Title: Batman: Detective Comics #1000.
Writer(s): Scott Snyder, Kevin Smith, Paul Dini, Warren Ellis, Denny O’Neil, Christopher Priest, Brian Michael Bendis, Geoff Johns, James Tynion IV, Tom King & Peter J. Tomasi.
Penciller(s): Greg Capullo, Jim Lee, Dustin Nguyen, Becky Cloonan, Steve Epting, Neal Adams, Alex Maleev, Kelley Jones, Alvaro Martínez Bueno, Tony S. Daniel, Joëlle Jones & Doug Mahnke.
Inker(s): Jonathan Glapion, Scott Williams, Derek Fridolfs, Raul Fernandez, Jaime Mendoza & Doug Mahnke.
Colourist(s): Fco Plascencia, Alex Sinclair, Johnn Kalisz, Jordie Bellaire, Elizabeth Breitweiser, Dave Stewart, Alex Maleev, Michelle Madsen, Brad Anderson, Tomeu Morey & David Baron.
Letterer(s): Tom Napolitano, Todd Klein, Steve Wands, Simon Bowland, Andworld Design, Willie Schubert, Josh Reed, Rob Leigh, Sal Cipriano & Clayton Cowles.
Publisher: DC Comics.
Format: Hardcover – Deluxe Edition.
Release Date: June 18th 2019.
Pages: 176.
Genre(s): Comics, Science-Fiction.
ISBN13: 9781401294199.
My Overall Rating: ★★★★★.
With last year marking the 80th anniversary of Superman, coinciding with the release of its 1000th issue, it was only a matter of time before another iconic superhero saw his birthday celebrated with the same enthusiasm—if not more—by fans all around the world: Batman. A similar 80th-anniversary commemorative collection was then released earlier in the year and saw us counting down the days until the original Detective Comics series—the same comic book series that gave us the DC Comics brand—slowly but surely reached its 1000th issue milestone. Inevitably, this issue was not to be a disappointment in any shape or form. Batman has changed the lives of many with his heroism, his resolve, and his history. What he represents is far greater than an idea and his impact on people is bound to be remembered throughout countless generations to come.
What is Batman: Detective Comics #1000 about? This special issue invites an incredible line-up of talented creative teams (writers and artists) to deliver short stories featuring the Dark Knight. These adventures take a look at the hero’s legacy by highlighting his detective skills or by visiting his archnemesis and family members for us to see how Batman is perceived by others. From writers like Scott Snyder and Geoff Johns to artists like Greg Capullo and Jim Lee, this stunning deluxe edition elevates the quality of this landmark issue and also incorporates a collection of various variant covers that were released by talented artists to celebrate this historical issue in all of its glory and beauty.
This special issue was delightful for all the right reasons. The lineup of talent brought on this project couldn’t have been better as they knew how to showcase the World’s Greatest Detective’s best traits in all the right angles and colours. While some of the stories explored his detective skills—although sometimes the mysteries were in fact quite obvious, linear or accelerated, with some plotting shortcuts—others looked into highlighting the hero’s influence on others, whether they are vigilantes or villains. It’s even more impressive when you look at how much love is shown to this hero in the most subtle ways possible, through his relationships with others and through his mannerism as the guardian of Gotham. After all, the sacrifices he has had to make for the people of his city can’t be overlooked, especially when you know that his life was essentially the result of a tragedy that forged his destiny as the Caped Crusader.
To accompany the fantastic stories that were presented in this special issue are some of the best artwork at DC Comics. This issue doesn’t just invite us to go down a trip through memory lane as we see various different Batman costumes, shapes and forms. It’s also a look at how every creator envisions the hero and how the Dark Knight still manages to create fear in anyone and everyone, while looking to save the world from the lurking villainy in the streets of Gotham. The colours are also incredible, vibrant and mesmerizing. This landmark issue simply does everything perfectly to ultimately deliver an entertaining read that reminds us exactly why Batman is such a fascinating character with the best lore in the game. The collection of variant covers at the end of this volume also offers some of the best pin-ups possible, showcasing incredible artistic talents.
Batman: Detective Comics #1000 is a phenomenal landmark issue with artwork that leaps from the pages, stories that glide through Batman’s rogue gallery and ideas that pack a punch.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sending me a copy for review!
P.S. On the 21st of September, 2019, fans all around the world celebrated Batman Day (and his 80th anniversary) with some cities lighting up the Bat-Signal!
Did you see it?
