Detective Comics #26: Lots of Bats

What exactly can you expect from Detective Comics #26?

The easy answer is bats; the 26th of Detective Comics was published on December 4th, 2013, and had a cover date in February, 2014. Written by John Layman, and edited by Katie Kubert and Mike Marts. Interestingly, this story takes place in an altered reality of Gothtopia. The edition includes the story called “Crown of Fear” where Batman is the character we follow, and where many other Bat-heroes and villains are included. This comic have later been reprinted in Detective Comics: Gothtopia.

Who is part of the Detective Comics #26?

Batman is the most note-able character that is included in the comics, but there are also plenty of other characters. Some of the supporting characters include Alfred Pennyworth, Batman’s butler, and Commissioner Jim Gordon from Gotham City Police Department. Man-Bat, also known as Kirk Langstrom, also appears in the comics. The antagonist is played by She-Bat, and Catwoman is also involved in the story.

What is the synopsis of Detective Comics #26?

“Crown of Fear” starts when Commissioner Jim Gordon has to reach out to Batman for help – he has been following multiple disappearances that have ended in murder, and all that is ever left behind is the remains. As these things become more frequent, he needs help, especially since it is believed that Kirk Langstrom, Man-Bat, who invented the Man-Bat Serum, may be involved. Batman makes use of the Batplane to try and find Langstrom, and thinks about how he would like to give Langstrom the benefit of the doubt, due to their past together. But when he finally encounters Man-Bat again, he realises that Langstrom has given in to the serum and lost his control, becoming aggressive like the creature, and that he has indeed done bad things.

Batman had already figured out that a victim had been downed by a swarm of bats, and not actual Man-Bat, but Batman has no idea what kind of bat could work as efficiently as in this case. His hope is that Langstrom can give him answers; with the use of a device that sends out a sound that sounds like a sleeping bat-colony, Batman is able to lul Langstrom’s bat side into sleep, leaving Langstrom in control once again. As Batman comes to talk to Langstrom again, he also comes to learn that Langstrom’s wife, Felicity Lee, now also has become a bat monster. Sent by an employer to spy on Langstrom, she was meant to get his serum recipe so it could be used as a biological weapon. But, when recreating it, she had used the wrong species of bat, resulting in her turning into something else and even worse. She managed to get control over an entire colony of bats that end up serving her, and no matter how much Langstrom tries, he can not get through to her and stop her. He has tried to create a counter-serum to turn her back to human, even if only temporarily. Despite Batman not liking Langstrom’s plan to get to Felicity, he decides to help out anyway. It is for a good reason that he does not like the plan, because it failed; the good thing is that Batman had somehow already known this would happen, and made it into his own plan. By injecting Langstrom with the counter-serum, he hopes that when Langstrom turns into Man-Bat, he can give Felicity the serum through his teeth. Thankfully, that succeeds and Felicity turns back into a human. Only problem is that Langstrom is still a monster; Batman has to punch Langstrom back to a human, and then he delivers both of them to Arkham Asylum.

Where does Detective Comics #26 take place?

Detective Comics #26 takes place in many different places; the majority of the comic is placed within Gotham City, though. Noteworthy locations include Batman’s Batcave, and the Wayne Manor, which is not surprising when Batman is involved. Placed like Gotham City’s Morgue and Arkham Asylum are also focus for the story, two just as noteworthy locations within Gotham City.

Have you read this comic books edition or read anything related to this story? Share with us in the comments to earn a Limited Edition Comic Book Pack for your collection!