Tom Taylor's BATMAN! | Batman: The Detective

[@comicpop]

You can buy Batman: The Detective! amzn.to/3n8gLtU

[@Sicod79]

You can, but you know you would much more like to buy Batman: The Flamethrower.

[@RobotDecoy]

​@Christopher Wolf THE FLAMETHROWER!!!!

[@HollowGolem]

We now have audio of Ethan saying "touch people in a bad way." That's one for the soundboard.

[@chrisdaily2077]

Along with "You're such a miserable person", "I shall become the Jizzler", and "Some piece of him imprinted on to him".

[@Martin_TheCollector]

@@chrisdaily2077 "Let's go back. Let's go back..." Sal has a dozen or more iconic lines as well.

[@hobowagonable]

Don't forget ethan's amazing delivery of "Are you gonna wreck me?"

[@HollowGolem]

@@Martin_TheCollector My favorite Sal line is still from Final Crisis. "Yeah, you don't wanna be suckin' your own dick." Said so matter-of-factly.

[@Watcher1105]

Ben’s speech during one of the crisis episodes about sucking a dick which turned out to be his own deserves to be on it as well!

[@Jeff_Godoy]

Sal is so open about his channels numbers and KZbin algorithm that whenever he drops a new Batman video I immediately think: "Well, guess the bills won't pay themselves"

[@IanMcGarr]

May as well earn money while entertaining thousands of us.

[@RobotDecoy]

​@@IanMcGarr Damn that algorithm, I swear it's the precursor of Skynet

[@daelen.cclark]

“Batman: the character” is now considered the best movie reinterpretation of the character.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

If I had a nickel for every time Andy Kubert has redesigned a Future Batman with a trench coat, I would have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird it’s happened twice.

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

Shoutout to Batman 666, all my homies love Batman 666 Seriously DC please give a Batman 666 miniseries to Si Spurrier, he would crush that shit

[@brandondaniels1862]

Nice Phineas and Ferb reference

[@Maskedmenace8267]

Damians suit is cool

[@CosmicNovember19]

The Mobile Batcave is one of the coolest ideas that I have seen in a Batman book. This was an excellent series and I'm glad it got the Back Issues treatment.

[@deltafive_o-first2417]

“Whos ever seen a full white Batman costume.” The Batman Season 1 Episode 5 It looks dope

[@tough2015]

Also shows up in the Injustice Comic

[@SkylightCiel]

I always find it very engaging when they bring up people who trained Batman in any of these stories. I just find that quest to become Batman to be very interesting.

[@ayjez1348]

"batman: the character" now that's a book for the ages!

[@MrZsasz25]

How about doing, Batman: Devil's Advocate (the Joker is scheduled to be executed for a crime he did not commit, and Batman struggles with saving him, though for once he is innocent, or letting the execution go through)

[@jwm1444]

Because Bruce wouldn't really struggle with that, especially if he knows for a fact Joker is innocent. Though Batman: Devil's Advocate is a really sick title.

[@Martin_TheCollector]

I loved Tom's Wolverine/X-23 run and Injustice was mostly real good. I'm reading DCeased (plus Nightwing) once it all gets collected into a massive hardcover. Kinda wanted to read this Batdude story first, but I can't miss out on this episode. I JUST CAN'T!! 😁

[@RobotDecoy]

We've all been there... I had a trade on my desk the day I saw its Back Issues drop and I was like: whelp, I'm reading this for filler and specific quotes, Sal goes 1st

[@patrickhumphrey3076]

Ooh it’s crucial that you cover Batman: the Imposter. That’s been the best thing DC has published this year easily.

[@MisterKetch]

Shout out to Ethans shirt, he's worn it before and made a great gift last Christmas for the LOTR fanatic in my life. Also Tom Taylor on back issues is always a winning combination. I both look forward to and dread you doing 'Dark Ages' one day

[@GodzillaRex100]

The marvel one?

[@Ducaso]

Shout out to Ben’s shirt and my BOOMSTICK!

[@danilo9498]

They did dark ages

[@TheGreatDevlin]

Batman catching a bullet is the most Batman thing possible

[@pbjoey703]

How many times does Batman need to learn it’s ok to have friends and to trust them 😂

[@pinstripe4254]

I mean a 48 year old batman is still capable of taking out a large squad of heavily armed well trained men and a meta human. He’s still pretty dangerous

[@ryanmiller6103]

Really hoping you can get an interview with Tom Taylor at some point.

