I picked up all four BRUCE WAYNE: THE ROAD HOME books this week, just as an experiment. I haven’t been following the death or return of Bruce at all, and I wanted to see how these books introduced me to the new Bat-status quo. I would then review each one in turn.

Long story short, the Batgirl title is the best of them by approximately fifty miles. It basically junks the lame assassination-spree subplot that turns the other books into exposition festivals, and focuses on Stephanie’s relationship with Bruce. While the other books basically treat Bruce’s return as a giant game with zero stakes, Stephanie responds to the news that Bruce is still alive in a surprising way that really elevates the book. Also, this is the only book of the four that treats Bruce’s new suit, which simulates the powers of the entire Justice League, as the awesome thing it is – when he creates a Green Lantern-type blast we’re treated to the sound effect “WLLLLLL!”

The art by Pere Perez (who apparently inked himself) is also the best of the four books. After reading the first page, which seemed dashed off in the same way that certain pages in Batman & Robin did, I was expecting bad things. But the rest of the book is spectacular, with great face-acting from all characters. I loved this book in every way, and it makes me really want to read the main Batgirl title (especially since Dustin Nguyen is taking over art duties).