Detective Comics #1039 Review

Writers: Mariko Tamaki and

T. Rex

Artists: Viktor Bogdanovic,

T. Rex and more

Rating: 7 of 8

Detective Comics #1039

There's more than one kind of sickness. There's the sickness of body. The sickness of mind - and perhaps worst of all, the sickness of the soul. Though, like the mind's sickness, it can't be seen on the surface, it's still one of the deadliest kinds. It's the failing of a man on a core, spiritual level and is usually harder to treat than nearly any other kind.

It's a sickness that affects many of Gotham's people and Hue Vile is no exception. As we see in both Tamaki and T. Rex's tales, there's something less than human about the Mayor's assistant (which makes him a perfect fit for politics). He has the ability to infect other people, making them give into their violent impulses. They, too, can infect others, so it only adds to the vicious cycle.

Like a parasite, he feeds on the suffering of others and, to sate his hunger, Vile seeks out violence wherever he goes - and in a city like Gotham, it's a veritable feast. It's why it's to his benefit if the battle between vengeful millionaire Roland Worth and Batman continues. Worth blames Wayne for his daughter's death and, while he's focused on him and his alter ego, his eyes are off the true culprit.

Like a lot of the previous issues, the issue features a backup that nicely complements the main tale. Though we learned a lot of what we needed to about Vile from the main tale, this goes some way to explaining just how he stayed under the radar for so long and goes into more detail as to just how horrific his story really is. 

Though there's a steady amount of horror throughout the issue, there's also plenty of action as well, as Batman and Huntress face Worth, Vile and a mass of Penguin's thugs. Bogdanovic delivers some incredible action, wrapped in a glowing red backdrop and billowing smoke. He also brings a wonderful intensity to the various characters, especially the ones at the center of the tale. Ultimately, whether you're more of a fan of action or horror, you're bound to find something to dig your teeth into.