Detective Comics #980 Review

Team Killing Exercise 

Written by: James Tynion IV
Art by: Scot Eaton, Wayne Faucher, John Kalisz, Allen Passalaqua and Sal Cipriano
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: May 9, 2018

“Batmen Eternal” part five! The worst possible future for Gotham City has been locked into place, and there’s nothing Batman can do to stop it...until Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain catch a glimpse of something they never would have thought possible!

We start with a little more Renee Montoya and Harvey Bullock then we've gotten...ever in this series and I like it!  Because of that (it's my lot in life), it's interrupted by a phone call from Kate that was far from encouraging.

It's also a bit late as Tim and his Omac army arrive and start pumping lead into everyone.  Kate then arrives and kicks Tim in the chops and starts talking trash.  There are two things off here...why doesn't the Brother Eye Tim use the "eye" in place of the "I".  I mean, his dialogue is in the Brother Eye word balloon and font so it throws me off every time.  Also, Kate starts talking crap on Ulysses, but up until now, it seemed like they had just forgotten him and were blaming Tim for everything.

The scene ends with everyone on Kate's tail before shifting to Batman in the Belfry 2.0.  As Batman works his way inside, we get more of the usual nonsense from Stephanie Brown.  I wish I could tell you I missed her in this book but as long as Tynion's still writing it, I will never say those words.  We do get a brief, but cool look at Jacob and Batman working together and after seeing them at each others' throats this whole series, it's satisfying.   

While that's going down, Kate repeats what Cass did the last issue...trying to convince Tim this isn't him.  Instead, Tim shows her the future (?) all while Brother Eye does the same to Cass and Steph in the Belfry.  It goes a little better for the two younger girls than Batwoman (the alt future that is), but it leaves everyone upset all the same.  Upset until Steph uses it as inspiration to yell, point her finger and laugh through the tears.

I didn't mention it, but this is the penultimate issue of Tynion's run on this book.  It shows.  This issue is basically setup for the finale and while that is pretty much expected, it is still a bit forced to get to where we are going.  Most of that is with Steph and I just hope that Tynion can turn her around next issue into the character that people yelled for back in the New 52.  So far, we got a hell of a monkey paw with that wish.

Scot Eaton's art was good on this issue and while nothing really stuck out as awesome, it was more the confined story than anything Eaton did or didn't do.

Bits and Pieces:
  
James Tynion's run is almost over and he uses this issue to set up the end.  It's a lot of setup and a good portion of it is forced.  Still, it looked good and gets us in position for a big finale.

7.0/10