Title: Batman: Detective Comics
Story arc: A Lonely Place of Living
Volume: 5
Stand-Alone: No
Universe: DC Universe Rebirth
Writer(s): James Tynion IV (main) & Christopher Sebela & Eddy Barrows
Illustrator(s): Carmen Carnero, Ulises Arredla, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Adriano Lucas, Alvero Martinez, Raul Fernandez, Tomeu Morey, Jean-Francois Beaulieu
Publisher: DC Comics
Format: Single Issues
Paperback Release Date: April 10th 2018
Pages: 144
Genre(s): Comics, Science Fiction
ISBN13: 9781401278229
Previously on DC Universe Rebirth’s Batman: Detective Comics:
Rise of the Batmen (Volume 1)
Night of the Monster Men (Volume 1.5)
The Victim Syndicate (Volume 2)
League of Shadows (Volume 3)
Deus Ex Machina (Volume 4)
As unfortunate as it is of recent news regarding the exit of James Tynion IV as the main writer on this Batman: Detective Comics series in order to work on the new series that spun out of the Batman: Metal event, his contribution has been solid and his run, long and filled with exciting characters. With the integration of characters like Azrael and Batwing, as well as the introduction of a brand new group of villains who go by the name of the Victim Syndicate, I think it’s safe to say that James Tynion IV has done some pretty great things so far, and A Lonely Place of Living is also one of those.
In volume 5, two different story arcs can be found. The first one is a two-issue story respectively called “Utopia” and “Dystopia”. This short story essentially draws back into focus Stephanie Brown, also known as Spoiler. As she continues to linger in her grief with the loss of one of our heroes in a previous event, Spoiler teams up with Anarky—yes, we’re talking about the villain here—as he attempts to seduce her into a new opportunity that could potentially help her help the world slightly differently than how Batman and friends do it. The sudden exposition of a whole new underground city is quickly put back into perspective when Batman comes swinging by and revealing Anarky’s true intentions.
The second story arc is called “A Lonely Place of Living” and is the main storyline of this volume. In this story arc Tim Drake, also known as Red Robin, takes center-stage and finally enlightens fans on what the hell is going on with his sudden disappearance. As this four-issue story develops, we are quickly pulled into a multiple timeline story where Tim Drake’s origin is brought to light and analyzed in terms of motives and conviction. The new threat also shines in his understanding of everyone on the team and uses it to attempt the one thing that no one seems to understand: change the future. Hello, Back to the Future?
Besides the shortly-lived first storyarc, this volume continues to prove why James Tynion IV is a great writer. His stories are always dialogue-heavy but also centered around character development. The second storyarc is where the real fun begins with a lot of fantastic plot twists that continues to make you wonder about the big picture and what is actually going on in the DC universe. While Mr. Oz, the person who kidnapped Red Robin and imprisoned in a mystical temporal prison, was a mystery that seemed to never have a solution, James Tynion IV quickly drops a nuke on fans as his identity is revealed and sparked even more questions. As if things couldn’t get any more weird, Spoiler, highlight to read: « future Tim Drake » makes an appearance.
His arrival also opens up a whole new narrative that is focused on the future as we slowly understand how Red Robin saved Batman from his demise by taking on the role of Robin. Understanding the motives behind this character also offers a nice Tim-Drake-focused character development, which isn’t something that you often see. The action that accompanies all this wasn’t mind-blowing, but it did what it had to do in pushing the story forward. Hints of what is to come is also well-planted as it grows into what might turn out to be a pretty devastating future. The artwork continues to be cohesive and consistent throughout this volume, and even through this series, but I wasn’t particularly stunned by anything that was done in that department.
Now the wait is on as fans of this series wait for James Tynion IV’s final volume before someone else takes on the challenge in maintaining the quality of this series, or even outshining Scott Snyder’s apprentice!
MY OVERALL RATING: ★★★★☆
Have you read it yet?
Do you plan to?
What do you think about Batman: Detective Comics: A Lonely Place of Living?
Share your thoughts with me!
Till next time,
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Roars and Echoes 
It’s always a shame when a successful writer leaves a beloved series. Especially when it’s a series that is loved by so many people. I hardly read comics these days, but the series looks wonderful. Especially like the art I’m seeing here. This was another great post! Really like the way you keep writing these Batman posts: keep them coming ! 😀
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Yeh, it is a sad day when they get moved around and new creative teams are put on each series. Then again, DC has GREAT writers right now, so my fear that this series lands into inappropriate hands is pretty slim hahah Yep, artwork is quite good! There was a time when each issue would have different artists on them…… the results for the overall volume was… well.. staggering 😂 Oh yeh, I’ll always put up Batman-related stuff even if everyone started to feel overwhelmed by my content regarding him hahah Favourite superhero of mine and loads of things worth checking out regarding him! Although I do remark a decrease in visits, likes, comments, etc when it comes to some of my comic book reviews, especially sequels like this one, but that’s totally not a problem hahah I know the audience on Bookidote aren’t all comic book readers, and even fans of Batman! Hey, thanks for reading though, I highly appreciate it, Michel! 👊🏾
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No problem. Yeah I guess it’s hard to please everyone at times, as much as we would sometimes want to. But I love comic books (I wish I had more time to read them though lol), but I always love reading posts about them, even it’s about comics I would not normally pick up 😀
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I am not a comic book reader, but it’s something I would like to get into. More than anything I get intimidated about where to start! It must be strange when a series author changes while the story is still ongoing. Is that kind of jarring?
