Batman: Detective Comics (Vol. 3): Arkham Rising by Mariko Tamaki

Title: Batman: Detective Comics.
Volume: 3.
Story Arc: Arkham Rising.
Universe: Infinite Frontier.

Writer(s): Mariko Tamaki, Stephane Phillips.
Artist(s): Dan Mora, David Lapham.
Colourist(s): Jordie Bellaire, Trish Mulvhll, Lee Loughridge.
Letterer(s): Ariana Maher, Rob Leigh.
Publisher: DC Comics.

Format: Single Issues.
Release Date: September 13th, 2022.
Pages: 128.
Genre(s): Comics, Superheroes, Science-Fiction.
ISBN13: 9781779518057.

My Overall Rating:

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Previously in Batman: Detective Comics (Infinite Frontier):
Batman: Detective Comics (Vol. 1): Neighborhood by Mariko Tamaki.
Batman: Detective Comics (Vol. 2): Fear State by Mariko Tamaki.

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Here’s the thing about these Batman and Detective Comics comic book series: I collect and read them as single issues. While I don’t necessarily crack them open as soon as I’ve picked them up at my local comic book store, preferring to wait until they’ve officially announced what single issues are contained in the corresponding collected editions, there are plenty of upsides to it and I like the advantages that come with it (e.g. original cover art, ads reflecting a specific period in time, the ever-evolving value of the comic book, early access to the story unlike those who wait for them to be collected). But here we are with a significantly annoying DC Comics business model. This third volume in writer Mariko Tamaki’s Detective Comics comic book run collects issues #1044-1046 and Detective Comics 2021 Annual #1. However, the previous volume supposedly already collected issues #1040-1046. So what’s the deal? Well, apparently, volume 2 didn’t contain the unimpressive short stories and instead well all gathered into this volume for a short four-issue trade paperback…

What is Batman: Detective Comics (Vol. 3): Arkham Rising about? This volume contains three stories. The first one presents a tragedy surrounding the construction of Arkham Asylum and the madness that the institution creates as Batman desperately tries to prevent the destruction of the new Arkham Tower alongside Harley Quinn. The second story is the epilogue chapter of the previous story arc and focuses on Ana Vulsion’s shenanigans while Huntress and Batgirl step in to save the day. It also teases what’s to come with the construction of Arkham Tower and the key roles given to Dr. Meridian and her supposedly unique approach to therapy. The final story from the annual issue presents young Bruce Wayne’s father’s rule around whose life he should or shouldn’t save while current-day Batman is challenged by Nightwing in his stance around mental health cases amidst criminals.

“I don’t choose who I save. That’s not how it works. I save the victim in front of me.”

— Mariko Tamaki & Matthew Rosenberg

Let’s get it out of the way already, DC Comics really pulled off a sleazy move by separating the backup short stories and putting them into a separate volume. Not only are these featured short stories in single issues usually quite mediocre, sometimes just there to draw in new readers to some other ongoing or soon-to-come-out series, but they’re also relatively short, rarely ever having enough pages per issue to actually achieve much that could build on a character’s plight, emotional challenges, or background. Therefore, by putting them all together in their own trade paperback, their flaws are just much more conspicuous. Lacking in depth and barely any attempt at originality, the stories featured here only exist to set the table regarding the upcoming twelve-part event and present the core dilemma that will be at play around mental health and how Gotham City will need to handle criminals with those antecedents if they are to do better and achieve an ideal future for all of its citizens.

There’s nothing spectacular about the artwork in these, with most of it being completed by artist David Lapham. His artistic style focuses much less on the darkness and presents the characters and the action almost in the light, unfolding in a colour-popping scheme more often than not. The more violent and action-packed moments still take plan at night but fail to truly convey terror whenever it seems necessary. While the artwork isn’t bad, it isn’t particularly mind-boggling either, mostly forgettable, and feels toned down to prioritize the narrative. In fact, it did feel like the volume as a whole intentionally focused on the mental health conversations rather than sticking to a more traditional Batman/Detective Comics story. With these stories trying to desperately hype up the upcoming event and the whole story around the new Arkham Tower, I fear things aren’t looking too good for this comic book series. At least for a while…

Batman: Detective Comics (Vol. 3): Arkham Rising is a disappointing collection of uninspiring short stories serving as a prelude to an upcoming Gotham City self-contained event.

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