Detective Comics #1105
Author : Tom Taylor
Artist & Colourist : Mikel Janin (Inks : p.17-22)
Inks : Wayne Faucher & Norm Rapmund
King Of The Beasts : Issue #1105 Summary
Taylor gets this epic story back on track in Detective Comics #1105 by revealing the much-anticipated backstory of The Lion. This new supervillain has been a few steps ahead of our Dark Knight in every scenario thus far, but Tom Taylor’s wonderfully woven history lesson finally provides the answers I’ve been looking for.
The narrative logic here is impeccable. It showcases the consistent continuity DC has been prioritizing lately, integrating established characters from across the DC Universe to bring more texture and weight to the storyline.
History of Lion : Issue #1105 Review
WARNING SPOILERS!
Lion To Yourself
The pacing in Detective Comics #1105 is spot on, with Taylor diving straight into the questions that needed answering. This was a return to form; it captured the same excitement I felt reading issues #1101 through #1103. Sometimes you need a transitional issue to reset the energy, and Taylor delivered a masterclass history lesson on The Lion that made his motivations crystal clear. Not only did Taylor provide brilliant development for the villain, but he also continued to infect Batman’s character with a dangerous overload of courage.
I’ve read a lot of Batman—he’s my favorite hero—and I’ve rarely seen him this outsmarted or given the run-around since Scott Snyder’s Court of Owls epic. By flipping nearly every positive aspect of Batman’s character into a negative, Taylor has me totally invested in every tiny decision Bruce makes. Because of the "No Fear" virus, I’m questioning his every move; every judgment could be a fatal mistake because Batman is now fearless, complacent, and incapable of critical thinking.
The cat and mouse scenario that Tom Taylor has created during this “The Courage That Kills” story arc has been super entertaining. Every time Taylor writes me into thinking that Batman’s got this figured out and under control—The Lion demonstrates his cunning, and shows that he’s one step ahead.
The Mane Character
The major plot beat in Detective Comics #1105 is the backstory Tom Taylor provides for The Lion—real name Leo Kingsford. By weaving Batman’s own history and established networks into Leo’s past, Taylor gives the villain an immediate sense of gravitas and a legitimate place in the Gotham mythos.
I really appreciated that Taylor didn't make us wait for this reveal; placing it at the beginning of the issue set the tone and signaled to the reader that this would be a pivotal chapter in the larger saga. We learn that Leo’s father was a hitman for the Falcone family, and Leo’s hatred for the Dark Knight stems from Batman’s early, less subtle days. Back then, the "Year One" style of vigilantism left a young Leo absolutely terrified, a trauma that eventually curdled into a deep-seated vendetta against the Bat.
The way Taylor has established The Lion as such a formidable problem for Batman meant that I was desperate to know more about him. Taylor delivered by crafting key events in Leo’s past that shed light on exactly why he’s terrorizing Gotham City today.
Taylor creates a brilliant disparity in how Leo feels about Bruce Wayne versus how he feels about Batman. We learn that Leo actually won a Waynetech Science Fair when he was seventeen; he had the award, along with a substantial cash prize, hand-delivered to him by Bruce himself. Consequently, Leo is a huge fan of Bruce Wayne. This was a fantastic "aha!" moment of writing that leaves the reader feeling even more entrenched in the story, realizing that Bruce’s and Leo’s paths crossed long before they became adversaries.
Born to Mane
Tom Taylor brilliantly built toward a bombastic conclusion for Detective Comics #1105. First, we’re given insight into Leo’s tremendous fighting capabilities; he was trained by Wildcat—the same legend who trained Black Canary—which is a fantastic touch of connectivity within the DC Universe. Interestingly, Canary was the one who handed Leo his first major loss, an event that forced him to remember the only other time he was truly terrified: the night the Batman took his father away.
The tension peaks when Batman finally tracks down and catches up with The Lion, aka Leo Kingsford, at Wayne Manor while it’s under attack. Refreshingly, this doesn't lead to a standard brawl, but rather a high-stakes game of outmaneuvering. It was a perfect fit for the storyline thus far; it has been a chase, and like any great detective story, there was no need for direct hand-to-hand combat to make the encounter feel earned.
The flashpoint of Detective Comics #1105 focuses on Batman’s complacency caused by the "No Fear" virus. Taylor puts Robin in danger, a move cleverly calculated by The Lion—he has orchestrated every event leading to this moment, specifically playing on Batman’s lack of fear.
Robin’s investigation into Gotham’s water supply is an obvious trap, and he is caught in a devastating explosion. Taylor leaves Robin’s fate hanging on this note, creating a massive amount of mystery and genuine worry. It’s not just "Robin" in jeopardy; it’s Damian, Bruce’s son, who has been gravely injured or worse.
The crazy genius of Leo Kingsford fully comes to fruition as he explains the elements of his plan to Batman; it’s stereotypical villain monologuing, but it fits his "smartest man in the room" persona perfectly. It harkens back to Detective Comics #1101 and the beginning of this tremendous story arc, where Batman reported a fog descending upon Gotham City while he investigated the harbor to uncover the "No Fear" virus.
Leo reveals that the fog was the virus itself! Unbelievable writing from Tom Taylor—it reveals that it’s not just Batman who has been compromised by the "Courage Killer," but the entire population of Gotham, including Robin and Oracle. If everyone has been infected, how will Batman even begin to get out of this?
Art Of A Lion
I’m loving the way Leo Kingsford is being portrayed by Mikel Janin—his whole gimmick screams the devil in plain sight to me. Even Mikel’s choice of attire for The Lion, an all-white suit; the exact opposite to our Dark Knight in a dark outfit. The contrast in colours between the two help to display they are both on different ends of the spectrum when it comes to good and evil.
The evolution of Leo Kingsford from terrified child, to awkward teen, and finally confident crazy super villain is fantastically drawn by Mikel Janin. Janin draws Leo as a child with innocence in his wide eyes, terror etched on his face from losing his father. Then we’re shown how Leo begins to close himself off from the world as a teenage super genius—Mikel draws his eyes slightly squinting, even with glasses on; giving me the feeling that he’s unsure where he’s going and doesn’t know his place in this world.
Then the full maturation of Leo Kingsford, The Lion is shown in the all-white suit, displayed as the illuminated one like Lucifer—it is the facial expressions that tell the story of Leo’s personality. Janin draws his eyebrows sharp and downwards, giving the feeling that he is devious. In the final scenes where Leo is face-to-face with Batman, even with his hand around his neck, he smirks. This smile tells me as a reader that he’s still in control, at least he thinks he still has all of the answers.
Conclusion & Rating
Detective Comics #1105 brought the smoke and the fire! Tom Taylor picked up the pace and answered all the burning questions: Who is The Lion? What is his history with Batman? How is he consistently one step ahead? And why does he want to terrorize Gotham City? Taylor delivered every answer in this issue.
What I really loved about Detective Comics #1105 was that Taylor’s dialogue had a certain speed and direction to it; it felt like it was actively leading me toward the answers I was seeking. The inclusion of Robin and Batgirl in danger adds to the chaotic peril Batman finds himself in, but Taylor leaves a potential "Easter egg" of salvation: Batman has already tested the cure for the "No Fear" virus on himself. This leads me to believe there is more than meets the eye in the encounter between the Bat and the Lion.