help and support that he is bestowed. Jefferson coming in as a teacher may be the McGuffin for that subplot so time will only tell. Read Full Review

As long as Hill is writing this book, I'm reading it. He continues to give us a hard-nosed detective who thinks, strategizes, and plans for missions. Hill gives readers a Batman that thinks before he leaps and doesn't win at the end with magic metals or wishes. Read Full Review

Karma's ruthlessness sets him apart from the average villain, and coupled with some lovely art and a compelling hook for next issue, Detective Comics #986 is pretty much a win all-around. Read Full Review

Batman: Detective Comics #986 brings this first part of its Outsiders story to a solid close. The big action sequence is nice, Black Lightning, Batman, and Orphan each get to have moments of badassery, and Briones and Lucas contribute great artwork. This one earns a recommendation. Check it out. Read Full Review

There is some great pay-off in this issue. We finally get to see Black Lightning take some decisive action and the battle between Batman and Karma has shown this new enemy that he will need more than some fancy tech to outsmart the Bat. The Bat Family is in ruins right now but things aren't quite unsalvageable yet. It will take time for the bonds to be re-forged and for the team to begin working as one unit again and I cant wait for the eventual rebirth to finally happen. Hill and co. are doing a great job at picking up what Tynion started and putting their own stamp on it, and I am definitely looking forward to the adventures ahead. Read Full Review

The slow burn of previous issues come to a head with a violent clash between the villain Karma and Batman while the others try to rescue a group of children held hostage. A strong artistic direction, interesting character development, and plenty of action help this issue stand out as a quality entry in a just okay arc. Read Full Review

Bryan Hill does so much right in this issue and arc, but the lack of meatier story hurts it overall.  I still am into this run and want Bryan Hill on some sort of Batman book for a real long time, but I can't give this one top marks. Read Full Review

Hill's tenure with Detective Comics had a promising start, but unfortunately, it did not maintain that promised level of quality. Read Full Review

With this issue, I'm finally convinced that Bryan Hill has gone off the rails and the Bat-Office is ignoring the rest of reality for the sake of the story they want to tell. Read Full Review

I like and dislike this issue. Hopefully, Hill will get the story moving along in the forthcoming issue. Read Full Review

While this issue is mostly action-packed and the fight between Karma and the Dark Knight looks amazing and brutal, there are story and action points throughout that undercut the tension that Bryan Hill had done such a beautiful job building previously, and maybe too many clichs and conveniences along the way. Read Full Review

Twoissues ago I suggested there might be a resurrection of the original Outsiders,and this issue sees DC take a step closer to that. If the intent is to resurrectthe original team " either a brief reunion in Detective Comics or as a prelude to a new ongoing series " Im allfor it. But if its going to be series of teases, Id just as soon DC stopright now. I had enough of that kind of thing in high school. Read Full Review

Spacey Medicine

Mar 05, 2019

This was good, but I'm not sure, I think it felt a little rushed to me?

Nihilist

Aug 08, 2018

So far, I enjoyed the entire ac with Karma - with every issue, he's becoming more and more interesting character, one that is literally scarred by Batman, and his crusade is very, very personal. There's more drama revolving around Black Lightning and his "pupils", take it or leave it. And while it's up for dispute whether it works against character development of Batgirl and maybe Orphan as well, little tensions among the main cast of characters always add some flavour to a comic, spice things up, make them a bit more realistic, I suppose.

Batman Jones

Aug 08, 2018

I don't rightly know how to rate this one. I want to LOVE what Hill's doing. I've been so looking forward to it and on paper it checks all the boxes. Even the 'surprise' appearance of a new character at the end failed to really enthrall though. I can't put my finger on why I'm not enjoying Bryan Hill's run so far except to say maybe that it feels a bit paint-by-numbers? And the numbers are great which is to say the blueprint is great. As I say, I'm for this book. I'm for this Outsiders roster and I get a flash of what I feel like is missing when Batman lays down the law on Black Lightning's behalf. I couldn't tell you why that moment woke me up, only that I was flagging trying to follow an otherwise dull story, thinking to myself only, " Why is this dull? A Detective title with a burgeoning Outsiders team featuring Black Lightning, Cassandra Cain, Duke Thomas, and Katana so far, under Batman's umbrella leadership, should be awesome!" And yet... I want to love this book. I guess there are only a few issues left in the run but I want to love the rest of it and I want to love whatever comes out of it for the Outsiders. I'm such a fan of the team historically and of the modern concept of it. Just not, surprisingly, Hill's execution. So far, at least. more

Dani

Aug 10, 2018

This issue wasn't as good as the last one but it was decent and hit all the right notes. It seems like we are shaping up for an Outsiders spinoff; with the final member making their appearance. If this arc is a segue into an Outsiders title, then it has done a good job introducing the key players and their future roles on the team. The artwork in this issue was good. Although this was just a decent issue, I still recommend it because this arc as a whole has been great.

SloboSOY

Aug 09, 2018

From the start of the new arc Detective comics disappoint me more & more & the time to chose to end my sollicitation is now. Tynion IV made a very good job and I hope that now reader rethink is working. Yeah I'm not very nice with Bryan Hill because he trie. But even DC seems to have other writer for Detective Comics. So themselves see that they made a mistake. For those like me how hope to see a new Outsiders team form a rank they will be disappointed. The story is more focus on Bruce, even if Lightning as a role to play & even with the cliffhanger. I'm happy to see cassandra well used. But Barbara & Signal aren't at all. Duck is even absent for this issue. I don't like the identity for Karma, the fact he's blind was too much. Blind but he can read the mind ... Well if it was some sort of Daredevil link, it's not good at all. No the First Victime is more a match and interesting, than this copycat. He also have innocent in his grasp if Batman don't do what he demand. Before Tynion IV leaves, Detective comics was the last of my pile, the better for the end. The last good taste. Now he is in the third reading part. And the following will close to first one I read with the title I end before my last Detective comics. Cover - I hate DC make us choose without seen the variant cover. What a joke this Batmobile toy cover. Not related. But he was well draw 1/2 Writing - I find all that easy & some part stupid. Karma isn't a challenge. And I don't sir a real Outsider link. 1.5/3 Arts - The art is good, but less good than in the Tynion IV run. We see to quickly the limit of Briones work. At less his style give some fun too. He really try to put some background & not let fall in the facility of using color instead. 2.5/3 Feeling - Disappointed. DC screw a lot. 0/2 more

+ Like • Comments (2)

myconius - Aug 9, 2018

thankfully Bryan Hill won't be on the title much longer, and Peter Tomasi will be taking over as writer.

SloboSOY - Aug 10, 2018

Tomasi disappoint me both with Superman & Super Sons. So I'm not thrilled. I will the two issue of september with Robinson. But I didn't like his Wonder Woman arc. So he will have to convince me to not stop there.