unladylike 's review for:

Batman: Detective Comics, Vol. 2: The Victim Syndicate by James Tynion IV

4.0

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Even though I let more than a year pass between reading the first volume of this series (I should really re-read it, as it sets up several important long-term plot points!), I absolutely loved this book. The art is some of the best I've seen in a DC comic. The way the penciling gives Batman so much emotional expression even behind the cowl - shame, sadness, dismay, resignment - impressed me to a much greater level than usual when reading superhero comics. Tynion expertly handles this strange team of complex characters, and those on the sidelines who are trying to stay out of costume and out of the constant war that surrounds Batman. Never before have I cared so much about Clayface or Jean-Paul Valley.

I agree with the criticism another reviewer made that the fact so many secret organizations have been running in Gotham for so long without Batman knowing takes away from his title of World's Greatest Detective. There's not so much detective-ing in this book so much as there is figuring out how to deal with fallout. The repercussions of Batman's war create the main theme of this book. The Victim Syndicate has some of the best character designs for villains I've seen in ages - they're actually really scary!