#01-#02 = GRAY LADY one-shot by Mike Benson and Adam Glass with art by Ken Lashely (Image Comics/Ninth Circle, December 2025) 40 pages, $5.99.
Here’s a challenge for reviewers: You come across a great book that’s bound to
get lost in the shuffle of all the other stuff crying for attention every month. So,
you want to do your best to give it some recognition and call attention to it so those who would appreciate it most would try and find a copy.
Here’s the challenge/problem: Tell too much about it and you risk tampering with the experience of reading it. The storyline is not totally dependent on the element of surprise - - but take that away and the impact will be diminished.
I will say that after reading this, it immediately shot to my list of favorite one-shot stories of the year. I’m planning to offer to loan my copy to friends, since I have a bad feeling they may not get to read it otherwise.
The story opens with a tragic accident and from that point covers how family members deal with the difficulty of moving on after loss and grief. That mishap is foreshadowed by some amazing art by Franco Francavilla on the incentive cover. That accident is depicted in even more dramatic fashion over four pages, and is the centerpiece of some amazing expressive artwork from Ken Lashely. This story would not be as powerful without his contributions. This is one of those books that you can point out to skeptics when they doubt the potential of the comics medium to tell a moving story through the combination of text and illustration. FIVE STARS.
It’s safe to share the back cover synopsis without spoiling the reading: “A year after a tragic accident on a snowy road, Samantha Ellis is still haunted by the loss of her son, Ben. Grief has unraveled her life, but when a mysterious psychic warns her that Ben is in danger, Sam’s desperation transforms into fierce determination.”
#03 = DETECTIVE COMICS #1066 by Ram V and Ivan Reis (DC Comics, January 2023) “Gotham Nocturne: Act 1; Something In The Way, Part 1”
I have the individual issues that make up Ram V’s long epic storyline and I’m reading this in sets to correspond to the four trade paperback volumes. Curiously, Volume 1 ended with Issue #1066 and Volume 2 begins with Issue #1066.
What becomes apparent by this point is that Ram V is putting his personal stamp upon these long-established characters and developing them further. This is most noticeable in his treatment of Two-Face (with the bad side speaking to the good side of Harvey through red caption boxes), which is fascinating.
The mysterious and subtlety sinister Orgham family is establishing their foothold in Gotham. In public they espouse their support and interest in reestablishing the greatness of Gotham City, but behind the scenes their actions are suspect. The League of Assassins failed to stop them upon their arrival. Batman saved them, but nearly died and is under the care of old friend Jim Gordon (now a private investigator working with Harvey Bullock). Two Face is playing a bigger role, trying to control the various criminal gangs while helping the Orghams with their efforts to control the various power plants and substations throughout the city.
The young head of the family, Arzen Orgham, is trying to cozy up to Bruce Wayne and stating his interest in Gotham, while advisor Shavod is counseling Arzen that he should not associate with Wayne.
The Orgham henchman Gael, who is the werewolf-like Wolf of Bezadjehanne, investigates the one abandoned substation where their henchmen have not returned from. Acting on a tip through Jim Gordon, Batman arrives at the same time and the two battle until Mr. Freeze intervenes. FOUR AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#04-#05 = DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL 2022 BY Ram V with art by Christopher Mitten, Rafael Albuquerque, and Hayden Sherman (DC Comics, January 2023) “Gotham Nocturne:Motif "
The main story, a flashback to the early settlement days of Gotham, is bookended by a trip by the Orgham henchman Gael and advisor Shavhod to the ruins of Arkham Asylum to retrieve something that Gael planted there back in 1776. He’s a wolf-man, which apparently makes him ageless.
Gael was there when then-named Gathome was a shepherding village. Gael buried something in a crypt underneath the church that is an essential item in the Orgham efforts at obtaining power and transforming the city, The former Arkham Asylum was later built over the bones of the old church.
The story is a direct tie-in to the current storyline and provides Ram V an opportunity to both show how the Orghams planted seeds centuries ago but also a chance to have fun with creating some characters that will remind long-time Batman readers of familiar faces. I thought it was very clever and entertaining.
An attempt to rob Gathome of its growing wealth (it’s a hub for the transport of goods) by Darcy Hunt (Two-Face) and his raiders is foiled by a drifter (Aldridge Pearce) with combat skills who later wears a Batman-like costume. He was escorting the young Wainwright boy, orphaned when his parents were slain by the wolf-man Gael, to another city when the carriage driver (Phantom Stranger) advised him and the boy of their importance and turned them around.
