Review: Detective Comics Vol. 1- Mythology

Quick Summary

Pros: The entire volume features a series of exciting battles. The volume works as a neat introduction or reintroduction to Batman. The artwork is gorgeous throughout the entire collection.

Cons: The fighting feels a bit generic as this volume progresses.

Overall: This is a worthwhile jumping on point for this series. It tells a decent story and accompanies it with some impressive visuals. It also works as a way to look at Batman as an individual, introducing or reintroducing him to readers. Nothing about the collection is mind-blowing but nothing is seriously bad either. In the end, this book is for readers looking for a jumping on point or readers who want a very individualized Batman adventure.

Story

Detective Comics Vol. 1: Mythology, by Peter J. Tomasi, is a little generic but provides a great jumping on point for a new run on this series. The volume highlights intense battles as Batman attempts to track down a mysterious villain. These clashes are tough and give the volume plenty of excitement. The whole way through, the narrative also highlights Batman as a character, giving readers a chance to learn more about his history and who he is today. In general, this volume isn’t revolutionary but it works as the first volume in a larger storyline. 

(spoilers start here)

The majority of Mythology is a series of clashes between Batman and a powerful villain. These clashes range from hand to hand battles, nearly superpowered fights in mech suits, and even include Batman escaping from a death trap. This is all fun to see and emphasizes the insane lengths Batman goes to in order to solve a case. However, besides containing some thrills, there isn’t too much to these fights, as they lack any emotional charge or a deeper meaning. They are exciting but not much else.

However, Mythology also focuses on examining Batman as a character. The entire adventure introduces readers to Batman’s teachers and, thus, highlights the depth of his skillset. Alongside this, readers learn more about the people Batman cares about and why he cares about them. Then, the twist ending, which reveals that the entire adventure was a hallucination Batman put himself through in order to hone his skills, further emphasizes the lengths Batman will go in order to fulfill his mission. As the first story arc in a new run on this Detective Comics series, all of this works.

(spoilers end here)

Art

The artwork in Mythology is beautiful on nearly every page. Doug Mahnke’s work has a gritty realism to it that suits Batman very well. It makes the characters and locations of this storyline feel as intense and intimidating as they need to be. However, there is still room here for emotion, with the level of detail on specific characters helping to bring out what they are feeling. Together, these factors enhance nearly every scene in this book. The pages are also laid out very well, with panels that shift and change in ways that seriously complements the storytelling. All in all, the artwork here is incredible and is a huge asset to the volume as a whole.

Continuity

Detective Comics Vol. 1: Mythology technically takes place after the events of Detective Comics Vol. 9: Deface the Face (Review). However, it doesn’t really reference that storyline and, instead, serves as a jumping on point for new readers.

The story here continues in Detective Comics Vol. 2: Arkham Knight (Review).

This volume also references and continues the stories from other comic books, detailed below:

• The story behind Bruce ringing a bell in the study of Wayne Manor comes from Batman: Year One. 
• Several references are made to Batman and Robin’s (Reading Order) confrontation with Morgan Ducard. This took place across Batman and Robin Vol. 1: Born to Kill (Review).
• The Bat-family recently fought creatures created by Doctor Strange. This occurred in the Batman: Night of the Monster Men (Review) (Reading Order) event.
• The Hellbat Batsuit was first shown off back in Batman and Robin #34, collected in Batman and Robin Vol. 6: The Hunt for Robin (Review).