One of DC’s steadiest Batman teams is wrapping up. Writer Tom Taylor and artist Mikel Janín are leaving Detective Comics, with their six-issue story Clark Kent: Murderer set to be their last, Bleeding Cool reports. DC has not made a formal announcement, but according to the outlet, a new DC house ad makes the exit clear.
One last case
Clark Kent: Murderer begins in Detective Comics #1115 on Wednesday, November 18, with #1116 following on December 16. Both issues are $4.99 and both are written by Taylor with art and covers by Janín. The setup puts Superman’s alter ego in a cell: mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent has been accused of murder and is awaiting trial when Batman comes to clear his name. But the deeper the World’s Greatest Detective digs, the more evidence he finds that points toward Clark rather than away from him. DC’s solicitation promises a story that “could redefine the relationship of the World’s Finest forever.”
Since the arc runs six issues, it will carry the team into 2027. Bleeding Cool expects the handoff to a new creative team around May.
Shorter than planned
Taylor and Janín took over Detective Comics with #1090 as part of the DC All In relaunch, following Ram V’s run. At the time, both sounded ready to settle in. Janín told AIPT he was “all in for a long run, three years at least. Hopefully more!” By the end of this arc, the run will come in closer to two and a half years.
In that time the pair delivered a string of crowd-pleasing stories, including an anti-fear virus storyline and a Green Arrow and Black Canary arc called Flight. A murder mystery with Clark Kent in the dock is a fitting finale for Taylor, who has written plenty of Superman over the years.
DC All In has kept reshuffling its biggest books, as seen when Ram V returned to the New Gods. DC has not named the next Detective Comics team. We will update readers when it does.
