REVIEW: Knight Terrors: Detective Comics #1

Finally, the terror in Knight Terrors is revealed in Knight Terrors: Detective Comics #1. Jim Gordon, on the edge of a personal abyss is dragged into a nightmare that threatens to destroy the entirety of Gotham. Can the old man hold it together, literally and figuratively and save the city he loves?

Firstly; this is an absolutely terrifying issue. It goes to some dark places mentally and visually. A down-and-out Gordon is relying on Barbara and his new ward Sorrow to keep him sane. Something his barely doing by the way. When Sorrow tips him off to the nightmare they’re trapped in, the two stumble upon a secret cabal of monsters and would-be Gotham saviors…or destroyers. Gordon tries to pull it together one more time to figure out what’s going on. He sees and experiences some of the most horrific things any hero has gone through in the Knight Terrors series so far. And because of Dan Watters’ superb writing you really feel Commissioner Gordon. There’s a poetic tempo to the writing including how Gordon laments on his past and the current state of Gotham. It’s deep stuff here.

The fear, sadness, and horror vibes are then furthered by the incredible art in this issue. Again, the terror in the Knight Terrors saga has made its full appearance here. The creatures are a mix of Lovecraft and Hell Raiser. They are truly disturbing to look at and are just unsettling. They’re also violent and the path of destruction is pretty explicit with very little being left to the imagination. If you like it raw, the art team of Riccardo Federici (art) and Brad Anderson (colors) have got you covered…in blood (heyoo!). Visually, this is an issue you won’t soon forget.

Gotham lends itself quite well to nightmare themed tales. And as one of the city’s most grizzled residents, a man that’s “seen it all”, Jim Gordon would experience one of the darkest nightmares. Part horror, part old-school detective story, Knight Terrors: Action Comics #1 is what both Action Comics and the Knight Terrors series are all about.

Writing – 4.5 Stars
Art – 4.5 Stars
Coloring – 4.5 Stars

Overall – 4.5 Stars

Written by; Dan Watters
Art by; Riccardo Federici
Colors by; Brad Anderson
Letters by; Steve Wands
Published by; DC Comics

Author Profile

Christopher R. Ford

Writer, author, and blogger. Published author of three children's books and also writes for the boy Creators For The Culture. Part-time sneaker head, full time nerd.