Batman: Detective Comics Volume 1 Gotham Nocturne: Overture
by Ram V. & Rafael Albuquerque
Published by DC Comics on August 15, 2023
Batman // Fiction // Graphic Novel
“It’s a new era for the detective of the night as we introduce award-winning writer Ram V (Catwoman, The Many Deaths of Laila Starr), and artist extraordinaire Rafael Albuquerque (American Vampire, Superman/Batman)! Together, they’ll turn Gotham into a tragic yet beautiful gothic opera for our eyes and ears to feast on..” Eh, sure.
I didn’t enjoy Ram’s Justice League: Dark work (i.e. The Great Wickedness). So, I was reluctant to pick up Gotham Nocturne. (I totally skipped Mariko Tamaki’s Detective Comics run (#1034-1061) plus some of the Future State stuff looked so bland. I’ve been reading comics for decades, I’ve little interest in massive crossovers that’ll “change everything as we know it.” Yeah, right…)
As for Gotham Nocturne: Overture? It’s okay: not terrible, not amazing.
This middling arc is esoteric for no reason.
I do appreciate resurrecting Batman’s horror roots…that and The Detective have appeared infrequently. (Probably because they’re so difficult to write well.)
Basically? Skip this arc and read Gotham by Gaslight instead. Or any of Kelley Jones’ creepy Batman work. Dig those long pointy Bat-ears.
I won’t be back for Volume 2.
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