Batman has had many nicknames over the years, including the Dark Knight, the Caped Crusader and the World’s Greatest Detective – but DC has already proven that Batman is far from the World’s Greatest Detective. He’s not even the sixth largest.
Batman proves his own nickname is false in Detective comics Story #1000 “Longest Case” by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo. In this story, Batman narrates the longest mystery he has ever had to solve, starting when he became Batman. While solving a murder, Batman notices an irregularity in the victim’s house. Originally thinking this was part of the crime, Batman soon realizes there was a larger mystery afoot.
From Japan to the deepest parts of the ocean to the jungles of Brazil, Batman travels the world, and each clue he discovers leads him to another. After years of chasing these leads, Batman discovers he’s an invitation to a detective guild, and he’s far from the first hero to gain entry.. A surprising number of heroes have beaten Batman to this exclusive club with superior detective skills, including Hawkman, Martian Manhunter, and more.
Batman realizes he is NOT the world’s greatest detective when he discovers a mysterious club
Detective comics #1000 by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion, FCO Plascencia and Tom Napolitano
Batman is known as one of the greatest detectives in the world. No matter how difficult or seemingly unsolvable a mystery, Batman will always find an answer. Batman discovered the Joker’s identity, unmasked the Court of Owls, and solved dozens of other mysteries, leading many to label Batman the World’s Greatest Detective. But DC has already proven that this title is simply false. This mystery took Batman years to solveand when he finally did, it showed that several other heroes had already arrived before him.
The Detective Guild has many members, all of whom have solved the mystery faster than Batman. These characters include Carter Hall, Vic Sage, Kendra Saunders, Detective Chimp, and Martian Manhunter. All these characters are detectives, and they all solve an equally difficult mystery faster than Batman. When Batman questions them, Detective Chimp admits that the mystery is different for everyone, and they all help work out the next one for the newest member. But the fact that they all appeared before Batman implies that they all solved the mystery faster than him.
DC Comics has an important list of the “world’s greatest detectives” and Batman isn’t in first place
Even Nightwing admits Detective Chimp is better
There’s no denying that Batman is a fantastic detective, but it’s hard to say he deserves the title of World’s Greatest Detective when even Nightwing admits that Detective Chimp is more deserving of that name. Batman still has plenty of other iconic names he can use, and it’s unlikely anyone will challenge him for the mantle of World’s Greatest Detective, but both Batman and DC know that, deep down, there are many other detectives in the DC Universe who are much better than the Dark Knight.
Detective comics #1000 is now available from DC Comics!