A fog of disquiet lies over Gotham City, not because of its poor air quality index but because of a primal evil that has risen to usurp the city’s soul. Prince Arzen Orgham, who carries the deeds to the Arkham estate, looks to reclaim his old family history, but the League of Assassins plans to take out the head of the snake before it can sink its fangs deep into Gotham. Batman gets a whiff of the plan when Talia tries to distract him, but might be too late to foil her plans. Detective Comics #1065 from DC, written by Ram V. and Simon Spurrier with artwork from Rafael Albuquerque, Hayden Sherman, Dave Stewart, and Nick Filardi and letters from Ariana Maher and Steve Wands, is a race against time, one that will test the Dark Knight and his resolve.
Detective Comics #1065 prepares to welcome a foreign dignitary in the most Gothamite fashion: with a fiery assault on prince Orgham’s convoy. One contingent of the League of Assassins keeps law enforcement at bay, while another leads a bloody attack on the yacht. Under Talia al Ghul’s command, Ubu approaches Orgham intending to blow himself up along with the monarch as a final act of duty. Batman arrives just in the nick of time, and a fierce battle ensues as the two tumble into the waters of Gotham harbor. In the backup by Spurrier, Harvey Dent keeps his end of his deal with the devil, but his broken self knows that only Batman can save them both from the prying eyes of the Orghams.
It’s almost second nature for Bruce to be critical of himself as part of his ongoing process to protect his city better. But Detective Comics #1065 turns his self-critical assessment into self-doubt, bogging the crusading protagonist down with the weight of his failing mind and body. For the most part, the issue does a proper job of balancing action and intrigue. Batman’s tussle with Ubu is more dramatic than stylized, echoing the former’s inner strife that slowly pushes him to the edge and makes him reckless in his decision-making. As for the narrative concerning the Orghams, Ram V. sprinkles moments that show how clever and ruthless the latest visitors are in stark contrast to Batman’s faltering crusade. Other facets of the budding suspense are also brought to the fore without any first-person narratives in the way. Meanwhile, Simon Spurrier delves deep into Harvey’s psychosis as Two Face’s own narration turns into a full-fledged argument with his other self.
Rafael Albuquerque presents the tale like a big-budget cinematic production, opening the story wrapped in smoke and fire. To differentiate between the boss and the foot soldiers in the ranks of the assassins, Albuquerque gives Ubu a terrifying garb in a callback to his first appearance in Batman #232. Batman’s heroic airdrop at the scene of commotion is something that counterbalances the villainy on display while also catering to a great fan service moment for all to enjoy. The Orgham entourage is always portrayed as the demonic beings they are, with Dave Stewart using a variety of blacks and glowing effects to keep the story rooted in mysticism. Sherman and Filardi’s backup story is a violently colorful exhibit that shows Dent’s alter-ego as a twisted fully-charred version of his other self in a more palatable fashion.
Detective Comics #1065 is slowly building up the intensity but, surprisingly, has been able to keep the mysterious circumstances surrounding almost every element in the story under wraps. No mean feat by any means, it adds layers to the story and makes the reader actually care for Bruce and his hauntings rather than shake it off as a plot device. Ram V. is not alone in crafting the story as he assimilates Spurrier’s backup story from last time into his own, creating an ecosystem that nurtures substance before style. Detective Comics #1065 brings something dark and sinister to Gotham, ending the issue with more troubles than it started with.
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