Detective Comics #1090 was released this week with a fresh creative team and storyline! Tom Taylor and Mikel Janín are stepping in to write our favorite detective, and it’s an exciting change of pace.
As a long-time fan of Taylor’s work—especially DCeased, Injustice, and his Suicide Squad run—I have high hopes for this series. Though I haven’t yet read Ram V’s run, I plan to catch up with the trades soon.
*Spoilers Ahead*
I honestly enjoyed this issue, but I’m a bit conflicted as well. On one hand, the moral dilemmas Bruce faces are compelling, but on the other, some of the reveals left me confused.
The issue raises two thought-provoking questions. First, “Which lives are worth saving?” This theme is explored through flashbacks with Thomas Wayne and Batman’s failure to prevent the death of a teenager who, despite having shot someone, ended up getting murdered. In the flashback, Thomas Wayne saves a criminal who abuses his wife, reinforcing the idea that we can’t predict the value of a life. Taylor delivers a powerful line: “We don’t know how a life will be lived. We don’t know its value. And if we can save a life and we don’t, what would that make us? You save the life, no matter what.”
The second question is: “How long can Bruce continue to be Batman as he ages?” We’re introduced to Scarlett Martha Scott, who works in genetics and may have found a way to halt or even reverse aging. While the idea of Batman’s aging has been addressed before, this more grounded solution is a refreshing alternative to the Lazarus Pit. I’m curious to see how Taylor develops this thread.
Now, to the elephant in the room—the reveal that Thomas Wayne saved Joe Chill before his own murder. This retcon feels unnecessary. Joe Chill works best as a nobody, a faceless criminal who shaped Bruce’s destiny through random violence. Connecting him to Thomas Wayne undermines the mythos. I’d have preferred him to remain anonymous; the story would retain its impact without this forced link.
All in all, it’s a fun start from Taylor and Janín, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds in issue #1091!
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