Back in town the wicked pastor Ichabod Kraine (a nod to both Sleepy Hollow and The Scarecrow) has the town worked up at burning the local witch/herbal healer Aiyanna (Poison Ivy) - which is meant to leave the town empty so that Darcy Hunt can take it easily as well as fulfill the contract Gael gave him to kill the local constabulary Jardin (Jim Gordon). Also, watch for the local businessman Pebblecroft (Penguin). FOUR STARS.
As I continue to read further into Ram V’s lengthy DETECTIVE COMICS epic, it becomes even more apparent that he is a remarkable story-teller. There is a complexity and depth to the current storyline as well as excellent character development. Surprisingly, Ram V packs enough into this saga that it could easily be a long print novel. While the artists seem to change issue by issue there is still a uniformity in the quality and visual appeal of the art. Also, the story is so good that you have to be consciously paying more attention to the art to catch the change in styles/presentation as they occur.
#06 = DETECTIVE COMICS #1067 by Ram V and Ivan Reis (DC Comics, February 2023) “Gotham Nocturne, Act I: Something In The Way, Part II”
There’s a nice public speech by Arzen Orgham to the public, but I’m still wondering what their actual intentions are. I suspect that to be revealed later as the story continues to move forward. Meanwhile Gael (Orgham’s werewolf protector) in his human form and Shavhod have retrieved a “Thalamus Engine” from the church underneath which it was buried centuries ago.
Mr. Freeze allows Batman to thaw from the last encounter, and offers him a bottled Azmer demon so he can study it. The Orghams want to acquire more Gotham property and burn large sections of The Narrows to the ground, while selectively transporting many residents to their new underground compounds for mandatory recruitment into their Azmer army. Shavhod visits the Wayne Realty board of directors and offers to buy their low-income housing projects. When the offer is rejected, she dons the mask of many eyes and hypnotizes the board into granting her wishes.
In the back-up story, by Simon Spurrier and Hayden Sherman, Harvey Dent/Two-Face continues to battle internally with his more demonic side. He was instructed by the Orghams to eliminate the psychiatrist Dr. Mead, but actually spared her with advice to leave town. FOUR STARS.
#07 = DETECTIVE COMICS #1068 by Ram V with art by Ivan Reis and Rafael Albuquerque (DC Comics, March 2023) “Gotham Nocturne, Act I, Part III: Half A Chance In Hell”
This issue deliberately employs two artists, as in addition to Batman’s struggles this is a special Two-Face issue - - so the art is split in half. However, the two styles are similar enough that readers may not notice the transitions. Supposedly, Ram V also devised each page of the story to be a dark reflection of the page facing it, and from front to back. I have to admit that I don’t really pick up on this because the events are very dark throughout. Although the effect is more obvious on the pages where Harvey Dent presents his view of events and then the bad side of him presents the counter-argument. They come to an agreement and work together to suppress the Azmer demon inside.
Meanwhile Batman has a second fight with the wolf man that doesn’t go his way again. He’s rescued by an unlikely ally that had a change of heart. FOUR STARS.
#08 = DETECTIVE COMICS #1069 by Ram V with art by Dexter Soy, Stefano Raffaele and Miguel Mendonca (DC Comics, April 2023) “Gotham Nocturne, Act I, Part IV: Grand Design”
Batman investigates the frozen Azmer that he received from Mr. Freeze and learns more about the ancient demons. Meanwhile, the Azmer-controlled civilians from The Narrows pour into the streets to do the Orgham’s bidding.
In the back-up story we learn that Mr. Freeze intercepted psychiatrist Annabel Mead and intends to experiment on her. She tries to analyze him and make her case, but he’s not buying it. Dr. Mead begins hearing a repetitive tune in her head and ends up meeting an ethereal being called Earworm. Friend or foe? FOUR STARS.
#09 = DETECTIVE COMICS #1070 by Ram V and Stefano Raffaele (DC Comics, May 2023) “Gotham Nocturne, Act I: Grand Design, Part II”
Underneath Gotham City, Solomon Grundy wakes up and is very unhappy with what’s happened to his stomping grounds. He takes it out on the Orgham forces.
Arzen Orgham is still trying to cozy up to Bruce Wayne, and we finally learn why the Orgham family has returned to “resurrect” Gotham. As Arzen reveals “it is Orgham tradition - - before rising to the throne, a would-be King or Queen must go out into the world . . . to live among the people of the Earth and find something, someone, some place truly worth saving - - and save it.” But the methods employed by the Orghams so far do not seem to be in the best interests of the common people. In fact, they are blunt and brutal.
