At least Finch's art is good 1/2 the time.
I am from Toronto and I will admit David Finch (a local boy) let me down on this. The plot is shallow and the art was inconstant, such as the pages when Jaina Hudson is introduced, both Bruce and her facial structures change drastically, which gets really offsetting with the changes in color of skin tone as well. I understand shades and shadows, I just was taken out of the world with the awkward change of faces and colors.
With all the Bat books on the shelf there had to be a loser of the bunch and this one was it. Tec had Tony Daniel writing a story that is Joker driven and that is his edge over this. Scott Snyder had a better Arkham Story since his Asylum escape has never been done before, so again this one was overshadowed. This being the last Batbook released also hurt this book since it doesn't hold up with the best of the 52. The plot doesn't achieve anything another book has done before.
When Finch's art is at its best it is beautiful so art-wise this arc will flip nicely in trade, but Paul Jenkins' writing is not his sharpest and the plot is not a strong one, since Two-Face is the key villain and this book goes in the opposite direction of Grant Morrison's Arkham Asylum Two-Face. So if watered down easy to digest stories with playboy bunnies in it, is your cup of tea then this book might be good for you.
I don't plan to finish this arc personally. David Finch or not. I rather save my money or a deeper plot.
Cheers
- Silkcuts
