Tony Daniel wasn't lying when he said in recent interviews he wanted to treat this like a mini movie. I am easily pleased but this is a fantastic start to Battle for the Cowl series and so far one of my favorite Batman issues to date (takes me back to my Knightfall days).

The issue starts off with Robin and Squire teaming up to take down some small time gangs, who encounter what appears to be another Batman!
After teaming up with Nightwing and the Network. The scene shifts to the inmates of Arkham Asylum being shipped to Backgate prison after the Jokers rein of terror in Batman R.I.P., but things get worse when the "The Black Mask" returns (from the dead?) to spring the inmates and forces them to join forces with him to take advantage of Batman's missing presence in the city.

Once the fast paced start of this issue simmers down a little the story starts to focus on Dick Greyson's current state of mind and the troubled notion that no one else is able to take up the Mantle of the bat. Tim Drake has other idea's and starts his search for the current impostor running around as Batman and figures out were there current location is. This shifts to a fantastic page showing Tim wearing the Batman costume from the Neil Adam's era.

One of the scenes in this book that I do have an issue with this, is Damien Wayne taking the Batmobile on joyride with a "gal-pal" as Oracle puts it. But is quickly stopped by Oracle and asked to investigate a sudden appearance of an unscheduled ship docking at the harbour. While on route the Batmobile is attacked by Killer Croc and just as Croc and Poison Ivy are about to put Damian out of his misery. Nightwing shows up to rescue him.

The action continues as both Damian and Nightwing are suddenly attacked by a gang of Black Mask's men... just as they are about to strike the final blow... the new Batman, Tim is looking for attacks (Jason Todd)... To be continued.

Again a very fast paced issue but flowed very well. Tony Daniel's writing and artwork is fantastic and is a definite must for all Batman fan's to read.