Detective Comics #863 – Review

by Greg Rucka (writer), Jock & Scott Kolins (art), David Baron (colors), and Todd Klein (letters)

The Story: Kate hunts down Cutter in an effort to save her cousin Bette.

What’s Good: Much like the rest of the “Cutter” arc, this issue is all about mood and atmosphere.  Everything feels dark, gritty, and generally unpleasant.  It’s an effective mixture of noir and horror that is both brooding and slick.  Everything feels smooth and modern, yet definitely nasty.   The book’s tone is definitely heavy and the atmosphere is thick.  As an experience, this issue is a job well done.

A lot of this has to do with the artwork, which is generally well-done by Jock and Kolins, though a lot of this success is owed to David Baron’s colors.  The dichotomy of blue and red is still flawlessly employed and only aids that sense of moody tension.  Both sides feel menacing, but distinct.  The layouts are also brilliant, echoing this color opposition.  There are a couple of times that opposite pages are divided between Batman and Batwoman, with images of both down the centre.  It’s really fun stuff and works well with what Baron is doing.  It also gives Rucka’s narrative structure some real life, realizing it in a very literal way.

The last scene of the book also sets up Batwoman’s future quite nicely.  The dialogue sort of encompasses much of what Rucka has been trying to get across regarding the character. Furthermore, this issue’s cliffhanger will have you salivating for what Rucka has ongoing.