Detective Comics #854 SPOILERS

Tragic Angelus · Post by **Tragic Angelus** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 3:35 pm

Well... It looks like I've got a new book to follow.

I've been following Kate and Renee's stories since 52, through the various mini's and other avenues that Rucka's done the last few years, and this one again follows up on most of them.

Kate learns that the new head of the Crime religion they've been involved with the last few years is heading to Gotham, and she's out to put them down since the last time she was involved with them she was stabbed in the heart. And apparently, the big twist I noticed was that her father is aware that she's Batwoman, and helps her with cases, training, etc. She eventually meets up with the new head of the Religion, named Alice, who seems to be taking nods from the character who traveled through Wonderland with the same name, and then the Batwoman portion of the issue ends.

The real beauty of the Batwoman section is the artwork layouts. Numerous double page spreads of various actions shots where the panels are laid out to take on Bat symbols and varous other arays. I enjoyed it, but don't think it'll last for each issue. J.H. Williams III does good on art when she's in costume, but regular folks, aside from Alice, seem to need some work.

The Question back up was fun, and it seems Renee's not involved with the Religion of Crime (for the time being) and instead is investigating a illegal immigrant smuggling ring. It seems she has her own info intel partner, and she now somewhat takes requests for help. The art wasn't spectacular but nothing bad. One thing I noticed was now when she's the Question, she has a blonde wig on, which I wasn't a fan of.

overall, I liked the issue and think I'll follow it as long as I can. The back up justifies the price up, so I'll try to follow as long as I can afford it.

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:51 pm

Someone needs to tell what book I have to pick up in order to have the backstory on this Crime religion thing.

Tragic Angelus · Post by **Tragic Angelus** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:36 pm

Basically, the Crime Story is as follows:

1. Question/Montoya/Batwoman Segments of 52
2. Rucka's The Question: Five Lessons of Blood, also know as Crime Bible: Five Lessons of Blood
3.Rucka's Final Crisis: Revelations
4. Detective Comics

Though mostly, the Crime Religion was fought and investigate by the Question, it seems Batwoman has decided to take up the fight, though she was mostly only involved with it in 52. It's been a Rucka project through and through, so at least there it's consistant. And I'm fairly certain those are the four main, large focal points of it. If anything else comes to mind I'll be sure to update this, but that's the storyline as I've followed it since 52.

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 8:15 pm

Thanks for the help!!!

Tragic Angelus · Post by **Tragic Angelus** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 9:25 pm

Not a problem! Rucka being behind all of them really helps keep it consistant, and it's been a rather enjoyable corner of the DCU for me to explore! And don't worry, the FC tie in Revelations mini really doesn't have much to do with teh actually FC main story, other than they battle numerous Mindless drones of Darkseid, but they find a way to tie that into the overall Crime Religion story as well!

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 2:44 am

The big problem being Philipp Tan doing the art. I'm led to believe that every single penciler named Tan is crap.

Tragic Angelus · Post by **Tragic Angelus** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 5:28 am

Well.. while I can't promise anything, I would say that I didn't have an issues with the art, but the fact that we're all so different in terms of it you may not like it. At least for me, I could always distingush characters from each other, and the art to me was ok. But if that's the drawback I can understand.

I have to admit, in all those stories I was more pleased with the actual plot and dialogue and story then the visuals, so I have a hard time recalling any critiques I had with the art.