I Can't Believe By Mind!
Written by: Michael Moreci
Art by: Sebastian Fiumara, Dave Stewart, and Clem Robins
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 13, 2018
It's time again to call Michael Moreci from the bullpen for a one-shot while we wait for Bryan Hill's Black Lightning story to start. Blast Wild Thing, get pumped and hope that it isn't "just a bit outside".
The issue opens with narration that matches the spooky mood of the setting and art...until you realize it's Batman. Listen, I like my Batman books featuring a Dark Knight who says more than one word (AMEN!), but the words have to match the man and these feel off.
The story moves quickly to set up Deacon Blackfire versus Batman and with that we get a tiny catchup of where Blackfire has been...that totally throws the Benson's Birds of Prey book out of the equation. I am not quite the Continuity Kid, but this just points to either this being another "inventory issue", editorial not caring to keep writers up on what is going on or both. I say it's both! I am already at the end of my rope with all these books having to fill in gaps between creative teams, but make it seem like you did some legwork and research here!
The story continues with Blackfire attacking Batman with fists and kicks, but he also messes with his mind! After a pretty bad typo ("Blackfire has poisoned by mind with."), we see Batman struggle through a Gotham that Deacon has set up for Batman and it all comes down to him saving a boy, himself and the city he loves.
We do get a couple of panels that show that Batman is never truly alone and then it's back to business as he finds the boy, Joshua, but he is outnumbered. A quick speech gets a few on his side, but Blackfire still gets to Joshua. However, a flash grenade and some pushing and shoving save the day and we end with more narration and Batman letting a little kid hang out with him on a ledge hundreds and hundreds of feet above the city!
Okay, this issue was thrown in here to fill the gap before Bryan Hill takes over and while I wish it wasn't so transparent, it is just a generic Batman issue that will be forgotten days after you read it. The art has a nice horror vibe to it, but there is no story here whatsoever and DC should be ashamed that they threw this out there like this. I know that they want to keep their twice a month shipping schedule, but they should think about their fans and those who will get this only because they love Detective Comics and have it in their Pull List! Maybe some will enjoy this simplified version of Batman, but this issue actually made me angry.
Also, if anyone at DC is reading this...at least change the banner on your site for this issue to make it seem like this wasn't a last-minute fill-in issue!
Bits and Pieces:
This is a placeholder issue that only was released to give Bryan Hill more time to get his Detective arc going. The art is nice enough and tries to grab a scary feel, but there is nothing else here to recommend.
3.5/10
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