Batman The Dark Knight #5
Batman is on an adventure with Writer/Co-plotter Paul Jenkins and Artist/Co-Plotter David Finch. As David lead the charge for a great a mystical Gotham City and Batman in 2011 before Flashpoint, he is now returning to the series that he had helped create to tell more interesting Batman stories. As the artwork of David Finch is much acclaimed the team of Jenkins and Finch are going to bend and break Batman to their will to discover what the Dark Knight truly fears.
The Good
While this is not like Snyder and Capullo's Batman title that they are currently working on, this Batman title was created perfectly for new or returning readers. Finch and Jenkins create a story that goes at a somewhat slow and steady pace, however they are feeding the new or returning comic book readers enough to make them want to see more. In contrast with Snyder and Capullo's Bat-title that is solely dedicated to the readers that have been loyal to the franchise, while at times making it easy enough for new readers to jump in. From my perspective, both Batman titles have a good place on my shelf as they are unique in their own ways. In this issue, Batman battles Scarecrow that has some new tricks up his sleeve, as Batman has fought this fiend in the past, Jonathan Crane has some new tactics that will surely make Batman cower in the corner. From issue 1 till this issue right here, you can see that Paul and David are making sure that they give enough new material without it seeming so repetitive and boring.
The Bad
This is a unique comic as (like I said multiple times already) that Paul and David are pulling in new readers by trying to spoon feed them with enough Batman information to make them become permanent readers of DC Comics. While that seems to be their goal from my point of view, it also seems that they give little care for the loyal Batman fans who have been reading DC Comics since, forever! While these stories aren't as compelling and "keeps you on the edge of your seat..." it still doesn't make up the fact that this just seems a bit dull at times.
The Verdict
Great for new or returning readers, not that much knowledge of the end goal of this first story arc, but that is pretty much it for this issue. Overall 3.5 out of 5.
