Detective Comics #853 Review

The Revolution loved the first part of Gaiman’s two-part story that we got in Batman #686. Gaiman is spinning an intriguing out of continuity tale. This is a technically impressive performance by Gaiman. I am confident that Gaiman will deliver a strong read with Detective Comics #853. Let’s go ahead and do this review for Detective Comics #853.

Creative Team
Writers: Neil Gaiman
Pencils: Andy Kubert
Inks: Scott Williams

Story Rating: 10 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 10 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 10 Night Girls out of 10

Synopsis: We begin with Bruce Wayne and the mysterious woman watching his funeral. Characters from different eras of the Batman history and characters from different forms of media like the Batman cartoon are at Batman’s funeral. The Batman’s costume changes in each panel to reflect the various versions of his costume that he has worn during his career as well as the different style costumes that we have seen the Batman wear in the various Elseworlds and Multiverse stories.

The Golden Age Batgirl gives a eulogy. She tells about how Batman found a bomb in Gotham. However, if Batman let go of the lever the bomb would explode. Batgirl replied how there was nothing for Batman to do. Batman replied “There is always something you can do.” Batman then dove into the water and detonated the bomb underwater. He died in the blast, but no one was injured.

Mad Hatter gives a eulogy about how he and the other villains defeated Batman. Mad Hatter states that he told Batman that the villains had won and that Batman was dead. Batman replied “I don’t quit. It’s not over. It’s never over.” Then Batman died. Those were the last words he said and they have troubled Mad Hatter ever since.

The Silver Age Joker gives a eulogy about how he pumped enough Joker toxin into Batman to kill a herd of elephants. Joker screamed why wouldn’t Batman laugh while he was dying. Batman responded “Because it’s not funny.” Batman then died but he never smiled. Joker then comments that Batman was right. That it is not funny.

Golden Age Robin then gives a eulogy about how Batman was not a funny guy, but he was everything else. And that Batman did the impossible. Robin says that Batman never gave up. No matter what. Batman would pull off miracles again and again. Robin says Batman died for them. Robin says that he has learned to do the impossible and will carry on for Batman.

Clayface gives a eulogy how Batman died saving him. Clayface told the dying Batman that Clayface was not worth it. Batman responded “Everyone’s worth it.” Harvey Bullock then gives a eulogy about how Batman died saving a baby. Bullock says that he keeps going after Batman’s death because Batman always kept going.

We then see Ra’s al Ghul giving a eulogy about how he framed Batman for several murders, publicly disgraced Batman and turned Gotham against Batman. Ra’s waited for Batman to collapse in despair. However, Batman kept going and figured out that Ra’s was behind it all and came after Ra’s. Batman died from a scorpion’s sting in the desert. The irony was not lost on the League of Assassins.

Superman gives a eulogy and says that he told Batman that their job was to inspire people to do better and yet all Batman does is frighten people. Superman told Batman that Batman was as bad as the worst of them. Batman replied “No, I am what stands between the city and the worst of them.”

Superman told Batman that all of Batman’s villains had made a treaty and that if Batman returned to Gotham that the villains would kill Batman. Superman says that Batman then gave a scary smile and said “And while they are trying to kill me, they aren’t killing innocents. Now take me home.” Superman says that he did take Batman back to Gotham and that was the last time he saw Batman.

Bruce Wayne then tells the mysterious woman that he suddenly noticed a door in the room. Bruce Wayne opens the door and walks through it. Bruce says that he knows that he is Batman. He just cannot remember which Batman he is. That he does not know if he is one of the versions of Batman that were being eulogized. Bruce says that he does not think it even matters.

Bruce says that this is what your brain does when you are dying. It is a near death experience. Bruce feels calm and serene. He is seeing his life in replay although it is never really his life. Bruce says he is not dead yet, but that he is close to it. The mysterious woman answers that Bruce is indeed very close to death.

