In Detective Comics Issue #1081, Batman lies between the realms of life and death in the desert after the Orghams attempt to hang him in Gotham City. Still possessed by the Azmer demon, Bruce must figure out the reality from the fiction of who he is while traveling through the desert. However, Bruce is not alone, as one of his greatest enemies taunts him and wants to delve his mind into the world of hurt.

Detective Comics Issue #1081, adequately labeled “An Elegy of Sand,” serves as the beginning of Act Three of Ram V‘s operatic narrative on the title. Operatic still serves as the best descriptor of the series considering how heightened the narrative exists but the world as well. Ram dives deeper into mysticism as he portrays Bruce’s journey in the desert as an outward expression of his internal struggle. The desert is described as “the place between places,” which further enforces being stuck between life and death and how the Azmer demon still clings to his soul. Even the inclusion of Dr. Hurt furthers this idea by presenting him as a Satan like figure who tempts Bruce into surrendering to him. 

The issue also intercuts with Renee Montoya as The Question’s point of view within the story detailing her investigation in Gotham City. While artist Riccardo Federici does Bruce’s parts, Stefano Raffaele draws the Renee sections. Outside of their differing art styles, the paneling approach also presents the characters’ unique viewpoints. Federici crafts a horrifying desert where panels can overlap or blend into each other, demonstrating Bruce’s struggling mind. Raffaele utilizes a nine-panel layout, which perfectly serves the more moody detective story of Renee in Gotham City. The same can be said for colorist Lee Loughride, who is versatile in differentiating the two narratives. And Tom Napolitano’s lettering provides this contrast of the story tones as well. This duality serves as a great encapsulation of the series, combining the detective story with the mystical. Ram and his other creatives distinguish Detective Comics from the main Batman title by tone and utilization of the more expansive cast, including Talia al Ghul and Dr. Hurt. 

Dan Watters and Hayden Sherman write and draw the backup story for the issue, which aims to provide greater context for Hurt and demonstrate his powers of manipulation and deception. More impressively, the story has its flair while aligning in tone with the main story. The decision to focus on regular Gotham citizens provides an exciting and contrasting viewpoint of characters like Bruce and Renee, who can combat threats. Triona Farrell’s colors and Steve Wand’s letters align with the overall story and pop with Watters’s writing and Sherman’s art.

Detective Comics still stands as one of the most fascinating titles out of the Batman office, where it still follows through on its intense atmosphere and tone with a primary focus on character psychology. Even with the run a year in, Ram and others demonstrate that there is still much more to be explored in the series while charting its course to the finale of its opera. 

Story: Ram V and Dan Watters Art: Riccardo Federici, Stefano Raffaele, and Hayden Sherman
Color: Lee Loughride and Triona Farrell Letterer: Tom Napolitano and Steve Wand
Story: 8.75 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Read

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