From DC Comics, Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion

 

Gotham City is ruined and may not be able to come back from the brink of chaos that the blanket of crime which covers the city has caused.  Batman is at the prison (most likely Arkham) surrounded by villains old and new.  All of which look a little different.  Riddler, Two Face, Scarecrow, Killer Croc, Mister Freeze, Scarface and three faces I’m unsure of.  Let me know who they are!

Its so well written.  The “Gotham is…” framing to the narrative is brilliant.  Not only does it give Batman a monologue, its also used to introduce the villains in case you are one of the few actual new readers.  Batman tries to take on multiple assailants and holds his own for a while.  He takes a tumble, the Joker is behind him, its about to go from bad to worse when…. The Joker teams up with Batman?!  What the hell.  Also, no idea if its the same Joker as in Detective Comics.

Even Jim Gordon is confused.  During their regular spotlight meetings Jim asks why the CC footage looks like the Bat and the Man Who Laughs are teaming up.  One, of course every prison would have CC!  Excellent storyline use!  This is such a tiny thing, but it does show that this new DC is in the modern time.  Finally.

In the Bat-Cave we can see the usual displays.  The dinosaur, the huge penny, even the fallen Robin costume are all there.  So, there is some history to Batman.  But what and when are still unknown.

Also unknown is why the fuck the Joker is in the cave!  Oh, I was mentioning coming into the modern era?  Dick Grayson is wearing some sort of digital disguise, and he who we thought was the Joker stands revealed.  Bruce tells Dick that he now wears a contact lens.  I thought all these guys were supposed to be younger?!  Oh, he wears it because its actually a small screen that connects him to the BatCave’s computer.  Holy fuck that’s cool.

Bruce and Dick dress up for a party.  They aren’t the only ones.  Master Wayne’s sons are all there – Dick, Tim and Damian.  Apparently Jason Todd didn’t RSVP.  Batman’s computer link is used as a device to introduce all of the characters.  The most striking thing in all of this is seeing the security levels of the usual companions.  All of the Robins have a high security clearance, while Alfred is listed as highest.  That’s right.  Through all of this Bruce trusts Alfred more than any of the three men who have risked their lives standing next to him.  Damn.

Well I guess we get an answer to that.  Bruce listens in on Jim Gordon getting a call about a murder.  Batman investigates the murder and its grisly.  Tests are run, detective work is done, and we have a match for the number one suspect.  Under the victim’s fingernails is the DNA of… Dick Grayson.

Oh shit.

Yeah, bring on issue 2.