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.

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.

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.