Batman # 692 - Life After Death Part 1: The Awakening

The title of the review says it all. I was so anxious to get my hands on this issue, and i read it and it didn't disapoint. Man, where to begin, first off some insane stuff is going down in Gotham city, The Black Mask is brainwashing civilians as shock troops! Black mask is also gathering an evil cabal of scientific genuises for some yet to be revealed nefarious scheme. However the highlight of this issue for me was the return of The Falcone crime family, led by none other than Mario Falcone the last heir in the family of crime. I totally did not see that coming. I have read the Long Holloween and The Dark Victory, and both were supurb! I was blown away and pleased with the fact that aspects of thoses stories have just taken a big part in the current story arc. I was worried with many of the recent issues in the series, mainly because it was hard for me to really get into with just Dick running around taking gotham back from the underworld, but i think what helped a lot to really draw me into the seriousness of the situation was the fact that the underworld is shown in this issue stepping up their game more so than before, through creating their own think tanks of evil masterminds or using innocents as soldiers. The return of the down and out mob which was practically wiped out in the Dark victory stroy arc is for myself the highlight of the issue, I am totally digging the direction Batman is going, Tony Daniel and Sandu Florea weave a magnificant stroy, totally staying up to date on this title! Also I had to do a double take, Is the Black Mask a woman?!?!?!!?!?

I was sooo glad that i brought this issue. This was my first issue of the main batman title and all i can say about  
it, is that this issue is amazing!!!!! The art is eye-catching and really cool!!!!! The story is very interesting and so is the characterisation. Catwoman and the black mask is also in the issue which is an added bonus. This issue also makes reference to the falcone family (who first appeared in batman: the long Halloween)which is also cool and clever!!!!! 
I am definitely picking next up next issue!!!! thanks to Tony Daniel's writing.  I am officially and totally hooked for next issue.
For a rating i will gives this issue a 4.5 out of five!!!!!!