Detective Comics #827 Review

Reviews

Reviewed by: Mathan “R.I.P. Wesker” Erhardt
Story Title: Double Talk

Written by: Paul Dini
Penciled by: Don Kramer
Inked by: Wayne Faucher
Colored by: John Kalisz
Lettered by: Jared K. Fletcher
Editor: Peter Tomasi
Publisher: DC Comics

The issue opens with Batman rushing to the aid of Catwoman. However as he tries to save the day he realizes that he’s been duped by a dummy strapped with a bomb. He escapes only to find a bomb strapped Scarface sitting on the hood of the Batmobile.

Later he exhumes The Ventriloquist’s grave only to find it empty. And then Harvey Bullock reveals that someone stole the Scarface dummy from police HQ.

Back at the Batcave Bruce and Alfred ponder the Ventriloquist’s resurrection while Bruce decides which identity use for going undercover. He settles on Lefty Knox, who sports a prosthetic arm. Lefty meets up at a crony convention held at the Penguin’s club in honor of Scarface.

The new Ventriloquist is revealed and proves to be as ruthless as the previous one. The Ventriloquist and Scarface have a lot in common including actual scarring. Batman gets information, but doesn’t nab the crook.

Dini really loves Batman and the Gotham landscape. He’s adding new characters to the mix (and fun ones at that) yet he remains true to the character. He’s created a new Ventriloquist and it’s a character I want to find more about. He’s made the Penguin almost sympathetic. This book is the next best thing to his animate work.

Artwise Kramer and Faucher pack a punch. The new Ventriloquist is really eye-catching. The art is crisp and vibrant. The slow scenes work as well as the action packed ones do. The colors are also fantastic. This issue just looks great.