[@CapLives]

As someone who really enjoys Tom Taylor's books I'm always excited to see him discussed on the couch. Haven't read this one yet but will definitely check it out after this episode.

[@barraki6706]

(5:02) You know what would solve this? Do what Kamen Riders do when putting on their belts and have it put on *over* the coat.

[@blootography2867]

Yeah,Batman could modify the coat to have longer slits on the side like wizard allowing for better mobility while keeping the caped look

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

Out of all the places to find another Kamen Rider fan...

[@jwm1444]

For the record Ethan, suckers like me would buy Batman: The Detective because we're starved for stories where the Dark Knight Detective acts like a Detective. I think the twist with Equilibrium would have worked better if it he had failed to save someone she loved because he saved someone who didn't deserve it, as opposed to the six degrees of Bat-Seperation that happened in order for her to get to where she was.

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

But wouldn’t that just be Red Hood?

[@jwm1444]

@@halfmettlealchemist8076 Kinda. Red Hood's quest, at least initially, had little to do about not saving people and more to do with him not killing villains when he had the chance and not getting revenge for what happened to Jason. It's certainly Red Hood-adjancent, but if we're specifically keeping the idea that "the people who are saved by Batman aren't supposed to be here" angle, I think it's just different enough to work in the 7th Batman book coming out this month.

[@TimedRevolver]

The beginning felt like Bruce has become so pessimistic that he just didn't feel there was a reason to remain in Gotham. This whole journey woke that spark in him, so he probably went back.

[@ultimatesurvivor]

I hope so. The story seemed so ridiculous to me that the real Batman would never leave Gotham.

[@Cubelarooso]

When she first said "he always saves them," I was thinking her backstory would be that Batman had decided to save some people instead of capturing a villain, who then immediately murdered her family or whatever before Batman could catch back up. Would've made her beef with Batman more logical, but I guess that's the point. I think there must have been some latent hostility in her already, possibly fueled by a rivalry as Ducard's protégé; why else would she have found out the drunk driver was saved by Batman at some point, unless she was _looking_ for a connection? A good title could have been Batman: Knight's Tour. You gotta get the word "Knight" in there, for Batman, Beryl, and Europe itself - of which Batman ends up taking a tour. The chess again associates with Europe, while bringing to mind a battle of wits, and plays with the black & white duality. The challenge itself could be said to bring equilibrium to the board, and it also touches on Batman's arc of thinking himself alone when he has so many other pieces available. Or Batman: Dark Knight and Light Knave I just kinda feel sorry for any future writers whose project would've been better suited to "The Detective."

[@jasonbuchanan7042]

Have they ever done one of these Bat-verse stories focused on a geriatric villain instead of old Bruce? Like the Joker is still 100% down to expose humanity to the chaotic morass that is life with absurd explosions of violence, but now needs to use one of those pill containers that schedule out his meds. Even ideological chaos needs its arthritis medicine.

[@Logan7281X]

Batman Inc and Club of Heroes, great way to have ears all over the globe at street level.

[@Thrui]

Oooooooo, Bat The Planet! Shirt idea: Batmans head on Matthew Lillards body from Hackers yelling "Bat The Planet" as hes getting arrested

[@pranavmadathil7942]

*sees notification* *hyperventilates* *dies* *watches this from the afterlife*

[@wespeters9815]

i was just checking the channel for the weekly back issues, perfect timing!

[@davidbreault3283]

A minute in and instantly reminded why y'all are my favorite channel on youtube

[@gbone302]

@31:27 is everything I love about this show

[@isaacflores1948]

Coming back after having watched Batman 66. Feels like the part where The general admits to having sold weapons to someone they should not have is a homage to the part where the military general has to come clean about selling the penguin a military grade submarine. Without him even leaving a return address, no less.

[@Sicod79]

Quantum Leap reference? Video needs to go viral. Do it internet, I command you!

