Detective Comics #993: It’s Just You and Me

The finale in the ‘Deface the Face’ arc is upon us, and the issue doesn’t fail in delivering closure for this epic arc. Beginning with a funeral service for Harvey Dent, we relive the events of Batman and Two-Face stopping Kobra from releasing their toxin into Gotham. This helps to recap what has transpired while keeping the focus on the death of Harvey Dent, but it also lends to the predictable nature of the final few pages.

A character as crucial to Batman lore such as Two-Face would obviously never perish through a flashback such as this, so the reading experience seems built on the concept of determining what exactly happened in the fight. While I normally don’t enjoy this type of structure, the story managed to keep it concise and interesting without feeling like one long flashback. Batman himself seems to be more reactive than normal though, being confined to just witnessing Harvey’s “sacrifice” and essentially recapping the events of the mystery.

Although the final few pages weren’t particularly surprising, they did do an excellent job in paying homage to the history of the characters and emphasizing their ongoing rivalry, however odd their relationship becomes. The end helped to finish the arc on a high note and contributes to the issue’s ability to offer closure.

The artwork from Carmine Di Giandomenico, Ivan Plascencia and Rob Leigh is the true highlight of the entire issue. Their characters are clean and well-defined, and the colors are consistently stunning. The moments of Batman and Two-Face’s fight against Kobra in the sewers provide an excellent opportunity for just the right amount of spectacle, and the ending sunset scene is just perfect. This is an artistic direction that will continue to impress even on multiple readings.

Overall, the finale of the ‘Deface the Face’ arc offers great closure to a solid mystery story. It’s one that any fan can pick up and enjoy with relative ease, which is sometimes a welcome change of pace!