DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #11

The Eighth Deadly Sin, Part Two:  Original Sin

2009

Written by Fabian Nicieza

Pencils by Tom Mandrake

Inks by Tom Mandrake

Cover by J. Calafiore

Synopsis

 [continued from Batman Annual #27]  A religious group called La Saligia, lead by Amon, has kidnapped Damian Wayne (aka Robin), who was masquerading as the real target, the son of a famous Gotham architect.  Batman has lost Robin’s locator, so he doesn’t know where he might be.  So, Batman calls in Renee Montoya (aka The Question) for help in tracking down Robin.  Together they determine the cult’s location, somewhere underground.   There, La Saligia has kidnapped seven children representing the seven deadly sins.  The plan is to sacrifice the children to restore the eighth deadly sin.  Before one of the kids can be killed, Robin manages to free himself.  Elsewhere, Azrael prepares to battle La Saligia.  Meanwhile, Robin is able to escape and reach the streets.  There, he is attacked by a member of La Saligia, but saved by Azrael.  The Question rushes to protect the real target, but gets there too late.  Azrael and Robin go back to the lair of La Saligia.  While Robin frees the children, Azrael makes sure the eighth deadly sin can never be restored.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

This part of the story wasn’t as good as the first part.  I think the inclusion of the Question was not needed and it only muddied the story even more.  The villains in the story are not well defined.  They are supposed to be the seven deadly sins and their powers reflect whichever one they are, but it doesn’t quite come through on what they represent or how they came to have such supernatural powers.  The biggest problem, however, is that this story was supposed to generate interest in Azrael, but his role is so slim I can’t imagine anyone thinking Azrael was cool enough to check out his monthly title based on this story. 

The ending fell flat.  I get what Nicieza was going for in terms of Azrael going for the eighth deadly sin, which is after all a dead husk of a body, rather than protecting the children.  But I don’t think it worked as well as it needed to.  First, the children didn’t seem to be in much danger and Robin was there to help.  Second, the cult was at large, which means if the body is taken care of, they would be back later.  Ultimately, the idea that Batman is at odds with Azrael because of their different methods just doesn’t come through that well. 

What was the point of having the Question in this story?  I did not find anything useful in her presence, either in terms of the plot or the story.  Her role in helping Batman locate the cult could’ve been filled by any number of characters (although Oracle would’ve been the best one) and after that all of the Question’s appearances weren’t necessary or required to help propel the story along.  So, given how little she was used, why even add her?  Was it because of Bullock and that brief moment where he identifies her as the Question because of her ass?  I mean, I liked it and I liked how it played upon their history as former partners, but as part of the story of Azrael, it wasn’t essential to have it there. 

I would like to point out that while I liked the way Nicieza used the Question’s newness to the mystery as a way of creating exposition to recap the last issue, it wasn’t written very well.  It felt forced and as a result it still read as exposition, as if Renee was recalling the facts of the crime for our benefit rather than spitballing ideas with Batman.

Darker Than Black, Part 1

Written by Mandy McMurray

Art by Kelley Jones

Synopsis

Barbara Gordon awakens to find a bat drawn in blood on her ceiling, left behind by the Stygian.  However, Oracle called the Looker to protect Barbara.  Later, Barbara determines there is another message underneath the blood.  With the help of Looker, they are able to determine the identity of the next victim.  However, they are too late.  A message left at the scene leads the duo to the Stygian.   Looker is able to prevent the next killing, but the Stygian gets away. 

Review

I am curious to see where the rest of this story is going to be told.  I’m serious.  It is extremely odd to put a two-part story in the Annuals and not have an ending where the bad guy is caught.  If he isn’t, one would expect the story will be finished elsewhere.  But artist Kelley Jones is not the type of artist to take the reins of one of the current Batman monthlies.  While his work is distinctive and very good, it is nothing like the current set of artist handling DC books.  Moreover, since Barbara was a big part of this story, that would mean it could continue in Batgirl, but the subject matter and the fact that Oracle is playing second fiddle, makes that idea unlikely.  It could continue in Outsiders, where Looker was last seen, but that’s not an Oracle book, so I doubt that.  Ultimately, this story is just plain weird. 

When and how did we get the name of the Stygian?  I can’t recall if that was name given to the villain in the last installment.  Looker mentions Stygian right away, as if she knew all along the name, but I don’t recall ever hearing it before. 

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