However, just as in real life, cycles of abuse are hard to break. While the Joker is (for the time being) intent on marrying Barbara Gordon (see Batgirl #14-16), I highly doubt he and Quinn will be capable of keeping away from each other for long. I'd like to see Quinn revert back to the abused puppy with a bubbling personality we all know and love, but I'm not counting on it.

Batgirl, discovering that the Court is responsible for putting up the homeless to commit arson, trails Catwoman and the Talon to the middle man orchestrating the arsons and the Talon's break-out for the Court. Explaining that their goal is to implicate Bruce Wayne as the mastermind behind the criminal activity, and as such, make him legally responsible for any deaths that occur, Catwoman severs her partnership stating that she does not kill innocent people. Batgirl intervenes when the Talon and two of her fellow court members attempt to kill her, and ultimately convinces the Talon to switch allegiances. Having earned their trust, the Talon reveals her name to be Mary. It's nothing compared to her run on Birds of Prey, but Simone's dynamic between these leading ladies makes me hope future team-ups will be a regular occurrence for the series.

Catwoman of course, doesn't want to be a pawn in the Joker's game. She denies that she cares anymore for Batman than she does for the Joker himself. At the same time, she isn't going to mold herself into an archnemesis solely on the Joker's recommendation. She even quips that it's obvious the Joker is madly in love with Batman, an accusation he doesn't refute and a clear reference to Frank Miller's interpretation of the character. Ultimately, Catwoman goes her own way, as she always does, and the Joker chooses not to pursue her... but that doesn't mean he won't cross her path again.

Nightwing's characterization lacks depth in this issue. Granted, he is clearly distraught by the senseless deaths of those close to him, but his dialog is missing the unbridled passion and rage that other tie-ins to Death of the Family have produced. Nonetheless, this is still a top-notch issue for a window into the Joker's twisted mind.

Williams artwork is superb as always, as is the coloring by Dave Stewart. That combined with storytelling as strong as "Elegy," Batwoman #0 is one of the strongest issues out of DC Comics' Zero month. Blackman and Williams have given me a new found respect for the character, one that will captivate all who read it.

An interesting development in this storyline is that Jacob Kane has agreed to train his niece Bette in the same way he did Kate. Batwoman previously attempted to stop her cousin's exploits as a superhero because she lacked what she considered to be a proper motivation. Now that Bette has more or less recovered from a grueling physical mutilation, she's more determined than ever to prove she has the resolve to be just as effective as any hero out there, especially her cousin. Like a Phoenix, Flamebird may emerge as a more dynamic character than her previous incarnations as the series progresses, but will she continue to try and partner herself with Batwoman, or will she strike out on her own?

Throughout the course of her publication history, Batwoman has steadily been severing ties with people rather than building them. She is at her most isolated at this point, estranged from her father, cousin, girlfriend and even distant with other members of the Batman Family. Despite being in the greatest battle she could ever imagine, a constant source of anguish for her is the realization she doesn't have anyone to share what could be her final moments with. If she survives, hopefully it will be a lesson learned that being your own woman doesn't necessarily mean being devoid of attachment.

What's most endearing about Allen is that while he admits to being "red-blooded, porn-raised American male", he also realizes there is more to life than looking for your next orgasm. Love, compatibility and companionship are what he truly desires, but that doesn't mean he'll decline a little no-strings anonymous encounter either. Overall, Irresistible is smart, sexy and more than lives up to its title.

The Red Hood would have no difficulty in killing the Joker if he could manage to physically take hold of him for more than a second. The Joker, however, has several aces up his sleeves and he is going to drag out this special reunion by involving Red Robin and the Teen Titans. As with Batgirl, the next few issue will tell if the Red Hood will actually find an opportunity to take out the Joker or if the madman will once again have the last laugh.

Do I have qualms with this issue? Only one: Batgirl's initial costume, which is modeled after the one illustrated in Frank Miller's All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder. It works well with Miller's storyline but seems out of place here. Batgirl should always wear a full cowl, period. Other than that, Batgirl #0 is a must read, one that will leave you wishing it were a limited series unto itself, rather than a stand alone issue.

The last few pages of "A Blade of Memory" are the prologue to Death of the Family, the highly anticipated storyline featuring the return of the Joker. It is the first time we witness a reenactment of The Killing Joke and the third time that story has been referenced in the pages of Batgirl. While, that may seem redundant, you'll have to read Batman #13 to understand just how grave Batgirl's inevitable confrontation with the Joker is going to be and why he is so eager to make the Gordon's memories of The Killing Joke as fresh as if it were happening for the first time. Writing aside, the issue is once again rendered beautifully by Ed Benes. I know a number of readers have been off-put by his depiction of female characters, but personally I've never seen his artwork as anything less than phenomenal, especially in conjunction with Simone's literary voice. Enjoy!

