Detective Comics #825

News

Title : The Return of Doctor Phosphorus!
Writer : Royal McGraw
Penciller : Marcos Marz
Inker : Luciana Del Negro
Colorist : John Kalisz
Letterer : Jared K. Fletcher
Editor : Peter Tomasi

It is with regret that I note the end of Paul Dini’s superlative (if too brief) run on this title.

However, it is with a leaping heart that I point out to all and sundry that the wonderful tradition of single-issue fascinating stories has continued apace, with this offering from Royal McGraw.

I’m sure that if I ran an Internet search, I would discover list upon list of Royal McGraw’s works and accomplishments, but I must admit to all three of my loyal readers that I can’t recall coming across his name before.

In any event, in an title ripped straight from a Vincent Price b-movie, the sinister Doctor Phosphorus works his way free of his constraints and, naturally enough, targets those men of shady ethics who placed him in that position.

This includes at least one character with a role in Gotham’s civil administration that will resonate with followers of Batman continuity.

I was taken aback by the easy flow and cadence of the writing here. Exposition is communicated clearly and naturally, and the relationship between Batman and Gordon, as well as Batman and Alfred, is spot on.

I have much respect for writers such as Brian Bendis, but their tendency to allow a story to ‘breathe’ at the expense of efficiency is put in stark relief by a stellar effort such as this. McGraw tells a complete and interesting story, with multiple fights, sub-plots and character moments in a single issue of comic book that anyone with a nodding knowledge of Batman history would be able to pick up and read.

Batman’s running monologue is interesting without quite delving into the gumshoe-noir of such writers as Jeph Loeb.

I haven’t made enquiries as to the long terms status of McGraw’s participation in this title, but stories like this only serve to whet my appetite for next month’s offering.

I have shamefully neglected the contribution of the team of Marcos Marz on pencils and Luciana Del Negro on inks. They adopt a semi-realistic style complete with shading and contrasts that really suits this story, particularly in their combusting depiction of the villain himself. John Kalisz’ colours only add to the impression.

This comic is the very image of an entertaining read, with depth that doesn’t need seventy-some other parts of a cross-over to be interesting. Highly recommended.