Exclusive DC preview: Detective Comics #33 delivers classic Batman with gorgeous art

Batman fighting thugs in a sewer isn’t anything new, but the artistry of Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato’s work on Detective Comics has a visual flair that makes everything feel fresh and exciting. The co-writers have built an engaging mystery around a drug called Icarus, which gets people high before they spontaneously combust, but the main attraction is the artwork, utilizing Manapul’s imaginative layouts and Buccellato’s unconventional colors to bring loads of style and energy to Batman’s world.

This preview of next week’s Detective Comics #33 (featuring variant covers by Tony Moore and industry legend Jim Steranko) spotlights those qualities, beginning with a beautifully designed cover that makes an immediate impression. From there, the creative team builds up a tense sewer shootout that explodes into chaotic action, and the waterlogged location allows the two artists to do striking work showing how light and physical movement impact the environment. Every issue of this run has further established Manapul and Buccellato as creators that have a firm understanding of The Dark Knight and Gotham City, making Detective Comics a standout title in DC’s Batman line-up.