Summary
WARNING: Potential Spoilers for Detective Comics #1085!Batmanhas officially back in Gotham after being hanged, and he has returned with fiery vengeance—literally. Equipped with new bases, rides, explosions, and even villain partnerships, the Dark Knight is waging an “underground” war against his latest foe. These intense tactics highlight just how relentless Bruce Wayne is and why fans can’t get enough of Ram V.’s legendary writing.
Ram V., Stefano Raffaele, and Lee Loughridge’sDetective Comics#1085 sees Bruce gearing up to take on theOrgham Family after they nearly killed himand ran him out of Gotham. In true Batman fashion, the Dark Knight is meticulously preparing for this confrontation.
He’s ditched the Batcave for a new base of operations that has even stunned Commissioner Gordon, acquired a new Bat-Cycle almost as cool as Christian Bale’s Batpod, orchestrated dramatic explosions, and formed two surprising villain partnerships. But one question remains:will this be enough to defeat the nefarious Orgham Family?
“How in the Hell Do You Find These Places?”:Even Commissioner James Gordon Is Dumbstruck By Batman’s New Base
In issue #1085,Batman reconnects with his oldest ally in comics, Jim Gordon, inviting the commissioner to his new base of operations, which appears to be an abandoned nuclear power plant. Upon his arrival, Jim asks Bruce, “How in the hell do you find these places?”—a question many fans have undoubtedly pondered themselves.Batman’s response is both unhinged and incredibly fitting for the Dark Knight, as he explains that he literally follows bats to find his hideouts, specifically Myotis septentrionalis, the North American long-eared bat. Bruce then explains that this bat species is particularly adept at finding dark, hidden locations in urban areas.
Hence, the implication is that Batman tracks these bats to find his hideouts. While this insight into the Dark Knight’s operations is exceptionally cool, the fact that he answered the commissioner’s question is also notable. Even though Jim is one of Batman’s closest allies, Bruce is known for being secretive and a man of few words, especially when it comes to explaining himself. Therefore,this show of trust, no matter how small, already indicates that Batman is taking a different and more trusting approachwith his return to Gotham. This shift in approach will undoubtedly benefit Bruce in his upcoming fight against the Orghams.
Batman Goes To Truly Unhinged Levels to Protect the Bat-Family’s Secret Identities
One of Batman’s unhinged methods of protecting the Bat-Family’s secret identities proves he is the reigning King of Paranoia and Preparation.
Batman’s Shortest-Lived Motorcycle Is His Coolest Bat-Cycle Since His Batpod inThe Dark Knight Rises
During Commissioner Gordon’s visit to the underground base, fans also get their first glimpse of Batman’s new ride.While it’s not a Batmobile, it is stillone of the Dark Knight’s coolest Bat-Cyclesto date.With its matte black color scheme, fat tires, and solid yet sleek build, the new bike fits in perfectly with Bruce’s typical rides. The motorcycle is extremely simplistic and lacks any markings that would outwardly identify it as Batman’s. However, it’s the simplicity of this design that makes it so cool, as fans can easily imagine it translated into the real world.
The design’s simplicity, with its fat tires and solid build, also brings to mind Christian Bale’s BatpodfromThe Dark Knighttrilogy, albeit without the attached artillery. Essentially, it’s a toned-down version of Bale’s iconic ride. Fans witness this ride in action on the next page, where Batman almost immediately blows it up, making it both one of his coolest and shortest-lived rides.Bruce’s decision to explode his bike to make a statement that Batman has returned to Gotham is incredibly dramatic, yet it’s these theatrics that make the Dark Knight so beloved among fans.
Batman the Pyromaniac: Bruce Wayne’s New Love for Bat-Shaped Explosions Is Extremely Dramatic (But Fans Love It)
Batman blowing up his motorcycle wasn’t impulsive; it was carefully planned.The explosion of the bike ignites meticulously placed kerosene (or another flammable substance) into the shape of a giant bat.Hence, Batman would have had to sneak intoBlackgate’s prison yardand haul gallons of kerosene to the scene, then pour the substance out into the shape of a bat. In the narrative, Bruce is obviously making a statement to the Orgham family that Batman is back and he is coming for them. But from the reader’s perspective, Bruce is being an incredible drama queen, which is fantastic characterization.
This isn’t the first bat-shaped explosion Bruce has caused either. At the end of the previous issue (#1084),Batman blows up the side of a buildingpresumed to be one of the Orgham Family’s headquarters, creating a giant flaming baton the side of the building. It is important to clarify that Batman’s new pyromaniac tendencies are meticulously planned and do not endanger civilians or result in casualties. As Bruce explains to Gordon after the explosion in #1085, he is utilizing low-powered, directed explosions that are bright, albeit mostly harmless. Hence, Batman hasn’t completely gone off the rails.
Mr. Freeze & The Maestro: Batman Enlists 2 Surprising Gotham Rogues to Help Him Defeat the Orgham Family
Another main reason Batman blew up his motorcycle was to serve as a distraction while he broke into Blackgate to confront the Z-Lister villain, The Maestro. However, this isn’t the Dark Knight’s typical interaction with one of his rogues. Instead of grilling or beating up Maestro, Batman asks the musically-inclined villain to craft a melody that will put the Orgham Family’s Azmer demons to sleep. Once Maestro agrees to help, Bruce then breaks him out of jail. In addition to Maestro,Batman also recruits Mr. Freezein his mission against the Orghams.
So, what ties together new underground bases, short-lived motorcycles, fiery explosions, and the recruitment of two Gotham rogues? They’re all part of Batman’s strategic maneuvers as he gears up to face his toughest adversary yet. While Bruce exudes confidence in himself and appears to have Commissioner Gordon’s support, not all of Batman’s allies, particularly Catwoman, share his optimism about his chances against the Orghams. As the tension mounts, all eyes are on whetherBatmanwill triumph over the Orghams or succumb to their might once more.
DETECTIVE COMICS #1085 (2024)
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
