Detective Comics has always been an important book for DC Comics.  It marks the very first appearance of Batman way back in 1939, and is one of the longest running series for the company.  Now, with DC’s “New 52″ initiative, Batman’s oldest book is starting over at #1 and telling all-new stories for readers, but does it distinguish itself from the plethora of Batman books out there?

I had my doubts as soon as I discovered Tony Daniels would be writing this series.  He’s a great artist, but I find his writing to be underwhelming at times.  The new Detective Comics is certainly not a bad book, but it’s not terribly great either.  Instead of emphasizing Bruce’s detective skills (as the title implies), we are treating to page after page of awesome Batman poses, all while Bruce gives inner monologues about how he is Batman.  Thanks for the reminder!

The art is fantastic at times, depicting a very intimidating Batman and a sinister-looking Joker at odds.  However, many scenes look as though they are simply showcasing awesome art of our characters instead of proper action.  And, be warned, there is a fair amount of gore in this issue, especially the final page.  Violence is a Tony Daniels trademark, but Batman stories should use it in moderation, not excessively.

It’s also unclear when this book takes place.  Is it in the past, similar to Superman’s younger years in Action Comics?  Daniels’ Batman seems more angsty than Scott Snyder’s version in Batman #1.  As it stands, I will continue reading for a few more issues, hoping that things improve.  There are too many other great books to spend my money on instead of mediocre titles like this.