In your opinion, give the top 10 DC detectives.

I don't think I know 10 DC detectives, here's what I do know, though.
1. Ralph Dibny
2. Batman
3. Question 1
4. Question 2
And, because I saw him on the Dibny page: 5. Detective Chimp

Some DC detectives for those who don't know. 
 
Bruce Wayne 
Dick Grayson 
Tim Drake 
Riddler 
Owlman 
Elongated Man 
Detective Chimp 
Question 
Renee Montoya 
Batwoman 
Jim Corrigan 
Oracle 
Black Canary

1. The origional question 
2.Bruce wayne 
3.Riddler 
Thats about as far as I want to go with that...

J'onn is up there.

I'll go ahead and give my opinion. 
 
1)Elongated Man - This man is brilliant and state he was a better detective than Bruce. He is the guy people call in the DC universe for any abnormal crimes or mysterys. He has trick Demons and the like with his superior intelligence and definately deserves this spot. 
2)Detective Chimp - He has kept up with Elongated Man and other top detectives with ease and study's everything around him. 
3)Batman - He is the most known detective in the DC universe and doesn't play around He is very good at cracking cases that are set up by people who don't think the same way we do. He is the Comparrison for most other detectives in the DCU
4)Question l- One of the best in the buisness, Question is a great detective and is ever curious for answers. No case goes unsolved, because of his exteme curiousness for an answer.  
5)The Ridler - No one can deny this guys mental capabilities. He has kept up with BAtman for years and on occasion been able to out smart the Dark Knight. He definately uses unorthadox methods, but is a great detective all the same
6)Owlman - A prodigy in the eyes of Batman. His capabilitties as a detective are top notch and he did this before he ever became a hero. Batman himself stated that he had alot of Detective Talent. 
7)Tim Drake - The aspiring detective. He has all the potential to be number 1 someday and continues to prove this. 
8)Oracle - She would probably be higher if I knew more about her. From what I have read though, She definately deserves a spot on the list. 
9)Jim Corrigan - Though I don't know that much about him. He was a great detective fromt he few comics I have seen him in. 
10)Dick Grayson - He isn't on the level of Bruce or Tim, he even states this himself, but he has his share of impressive cases he has cracked. 
 
Honorable mentions to Renee Montoya, Batwoman, Black Canary, and Green Arrow(Ollie)

I remember Dick Grayson being able to solve cases of America's Most Wanted by sitting on the couch watching TV lol

1-Bruce Wayne
2-Question 1
3-Tim Drake
4-Ralph Dibny

Hmmm... no love for Rorschach as detective?

1. Bruce Wayne  
2. Tim Drake 
3. Dick Grayson  
4. Ralph Dibny  
5. Question 1  
6. Question 2  
7. Batgirl  (Barbara)
 
That's all I got.

1. Batman 
2. Tim Drake 
3. Ralph Dibny 
4. Question #1 
5. Barbara Gordon 
6. Dick Grayson 
7. the Riddler  
8. James Gordon (the commissioner) 
9. Perry White
10. Rorschach- only cause i love him  
-...seems like Gotham breeds detectives or something

the spirit 

5.  Red Robin (Tim Drake)
4. Oracle
3. Batman
2. Elongated Man
1. Question

Good lists, I'll have to think this one out before putting up one of my own.

I think Tim Drake is better than Batman...

And what, no Rorschach? He's definently a great detective...

1. Batman

2. The Question

3. Elongated Man

4. Red Robin

5. Rorschach

1. Batman.
2. The Question.
3. Martian Manhunter.
4. Red Robin.
5. Rorschach.

Good Question, here's my top 10:

1) Batman - Bruce Wayne

2) Question - Vic Sage

3) Red Robin - Tim Drake

4) Sherlock Holmes (although not exclusive)

5) Martian Manhunter - J'onn J'onzz

6) Rorschach - Walter Kovacs

7) Question - Renee Montoya

8) John Constantine

9) James Gordon

10) Crispus Allen (pre-Specter)

NB. If you don't count Holmes then my number 10 would be Jimmy Olsen

Rorschach isn't in the DCU. I presume all "best of DC" threads are limited to DCU only.

@dr_cheesesteak: you are correct. I intended this. For Pre-52 Detectives only, as the New 52 wasn't even thought of yet XD.

@strafe_prower: What does pre-52 or or new 52 have anything to do with Rorschach?

@irishx: they are separate topics, I was just adding that statement for further clarification

@strafe_prower: Ok, I get that you were only interested in pre 52 detectives. What does that have to do with Rorschach though? Do you think he only got introduced after the New 52? What Dr. Cheese was saying is that he doesn't think he counts because he's not in the same universe with Batman and such.

@irishx: I was basically answering his question by saying yes and adding that I was only interested in Pre-52 characters as well. Just adding that as another perimeter for the thread. So im only interested in Pre-52 DCU characters on these lists.

@jotham: what about Rorchach from the Watchmen.

Batman has to be top 3 I think. Besides his martial arts skills I think his detective skills are the biggest part of what makes him a great hero who can gain appeal with your superstrength, or super speed etc.

Tim Drake

Detective Chimp

Jim Corrigan

Black Canary

Timothy Trench

Jason Bard

Riddler

Dick Grayson

Ralph Dibny

Tim Drake

• Batman - Bruce Wayne
• Red Robin - Tim Drake
• The Question - Vic Sage
• The Question - Renee Montoya
• The Spectre - Jim Corrigan
• Elongated Man - Ralph Dibny
• Oracle - Barbara Gordon
• Martian Manhunter - John Jones
• Robin - Damian Wayne
• Batwoman - Kate Kane

I'd have to go with strafer's list, give or take.
Within silver age continuity, Ralph admitted feeling intimidated by Batman's detective skills. However, his stories rely on him being a detective more than Batman's and he is also a lot more into that skill (Batman is also a martial artist, tactician). There is also the point of controversy of the merits. Ralph's publication history is a lot thinner and a lot focus on rather trivial mysteries. However, he tricked the Devil, solved a mystery set by the entire League and solved the mystery of Edgar Allan Poe's death. The last one is huge in that Poe is the father of the mystery genre. So, to me:

Elongated Man

Detective Chimp

Batman and Owlman

Question

Batgirl

Riddler

Tim Drake

On a lesser degree

Dick Grayson

Slam Bradley

Martian Manhunter

Angel and the Ape

Bullock is almost like the Clouseau of the crowd.

I know you've all named the obvious ones, but what about :

• "Slam" Bradley
• Lee Travis (The Crimson Avenger 1)
• Bart Regan (Spy)

Slam and Crimson Avenger are pretty good ones to note. Thanks for that.

Also, Jonah Hex has a bit of detetive prowess as well, though not on the level of Bruce and Tim.

Detective Chimp

Question

Elongated Man

Batman

Tim Drake

Wesley Dodds?

1) Detective Chimp

2) The Question

3) Tim Drake

4) Bruce Wayne

5) Dick Grayson

6) Renee Montoya