DC Comics and Detective Comics #1048 Spoilers and Review follows.
Shadows Of The Bat…
…Thrives Without…
…A Batman?!
The promise of the issue springs out from its solicit.
DETECTIVE COMICS #1048
Written by MARIKO TAMAKI
Art by IVAN REIS and DANNY MIKI
Backup written by MATTHEW ROSENBERG
Backup art by FERNANDO BLANCO
Cover by IRVIN RODRIGUEZ
Variant by LEE BERMEJO
1:25 variant by JORGE FORNÉS
$4.99 US | 40 pages | Variant $5.99 US (Card stock)
ON SALE 1/11/22“The Tower” part two! The mysteries of Dr. Wear begin to unfold as a new doctor named Frow joins the staff of Arkham Tower. The Bat-Family tries to figure out the best way to infiltrate the facility, but someone may have gotten the drop on them…someone not unfamiliar with psychiatric facilities…one Dr. Harleen Quinzel, better known to you dear readers as Harley Quinn!
Backup: “House of Gotham” part two! A boy’s parents were killed by The Joker, and he fell through the cracks of the system. Instead of being sent to a facility that could care for him and his trauma, he was sent to Arkham Asylum! Will the villains inside eat him alive or show him how to survive in a city ruthlessly overseen by Batman??
The book now starts to tell how we got to the disaster on Day 24 of Arkham Tower from last issue by taking us through Day 12.
Dr. Wear is giving Dr. Frow a tour of Arkham Tower not knowing she’s actually Batwoman.
In the basement they see Mister Freeze and Lady Clayface roaming freely.
Harley Quinn is also as there as is…
…Ana Vulsion who plays a big role on Day 24.
The visit ends and…
…as Batwoman leaves Doctor Meridian is asking Dr. Wear about possible side effects of the medication that they are using; Ana Vulsion “smelled” something which is not normal in terms of what could pass for normal at the tower.
Dr. Wear says he’ll look at it and we end on a flashback to his childhood where it seems he has little tolerance for the rehabilitation of people with violent mental health issues like his mother.
The back-up includes, I believe, the boy Nero XIX and an early interaction with Clayface as…
…readers see how sometimes the health institution may not be conducive to mental health wellness and healing.
The Pulse:
Another compelling main story and intriguing back-up; still not clear about the title dissonance on the cover for the back-up – House of Wayne vs. House of Gotham. I remain intrigued about a Batman-less event arc, but moreso a different take on mental health treatment and wellness in Gotham City. 8 out of 10.
