This book features a five-part arc and a solo story featuring Stephanie Brown.The five-part arc has two elements. First is a story focusing on Jean-Paul Valley (Azrael), the cultic order of Saint Dumas is back to mess with him and perhaps introduce an AI version of Azrael who is not subject to doubts. The B plot of the story involves Bruce Wayne and Zatara reminiscing over old times while Bruce seeks access to all-knowing relic.The B plot is the better plot by far. Zatara and her magical world a...

Hey so we get cross publisher pollination! World: The art is fine. I like the darkness but as with the last arc I'm still not really feeling the character emotions come out of the art. The world building is solid, we get a new version of St. Dumas and it's different that's for sure. The pieces we get for this story are fairly self contained to John Paul until the end which I liked, the dive into character origins I mean. Solid. Story: As I said for the last arc, I want this team book to take tur...

This is volume four of Batman’s Detective Comics. The volume collects Detective Comics issues #957-962. In the past I have not really enjoyed Batman working as a team but I think either I am getting used to it or the story for volume four really helped me enjoy it. I must say though that this volume was enjoyable.The bulk of the story in this volume is focus on how Batman and his team have to deal with a threat of a robotic being name Ascalon. Ascalon is sent to Gotham from a secretive group cal...

This was epic!Batman and Magic. Bruce knows he needs to find answers to magic after the last arc and he gets the help of Zatanna and we see their past and her in the present as they fight goons and then we come to learn of the all-knowing Gnosis sphere and finally the big story with Azrael and when Ascalon attacks and we learn of the two pasts and this all incoming zealot AI is hellbent on destroying Gotham and when Azrael is fighting in his own mind and body regarding himself vs what the suit h...

You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.After a slightly messy and tumultuous story arc, James Tynion IV comes back strong with Batman: Detective Comics (Volume 4) Deus Ex Machina. Collecting issues #957 to #961, this volume kicks things off with a quick reminder of Spoiler’s solo adventure and then dives into a solid and well-executed story around Jean-Paul Valley, also know as Azrael, as well as Zatanna. While there has yet to be an update on the subject, issue #962 is actually the

While the book mainly focuses on Azrael and the Rebirth version of the Order of St. Dumas, there are a lot of great character moments which I think are the strength of the book. The scenes between Batman and Zatanna are gold, I'd love to see more. Cassandra and Clayface reciting Shakespeare was very interesting, especially so since Cassandra barely talks. Clayface is quickly turning into one of my favorite characters in the book. I hope he doesn't revert to his former villainous self anytime soo...

3.5 starsThus far, I've thought the Batman: Detective Comics series to be an adequate time-killer but not really much more. Then I get to Vol. 4, which I can describe in three magic words -namtaB and annataZ!Yes, the Dark Knight and the Princess of Prestidigitation (that's guest star Zatanna, for those not familiar with her) have a lot of scenes / flashbacks throughout in this one, and they were the absolute highlight of the volume. Additionally, the Clayface scenes with Cassandra Cain (practici...

Batman, magic and danger. Sorta good, sorta mediocre. MY GRADE: B minus.

Following three volumes that covered the initial year of the run, James Tynion IV’s Detective Comics started off great, but slowly became a product of diminishing returns. Since the beginning of the run, Tynion has been setting up an ongoing storyline around the Bat-family that looms in the background during the individual arcs.Please click here for my full review.

[Read as single issues]Seeded in issue #950, and even as far back as Batman & Robin Eternal, Azrael finally takes centre stage as the Order Of St. Dumas returns with a vengeance. Meanwhile, Batman and Zatanna look for proof about the fate of Red Robin, and what they find may shatter Bruce's world to pieces.I've made it no secret that I love this run of Detective Comics, and this arc is no different. The character explorations, particularly those of Bruce and Zatanna, are really well done, and co...

The majority of this volume is taken up with an exploration of Azrael’s past and how it continues to shape his present. It features a cameo appearance from Zatanna, brought in by Batman to help him with another matter, with a few flashbacks to add texture to their relationship. For the most part, I enjoyed these issues, although I’m not overly fussed on either Azrael or Batwing, and Batwoman seemed poorly written in this volume. I do enjoy the evolving friendship between Clayface and Orphan thou...

While the book focuses on Azrael its still a fun read. Probably not as strong as the previous volumes though.

Another fun romp into Gotham city. James Tynion IV continues to work some magic with the Detective comics series. Ironically this volume of the series finds the Bat family coming face to face with the supernatural and magic. This book features a guest appearance from the magic mistress of the DC Universe, Zatanna. I still have fond memories of her appearance on the Batman the Animated Series of the 90s. Tynion takes readers back to Bruce's early days of training to become Batman. In the book we

4.5 starsIt's hard to believe how much I'm loving this run of Detective Comics, and I've been sober the whole time, so I can't even attribute my satisfaction on being high or drunk! lololAll the things we're shown about Jean-Paul Valley Jr.'s past and present struggle with the Order of St. Dumas are working great as focused character development within the team. Plus, Zatana stars in much of this volume and it's wonderful seeing her in action, and looking at her early history as a teenager in an...