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Ohhh yes, it’s something that a lot of readers fear regarding comics. That starting line. There’s plenty of ways to get into comics, and one thing that’s worth knowing is that you don’t need to start from the first comic that was created way back then 😂 Go with anything that interests you and pick up the first volume for it. A little bit of research on all that will easily put you on the right track! 😂 As for writers being swapped around, it can be jarring and very sad if it falls into the hands of a horrible writer. But when the writer is switched up with someone with talent, it can be actually quite refreshing, especially with new vision and direction! 😆
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Thanks for the advice. You’re right, I just need to spend a bit of time on Google and then just go ahead and order what interests me without over thinking it. There is a whole world of reading out there I’m missing out on!
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Great review! Why is one of the main writers leaving though? I am completely out of the loop with all things super hero. Did somwthing happen or another project?
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Thanks Danielle! Oh, he’s just being put onto a new series. Recently there’s an ongoing huge Batman-centered event called Batman: Metal and with it a couple of new superheroes have been created. And for these new heroes, writers had to be assigned in order to make some quality content for them you know? 😂 James Tynion IV is one of those writers who is put on one of those series hahah
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Haha well that makes sense and says enough about him as a writer. Too bad for this series though huh. I will be curious to see if you notice the absence in future works 😊
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Aww it’s so disappointing when a lead on a project moves on… I’m a fan of dialogue heavy so I’d be all up for that! Great review Lashaan! 🤩 on a side note (or rather the main note but I had to talk review first because yours rock!) I noticed on the art that the faces here are expressive but having recently read Red Rising GN where the faces were the least important part… do you find face expressions not mattering as much in Batman and other super hero comics you read?!
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Thanks Dani! Yep, it is a sad departure when its a good writer, but hopefully its for the better! Oh, they are definitely important, but it really depends on what the writer wants to convey through his story. For example, Tom King’s Batman series run focuses A LOT more on the details, and there moments in his series where a whole page might just have 9 panels that shows the evolution of a character’s facial expression, and with that is able to show us something in particular, like the deep-rooted anger of a character, or his troubled soul. I have to admit that I didn’t really run into any series with an artwork that didn’t at least put a little bit of attention to facial expressions! I am prone to believe that if they don’t focus on that, then there must be something else they want us to focus on instead. 😮
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Sounds like a really wonderful addition- such a shame the writer is leaving. Hopefully the next writer will be upto the same standard. Really great review!
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Yep, it is! I do hope it’ll be someone decent too. Last thing we end up with is a mediocre direction for one of DC’s top comic book runs today! Thank you!! 😀
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Hopefully! You’re welcome!! 😀
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Great stuff as always Lashaan (and love your strokes of wit, your “change the future” passage gave me the nerd giggles!) – must admit I didn’t know that Tynion was leaving Detective Comics, how did I miss that?! Ah well, so long as Tom King stays on the main Batman book!
I enjoyed the future Tim Drake arc although I seem to recall getting a bit tangled at some point, a draw back of reading the individual issues as they came out I guess! I absolutely loved the Clayface annual, it reminded me of those classic Clayface episodes from Batman: the Animated Series. Poingnant and touching.
Look forward to more Batman reviews from you good sir!
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Hahaah thanks man! Yeh, it was quite recently too and it shocked me the moment I got a notification regarding it. Then again, maybe the new series he’ll be working on will put his talents to good use and give DC new great characters to love. It would be pretty crazy to see Tom King getting booted though. If I were DC I’d give him at least as many volumes as Snyder got to do in New 52. And with how things have only gotten better with his volumes, it would be insane to mix things up on that creative team.
Ahaha, it’s why I just buy and collect the issues and read them once I know I have all the issues of that volume. But I do got to admit that if I had read them as they were released, the whole Tim Drake thing might have rubbed off completely wrong. But yeh, that Clayface story was amazing. So true!
Thanks man! I appreciate it when you take the time to stop by. Hope you’ve been reading some good ones lately (I’m going through Francis Manapul’s New 52 The Flash run right now! Have you tried it out?)
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Hm, Flash has been a bit hit and miss for me – I really do like the character but his series never seems to have a creative team I like on it. I’m not a huge fan of Manapul’s art but I think his style did alter/improve later on (I still need to check out his New 52 Detective Comics volumes). Othere than that I’m just enjoying the current Rebirth/DCU runs of the Batman, Superman and Green Lantern books. Hvae you heard about Marvel doing another reboot in May? Man, I do love Marvel but I only read Iron Man, Amazing Spider-Man and Daredevil these days, the rest of their stuff is just…well, poor. I’m not too excited about the new creative teams they’ve announced to be honest. Marvel may have things running with their films but DC are way ahead with the comics right now!