[@allendrake6960]

Another entertaining dive into a Batman story! :) I'm assuming the similarity is purely coincidence, but the reveal of "Equilibrium's" motivations instantly reminded me of the briefly used and seemingly forgotten Batgirl villain "Mirror" from Gail Simone's New 52 run--specifically in that he killed people who he'd learned were miraculously saved from/had survived life threatening scenarios. Unlike Equilibrium, for Mirror, the "saved who needed to die" didn't necessarily have to involve any member of the Bat Family, it just so happened that a few did and Batgirl popped up to stop him. The motiviations for both is pretty hokey, but for some reason Mirror's delusion is more interesting to me, in that he "corrects" what he believes should've been merciful deaths because he's got survivor's guilt, instead of a twisted take on "You very indirectly ruined my life by saving someone, so now I'll make sure you never saved anyone!". Also helped that Mirror, if I remember right, went out of his way to kill, or in Barbara's case, attempt to kill people in ways similar to how they almost died. That weird dedication to researching each near-death adds another layer of creepiness and insanity.

[@nickyt.2157]

Batman: Old Man Bruce would have been a better, more applicable title than Detective.

[@kitkatsneakattack7933]

This is one of my favorite alternate batsuits - redundant batbelts, bifocals, and all!

[@accidentalmadness1708]

Batman the brave and the bold fans will recognize gentlemen ghost (well the name not the face).

[@scoobers90]

I was looking at this on the DC app this morning! Always love a Batman episode.

[@ItsOver9000Productions]

I remember reading this and i was like "where is the detection? Theres barely any in here!!" But i was just happy to see Taylor on Batman although this kinda ended disappointingly.

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

This book was pretty fun as is, but I do agree that it could live up to the “Detective” title a little more. It could have been a globetrotting mystery-solving adventure where Bruce travels around the world solving crimes and meeting up with old allies and enemies to gather clues and track down a mysterious international crime syndicate or something.

[@Thehotdogman]

There was a batman shadow crossover which suggested Ducard was also Lamont Cranston the shadow. I like this because I always felt batman was more inspired by the shadow and zorro than anything else.

[@toddmcgee4073]

The spaceballs reference right out of the gate is one of my favorite things.

[@JoshMunroe]

31:29 "I don't know how that connects, but it's still pretty funny." --> Me, any time I explain comics to someone else and I go off on a random tangent.

[@ChristopherZubin]

It must be a sign of a good character that they mesh so well, people think they must have been around for long time.

[@dentonfilms8446]

what confused me about this book was that Taylor claimed (I think) that it was in continuity but the art definitely implied this is an older Batman

[@Yungtacosss]

Right? lol the insistence on that was very confusing.

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

I just assumed it was an Elseworlds situation from the get-go, which greatly contributed to my enjoyment of the story honestly.

[@Yoshimitsu4prez]

It’s further gotten weird because they clearly ARE making this thing canon. They’re now doing Batman: The Knight, showing all the history of him training with that French dude and Ghostmaker. And that’s gonna move into the next main Batman run

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

@@Yoshimitsu4prez Not necessarily. Ducard, the French guy, was an established character in the Batman mythos long before this book - he’s not an OC, he was created sometime around the ‘80s. Him being in the in-canon Batman prequel series and this near-future Batman possible-Elseworlds series doesn’t necessarily mean the two share the same continuity.

[@Yoshimitsu4prez]

@@halfmettlealchemist8076 I don’t know I just kind of assumed they were connected because they came one after the other I guess

[@DJV3355]

That's not true Sal. People don't hate all your accents and impressions. Your Kingpin is great 😂😂😂

[@fritschxf]

Great episode as always!! It’s kind of crazy how consistently good this show is..Keep up the good work 👍🏾 👍🏾 😊

[@kessonga]

45 seconds in and I'm already heaving from laughter lmao jolly good, gentlemen

[@PanicChain767]

im not gonna argue equilabrium had a great motive but i really appreciate it wasnt some forced tie-in or mistake from bruce’s past. Like it wasn’t talia or barbara or jason todds illegitimate daughter or some nonsense

[@Rollmono]

"What gives you the right to interfere with our lives and to change our fate!" - Metallo

[@flywheelshyster]

Love tom Taylor books, and they tend to make for some good back issues to boot!

[@d4nnylaflame896]

I for one think Tom Taylor sucks and is one of DCs worst writers along with mariko tamaki and Tom king

[@Montaq_]

As a non New Yorker that goes to New York Comiccon every year, just seeing the Javits center makes me happy.

[@DaveFu]

Andy Kubert! You did Batman vs. Predator! "Been listening to Sal from ComicPop eh?"

