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unladylike's review
5.0
4.5 stars
It's hard to believe how much I'm loving this run of Detective Comics, and I've been sober the whole time, so I can't even attribute my satisfaction on being high or drunk! lolol
All the things we're shown about Jean-Paul Valley Jr.'s past and present struggle with the Order of St. Dumas are working great as focused character development within the team. Plus, Zatana stars in much of this volume and it's wonderful seeing her in action, and looking at her early history as a teenager in an intimate crush-relationship with Bruce Wayne. We even get to see Bruce's first encounter with Ra's Al Ghul! I want to know more about the furry little guy named Nomoz, and how exactly he was involved in the methodical conditioning of Jean-Paul as Azreal years ago.
It's hard to believe how much I'm loving this run of Detective Comics, and I've been sober the whole time, so I can't even attribute my satisfaction on being high or drunk! lolol
All the things we're shown about Jean-Paul Valley Jr.'s past and present struggle with the Order of St. Dumas are working great as focused character development within the team. Plus, Zatana stars in much of this volume and it's wonderful seeing her in action, and looking at her early history as a teenager in an intimate crush-relationship with Bruce Wayne. We even get to see Bruce's first encounter with Ra's Al Ghul! I want to know more about the furry little guy named Nomoz, and how exactly he was involved in the methodical conditioning of Jean-Paul as Azreal years ago.
daileyxplanet's review
3.0
Read this after Metal instead of before, oops. I like the idea of a religion-based artificial intelligence, but this fell a bit flat. Like the details of Zatanna and Batman's relationship, and Spoiler did her part too. Kind of a transitional arc after the awesome Volume 3.
cassie_grace's review
3.0
Azrael’s past comes back to haunt him and his friends. Also Zatanna is here! It’s fine. I feel bad for Spoiler though. She’s sad.
kevinowenkelly's review
3.0
We move into an Azreal arc, but with a really nice job of continuing development for the threads laid for the rest of the team and their interpersonal dynamics. The overall story still seems clumsily vague, but I'm enjoying the ride. The Batman/Zatanna bits were a fun bonus.
fishfish's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
thebaronrob's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
aabaileyauthor's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
georgezakka's review
3.0
When I started reading this I wasn’t very into it, I just didn’t find myself very interested in the first few issues but I picked it back up recently and finished it. The last few issues with Azrael and Ascalon fighting were pretty good and the book redeemed itself for me. I also enjoyed the last issue about Spoiler.
stevequinn's review
4.0
So much soliloquizing in this volume. I have no problem with dialogue that pushes the plot forward, explores characters, etc., but that dialogue that’s basically saying “MUST...PUSH...HARDER cause my philosophy of life is the best one”? Ugh.
Okay, having gotten that out of the way, there was a lot to like about this volume. Zatanna, yay! I️ love when they use Z in a serious way and show that she’s really powerful. And the flashbacks of her and teen Bruce were really cool. Z met lots of the heroes when she was a teen, huh (black canary comes to mind). Clay face and Orphan doing Shakespeare? Two thumbs up. Batman fonding out Tim’s not dead? Works for me. Even Azrael was much less annoying than usual, I️ think because of the art. I️ like Martinez a lot. Oh, and seeing Ras with Zatara, and knowing there’s someone behind Ras? Very intriguing.
Overall a strong volume, and thanks to DC for giving me a free advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
Okay, having gotten that out of the way, there was a lot to like about this volume. Zatanna, yay! I️ love when they use Z in a serious way and show that she’s really powerful. And the flashbacks of her and teen Bruce were really cool. Z met lots of the heroes when she was a teen, huh (black canary comes to mind). Clay face and Orphan doing Shakespeare? Two thumbs up. Batman fonding out Tim’s not dead? Works for me. Even Azrael was much less annoying than usual, I️ think because of the art. I️ like Martinez a lot. Oh, and seeing Ras with Zatara, and knowing there’s someone behind Ras? Very intriguing.
Overall a strong volume, and thanks to DC for giving me a free advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
iffer's review
3.0
I'm still enjoying Detective Comics. Though it has its highs and lows, I've come to the point at which I trust James Tynion IV to write a solid story that I find entertaining that gets gritty but is still entertaining in the way that I'm looking for in my superhero comics. I enjoyed the appearance of Zatara, which reminded me that I want to go back and read the Paul Dini Z series. Although I normally find Azrael difficult to take seriously, I still enjoyed this TP.