The setup-nature as well as the weak pacing of this issue takes it down a few notches, but with Snyder and Capullo you're always guaranteed good Bat stuff.

Uneven art and weak story choices works together in bringing this issue down in "OK but ultimately disappointing"-territory, which is not where this series belongs. The problems this issue left readers with might be addressed later, but as of now they are quite glaring. Hopefully the upcoming done-in-one issues will give Snyder and Capullo time to breath before they dive into their next big story arc.

Batman #12 is a different read from what has been going on in this series during the last year, and while the change of pace feels fresh and fill-in artist Becky Cloonan does a good job on it I personally miss some of the suspense Snyder usually weaves into his stories. The backup feature is also problematic, as it's wonky dialogue and jarring change of art-style makes the story as a whole feel somewhat disjointed.