Batman's Gotham City Transforms into a Gothic Opera in 'Gotham Nocturne'
Warning! Spoilers for Detective Comics #1062 by DC Comics
DC Comics is ushering in a new era for Detective Comics, as the title will be taken in an all-new direction inspired by opera and music, called "Gotham Nocturne." On Wednesday, DC revealed Ram V, Rafael Albuquerque, and Dave Stewart would be taking over the iconic title starting with issue #1062, which will see Gotham City transform into a Gothic opera, as a strange melody will haunt Batman.
Detective Comics is one of the longest-running titles in comic book history, as Batman made his first appearance in Detective Comics #27 by Bill Finger and Bob Kane. With more than 1000 issues being released over the more than 80 years the comic has been published by DC Comics, Detective Comics is one of the most important ongoing series in the medium. Numerous iconic heroes and villains made their comic book debut in the series. The title is still running in modern times, as a new creative team will take over the comic beginning in July.
Ram V (Swamp Thing, Venom), Rafael Albuquerque (American Vampire) , and Dave Stewart (Batman: Beyond the White Knight) will be teaming up for the next arc and beyond of Detective Comics. The new ongoing creative team will tell a story heavily inspired by opera and music, as Batman will be pulled into a Gothic story like never before. Starting with "Gotham Nocturne" part 1 of 4: "Overture," in Detective Comics #1062, Batman will confront his own immortality, leading him through Gotham and discovering a "haunting melody" that is transforming the city and its people.
Ivan Reis will join the title for an upcoming arc as the artist on issues #1066-1099. Meanwhile, Detective Comics will also feature a backup story from Si Spurrier, where he will explore different characters in Gotham and some of their first encounters with Batman. Spurrier will be joined by the artist Dani for the stories. Detective Comics #1062 will feature a cover from Evan Cagle and variants from Lee Bermejo, J.H. Williams III, and as a 1:25 variant cover by InHyuk Lee and a 1:50 foil variant by Williams III.
Check out the solicit for Detective Comics #1062 by DC Comics below.
Starting with Detective Comics #1062, on sale July 26, Batman finds himself in a strange, dark Gotham City as he’s pulled into a high Gothic story like nothing he’s seen, or heard, before.
The story starts with “Gotham Nocturne” part 1 of 4: “Overture.” Something is terribly wrong with Batman. No matter the tests Bruce takes, nor the numbers he counts, the greatest detective in the world can’t pin down the source of this creeping dread—of his own inner demons and a looming mortality. He’s not alone in the grips of this terror, as it seems real demons are creeping through the shadows of Gotham City, answering the clarion call of a strange melody that’s haunting Gotham…and seems to be turning its denizens into something else.
The curtains are rising on a new, terrifying mystery as Batman tries to figure out what’s happening to both the city he protects and his own mind in this lush, operatic mystery.
Ram V said in a press release that he knew exactly what kind of direction he wanted to take Batman and Gotham City after getting the opportunity to work on the iconic title.
“It's a thrill to be writing a title with the kind of history and pedigree that Detective Comics has. When the opportunity first came across my desk, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. For me, the draw of Batman as a character and that of the world around him had always been this blanket of tragedy that lay above it all. So, with that perspective, ‘Gotham Nocturne’ is a quintessentially Batman story, told with the aesthetics of a Gothic opera.”
Readers can see the Gothic opera-inspired version of Batman and Gotham City when Detective Comics #1062 by Ram V, Rafael Albuquerque, and Dave Stewart from DC Comics arrives in comic book stores and online retailers on July 26.