Detective Comics #1029 Review

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi

Art: Kenneth Rocafort

Colors: Daniel Brown

Letters: Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: October 27th, 2020

The Mirror is here and I can't be the only one who thinks he looks like a rip-off of Looking Glass from the Watchmen HBO series, right? If only he was as cool as Looking Glass, too. The Mirror isn't in it for too long though, just enough for you to get what his whole shtick is. 

He's basically this guy behind a movement to "unmask vigilantes" so we know who they really are. He's masked himself, but he explains to his followers that it's not to hide his identity. His entire suit is reflective, so people can see themselves. "I am you and you are me--- and we are Gotham. We are the revolution. And we won't rest until the identities of these masked protectors of Gotham are laid bare," he says, pointing to masks of the Batfamily pinned to aboard. Wally West and Katana are included... and is that Booster Gold's goggles or Roundhouse's? LOL

From there we have Bruce boxing up his belongings in Wayne Manor, as he's lost his fortune and ownership of his land. What is he going to do about the Batcave? Board up the secret entrances, or just hope that the new occupants never find it? He goes to put away pictures of Alfred but decides to keep them up for a bit, "I think I want to keep you on the mantel a little longer, Alfred."

But this is when the issue really gets good. Street-level crime and a chase. I thought this quote from Batman was great: "Hate to say it, but I'm glad night's falling. I can use the distraction of the street. I'm sure someone's out there right now making bad choices, and putting innocent people in harm's way." And they are! Bank robbers have a hostage in their getaway car and they're ripping down the streets of Gotham.

Until Batman shows up. The action here is great, and they even think that Batman's been blown up for a second. But nope! He uses his grappling gun on the spare tire on the back of the car, and pretty much water ski's on the pavement with his boots while getting shot at. He battles his way into the car and takes over driving, and the person in the back even shoots him several times in the back of the head on his cowl. This just makes Batman mad, so he puts the seat back and shoots them with the projectile ears that he used in the Mythology story arc at the beginning of Tomasi's run.

Later, Bruce goes to a fundraiser on a yacht for mayoral candidate Nakano. Suddenly the yacht is under attack by, well technically pirates I guess. They want all the funds raised and everything else the people on board has. Bruce, who can't just jump into his Batsuit, calls for help using one of his devices. So Nightwings comes in on a glider and just takes them all out! The mayoral candidate is also all about unmasking vigilante's and tells it right to Nightwing's face, to which Dick is just like "Uh, okay, and on that happy note, you're welcome. Stay safe." and he gets back on his glider and leaves.

When Bruce gets back to the Batcave, he notices his chair has been moved and something is missing. And he knows exactly who it was.

Bits and Pieces

This issue is kind of all over the place. We meet a new character who is the driving force behind unmasking vigilantes, we see Bruce packing up his belongings in Wayne Manor, and there's a surprise cliffhanger with a member of the Batfamily that we've been waiting to see again for months. But the majority of it is just good old fashioned comic book fun, as Batman gets some chase scene action against two bank robbers.  And Dick's appearance is both ridiculous and awesome. I'm probably giving a higher rating than it deserves, but I had a good time with it. 

8/10