Detective Comics 1066 pages 20 & 21 double spread by Ivan Reis

Ivan Reis has produced terrific artwork on each project during his 20 years stay at DC and this is a recent example of that. He has often produced exceptional double spreads and while I already own one of those, I could not let this one pass.

Batman fighting a werewolf is a hard subject to top in terms of coolness as far as I’m concerned.

The depth Ivan infused to this scene is spectacular, both because of the tilted angle of the main scene and its perspective but because of the inside of that factory is so thoroughly depicted. Ivan slightly warped the angle so that we could see it from the ground to the ceiling to great effect.

The main incentive of the page is that incredible Batman shot jumping at the werewolf. His stance is perfectly menacing with his cape being played by Ivan like that of a true bat. Note that both his arms and his cape are closing in on his prey. The werewolf welcomes his enemy with an open stance and I love his character design here, different than the usual imagery with a touch of (middle-) Asia to him. He is also much taller than the Bat, reinforcing his badasness to tackle such an impressive and frightful foe.

You will note that the figure of the Bat was slightly digitally altered in publication, but I prefer his slightly tilted angle seen on the original, which I find gives more a sense of speed and dynamic to the scene.

The six insert panels are super fun and convey a true sense of brawl to the fight, like two animals rolling on each other which is enhanced by the cape’s movements.

The Bat landing in the first one only to be smashed on the ground in the second. A triumphant snarl in the third only for him to be punched on the nose in the fourth. Batman shieled himself against those nasty claws in the fifth to throw away the batarangs in the sixth he was already preparing in the fifth.

Then we have a screaming close-up on the Bat, prompting the reader to turn to the next page to see who and why he is screaming at. It also serves as a nice reverse, tangential mirror effect to that snarling werewolf close-up above him.

Finally, this technique of “inking with washes” that Ivan developed for this run is doing wonders for the final look of the art as far as I’m concerned.

A brilliant dps by one of the best modern artists DC had and wishing him well with his new artistic endeavours outside of the big two which I will follow with close interest.

This is part 1 of my 2024 CAF birthday party.