Detective Comics #940

By James Tynion IV, Eddy Barrows, Adriano Lucas and Eber Ferreira

Anybody who keeps up with comic book gossip or frequents more rumor-filled comic news sites from time to time, heard a rumor a while back that Bat-family might become one member lighter. After reading the last couple of issues of Detective Comics, it seems like those rumors were correct. Now, while death in comics is never something that seems to last, there is always some fan backlash. James Tynion IV asked fans to trust him in what he was doing. Readers have been burned before, but Tynion IV has shown so much love for the characters that if there were any writer that has earned your trust, it should definitely be James Tynion IV.

As we conclude our first i story arc in Detective Comics, we do lose a character. These issues are always the toughest to write, because every character is someone’s favorite. James Tynion IV handles the death well, as this character goes out like the hero we al knew they were. The emotion in this issue is well executed too. When the survivors realize what happened, we see a softer side of Batman as he grabs on to another team member and hugs them as they cry. The storyline involving Kate and her father wraps up in the first couple of pages of the issue. Tynion IV has really allowed Kate to showcase herself in this title and she finally is able to put them man her father is behind her. As an issue, Detective Comics #940 is an excellent read. Tynion IV continues his wonderful character work and sent a fan favorite hero to their resting place. Things aren’t always as they seem in comics though, and Tynion IV has planted a very intriguing seed moving forward.

The pencils this issue are handled by Eddy Barrows with inks by Eber Ferreira and colors by Adriano Lucas. This was an emotional issue, so the art had to pick up what the words didn’t say, and they came through spectacularly. Barrows pencils look great here and they capture all the emotion that you would need in such a heavy book. As Batman goes to comfort a teammate, her turns his back, only to be drawn back into the person as their hands reach for each other as lightning crashes outside. This leads to a whole page of both characters hugging. The emotion on the faces of the two characters is epic as well. Barrows really crushes the art this issue. Barrows was helped out by Eber Ferreira who made his lines extremely smooth and clean. The colors by Adriano Lucas are dark and moody, which fits the issue perfectly. The death page is colored extremely well. It’s a sea of red as this character gets blasted and loses the long, hard-fought battle. An excellent job by everyone involved with the art in the issue.

Detective Comics #940 is a wonderful issue that sends a fan favorite character out of our lives. James Tynion IV has a love for the characters that he writes and it shows with the way he handled this death. This series has honestly been one of the biggest surprises of Rebirth. It has twists and turns and, above all that, great writing and exceptional art.