reporter marissa higgins, writing for web site the daily dot, noted "how important it is for people to have representation that feels real." dialogue in "detective comics" makes dr. october a "real" transgender person by addressing issues fundamental to transgender people: choosing a new name, deadnaming, and revealing that one is transgender. higgins applauded how the comic provided these details as character history and avoided making transgender identity "the all-consuming present and future" of dr. october.