A revelation dawning on various members of the Batman Family is that the Joker is now aware of all of their secret identities, not only that, but seemingly their entire life stories. To add insult to injury, James Jr. makes his allegiances perfectly clear. Through her inner dialog, one can infer Batgirl may have to consider giving up civilian life altogether; a prelude perhaps, to the new "status quo" described in solicitations for upcoming issues. The Joker is sadistic as expected in this issue, but this is clearly Barbara's story and the ramifications of the Joker's "proposal" to her as mystifying as they are unsettling.

Batwoman still holds to the ideal that justice can be achieved without death, but Batgirl's personal violation(s) at the hands of the Joker skew that perception for her. She is willing to sacrifice everything to get her revenge. The question is, will she find her golden opportunity to take it?

As an added bonus, we see a bit of the old Oracle in The New 52 in this issue, as Barbara recalls her life after her paralysis (but prior to her recovery). Drea (@ArkhamAsylumDoc), who is a Doctor of Psychology and who has been described as invaluable in shaping Gail Simone's depiction of a woman recovering from trauma is canonized as Batgirl's therapist here, attempting to persuade a very stubborn young Barbara Gordon to work through the radical adjustments she's had to make in her life. While many are thrilled and forever grateful for Batgirl's return in The New 52, there is a twinge of nostalgia that will course through every reader's heart seeing Barbara in her wheelchair, representing those who are differently-abled and nonetheless kick-ass.

As an added bonus, we see a disillusioned but nonetheless devoted Harley Quinn. Although she is normally more than enthusiastic about participating in her lovers schemes, even she is terrified of him now, warning Batman hes not my Mr. J anymore. Her attitude proves, this isnt just a joke, and it isnt merely a game, this is a Joker no one has ever seen before. If Knock Knock is any indication, Death of the Family will be a graphic novel people will be taking about for years to come.

In the "Good Ol' Days" before The New 52, the Joker would have made his scheme settle with a slow burn. These days however, he's cutting through the rubbish like a hyperactive zombie out of Dawn of the Dead. The most disturbing revelation of this issue is the fact the Joker apparently knows everything now; secret identities are a relic of the past. It's all the Family can do to simply react to his every move, let alone have enough time to plan ahead. One must wonder: who will live and who will die by the time this story concludes?

The back-up feature, "Red Light, Green Light" introduces the Riddler into this ongoing epic. In a rare feat, the Joker acknowledges the Riddler as his superior, the only one able to challege Batman intellectually; the only one capable of keeping his beloved King in constant state of self-improvement. What hand will Riddler deal in "Death of the Family?"

The only downfall of this issue is that Batman's encounters with the archvillains of Arkham Asylum"Mr. Freeze, Clayface, the Scarecrow, the Riddler, the Penguin and Two-Face"are rushed, although that detail is actually built into the story itself. It would have been beneficial to extend this saga another issue, revisiting the classic confrontations Batman has had with each of his adversaries as he has with the Joker thus far, but that have been a restraint set by the publisher rather than Snyder himself. Regardless, he and master artist Greg Capullo have rendered yet another fantastic issue. Like the conclusion of Seven (1995), next month's final chapter may leave audiences more disturbed than they care to admit.

Patrick Gleason's artwork is on point. His rendition of the Joker is almost as creepy as Greg Capullo's work in Batman. Out of all the Death of the Family tie-ins, this is a most unexpected accomplishment. One thing is for sure, no one will ever be the same after this event concludes.

Ghost actually says and does very little in the prequel but the mystery that surrounds her, who she is and where she comes from, is enough to keep you reading thanks to the excellent characterization of Tommy Byers and Vaughn Barnes, who are trying to solve it.

Overall, DeConnick's storytelling and Phil Noto's artwork make for a very enjoyable read. If Ghost #1 is any indication, this four issue limited series maybe a new definitive story in this character's publication history. One I sincerely hope will lead to a new on-going monthly series.

Both Kelly Sue DeConnick and Phil Noto remain top-notch as writer and artist respectively in this issue, as they have been throughout this mini-series. That makes it all the more bittersweet this series will conclude with issue #4. If you've never read anything of Ghost before, I recommend collecting DeConnick's run. It's definitely a must-read.

Red Robin doesn't have time for an emotional response to the Joker's madness; he only has time to figure a way out of the Clown Prince of Crime's entrapment, and hopefully, prevent his teammates from dying in the process of their rescue attempt. Unfortunately, thought for thought, the Joker is literally one step ahead of him. If future solicitations of Teen Titans are any indication, Red Robin may be the ultimate casualty in Death of the Family.