If you look at the cover of this book, or one of the last three covers of Batman, you may, like me, get the urge to shake your head at it, spit on it, or take it to the restroom to use it for “self-cleaning” purposes. However, you should never judge a comic book by who does the cover. We learned this painful lesson from great NMM favorites like Wolverine: Soultaker and its ilk, and this most recent issue of Batman really drives the point home. I should say, however, that this is the best cover that the cover artist ( cannot find his name, but I am sure it is someone's 10 year-old daughter - in which case making her a prodigy, rather than just a lame Batman cover artist) has done, and may have even been acceptable if it weren’t for the the burnt-orange background, the terrible lettering, and the ridiculous reflection in the Red Hood’s red hood. Hoods, by the way, made of textiles as they are, do not reflect anything except for the section of the light-spectrum by which they are colored – in this case, red.

Oh, but once you peek inside this book, my friend, like the three before it, you see a comic which deserves highest praise. I won’t reveal anything to you, dear reader, but I will give you a short and sweet rundown.

The first thing is that I am slowly learning that compound words, such as “storyline”, “rundown”, and even "aforementioned" can be used as one word rather than two words separate or hyphenated. That being said, let’s talk shop.

The first thing that stands out to me is the perfection that is called "Black Mask.” Where has this villain been? He is not only cool and totally insane, but also somehow likable. He is swiftly becoming my favorite Bat-Villain. Second, this issue features more emphasis on the difference between Nightwing and Bats – very well done. Next, we see a Mr. Freeze who is more powerful, and even crazier in his complete stoicness (not a real word). Lastly, we get a real treat in the final few pages of this issue. I mean insane goodness, which was both unexpected, and a long time comin’.

Batman continues to be a great book; and while I will be happy to see Bats facing off with the JLA due to their meddling with his brain, the current storyline is becoming so good, that I am really going to be disappointed when focus drops off of Black Mask. Sure the Red Hood is cool, important, and sinister, but come on! The Black Mask deserves loads of attention. I hope that he gets a new permanent spot in the spotlight.

-Peblee