Detective Comics #839 Review

The Revolution has been summarily unimpressed with the Ra’s al Ghul story arc. It has failed to live up to the hype and has been a generally pedestrian read. I have to think that the writers planned something big for the climax of this story arc. Let’s hope for the best and hit this review for Detective Comics #839.

Creative Team
Writer: Paul Dini
Pencils: Ryan Benjamin & Don Kramer
Inks: Saleem Crawford & Wayne Faucher

Art Rating: 5 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 4 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 4.5 Night Girls out of 10

Synopsis: We begin with Batman plowing his way through the Seven Men of Death in order to get to Ra’s al Ghul who is about to transfer his soul into Damien’s body. Batman breaks Ra’s arm off his body. Batman continues to beat down Ra’s. Batman tells Damien to grab a sword and join Robin and Nightwing in their fight against the League of Assassins.

Talia is pissed that Batman would place Damien in harm’s way. Batman snaps that it is no less than what he asks of Robin and Nightwing. And no son of his could do any less.

We cut to the White Ghost holding Ra’s broken and dying body. We learn that White Ghost is actually Ra’s son born of a union between Ra’s and a long-extinct people. That Ra’s kept White Ghost alive out of pity, but always viewed White Ghost as a freak. Ra’s says that it has been too long since he called White Ghost “son.” White Ghost offers Ra’s his body commenting what son could risk any less for his father?

Ra’s takes over White Ghost’s body and White Ghost dies. Ra’s comments that of all his offspring, only White Ghost never faltered. The one that he called the flawed child. The unworthy one.

Ra’s now invigorated with his young powerful body jumps into the battle. Batman and Ra’s lock horns and engage in a sword fight. During the fight, Talia knocks out Damien and flees the battle scene. Talia comments that she refuses to allow Batman’s legacy to die.

Batman and Ra’s engage in a titanic battle. They slice away at each other. Suddenly, a massive bolt of lightning interrupts the fight. The monks of Nanda Parbat announce that Rama Kushna shall be heard. That Rama Kushna has decreed that Nanda Parbat shall be closed forever to Ra’s al Ghul. That all shall leave now or suffer death everlasting.

Batman, Robin, Nightwing and Alfred all make a quick getaway from Nanda Parbat before the bridge out of the city crumbles. Ra’s al Ghul makes his getaway as well.

We cut to Alfred, Bruce, Dick and Tim all on Bruce’s private jet headed back home. Bruce hopes that Talia takes Damien some place far away from the life they have known even if it is far from Bruce. That Damien has to choose his own life like Dick and Tim did. That he deserves a life free from destiny, Bruce’s or anyone else’s. Alfred then serves up some hot chocolate and reminds everyone that it is Christmas. Bruce, Time, Dick and Alfred all make a toast to family. End of issue.

Comments
The Good: Uh, wait a minute. Seriously? That was it? After all the build up and hype and having to slog my way through seven issues, this is all I get at the end of this story arc? Unbelievable. And now I have to try and fulfill The Revolution’s Rule of Positivity with this issue.

Well, there were some positive aspects of Detective Comics #839. Dini certainly delivers a fast paced read. This is a fast story from start to finish. And Dini serves up to the reader tons of action. And Batman is one serious ass-kicker. It was great to watch him tear through Ra’s men and then put a hurting on Ra’s. The final battle between Batman and Ra’s was furious and both men were intent on killing the other.

The dialogue was slightly above average. Dini certainly knows how to properly write Batman’s short and terse voice. The other characters, however, talk in relatively generic voices.

Dini did a nice job exploring the father and son theme and the complex relationship that exists between the two. We see it in four different pairings: Bruce and Dick, Bruce and Tim, Bruce and Damien and Ra’s and White Ghost.

Obviously, the most flawed paring is that of Ra’s and White Ghost. Even though the father has consistently rejected the son and viewed him with disdain, the son still willingly sacrifices himself for his father. This scene stressed the fact that no matter how horrible a father might be that the son will have a desperate desire for approval from his father and will be willing to do just about anything for that approval.

We then have the relationship between Bruce and Damien. While this one isn’t as bad as the one between Ra’s and White Ghost, it still is an unhealthy relationship. Damien sees his father as more legend and legacy than man. That Damien has to walk in Bruce’s footprints and not his own.

Oddly enough, out of all the pairings, the most loyal and true father and son relationships are the two that are not biological. The relationship that Bruce has with Dick and Tim is one where his “sons” willingly risk their lives for their “father.” And this isn’t done out of some notion of destiny or some desperate attempt to gain approval. Dick and Tim risk their lives for Bruce out of love and respect.

The Bad: Detective Comics #839 was a terribly anti-climactic ending to what was a massively disappointing story arc. I can’t believe this is all we got. A fight that ends in a draw and a cheesy Christmas themed ending.

Honestly, was the revelation that the White Ghost is Ra’s son supposed to be the big pay off? If so then that certainly falls woefully short of my expectations for the finale of this story arc. I mean, it was a neat moment, but hardly fitting for a climactic ending of what was supposed to be a huge story arc since it involved a character in the White Ghost that most people don’t know or care about.

I’m completely stunned at what a horribly over-hyped and unimpressive read this Ra’s al Ghul story arc was. This seven issue story arc could have easily been done in three issues and been a much tighter and enjoyable read. Instead, DC decides to stretch it out across seven issues and hype it as a huge story arc. In reality, this was a minor story arc that would have been much more enjoyable contained to one title for no more than three issues.

The reader feels cheated with the use of Rama Kushna as a convenient plot tool to bail Dini out of an almost impossible situation with the duel between Ra’s and Batman. Dini was painted into the corner where Ra’s and Batman were locked into a duel to the death. Dini couldn’t have Batman kill Ra’s since we had already wasted six issues hyping the return of Ra’s. Therefore, you knew the Demon’s Head wasn’t going to die. And, obviously, Dini isn’t going to kill off Batman.

So, Dini had to employ Rama Kushna as his own little Deus ex machine to bail him out of this impossible dilemma. I despise that this is how the supposedly climactic battle between Batman and Ra’s ended. It was lame and completely unsatisfying. I felt utterly cheated with this pathetic ending.

I still find Damien to be a boring character. None of the writers on this Ra’s story arc were able to do anything with Damien to get me to like his character more. Damien lacks any personality at all outside of being a brat. Part of my dislike of Damien may be that I still find this concept of Batman having a son to be thoroughly lame. Bruce already has Dick, Jason and Tim. I just don’t see a need for Damien.

The final scene to Detective Comics #839 was so cheesy. Look, I love Christmas probably more than anyone. It is hands down my favorite holiday and I dig all the traditions and foods connected to Christmas. However, this Christmas themed ending simply felt forced and didn’t work with the rest of the story.

I didn’t like the artwork by committee that we got in Detective Comics #839. It gave this issue a schizophrenic look. I’m shocked that DC decided to use artwork by committee on the final issue of a supposedly big event story arc like the Return of Ra’s al Ghul.

Overall: The Return of Ra’s al Ghul story arc was so amazingly underwhelming. And Detective Comics #839 was a fittingly dull finale to what was a disappointing and boring story arc. If you passed on getting this Ra’s al Ghul story arc then you certainly didn’t miss anything at all. Hopefully, all the Bat-titles can rebound from this story arc.