Roars and Echoes 
WOW! Sounds like it was epic for an uber Batman fan Lashaan!! I love that they each told a story about a different side of Batman. That sounds like a lot of fun. And I’ve read like a comic anthology before and why the different art styles can be jarring they also can simply showcase some amazing skill and knowledge about the topic… which sounds like the case here!! 😀
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Yep. I think any fan of Batman and his comics will appreciate this one a lot. It has some of the best writers and artists with great stories. It isn’t an issue at all that this one has various styles since it’s sort of the goal of this special issue too (unless story arcs that can suddenly see a shift in the art style for no good reason). 😀
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Now I’m slobbering! 😀
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Hahahah I’d however still give YOU a warning that not all stories are particularly mind-blowing. I simply appreciated them as a whole rather than individually for this special issue. 😉
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I saw King’s name in there, so I was already forewarned 😀
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Hahahahah 😂 By the way, they announced this weekend that James Tynion IV and Tony Daniel will be taking over the Batman series after King. If I stand correct, this doesn’t leave you hopeful huh? 😂
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Oh my goodness, I think I’m gonna hide and cry in a corner somewhere 😛 Though honestly, I still cling to hope that even Tynion cannot be worse than King 😂😂
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Hahahahaha your reactions are priceless 😂
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I’m starting to suspect that you’re enjoying tormenting me 😛
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A most awesome and heartfelt review my friend and a well deserved full five stars for this release. I was similarly impressed (as you’ll probably recall from my review) it’s such a great collection, I even bought this deluxe edition after already getting the digital release (I did the same with the almost as excellent Action #1000).
P.S. Have you heard the announcement of the new Batman creative team taking over from Tom King (after #85, when King departs for the 12-issue Batman/Catwoman series that’ll finish out his story)? James Tynion and Tony S. Daniel! I’m definitely okay with that!
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Thank you, my good friend. I do remember your review and indeed looked forward to checking it out (I have the comic book issue too but had to get the deluxe edition nonetheless) once I had caught up with the series since I had hit the pause button it for a while. Got to admit that this one was slightly better than the Action Comics #1000 though. 😀 #sorrynotsorry
Yes! I saw the news. I’m intrigued and look forward to the phenomenal artwork in particular. I do wonder if the wordy-style of Tynion IV will work for the better or not with a Batman-centric series. After all, he has only worked on team-based superhero stories for the time being. 😮
P.S. Did you see the first images for Superman: Red Son???? Can’t wait for the animated movie! Batmankoff!
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Haha, I did see those first images..I’m a little at odds with the pronounced jaw/chin style but I’m definitely looking forward to it…Jason Isaacs as Superman…awesome!
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DC has had some real milestones recently, haven’t they?
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A glorious couple of years with a bunch of milestones indeed. Still plenty to come, and when things reach that 100 years of X, it’ll probably be even more epic. 😮
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So this is basically the equivalent in comics world of what an anthology is in romance world Lashaan! But ok Batman is badass and I bet he’d beat any jock in my romances LOL That said this is so wonderful that you think everything worked her: writers and artists!
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Yes, a wonderful anthologgy for this special issue on a special day/year for Batman! Definitely a well-executed project.
P.S. I 2000% think he’d probably make all those jocks cower in fear. 😉
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Great perspective on this one… I’m really interested in this one now. You know how I love my Batman!
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It’s a pretty great volume to have too, iconic and wonderful! 😀
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I had NO idea. It must have been a real treat for you.
I have not seen the bat signal in my city, but oddly enough, I was watching the clip to “Kiss from a rose” for the first time on that day. It features Batman pretty extensively. Did you know?
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Only a couple of cities lit up the bat signal at some places, including my own (Montreal). I thought it was quite an awesome thing to do.
Hahahah yes, it’s because of the movie Batman Forever! 😛
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1000 issues ?! 😱 I can’t even imagine how it would look like to have all of them lined up on a bookshelf (do you have all of them?) 😂 Amazing review, Lashaan, I personally really enjoyed seeing all the artworks 😊
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Hahahaha insane, right? Nooo, I don’t own them. I only have the last 100 or so of them (which is around 2014 to today). It’s a bit complicated to collect ALL of them and most of the time, collectors put them in comic book long boxes and not on bookshelves. You’d have to have a very special comic bookshelf to fit all that on it hahahah Thank you for reading, Caroline! The artwork was really good indeed! 😮
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Oh wow that’s already a lot ! 😱
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