Bruce says that another thing that happens in a near death experience is that you see close relatives who have passed before you. Bruce says that he knows the mysterious woman. A beam of light shines on the mysterious woman. It is Bruce’s mother: Martha Wayne.

Bruce asks if his mother is real or not. Martha replies if there is really any difference at this point. Martha asks Bruce what he learned from the funeral. That not many people attend their own funerals. That Bruce must have learned something.

Bruce replies that he learned that it does not matter what the story is. That some things never change. Because even when they are not talking about him, they are. Because, they are talking about the Batman. Bruce says that the Batman does not compromise. That the Batman keeps Gotham safe even if it is just by one person. Bruce then says “And I do not ever give in or give up.”

Bruce says sometimes he falls in battle. Sometimes he dies hugely saving all of Gotham. Other times he dies small saving just one person. Bruce says everything changes and that nothing stays the same. Sooner or later, every friend betrays him. Every enemy becomes a lover or a friend. But, the one thing that does not change is that Batman does not give up. That Batman cannot give up. That Batman protects the city, guards the innocent and corrects the guilty.

Bruce says that he gets it. That the end of the story of Batman is that he is dead. That there is nothing else Bruce is going to do. He is not going to retire and play golf. That Batman goes out and fights every day until he drops. And one day he will drop. But, until then Batman fights.

Martha says that Bruce is right. That he goes and fights until it is done. Until he dies. That Bruce has to keep fighting. Because Bruce cannot stop it from happening. No matter how many people Bruce saves, he cannot bring back his parents.

Martha says that she still remembers Bruce sitting on her lap reading a book the night that she died. That Bruce looked perfectly happy.

We flashback to Bruce on his mother’s lap reading a book that is a play on “Goodnight Moon” by Margret Wise Brown. Bruce’s dad walks in and comments that Bruce is too old that the book. Martha replies that the book makes Bruce happy.

Bruce says that it starts in an alley with Joe Chill. We see Joe tending the bar in the broken down dive where the funeral took place. We see Bruce and his mother’s shadows. Joe asks if anyone is there and then mutters to himself about the “damn ghosts.” We then cut to Bruce’s parents being shot in the alley by Joe Chill.

Bruce and Martha stand there watching the young Bruce mourning over his parents. Bruce says that it is not a battle. That it is a war. And that it will never end. Martha says that it always ends and that it is ending now. Bruce says that he has finished his near death experience. Bruce asks what happens next. Bruce asks if he wakes up in some hospital bed. Martha replies not this time.

Bruce comments that he does not actually believe in the afterlife. Bruce says that he has tried before, but that he just cannot. Bruce says that all of this is just him alone in his brain. Bruce says that his mother is not really here. Martha hold Bruce’s hands and says “I’m here, Bruce. I’m always here.”

Bruce and Martha fade back to the room where Batman’s funeral was being held. It is empty except for Batman lying in his coffin. Martha asks if Bruce is ready to let it go and move on now. Bruce says that his mom doesn’t get it. That he does not believe in the afterlife.

Martha responds that Bruce does not get heaven or hell. Martha replies “Do you know the only reward you get for being the Batman? You get to be Batman.” Martha says that when Bruce is a child he will get a handful of good years with his mother and father. Martha says “You are done, now. Bruce. This time. You can stop fighting now…just for a few more years. It’s over.”

Suddenly, Martha and the room fade away and Bruce is standing in a starry night sky. Martha tells Bruce “Let it go.” Martha asks Bruce if he remembers the Good Night book that he read as a child. That it is just like that. Martha says that it is time for Bruce to say goodnight.

We see pages of a book. We see Wayne Manor. Bruce says “Good night, house.” We see another page with the Batcave and Bruce says “Goodnight, Batcave. Good night, mechanical dinosaur. Good night, giant penny.”

The next page of the book has the Batmobile (from the Adam West Batman television show), Alfred and Robin. Bruce says “Good night, Batmobile. Good night, Batmobile. Good night, Alfred. Good Night, Boy Wonder.”

