Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Detective Comics #472 (1977)


   I had forgotten how amazing this series was!

   This issue follows up the previous cliffhanger, with Batman in the clutches of one of his oldest enemies.

   And that's where he stays throughout the issue of Detective Comics - so Bruce Wayne does not appear as Batman in this issue.

   Instead we get a very tense game of cat and mouse as his enemy (who I don't want to name for fear of spoiling the tale) sets out to dismantle his world and his loved ones. 

   With the stunning art of Marshall Rogers and Terry Austin, we're lured into this wonderful, dark, dangerous film noir world - an amazing (and immensely satisfying) action sequence with a surprise guest star - and plot twists aplenty!

   And I had to smile at the great editor's note. As was the tradition at the time (one that has sadly gone out of favor), the beginning of the story incorporates a quick verbal recap of the previous three issues, all loaded with events and new characters. As the recap ends, editor Julius Schwartz writes, "As you may have gathered, a lot has happened in the past three 'Englehart' issues!"

   So true!

Grade: A+

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