In this review of Detective Comics #1110, the connection between the fallen hero Prion and the mysterious girl is revealed, while Dinah Lance grapples with her role in Prion’s death.
Detective Comics #1110 main cover by Mikel Janín (DC Comics)
DETECTIVE COMICS #1110
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art and Main Cover: MIKEL JANÍN
Variant Covers: KEVIN NOWLAN, DAVE JOHNSON, ANGEL SOLORZANO
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 6/24/26
This review contains spoilers
Detective Comics #1110 begins in the past as Green Arrow, Black Canary and Prion intercept a hijacked train by air. The three heroes handle themselves well against the hijackers, but when Batman arrives on scene he is shot in the back after missing one of the hijackers but is saved by Prion. Later at the train station, Prion tells Batman his observations about the Dark Knight’s motivations, while hinting at his own.
In the present day, Green Arrow regroups with Batman in the aftermath of the attack by the mysterious young girl last issue (who is currently seeking refuge with Black Canary at a safe house with the last surviving witness against Klep Corp). Dinah cleans the girl up and sends her to bed, but she receives orders to eliminate the final witness. Dinah catches the girl in the act while receiving an audio warning from Green Arrow.
Green Arrow and Batman burst into the safe house and the girl escapes. The heroes track her to an estate on the edge of town as Batman goes rogue and listens in on the conversation between the girl and her grandmother. The girl, named Arabella is Prion’s daughter and she is being controlled by some sort of device (and believes she’s a princess).
Dinah sneaks into Arabella’s room, and the girl is about to reveal a secret from her father when armed guards intervene. Dinah dispatches the guards with ease, but things become difficult when the grandmother appears.
Detective Comics #1110 ends as Arabella and her grandmother argue, and it is revealed by Dinah herself that she had a role in Prion’s death years ago.
“Flight Squadron Delta” has arrived… (DC Comics)
Analysis
Detective Comics #1110 gets the story rolling with another telling flashback, and finally some answers about the girl we now know is named Arabella who is also Prion’s daughter. This flashback builds on the previous ones to flesh out Prion’s character and his bonding with Dinah and Oliver during their mission illustrates how far they’ve come as a team, while his one-on-one with Batman reveals as much about his observational skills as about the young hero’s own personal demons.
Writer Tom Taylor delivers another enjoyable chapter; running the gamut from action-packed fight scenes to clever sight gags to an emotional wringer or two as more about Arabella’s tragic past (and present) is revealed. Her grandmother training and programming her as an assassin is dark, but Taylor provides some depth and spirit to the manipulated orphan. While the trope of child assassins is well chronicled, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a shock to find out that the one closest to her is doing the most harm.
It’s also notable that the virus from The Courage that Kills plays an important role in spurring Arabella to crack open the package her late father left behind for her (although the contents are yet to be revealed). The only gripe with the script for Detective Comics #1110 is Dinah’s total lack of awareness about Arabella. Why would Dinah allow her into a safehouse with the final living witness to a big trial and not do any due diligence? Black Canary is typically as quick thinking as she is on her feet.
The banter between Green Arrow and Prion, and Green Arrow and Batman adds much needed levity amid the darker aspects of the story, but never feels out of character, as this appears to be a shorthand for how the heroes relate to one another during dangerous missions. The contrast of Dinah Lance mothering Arabella at the safehouse, (oblivious to the girl’s sinister motives), and Arabella’s resourcefulness of procuring a weapon, subduing her target and providing an excuse when caught is stark.
Mikel Janin’s artwork is stunning as always, with agonizing emotional beats, thrilling action and humor. The opening sequence is impressive as a James Bond meets Mission Impossible trope (with colorful costumes), while Black Canary’s battle royal with the armed guards is impressive, but some of the foreshortening feels off, which is unfortunate as it distracts from Janin’s otherwise stellar art and color.
Final Thoughts
Detective Comics #1110 is a fun new chapter that mixes thrills, humor and emotion while honoring the legacy of these long-running heroes, even if some of their past isn’t exactly heroic. A couple of small stumbles doesn’t mar the overall high quality of the issue.
