Reviewer Andrew Dyce called Dr. October's introduction one of "beauty, elegance, and dignity", rather than a "reveal" meant to grab headlines and get attention. He praised Dr. October's first two appearances, arguing "it isn't Detective Comics' goal to simply acknowledge transgender individuals' existence. It's to help every reader understand what gender identity can mean to those outside of the crowd—and just as importantly, what it might not ". He was particularly impressed with the "power of pronouns" dialogue in Detective Comics #959, when Dr. October asks the bioengineered being Nomoz for preferred name, pronoun, and species identification. Dyce also pointed to October's conversation with Basil Karlo about whether a cure will get rid of his violence, lack of control, and guilt. The discussion reflects Dr. October's own gender transition, yet shows that this has meaning for non-transgender individuals (and the reader).