Detective Comics #962

Writer: James Tynion IV

Artist: Alvaro Martinez

Inker: Raul Fernandez

Colourist: Brad Anderson

Letterer: Sal Cipriano

This is a mostly great conclusion to the best arc of the series yet. Ascalon's character is fleshed out a bit more and Jean-Paul Valley's transition to his more or less classic costume felt very natural and didn't anger me in the slightest, which is an accomplishment! The issue also teases some upcoming storylines in a fun and mysterious way.

I'd like to praise Alvaro Martinez's artwork on this arc, since we won't be seeing him on the book for a while now that the arc is over. Martinez is simply the best artist to have drawn this book since Rebirth, and perhaps the best Batman artist in general since Rebirth. It was extremely detailed and Brad Anderson's colouring work was also stellar, cementing him as my go-to colourist currently at DC.

As for the story, it was quite compelling. The whole Ascalon problem was resolved in a way I half saw coming but also didn't entirely anticipate. I don't want to spoil anything, but I hope James Tynion IV comes back to some plot threads he leaves open down the line.

Tynion came into this series with a structure, one in which he mostly focuses each arc on a singular character on Batman's team. He succeeded with the first arc by focusing on Batwoman and Red Robin, but has come up short since then. He nails it in this issue however, as Jean-Paul Valley has been the focus of this storyline since it started. It's fun and I feel like Jean-Paul has drastically changed by the end of the story and I'm genuinely excited to see more of him.

This isn't the best issue of the arc, but it tells its story well and the art was incredible. I was very pleased with the way it ended, which was a bit more unconventional than I expected, and I hope Tynion continues his slow winning streak.