“Detective Comics 1000”
Welcome to the column where I talk about the latest historic development in the comic world.
Detective Comics hits the #1000 mark this mont, celebrating 80 Years of Batman,and DC Comics has a very large and special celebration planned. I am very excited to get my hands on this book and read it considering the story, the creative teams involved and the entire historic landmark.
The Details
DC unveiled full story details on the landmark 1000th issue of DETECTIVE COMICS, debuting on March 27, 2019. The 96-page DETECTIVE COMICS #1000 celebrates the Dark Knight through a series of seven-to-nine-page standalone short stories from an all-star collection of the top writers and artists in Batman’s recent history including Tom King, Tony Daniel and Joëlle Jones, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, Peter J. Tomasi and Doug Mahnke, Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev, Warren Ellis and Becky Cloonan and more.
“Following in the footsteps of the blockbuster ACTION COMICS #1000, DETECTIVE COMICS #1000 is going to be a must-have for every kind of Batman fan,” said DC Publisher Dan DiDio. “Everyone we asked to be a part of this monumental issue immediately said yes and we can’t wait for fans to get their hands on the comic book.”
The full lineup of stories, writers and artists to be featured in DETECTIVE COMICS #1000 is:
“Medieval,” by Peter J. Tomasi and Doug Mahnke
Appearing in DC’s comic book continuity for the very first time, a new and mysterious version of the Arkham Knight will be debuting in a story that looks at Batman’s encounters with his villains throughout his career through the Arkham Knight’s eyes—but the Knight’s scheme remains to be seen.
“Batman’s Longest Case,” by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo
One of the most popular talent teams in the history of the Dark Knight delivers a tale in which Batman follows clues around the world, leading him back to his home in Gotham City and to a secret organization that has been keeping tabs on him for years.
“Manufacture for Use,” by Kevin Smith and Jim Lee
The fan-favorite director of Clerks and one of Batman’s most visionary artists present a story that cuts between Batman fighting his greatest villains and his attempts to track down the gun that killed his parents.
“The Legend of Knute Brody” by Paul Dini, Dustin Nguyen, Derek Fridolfs and John Kalisz
The villains of Gotham speak, documentary-style, about that one henchman they each hired who was the absolute WORST at his job, constantly screwing up their plans.
“The Batman’s Design” by Warren Ellis and Becky Cloonan
Warren Ellis pens “The Batman’s Design” with Becky Cloonan, the first woman to draw Batman in the main comic series, in a story of Batman pursuing a pack of technologically enhanced mercenaries into a warehouse, where they think they’ve trapped him.
“Return to Crime Alley” by Denny O’Neil and Steve Epting
A direct sequel to O’Neil’s classic “There Is No Hope in Crime Alley,” from DETECTIVE COMICS #457, in which Leslie Thompkins takes Batman to task for his addiction to violence, which, in her mind, perpetuates the horror that birthed him.
“Heretic” by Christopher Priest and Neal Adams
Two of the biggest powerhouse writers and artists in the comic book industry work together on a story featuring Batman helping a young man escape from Ra’s al Ghul’s League of Assassins— who then turned up in Gotham, dead. Batman travels to Tibet with a message for the League.
“The Last Crime in Gotham” by Geoff Johns and Kelley Jones
Superstar writer Geoff Johns and famed artist Kelley Jones tell a future story where the future family of Batman and Catwoman face off in a battle with the family of The Joker and Harley Quinn.
“The Precedent” by James Tynion IV and Alvaro Martinez
The team of James Tynion IV and Alvaro Martinez return to DETECTIVE COMICS after their highly successful Rebirth run, in a story of the night Bruce Wayne made the decision to bring Dick Grayson into his dark world, ending with the classic candlelight oath.
“Batman’s Greatest Case” by Tom King, Tony Daniel and Joëlle Jones
Groundbreaking BATMAN writer Tom King is joined by Tony Daniel and Joëlle Jones, who share artistic duties on the story. Presented using parallel story threads, Bruce Wayne visits his parents’ grave while Batman assembles his entire coalition of allies around him.
“I Know” by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev
The creative team behind SCARLET takes a unique future look at Batman and the Penguin. The Penguin comes to an elderly, wheelchair-bound Batman to tell him of the time that he learned Batman was Bruce Wayne—and to explain why he never did anything with that information.
In addition to the above stories, DETECTIVE COMICS #1000 will feature additional art from Mikel Janín and Amanda Conner, as well as a two-page spread from Jason Fabok depicting the current state of the Batman universe and its heroes and villains.
My Favorites
While all the stories look very exciting, I do have some which I am really looking forward to. King’s batfamily storyline, Tynion’s story with Dick Grayson being brought into the fold. I keep thinking it is a spiritual side by side story having present Ric transform back into the Dick Grayson we love. Then there is the Arkham Knight story which really intrigues me. I hope his identity is something quite devastating to batman and his allies.
The marketing seems to have got a lot better after the initial very underwhelming stuff, there are also about 50 covers to detective comics along with retailer exclusive ones and all that, if I am not mistaken.
The Occasion
After Action Comics, Detective Comics is the second comic book to ever hit the 1000 issue mark and it is certainly historic occasion in the comic book world. Despite Superman being the comic world’s first super-hero, Batman is one of if not the world’s most popular characters, a long way from his humble beginnings. The dark knight has gotten a lot of fans, a family around himself and is considered as the very epitome of the human superhero.
This 96-page oversize collector’s edition issue will be available at comic shops as a midnight release on March 27, 2019, for $9.99.
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