Detective Comics #1099 review

Detective Comics #1099 begins with a hail of bullets as Batman attempts to escape a small army! After hiring detective Harvey Bullock to investigate the Elixir organization, Batman turns to rescue him and the Penguin from a Pokolistan facility. As is the case with such things, it devolves into a vicious shootout. Unfortunately, bullets may stop Batman’s parents, but guns only make Batman madder and madder. Let’s talk about how the Dark Knight escapes the kill box below!

Look at Cobblepot just standing in the doorway. That’s a meme waiting to happen. Art by Lee Garbett.

Bulletproof

At its core, this issue centers on a straightforward siege. Last issue, Batman liberates Harvey and Penguin from the torturous Doctor Burton fairly easily. However, right before they can walk out of the facility, Ambrose surrounds the building with mercenaries. Of course, Batman deflects the bullets with his cape of all things, but bullets strike Burton in the crossfire. What seems to stand out for the hero in this instance is what Batman perceives as the lack of loyalty in the organization. Going so far to acknowledge acts of loyalty of some of his more evil rogues in contrast. Upon this realization, Batman formulates an entire philosophy around Elixir and quickly develops a counter attack in response.

Central in this philosophy is that Batman thinks that Elixir are straight up cowards. Sure, Batman thinks criminals are superstitious and cowardly anyway, but Elixir are especially fearful of death. He reasons that Elixir’s obsession with immortality reflects a deep fear of death and harm. While Taylor posits the group as implicitly dangerous due to desperation, the group end up looking like scared punks. Considering, all Batman does is blow up a few missiles and they run for the hills. Following so much set up in previous arcs and issues, it is a shame to see Elixir not being able to back up their boasts.

Tough Talk

As a result, much of the rest of the issue becomes a comedy of sorts. Initially, it seems that at least Ambrose has the balls to call Batman’s bluffs, but the immortal’s false confidence is a bluff in and of itself. At which point Penguin and Harvey administer their own brand of revenge, albeit in hilarious ways. Still, they finally uncover intel on the secret leader of Elixir, Perpetuam Vita. According to Ambrose, Elixir is a huge scam ran by three immortals using the Lazarus Pits. Over the centuries, they’ve conned followers with the promise of extended lifespans as they search for more permanent sources of longevity such as Saangral. Nonetheless, they confront Vita and close the mystery once and for all.

In conclusion, this arc was a massively disappointing follow-up to the Asema storyline. With the world spanning intrigue, blood obsessive immortals, and another secret organization beyond Batman’s purview, I incorrectly assumed this was going to be a vampire conspiracy. Even Vita’s reveal, which I would hate to spoil, was similar to the look of Victor from the Underworld films. Instead, Elixir turned out to be a joke and a pathetic pyramid scheme of sorts. What saves this arc is the early character work for Bullock and the heartfelt intention of the epilogue. Unfortunately, when put in the context of Elixir’s truth and the pitiful final battle, the whole thing comes off as useless filler.

Recommended If…

• You’re brave enough to seek a follow-up to the Asema storyline.
• Tec’ has never done you wrong.
• You want a low stakes Batman story.

Overall

In the end, this story’s reveal imploded all hope for the Elixir storyline. Essentially, it is yet another DC organization of egotistical, self-assured, woefully outmatched losers who make fools out of heroes like Batman or villains like the Penguin. The only consolations seems to be the light sense of humor and the instances of high action and artistic composition. Even unintentionally funny panels like Penguin standing in the doorway doing nothing while Batman braces gunfire is a incidental highlight. Sadly, I do feel like it retroactively makes the previous issues and arcs surrounding this group look indefensibly silly. In spite of this, Elixir is a perfectly fine, middle of the road filler story that isn’t going to hurt, despite not being worth the reader’s nor Batman’s time.

Score: 5.5/10

DC Comics have provided advance copies of books for review.