In this series, Batman is a villain, the muscle behind Luthor’s rule over New Metropolis. And he’s every bit as formidable as he is in the mainstream DC Universe. In a battle with the inhabitants of the Gotham Garage (those that don’t flee beforehand), he demonstrates that even against those with meta-human abilities, he’s still a force to be reckoned with. And this leads to action, action and more action.

After six issues, it’s clear this book is intended to appeal to the feminist audience. Not that that’s a bad thing in theory, it’s the execution I take issue with. The men in the book are either cowards or villains, while the women are the genuine heroes. They battle against overwhelming odds, even if it means their inevitable death. I’m all for strong women characters, but it seems rather one-sided here. You’re either a male or a hero; nothing exists in between.

The ending of this chapter suggests the stakes are about to be raised next issue, with suggestions that new variations of long-time DC characters will be introduced. It is my hope that it will be broader mix of men and women, heroes and villains.

I am uncertain how many issues this will run, but hearing DC continually beat the feminist drum these days is beginning to give me a head ache. Certainly there is room on the comic book racks for more than one female-oriented title. But I can only speak for my current load of reviews, which includes DC’s Bombshells United, Batwoman, and Mother Panic. Being estrogen-deficient, perhaps I’m not the best person to review these titles.