I’m hoping to read and review some Superman stuff in the coming months with it being the 80th anniversary so stay tuned!
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Ever since you shocked my back to reality by mentioning your digital purchases of certain series, I sort of had a revelation that maybe collecting EVERY trade won’t be a very… efficient idea and that maybe sticking to major runs and my fav characters while discovering the rest online would be wiser. It’s why I sort of wanted to check out The Flash and see how it debuted the New 52, especially since I recently also read Flashpoint (I had seen the animated movie a long time ago though). So far.. I found the artwork pretty original and different from what I usually read hahah Funny thing is I’m also at vol 6 of Detective Comics (it’s where Manapul debuts). I paused on that series cause I wanted to finish up Snyder’s run first hahah Bats, Supes and Green is your go-to huh. I’ll definitely check the last 2 out then.
Yeh… I’ve heard about the disaster that Marvel comics is nowadays. Must be the 100th reboot they’ve done and I honestly don’t even know who their top writers are anymore. I also heard about the controversial writer now lead on the Spider-Man run. Although I think you enjoyed that writer’s guts and what he gave fans, right? I rarely read Marvel even I have a bunch of series I plan on checking out. I did read Mark Waid’s Daredevil run (Volume 4, not Volume 3) and that was nice. You got any particular runs you highly praise for any Marvel hero?
Oh snap! Sweet, I’ll look forward to those. 😀
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Yeah Flashpoint is pretty awesome as is The Flash: Rebirth mini series. I still need to finish New 52 Detective Comics myself. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Waid/Samnee run on Daredevil to be honest, it just didn’t work for me. Best Daredevil runs are Frank Miller’s then the Bendis and Brubaker runs which are just some of the best comics ever! Other favourite runs? Brubaker’s first Captain America run (that begins with Winter Soldier), Geoff Johns’ Green Lantern (his New 52 Aquaman was great as well) and Tom King’s Batman is looking like it will join those ranks. I like a lot of classic stuff as well – Denny O’Neill’s Batman and John Byrne’s Superman were pretty good! I don’t mind Nick Spencer but I get the feeling he chickened out a little on Secret Empire. Looking forward to seeing what Dan Slott does with Iron Man.
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I definitely have Geoff Johns’ different runs queued up. He delivers some really great stories and has really yet to disappoint me. I’ve explored some of Miller’s Daredevil stuff, but I think I should go through it again and much more thoroughly! And hell yes to the older classic stuff. O’Neil is an excellent writer, and I definitely need to check out Byrne’s Superman. Actually I need to do what I did with Batman for Superman soon hahah So many great stories to explore. I had recently explored the whole Death/World/Return of Superman too. Good stuff. Thanks for the recs mate.
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No worries good sir, hopefully I’ll do some comic reviews in the coming months that’ll pique your interest. Funnily enough I’m in the midst of re-reading the Death/Return of Superman books and Miller’s Daredevil.
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This series sounds more interesting than many of the TV series. This would make a good series binge.
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It honestly would be! Even an animated adaptation of some of these comics would be amazing. DC are also the best at those animated shows/movies. 😀
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Wait, James Tynion IV is leaving this series? But he’s been doing so well with it.
Hopefully they can find a good replacement.
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Surprising isn’t it? Sucks they couldn’t clone him or something, but I’d rather if he only focused on one series at a time.. Hopefully his replacement will be of equal talent, or better.
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This sounds so awesome!!!! The Batz!!!! Amazing Review, Lashaan as always!😍
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Hahahah thanks Dani!!! 😀
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You’re welcome, Lashaan!❤📚
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i don’t know enough about batman comics yet, but i’ve seen all the movies and watched all the animated series and i just love the stories in Batman. I have a small collection of comic books and i’ve been wanting to get my hands on some Batman stories
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YAAAS!! I’m soooo glad to hear from another person who has seen all the movies and series! Too many people hate Batman for the wrong reasons when he’s one of the superheroes with the best stories out there. Comic-wise there was SOOO many to check out and enjoy and I do hope you get the chance to try some of them out yourself!!!
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whyyyy would people say that. that’s dumb. idk i really like his background, how he became batman, even his one love he had, and even the joker has a cool back story. i think it’s all well written, and very dark so i’d love to see some comics lol
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Yep! Reasons I often hear is how Batman has no power and money is all that makes who he is. And then there’s people who hate him because they don’t like actors who played the character.. And then there are random oblivious reasons from people who just don’t want to learn more about him. I just let them be. It’s there loss in the end hahaha
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it really is. definately great well written characters and plots and who doesn’t love Harley Quin and Ivy??
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Villains are eeeevverything within the Batman universe!!!! Every single one of them are soooo unique and amazing in their own ways. Honestly, if you pick up the right story, with the right writer and artists, you’ll easily be blown away. 😀 And hell yes to Quinn and Ivy!!!! ❤
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