Detective Comics (2016-) #1101

by Tom Taylor, Mikel Janín (Artist)

“Criminals are a superstitious and cowardly lot.” Batman has long depended on this mantra to uphold justice in Gotham City. But what if Gotham was a city devoid of fear? Would this lead to a city free of inhibitions or a populace driven suicidal by an inability to process mortal terror? To answer thisquestion, the Dark Knight will embark on a harrowing adventure that mustbe seen to be believed!Join the powerhouse team of Tom Taylor and Mikel Janín for a brand-new arcthat teams Batman and the DCU’s most iconic heroes to unravel the mysteryof a terrifying world without fear.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Batman

Kindle Edition

Published September 24, 2025

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Canadian Historical Fiction - Tom^^Taylor
Comics - Tom^^^^Taylor
English Dramatist 1817-1880 - Tom^^^^^Taylor
NA Contemporary - Tom^^^^^^^^Taylor
Roanoake Virginia - Tom^^^^^^^^^Taylor
b.1922 - Tom^^^^^^^^^^Taylor
b.1948 Business Writer - Tom^^^^^^^^^^^Taylor

Reviews

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting start to a new arc.

[AJ Easterday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hit from Tom Taylor, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers! The mystery in this is already so intriguing and the detective work so well-written, but the piece de resistance is the gorgeous artwork. The colors are everything!!!! Mikel Janín, I was unaware of your game.

Also as a side note, I love how Mr. Terrific is suddenly appearing in a lot more series. DC was so smart to take advantage of the Superman movie hype and start putting that guy in everything. It's a great time to be a Mr. Terrific fan!

[Jadyn❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

An effective start to an intriguing mystery as a suspicious ship arrives in Gotham, bringing a potential bio-weapon with it. Mikel Janin's art and colors pair perfectly with the writing by Tom Taylor to create an appropriately dark and mysterious atmosphere that is perfect for setting up this next arc.

[Machiavelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atmospheric, tense, and layered — Tom Taylor nails the growing unease that carries through every page. This issue leans hard into the detective side of Batman, with a steady build of mystery and dread that keeps you guessing at what’s really happening beneath the surface.

Mikel Janín’s art is sharp and moody, with shadows and expressions that heighten the tension and match the story’s darker tone.

As an opener, it feels both classic and fresh: a strong setup that promises intrigue, psychological weight, and a story worth following.

[Abel Allwein · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s truly Batman Fall for me!

Another great entry point into the long ongoing Detective Comics! The mystery is intriguing and it was fun to see Batman show off his detective skills. Loved the cameos, I want to know who this “Lion” is and how Batman deals with what happens at the end. Great arc opener!

[Cybernex007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the bright side it’s good to see the blue suit for batman really spreading across to the different titles…on the bad side this is a rough way to start a new storyline, batman really has his work cut out for him. But this issue in particular starts on a completely different and interesting note that I can’t help but feel will come back, as it discusses the subject of fear. Batman talking about his intentions with taking Gotham’s fears and changing and channeling it into the hearts of criminals instead of the innocent. But we see that didn’t always work out as planned. The start of the issue has a father bursting through his apartment door and forcing his kid to hide in the cupboards. He assures him that everything will be alright and that he doesn’t need to be scared, but then his father pulls out a gun and starts looking out the window. Suddenly claw like hands crash through the window and pull the man through as he attempts to fight back. Batman has come for him and quickly takes him through the window and swings away. But to a child whose father was just stolen before his eyes, batman looks like a monster, a creature to be feared. And I have a feeling that a little boys desire to take that fear away, is exactly what started the events batman is dealing with in the present.

Batman then talks about how be tried to make Gotham feel safer, but even on nights where the thick fog roles in, that can be quite difficult. But people make do and get together, there are safety in numbers. In the present day we look in on a party boat, but suddenly the mood of the night shifts as the boat strikes a body floating in the water. And only
Moments later a large fishing ship emerges from the fog and strikes the boat! This sends one of the passengers overboard into the freezing water. It only took 2 minutes from Oracle intercepting the distress call, for batman to convert the bat wing I to a water vehicle and dive into the water at the location of the incident. Immediately going after and bringing the person who fell into the water back up to the surface. What I find hilarious about this scene, is that he talks about the involuntary response the body can have to cold water, how you lungs can fill with water as you sink. It’s know as cold shock and impossible to control…unless you are batman, and have spent years training your body and mind against it.

After assessing the situation, batman found out that the boat’s engine was destroyed. So while they wouldn’t sink, they aren’t going anywhere without help. So batman setup the batwing to tow their boat back to shore while he investigated the fishing vessel filled and surrounded by dead bodies. In total batman counted 41 bodies. The entire time batman is also talking to Oracle and having her watch through his lenses. I really enjoy the detective work and deduction batman makes as he goes through this series. He immediately notices that all of the people on board died at different times, with some already showing sign of decay, and how the horror was ignored as no one has been hidden or covered. He even notice how two men fought each other and never stopped fighting even when their injuries became life threatening. And there seems to be one person out of place, a person wearing a lab coat and appearing to be dead longer than the others. He has a snapped neck, potentially fell from the upper deck. But the wounds don’t match up as there are no arm injuries…he didn’t try and break his fall.

But suddenly batman hears a noise coming from below deck. As he makes his way down he notices a high tech camera watching him, completely out of place. Oracle notices the thermal imaging ahead reveals a person in the next room. Batman cautiously walks on to find a child playing a game. He calmly approaches the child and says that he is here to help and he doesn’t have to be scared… he as the kid turns around he is covered in blisters and near death. The last thing he says before he falls over and batman catches him: “I’m not scared. He said…I never have to be scared again.” Suddenly Oracle is pointing out the wall. Carved into it is a message:

“The fear will end, Gotham. Your courage is coming. -The Lion.”

Seems the wizard of Oz has taken a dark turn. The cowardly lion is deciding to forcefully spread his newfound courage through a biological weapon. Upon analyzing the boy, batman immediately correlates the symptoms with damage to the amygdala, the part of the brain that deals with fear. With the harbor patrol approaching batman orders them away and to get a specialized team in here. There is something here and someone is watching, this could be an experiment or a controlled release! With a specialized team on board to take the boy away, batman gives them instructions on quarantine and dealing with his malnutrition. Batman himself quickly leaves, taking the body with the lab coat with him and promising to deliver the results of the tests. Batman then makes the best decision he could have. He speeds over to central city and to Mr Terrific! Terrific is able to confirm everything batman suspected from his initial observations. It’s a virus that attacks the amygdala, leaving only the “fight” in fight or flight responses. People would pose a danger to themselves and others if this spread…and now Bruce is infected. Oh you have got to be kidding me!

[Lizzy DeMarco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent start to a new arc!

[Alex Fyffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Craig Schorling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this issue. The art and colors immediately drew me in. Then the mysterious story and creepy atmosphere kept me captivated. Taylor and Janin are on to something special with this one.

[Madeesonxoxo · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The fear will end Gotham. Your courage is coming.”

like no shade how does gotham still have residents 😭

[alejandro galvez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good.

Very good read. Great art. Lots too. Can't wait to see where it goes! Read it! A good mystery awaits!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good start to a new arc with an intriguing story so far and a good ending!

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4
It's a solid comic. But honestly, I was hoping Taylor's Batman would be more of a slam dunk.

[Mark Cubillos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great start to the new arc.