Detective Comics #1007 Review

Leg Work Sucks!

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Artists: Kyle Hotz, David Baron, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 10th, 2019

Review by Joey Casco of TheWineStalker.net 

The Cult of the Divine Hand has taken Jim Corrigan, and the Spectre has asked Batman to help in retrieving him. Batman doesn't like Spectre's murderous approach, but Spectre cannot solve this one himself. He needs the world's greatest detective to find his other half.

And so we begin the issue with Jim Corrigan on a slab surrounded by the cult. They're smearing blood all over his body, although it's not his own blood. We never find out whose blood it is anyways because we get zero answers for pretty much everything. But still... I like it.

In the Batcave, Bruce is trying everything he can to evaluate the crime scene of the murders when the Spectre shows up through the T-Rex. Immediately Bruce reaches for his cowl but Spectre disses him for it. "Maybe you wear your cowl to hide something from yourself", to which Bruce replies "How about you show me what's under YOUR hood?" So Spectre shrinks down and takes his more human-like form, and he gives Bruce his backstory and why he is connected to Corrigan.

My second favorite part of this issue is when Bruce tells Spectre that if he wants his help than he can't kill. Spectre tells him "It is who I am. It is what I am." and the two have a little stare down, not saying anything. And it's Spectre who breaks and agrees to Bruce's terms. My favorite part of the issue is when Bruce pulls a CSI and says "Well, that's what I call..." *The Who starts playing* "... a true case of serendipity." *YEEEEEEEEAAAAAHHH*

Bruce's detective work brings them to the criminal that he beat up in the last issue, so they go and terrorize that dude. And that dude gives them a lead, where a clue leads them to an abandoned church where Corrigan is being held captive. Batman and Spectre raid the church, and the coloring done on such small paneling is fantastic. They save Corrigan, the church burns down, nobody wants to see each other ever again, and they walk away.

I'm glad that this was only a two-parter as it just feels right for a Spectre arc. The feel of the story works for me and I can't say enough about the art because it was perfect, especially when it comes to Batman. His look fit the story so well, with his long pointy ears and an over-exaggerated long cape that curls up at the end. I love it.

Bits and Pieces

In the end, nothing is explained. How does this cult even exist? We know their purpose, but how do they have that purpose? What is their motivation? How do they magically appear and disappear? And how are their members so pale and ridiculously ripped as the Spectre? Why doesn't a Planet Fitness employee say something when a bunch of creepy dudes covered in baby powder are chanting the same thing over and over while they're working out six hours a day?  These and many more questions will sadly go unanswered!

7/10