I love the opening sequence: seen from Batman’s perspective from inside the cockpit of the batmobile, as he and Alfred debate the merits of the Riddler’s latest crime. Soon, the Caped Crusader goes into battle against an army of Riddlers, mostly innocent dupes suckered into the Riddler’s diversionary tactics.

Nick Derington’s artwork reminded me of Alex Toth, an acknowledged master in the world of comic books from a generation ago. There are certainly worse artists from which to draw inspiration. MY only complaint (and Derington is not alone in this practice) is how often Batman is depicted with facial stubble. Perhaps Ben Affleck made it acceptable, but Bruce Wayne is a captain of industry and a billionaire playboy.

That look went out when Miami Vice went off the air.

Unfortunately, this is the only story DC Comics offered from its WalMart exclusive 100-page giant Batman comic. Three additional features include Nightwing, Catwoman, Killer Croc and Amanda Waller (the last two suggesting a Suicide Squad story). The others may be reprints, but the Batman lead story is brand new.

Further installments promise to reintroduce a classic DC character from another era. I’d already submitted a reinvented version of the character, if only to prevent DC from actually coming up with something equally ridiculous. We’ll see what DC has in store next issue.

Oh, and Harley Quinn is featured yet again. I swear, that character is rapidly becoming over-exposed in the worst way. Can DC NOT go a week without featuring Harley somewhere in its line-up?