The next page of the book has the Bat-signal, Commissioner Gordon and a bunch of Batman’s rogues. Bruce says “Good night, Joker. Good night, all of you. Good night, Jim Gordon. Good night, Gotham City.”

We shift to just the starry night sky with the Bat symbol in the sky. Bruce says “Good night, Bat-signal. Good night, stars in the big night sky” Bruce then says “Good night. Goodbye. Good night.” The Bat-signal in the sky slowly morphs into a pair of hands. The sky shifts to a bright white. The hands hold a newborn baby boy.

We then see Martha Wayne in a hospital room. The nurse hands Martha her new baby boy. Martha hold her baby and says “Hello, Bruce. Hello.” End of issue.

Commentary
The Good: Detective Comics #853 was a fantastic issue. Gaiman delivers a beautiful story. “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader” has immediately become one of my favorite out of continuity stories. Gaiman amazed me with his excellent understanding of Batman’s character. It is surprising how a writer not associated at all with Batman seems to have a better handling of this character than many writers who have penned Batman’s monthly titles.

The dialogue and narration was practically lyrical. The dialogue had a pleasant internal rhythm and was almost poetry at certain moments. I have not been much of a fan of Gaiman’s comic books. But, that is due to my taste in what comic book genres I prefer than a reflection on Gaiman’s talent. Gaiman has shown with “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader” that he is not a comic book writer. He is a writer. And that is what sets him apart from other comic book writers.

DetectiveComics #853 is a nice piece of metafiction that focuses on Batman as a literary construct. In DetectiveComics #853, Gaiman distills all of the various versions and takes on the Batman’s character into one main theme that is the core of Batman’s character. Gaiman flawlessly encapsulates the Batman and what makes him who he is. Batman’s indomitable will is what drives his character and defines his character.

Batman is possessed by an unyielding and unrelenting drive to keep moving forward despite whatever obstacles are placed in his way or losses that he may suffer. Gaiman presents Batman as more of a force of nature than a man. That no matter what the Batman does not give up. Never. The Batman is will personified.

All of the eulogies were quite powerful and moving. Batman’s responses re-enforced Gaiman’s view of Batman’s core theme. In each death, Batman is as unrelenting and as bad-ass as ever. Batman’s heroic death in Batgirl’s eulogy was inspiring. I liked how Batman reminds Batgirl that there is always something you can do just before he dove into the water and detonated the bomb.

Joker’s eulogy was cool as even in defeat and pumped full of Joker toxin, the Batman refuses to laugh. Batman gritting his teeth and stating that he is not laughing because it is not funny emphasized that the Batman is more than human. While normal humans succumb to the Joker toxin, the Batman’s force of will fights off an insane dose of Joker toxin.

And in the Mad Hatter’s eulogy, Batman’s last words of “I don’t quit. It’s never over.” haunts the Mad Hatter. This eulogy showed the impact that Batman had not only on his allies, but also his enemies. Even at the end of his life, Batman’s villains are never able to break him.

Robin’s eulogy was a wonderful look into the complex relationship between Bruce and Dick. I loved how Gaiman took Robin’s old catchphrase of saying “holy” whatever and morphed it into Robin proclaiming that Batman was “holy.” That Batman did the impossible. That he never gave up and pulled off miracles. And this eulogy shows how Batman always serves to inspire Robin to follow in Batman’s footsteps and to continue to pull off miracles in defending the innocent and fighting crime.

The eulogy that I found to be the most bad-assed was Superman’s eulogy. Batman’s willingness to go battle a war in Gotham against impossible odds with the knowledge that he will never win this war was awe-inspiring. Batman’s self sacrifice to carry out his mission all the way to the end emphasized the solider aspect of Batman’s character that Morrison played with during his run on Batman.

