Detective Comics #30 Review
“Icarus, Part 1”
Publisher: DC Comics
Storytellers: Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato
Letters: Jared K. Fletcher
Cover: Francis Manapul
Review by Scott Keys
I was saddened when it was announced that Manapul and Buccellato were leaving The Flash, but when it was announced that they were taking over Detective, WOW! Some of DC’s best storytellers on the Dark Knight? Sign me up!
It’s tough to break this book down creativly, since both Manapul and Buccellato had a hand in both sides of the creative process. So I’ll just take it one step at a time. The script was a good first issue for the team. It establishes the new “enemy” (a drug called Icarus or ‘ick’), sets up some new cast members (could Annie “The Eagle” Aguila be the next Robin?), and leaves us with an awesome cliff-hanger. There is also a very touching sequence where Bruce is modifying Damian’s bike because “he promised him” he would – awesome scene!
Now on to the art. Once again, WOW! I think that this team was born to illustrate Batman and Gotham! The moody colors, the flawless line work, the action sequences were all perfect! They even made a conversation with people in business suits exciting! There is no equal in the visual storytelling department to Manapul and Buccellato! They are the perfect balance of kinetic linework and moody colors. Brilliant work!
Detective Comics #30 was an amazing debut by the team of Manapul and Buccellato, reassuring Batfans that the Dark Knight Detective is resting in good hands!
Art: 5 / 5
Story: 4 / 5
Overall: 4.5 / 5
Scott Keys is a father, Butler University grad, pharmacist, and full-time comic nerd. You can follow his adventures around the spinner-rack and his Incoherent Comic Book Ramblings on:
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