[@tranklin007]

Can we all agree that 14:02-14:24 was basically them summing-up detective mode in Arkham Origins? Lol

[@ChaseStopera]

Hey everyone, I have a question about what Sal said regarding Quantum Leap starting around 11:43. I’ve always heard the idea/quote about one life touching or impacting a thousand other lives, but never knew the origin; I went to look it up after Sal said it was the lesson at the end of Quantum Leap, but couldn’t find it. Is the quote from the old TV series Quantum Leap? Or is it from something else? I assumed the former, but like I said, I couldn’t find anything. Thanks in advance to anyone who reads this or helps me out.

[@comicpop]

It's from the finale

[@warioskapelli3100]

2:44 One of the higher ups must have run out of toilet paper during the pandemic and decided “Hell no I’m not going through that again. We’re future proofing this shit”

[@DazzlingMrScratch]

Tom Taylor books are like the definition of style over substance. At least Kubert’s art is always pretty fantastic.

[@MisterKetch]

I'd argue that most Tom Taylor work is excellent, but art is subjective so to each there own

[@DazzlingMrScratch]

@@MisterKetch Everything I’ve read by him feels like it’s constantly prioritizing cheap emotional moments over any plot driven conflicts, and it’s lame as fuck. Even books I like by him, like Nightwing and some of his AU work, have this exact same problem. You’re right about different strokes for different folks, but that doesn’t automatically mean any of his books have any substance to them.

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

Tom Taylor either plays his stories incredibly safe with little to no serious conflict or consequences for his characters, or, if he’s doing an Elseworld, just goes “fuck it” and starts brutally murdering characters left and right to provide maximum emotional damage. There is no in-between.

[@MisterKetch]

@@halfmettlealchemist8076 I'd suggest his suicide squad run

[@MisterKetch]

@@DazzlingMrScratch not saying it's automatic lol, I'm saying I personally find most of Taylor's work to be excellent.

[@VanCantian01]

Sal, I love your accents! They are spot on don't let anyone tell you different XD

[@sangera]

Talking about the quality and how light the trade is does make me wonder. I have the Their Dark Designs HC for Batman, and that book is super light. I also have the HC for Strange Adventures (amazing book btw) and that book feels like a classic/regular HC. I ALSO have the Rorschach HC, and that book definitely feels cheaper than SA. It feels lighter and the pages don't feel as good when I turn the page. Like Sal mentioned, there was/is a paper shortage, so that could be a factor (Marvel has been caught printing on shittier paper for their lower selling books). It's interesting. I don't mind the HC's feeling cheaper if they were cheaper; however, SA and Rorschach came out around the same time and they cost the same. Oh... I'm actually 99% wrong. They do feel the same weight. But Their Dark Designs does feel lighter than SA and Rorschach, which could be attributed to the pandemic (as it came out in late 2020). Well this was a turn of events. I think I was confusing the way the non-dust jacket felt for SA and Rorschach. Either way, both are great books. Ramblings over!

[@tyleriocono5457]

Maybe it’s cuz I am exhausted after a twelve hour shift but some of the references of Alfred about an hour in had me a little sentimental like Batman without Alfred is always so sad

[@nickjanuary7177]

if the drones targeted the Thames barrier at the right time they could do some damage

[@jacoblawson9934]

I LOVE THE SPACEBALLS REFERENCE!!!

[@joeclarke7982]

The next Tom Taylor book you guys do should be Dceased Dead Planet

[@sangera]

I spoke to Tom King at Megacon 2024, and I brought Danger Street #1 to get signed. I mentioned how I wanted to read it month to month, but the paper quality was so bad that I could not support it. He said that he had heard that criticism a fair bit and that DC was moving away from the type of paper it was printed on. I imagine the same applies to their trades. I really like the glossy paper, but dislike the matte (I don't know how to describe it) paper. It feels very cheap, and I am hopeful that DC is moving fully away from that.

[@RobW2K10]

Very good stuff and always lads

[@merrymclaughlin923]

Ducard feels like the meme of the parent who says they don't have a favorite child, but they do, and it is equilibrium with her photo in his wallet, but atleast he is honest about it

[@TupocalypseShakur]

I wonder if Equilibrium was inspired by Equinox from Batman the Brave and the bold

[@apcfire]

Sal missed a golden opportunity to say. "You said Deckard who wears a coat and is in a movie from the 80s. When really you meant Eckhart, who wears a coat and is in a movie from the 80s."

