DETECTIVE COMICS #840

The Resurrection of Ra’ al Ghul, Epilogue

March 2008

Written by Paul Dini

Pencils by Dustin Nguyen

Inks by Derek Fridolfs

Cover by Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs

Synopsis

Batman is on the trail of Hammond Carter (aka The Globe), a thief who has stolen a hundred-year-old jewel covered globe.  As soon as Batman retrieves the globe, however, Ra’s al Ghul arrives with his henchmen to reclaim what once belonged to him.  Inside the globe shows the location of Lazarus Pits across the Earth.  Ra’s then sets his ninjas to attack as he gets away.  Batman is able to make his own escape, however.  Meanwhile, Batman tracks down Ra’s and attacks him.  Later, Ra’s arrives at Arkham Asylum and is checked in as a new patient with a round-the-clock medication while he serves his life sentence. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Correct me if this sounds a little weird.  DC decides to take a character that has been “dead” for about 3 or 4 years in real time and bring him back to life only to then shuttle him away so that he is not a viable character in the universe, anyway.  Why bother to bring someone back from the dead if you had no plans to use him?  It makes no sense.  And I actually liked this issue.  I loved the way the two verbally spar with each other, each thinking they are getting the best of the other, when really it is all part of the give and take they enjoy.  I also liked the way Dusan’s soul was taking of Ra’s soul, changing him in ways that he probably was not even aware.  It seemed odd at first that Ra’s would want to kill Batman, but given the explanation, I could accept the change.  I even loved the ending and thought it was a fitting way to deal with Ra’s, but so soon after his resurrection, it just leaves me scratching my head. 

I also liked the beginning of the issue and the introduction of a new villain.  I am not sure DC can make some mileage out the character in this day and age, but I like the fact that he was a throwback to Batman’s earlier days (both in real time and comic time) when the villains were a little on the weird crazy side rather than on the psychotic crazy side. 

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