Batman has a meeting with Talia and learns that one of the ancient King Orgham’s four most trusted servants was none other than her father, Ras Al Ghul. A mysterious team called The Vigil arrive in town to investigate the Azmer sightings - - but whose side are they on? FOUR STARS.
#10 = EROTECH #1 by Sean Haines and Geoffrey Krawczyk (SHP Comics/Massive, November 2025) The story leaves out a lot of essential details, including what year the story takes place in (near future, maybe?) and the specific name of the corporation that is at the crux of the story.
The corporation’s R & D department is working on perfecting the L-1000 model, as their long-term goal is to “make our products more socially engaging and interactive . . . A companion as well as a sexual partner.” They are building sex robots and encountering several glitches, as when they test a sexual encounter with a human participant, the female robot nearly breaks/mashes the man’s genitals.
Marketing is pushing R & D to perfect the new model with a launch date rapidly approaching. The female marketing director is under pressure and her competence is being questioned. She decides to bring in an outside consultant.
I assume the creators intended this to be both funny and stimulating. Sorry to report that it is neither. I wish the SHP marketing team well in finding a niche for this title. TWO AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.
#11 = ASSORTED CRISIS EVENTS #4 by Deniz Camp and Eric Zawadzki (Image Comics, June 2025) Following the high water mark that was Issue #3, ACE returns with a sad tale of a man who can’t catch up to time. From high school through college and into the working world Mike misses his wake-up calls, alarm bells, and start times - - always apologizing with the tired refrain: “I guess time just got away from me.”
Then through dating, marriage, children, divorce, and moving away there are big gaps in his memory of events. He’s always missed out on events and is unable to realize how much time has passed and how much he has aged - - - “time flies”, so “smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em.”
The only constant in his life is his cigarette addiction and the old bearded man with the jetpack (seem in every issue of ACE so far) who shows up out of nowhere. The final time Mike sees him is when he finally catches up to time, as the clocks stops.
The story unfolds in fascinating and tragic fashion. The evocative art is highlighted by the use of just three colors, to great effect: orange, blue, and beige. FOUR AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#12 = ASSOCIATED CRISIS EVENTS #5 by Deniz Camp and Eric Zawadzki (Image Comics, July 2025) Ask anyone who has experienced trauma in their life, and they will tell you - - it never goes completely away. Now imagine trauma that occurs in childhood. The victims relive the experience for the rest of their lives.
Such is the case with young Anna. Sixty seconds of witnessing an argument between her parents that ends in violence - -and she sees endless repetitions no matter what she does. She’s stuck in a loop, and none of the doctors, counselors and analysts can help her get out of it. It plagues her into adulthood, and she even considers suicide but doesn’t see it through. The story ends on a dramatic moment where she breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to readers.
Sad, and disturbing. This one is going to bother me for a while. Some readers may dislike this book because of the presentation. Every page or double-page is a loop or a spiral. Sometimes text is sideways or upside down causing readers to rotate the book, and enter the spiral in order to read it. Just remember to read this pages clockwise. FIVE STARS.
#13 = ASSORTED CRISIS EVENTS #6 by Deniz Camp and Eric Zawadzki (Image Comics, November 2025) Camp continues to come up with imaginative slice-of-life stories revolving around chaotic time in one form or another. Zawadzki matches his imagination with creative ways to illustrate each story.
Sasha spends a lonely life taking care of her husband, John, who suffers from a strange disease for which there is no known cure. The informational brochure defines it as Retro-Anterograde Temporal Diminishment. The doctor explains it: “John has literally become unstuck in time - - unmoored from the normal temporal flow. When he has one of his episodes - - his ‘time slips’ - - he can age or regress decades in an instant.”
The results are that sometimes John is her big, strong husband - - but less frequently as the disease progresses. Other times he reverts to a scared little boy or a frail senior citizen with Stage 3 pancreatic cancer and advanced Alzheimer’s. Sash does her best to navigate the changes and uses jigsaw puzzles and brain games to try and keep John focused.
Things come to a head when John reverts even further backwards in aging leading to an encounter with the bearded old man with the jetpack from previous issues (who hasn’t uttered a single word so far). A sad, story that at least ends on an uplifting message. FIVE STARS.
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