Detective Comics #1082: A Familiar Sinister Smile

Detective Comics #1082 is a twisted entry that challenges Batman’s mission and how Gotham City would look if he ever completed his mission. It’s moody, atmospheric, and definitely a mind bending issue.

With Batman still succumbing to the Azmer that is controlling his reality, he is accompanied by Dr. Hurt in a similar fashion to the Ghosts from a Christmas Carol. Throughout the issue he sees alternate realities, but instead of seeing the good, it’s a dark version that is incredibly haunting. 

The issue begins with Batman and Dr. Hurt atop a gargoyle high above the city. It’s a familiar place, although Dr. Hurt taunts him constantly. As they dive into the streets below, deformed citizens dressed in renaissance clothing crawl towards Batman as a nightmarish version of Joker gives his evil grin.

The main story is put together in such a unique way as it combines Batman’s tale with The Question and Cassandra Cain’s Batgirl handling a Gotham without Batman. The stories weave throughout the pages and writer Ram V makes very creative choices that help balance the tension filled main story, and the action packed side story. Having the two stories work together is a unique method, but one that makes for a great read.

The artists between the two stories are Riccardo Federici (Batman story) Stefano Raffael (The Question), with colorists Lee Loughridge and Triona Farrel on the side story. The entire visual team does a fantastic job in their work and despite having clear visual differences, it works incredibly well seeing the shift from an isolated desert with monsters to a gritty hallway filled with punches and kicks.

One area that will hopefully be explored later is Dr. Hurt’s role in the story. It’s not exactly clear what the end goal is as it seems like he controls Batman’s reality, however, it is suspected this will be given clarity in subsequent issues.

While Dr. Hurt acts as a guide in the main story, the back up story of this issue written by Dan Watters with art by Christopher Mitten and colors by Triona Farrel, gives clarity to secretive gatherings that Dr. Hurt has been a part of. Thematically it fits well as the theme of the haves and have nots are very much an element of this read—so much so that Evan Cagle has put together a beautifully drawn cover filled with masquerade outfits and masks.