Ok, the art is pretty good, but it wasn't consistent. Scarface and The Penguin looked radically different from section to section, which I can respect going from one artist to another, but when it's all in the same book, The Penguin should have the same amount of fingers.

The story line is, as expected, a little frazzled and fractured, but that reflects the content. Would have liked a little more on the "Spoiler" character, but I guess I'll just have to read more. ( )

The first book of a long storyline, in which (we later learn who) somebody sends an identical message to all of Gotham City's crimelords to meet. They all do so, bringing their protection, and inevitably bloodshed ensues, leaving Gotham City a battlefield for the surviving crime bosses. This makes for a truly tiring and trying time for Batman, particularly as Robin has retired at his father's insistence, and Spoiler, trying out as the new Robin, has failed to cut the mustard and been cashiered. Other forces are called in, and the first couple of days mainly consists of Batman et alia troubleshooting one crimelord takeover after another. The minor players eventually become confusingly many. What really makes this book is the part at Tim Drake's (Robin, retired) high school, which becomes a battlefield, forcing Tim to reveal some of his abilities to his amazed classmates. Also intriguing is the relationship that Batman has with his various helpers, who seem to multiply with every new storyline. Uneven artwork. ( )