[@Odyssey1997]

Another great video guys like always and this time I actually knew the comic! And read it when it came out I agree with you guys wholeheartedly! I don’t know why it’s called Batman the detective should be called Batman Europe or Batman London or what you guys called it Batman and the equal Librium! But I just got to know when are you guy going to do Beta Ray Bill 2021 comic book series?

[@redsea866]

Is it me or does this Batman look a hell of slot like Ben Affleck?

[@Slickback_Zach]

Nice Batman shirt Sal! I got the same one!

[@nicksmyth4050]

I love Ben's shirt

[@therealmanos]

Just call him, Bruce "Two Belts" Wayne!

[@superjlk_9538]

Batman: The Crusader

[@vitanpatel2061]

Proof that even Tom Taylor can write bad books

[@darkturnwabler]

So a bunch of evil Jaden Smiths

[@oatsaredelicious2521]

In my country the book is called Batman Equilibrium and I still bought it.

[@nikcantsnipe]

Hey, Tom Taylor, is there uh any chance we get a Nightwing book? Man, I'd even take Batman and Robin at this point. Just give me one back issues with Dick Grayson.

[@DanV900]

Um, Tom Taylor is writing Nightwing right now which was nominated for multiple Eisners or did you mean to say Sal?

[@nikcantsnipe]

@@DanV900 I literally said that... We don't do back issues on Comic Pop that has Nightwing in it unless its a Batman story.

[@dlvnmedia]

Who’s ever seen a white Batman mask before? Uhhhh White Lantern Batman from Batman Universe? Also Squire now Knight - I love her character so much. Yes yes yes yes yes

[@psycamorean]

Wasn't really a fan of this book, I found it pretty middling. But this episode of Back Issues about it is much more entertaining!

[@matetoereki8612]

Funny thing, the german version is actually called Batman: Equilibrium

[@ninja1man4u]

New back issues and it's batman?! Who replaced Wednesday with Friday because it's awesome!

[@Sqoobthedude]

This book was a fun time!

[@Jeff_Godoy]

It's funny they discussing "sometimes people need access to good healthcare and they can't take it" while the whole thing is taking place in a country with free healthcare

[@geminiace]

Where can I get Ben's shirt??

[@scottiegeek4364]

Another great episode! I think "The Detective" in the title refers to the French guy, Ducard or whatever. Just my opinion, not trying to troll anyone.

[@thegorgeousgloriousone9851]

Sooooo basically batman vs the Final Destination franchise?!?!

[@catlawyerwilldefendfortrea6038]

Lol This is one of the dumbest villain logic

[@ShawnWeeded510]

Is he a detective in the story?? Like a real detective story??

[@gentlesavage2068]

Equilibrium is a cool character i hope someone else does something in the future with the character

[@loyaltabk]

Equilibrium was 2002!

[@fcm3d]

GUN KATA!!!!

[@RichMalicious_86]

Anyone else notice the Watcher is a part of the European Alliance of the Bat?

[@codystahl5935]

That doesn't make sense to kill him for being saved by batman, because he wouldn't have been in harms way if there was no batman..

[@MareoYapp]

Funny moments 1:09:30 1:17:30

[@valiantshadow89]

Oh, shit! I’m excited to watch this one!

[@dirtydan3551]

A plan crashes in the beginning like Dark Knight rises what

[@YousefAlMujeem]

Read the first 3 issues when it came out. Really couldn’t continue with the series.

[@CrazyWildChris]

Yes! I read this before watching the video last time I’ve done this was for heroes in crisis haha really enjoyed the book and enjoyed this even more 🙂

[@MrEnKaye]

Man, I would read the SHIT out of Batman: the Flamethrower.

[@i.need.more.comics]

I Hope that one day they'll do ,,Spiderman noir eyes without a face" (I know it's really specific :/ )

[@stefansamoyloff3866]

London is 420km2. Let's assume each drone is carrying 4 tactical nukes. Given the size of the drones, it would be generous to assume they could carry even a 2k yield each, but hey ... the future, or whatever. Each drone could take out, if we're being generous with what we call "destroyed" around 40km2. So 50 drones armed with nukes that would be of a reasonable size and weight so that they could carry them without magic could take out around 10% of London (total, not each). Let's say that instead they have 4 MOABs (largest conventional weapon ever made)... which would take some real magic seeing they weigh 10,000KGs each ... that would take out around 44m2 each. So you get 50 of them together you could EASILY take out like ... a few city blocks?

[@felixg.4908]

Batman: The Bat-Man