Something about this series is really rubbing me the wrong way and I can’t pinpoint what it is yet. Last issue it seemed to be the change in tone from the first half of the book to the second. That and the art isn’t helping either with Yanick Paquette not doing his best work, if I’m honest, with this title. However we should have none of these problems because: A) Apparently Batwoman is involved with a separate storyline and B) Chris Burnham is taking the reigns at art. So can a shift in character and artist help the series for me?

Well let’s get things out of the way before reviewing: The solicitation is wrong on two levels. Firstly, this title does go back to the El Gaucho storyline (albiet in small chunks) and it’s not Batman teaming up with Batwoman. Second, yes this is about Batwoman but not the one you think. Even with the current Batwoman is in this issue, it’s more about the original woman who took up the mantle in the 1950s: Kathy Kane.

With that confusion out of the way, how does this issue hold up? Well if you wanted a random origin story about a Silver Age character who really has no bearing on the story, at least that I can see other then a mislead, then you might enjoy this issue. To be fair nothing about this is bad and I admit Morrison does a great job with the flashback sequences here. You can tell Grant really loves the Silver Age version of Batman because the camp value it up to 11 in this issue. Anytime Batman speaks in the flashback it’s just so funny for me to read and I especially loved the panel where Robin walks in on him and Kathy making out. That’s panel of the week material right there. The stuff that doesn’t involve Kathy’s origins though is still a bit of a chore for me to read honestly. I’m still not sure why the current Batwoman is involved with this issue because, other then a mention of ‘Oroboro’ there is not direct connection between the two stories. I did like Bruce taking out his frustrations about Kathy’s death on El Guacho, but the betrayal that is hinted here didn’t seem that important for me. It’s another case where I enjoy one-half of the book but the other half I am left completely confused and uninterested in.

I will say that I do love Chris Burnham’s art style. He’s a mix of Frank Quitely, Geof Darrow, and a pinch of J.H. Williams III and sometimes he’ll even bring those artists style in a particular sequence. Whenever it’s Kate Kane chasing a thug it really looks a lot like Williams III art style for his Detective Comics run. But then I see a lot of Quitely in some of the flashback sequences, especially with Batman/Kathy hallucinate and kiss. Finally, and most of the time, I see a lot of sketchy Darrow-lite art with the pages. I also see a lot of detail in the panels and some hidden jokes within the panels as well. The look on Bruce’s face when Robin finds him with Kathy really made the joke all the more funny. I’d definitely like to see more of Burnham on a bat book and considering of Yanick’s constant delays it’s gonna happen soon with issue #6.

So I’m still iffy on this entire series ever since the fantastic first issue came out. While the origin story for Kathy was interesting to read, I didn’t understand the connection for it right now (although I’m sure Morrison will explain it in the future). Plus there really is no reason for the current Batwoman to be in this story considering she’s only there to set up Kathy’s origin. The art though by Burnham is really fantastic to look at and he is the saving grace for this issue. Maybe Morrison needs to get away from Argentina and give us another Batman INC candiate to look at, and hopefully soon.