After really loving Snyder’s Swamp Thing despite having no prior intent to read that character, I was psyched to see Snyder at work on a character I had every intention to read in the first place. And it’s good; certainly better than Detective’s overly Milleresque antics.

In fact, really, Snyder’s script is very strong the more I think about it. Very strong. I suppose what left me a little cold in this issue is that I felt like we dwelt a little to long on Bruce’s speech, on his announcement of Wayne Enterprises’ plans to reinvigorate Gotham, on meeting the characters in attendance. I guess these things will be important to the plot, but for now, and on their own, they seem…well, like Bruce’s life, and that’s fine, but that’s not nearly as engaging to me as Batman’s. And nothing about that party gave me particular things to thrill at or look forward to.

But when he’s in costume, man, that’s pretty good stuff. And the mystery Batman is confronted with in this issue is sure to be an interesting one to see unfold next month.