- Title: Detective Comics #962
- Comic Vine: link
- Writers: James Tynion IV, Christopher Sebela
- Artist: Carmen Nunez Carnero
Although Batman: Knightfall and its events apparently don’t exist in the new Rebirth DCU, Detective Comics #962 offers some fan service to the storyline that saw Azrael temporarily step-in as Batman. With the former soldier of St. Dumas out of control, the Bat Family put Azrael in a new suit of armor giving him added support against the voices of Ascalon and the programming which is trying to reassert itself on him. That suit jumps happens to have a familiar design.
While it’s probably a good idea to retcon Knihtfall from the DCU, this issue is a nice throwback for fans of those stories. With the suit, complete with an AI based on Batman’s moral code rather than that of a cult of zealots, Azrael is able to fight back the programming and help the Bat Family take down Ascalon.
The issue also gives us more flashbacks to younger versions of Zatanna and Bruce as well as give Batman one answer he wasn’t expecting. Tim Drake is alive, and it’s about damn time for the search for him to begin. Sadly, that likely means Zatanna will be exiting stage right, but it sure was fun to have her around. Worth a look.
[DC, $2.99]