Gaiman revealed that the mysterious woman was in fact the spirit of Martha Wayne. Many readers had guessed that this was the case. The scene where Martha asks Bruce if he has learned anything from his funeral was quite well done. Bruce delivers the core element of Batman’s character. That sometimes he dies huge and other times he dies small. That in the end, Batman never gives up and never compromises.

The most poignant moment of the scene is when Bruce realizes and understands that in the end that it always ends in death. That there is no retirement for the Batman. That Batman just keeps going until he drops. And that Bruce knows that he will drop one day.

Martha delivers the root of Bruce’s obsession and his unrelenting will and drive to keep fighting no matter what. That Bruce does it all because of an itch that he cannot scratch. That no matter how hard Bruce fights or how many people he saves or how many criminals he defeats, Bruce will never be able to save his parents from being killed. It is a goal that Bruce will never be able to attain. And that empty and unfulfilled feeling is what makes Bruce keep fighting with the same intensity and passion despite all of his successes.

The most touching moment in this issue was when Bruce was questioning if all of this was real. If Martha was real. Martha replied that she is always here for Bruce. That despite Bruce’s non-belief in the afterlife that his parents are always with him and shaping him into the man that he is. Bruce may have not had that much time to be with his parents, but that never diminished the love and bond that Bruce had with his parents.

The final nine pages are pure metafiction goodness. Gaiman reveals to the reader that he is not just talking about the different versions of Batman that we have gotten over the years in DC’s comic books with this story. Gaiman is actually examining Batman himself as just a literary construct.

Gaiman shows the reader the many versions of Batman from the Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age and Modern Age. Gaiman also takes a look at the multiple versions of Batman from the Elseworlds stories and the various multiple planets in the Multiverse. Gaiman also looks at the versions of Batman outside of comic books in the old 1960’s television show and the various cartoons.

Gaiman’s study of Batman as a literary construct reveals that the differences between the various eras and the different versions of the Batman and the different forms of media that the Batman has appeared in are irrelevant. That all of the various tweaks and changes to the Batman’s character over the years and in the different forms of media simply do not matter. The different literary views of the Batman are mere window-dressing.

No matter the story, the heart of the Batman stays the same. The main critical theme of the Batman stays the same. And no matter what happens in the various stories, the Batman never dies. Gaiman has Martha state that Bruce’s reward for being the Batman is that he gets to be the Batman. Gaiman is showing that Batman is a literary character that will survive any death or any retcon to his character. That no matter what changes may be made to the Batman’s character, Bruce Wayne will always exist in some form or another.

My favorite part of this issue were the final pages with Bruce reading the “Good Night” book and saying goodbye to the other fictional characters and literary constructs in his life. This was such an incredibly touching and powerful ending. Very few comic books have this level of impact on me as what Gaiman gave us with the ending to DetectiveComics #853.

Gaiman then shows the reader the endless cycle of Batman the literary character. After Bruce’s death he is simply re-born and fated to live the same life all over again in whatever new variation the creative powers that be have decided. That no matter what happens, no matter who writes the title, no matter who publishes the title, no matter what changes occur in society, that there will always be a Batman story to tell. And in the end the core mission and theme will always be the same.

Andy Kubert and Scott Williams deliver an absolutely gorgeous issue in DetectiveComics #853. Kubert manages to take Gaiman’s complex and nuanced piece of metafiction and pick up on the subtle and small details. Kubert breathes life into Gaiman’s story by injecting plenty of emotion into the story with his vibrant artwork.

The Bad: I have no complaints with this issue.

Overall: Detective Comics #853 was an absolutely fantastic issue. Gaiman completely blew me away with the story that he delivered in this issue. This is a beautifully written issue that is simply a cut above the writing that you normally get with most comic books. Having said that, Readers who do not prefer meta-textual stories will probably not get that much enjoyment out of this issue. However, I would certainly recommend this issue to any readers who enjoy slower paced, introspective and complex stories.