Also, loved the call back to The Black Mirror with Tiger Shark. Read Full Review

Writer Scott Snyder skillfully and sincerely breathes life into Harper and Cullen, while also managing to add something new and fresh to the title. He's easily the best thing to happen to Batman in a good long while and DC is lucky to have him. Artist Becky Cloonan makes her Batman debut here. While her style is in stark contrast to series regular, Greg Capullo's, it fits this type of story quite well. It may not be everyone's cup of tea " especially those who are more used to traditional comic book art " but the cartoony, almost manga style should make it very appealing for this issue's target audience. Read Full Review

Though there's that slight nitpick, Batman #12 is a complete triumph. This is the kind of issue that we get far too few of in superhero comics; the one that reminds us a superhero book can be so much more than just the typical big action we get month-in and month-out. This is a book that exemplifies the true potential of these characters " and Batman hardly shows face. Read Full Review

Engaging new characters, good dialogue, solid action, and bold narrative choices. Welcome to the Bat Family, Harper Row, you have a great future ahead of you. Read Full Review

This is more than just a palette cleaner, prior to next month's #0 origin story and the return of the Joker in #13, but is rather an essential tale of the city which Wayne has fought to protect all of these years. We hope to see more of Harper Row in the future. Read Full Review

So, another terrific issue in the most consistently outstanding series in the first year of DC's "New 52." Read Full Review

"Batman" #12 is a strong wrap-up for the first year of the re-launched title. It's been one of the best "New 52" series for DC Comics, and it's nice to see that strength continuing from one month to the next. As much as I've liked Capullo on board "Batman" the previous 11 months, any time Snyder and Cloonan can work together again is just fine by me. Read Full Review

As a one-off, Batman #12 works differently, adding a further layer to the just concluded “Court of Owls” epic. It also delves deep into a character that we have not seen the last of. Harper is a modern amalgamation of a heroine – resilient and determined, just as she is feminine and emotional. She doesn't have to choose between worlds; she can inhabit both without losing any part of her core. Her realization is the intricate work of Snyder and Cloonan, aptly using the tools in their belts to actualize a narrative that expands the overall direction of Batman. That Cloonan did not have the opportunity to complete the entire issue is the only point that harms this issue. It is, no matter the misstep, one of the closets books to realize the potential of the New 52 relaunch. Read Full Review

It's always interesting to experiment with a non-Batman story in a Batman book and here it works about as perfectly as it can. I'm a Becky Cloonan fan and upon hearing that she'd be featured in this issue I got excited, but I didn't expect to love her work this much, Scott Snyder and her can meet again with these characters as many times as they like " more of this is a good thing. Read Full Review

Kudos to everyone involved for their work on another great issue and hopefully Becky Cloonan will make another visit to Gotham soon. Read Full Review

Kudos to everyone involved for their work on another great issue and hopefully Becky Cloonan will make another visit to Gotham soon. Read Full Review

Batman12 is perfect for anyone who hasnt tried the series yet. Most of it is done with a fresh new character, and the whole electric theme is utilized well, and doesnt need an experienced reader to understand. Of course, those of us who have read the previous issues will be rewarded by a greatBatmanstory. Read Full Review

All in all this was a very good issue, though not completely Batman oriented.. Read Full Review

Well, that's a depressing place to end this review. Read Full Review

The fate of Harper Row is still to be determined. Though she's just been introduced, she already has a (somewhat) direct line to Batman, something not many people can claim. It's almost as if Snyder is setting the stage for Harper to put on a cape and become another ally in Batman's army against crime. In interviews, Snyder has hinted that Harper will be a big part of Batman in the coming months along with the "true" debut of the Joker in the 'New 52' universe. Read Full Review

By no means is this issue mind blowing, but it's definitely a good read and worth the overpriced admission. I'd say go for it! Get it and enjoy. Read Full Review

After an intense arc that saw Batman taken to his limits by the Court of Owl Scott Snyder choose to end his first year on the series with an issue that changes the stories focus. Maintaining a dark tone the series is known for Snyder switches the perspective to Harper Row. By making this switch we get a tightly focused character study that helps in the development for a supporting character that looks to play a large role in future stories. With strong artwork that supplements the strong story told Batman #12 is an issue that will be enjoyed by most Batman fans. Read Full Review

Issues like this are important in long runs like Snyder's and the rest of Team Batman. It gives a nice moment to get some air and enjoy a change of pace. Snyder has assured we'll see more of Harper, and hopefully that will happen soon. She's a great character to have around and was fun to read. I just can't wrap my head around the conflicting art contributions. Read Full Review

It's a fun issue mildly hurt by a jarring art shift and then a ridiculous and very rushed finale (which I covered in the spoiler section. It's a fun scene if you don't think about it too much) but overall, I enjoyed this issue. I like Harper Row a lot. I think she's a great character and I think this is a wonderful one-shot issue that you can pick up and get the whole story all in one sitting. Very satisfying. Quality one-shots are few and far between nowadays. Interesting new characters are even more rare. Read Full Review

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. Read Full Review

There is a really good story being told by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV in this issue. The introduction of Harper Row has a lot of heartbreaking and depressing moments, and some really cool moments where the reader can see Harper becoming a more important character in the greater Batman story. Becky Cloonan's art is refreshing, and the pages Andy Clarke work on make the book feel big. I personally don't like the sudden jump from one artist to the other, but that is a peeve of mine, that may not affect the general reader. Batman #12 is a book worth picking up, earning 3.5 out of 5 Stars. Read Full Review

The strength and uniqueness of Cloonan's artwork makes the shift to artist Andy Clarke's more conventional, more detailed super-hero style all the more disappointing. It's not Clarke's fault. While his style here puts me in mind of Gary (Batman: Earth One) Frank and J.H. (Batwoman) Williams III, his artwork is so dramatically different, it intrudes on the story Snyder and Cloonan had been telling up until that point. Just as the shift in the artwork seems like a puzzling choice, I'm perplexed as to how and why James Tynion IV is credited as the co-writer for the final seven pages. He's been the co-writer on the backup stories that appeared in recent months in the title, but there's no backup story to be found here, only the ending of the main story. Read Full Review

Don’t get me wrong, Cloonan can draw. It just doesn’t thrill me, and I find it doesn’t work for Batman. Even worse are Andy Clarke’s back-end pages. While Cloonan has her stumbles, she at least can express movement. Clarke’s work just sits there, a harrowing mess of cross-stitching that is best served in kids books like Harold and The Purple Crayon. Regardless of my nitpicks, Batman #12 is a nice breather from the epic struggles the Dark Knight has recently undergone, and the sudden interest in Harper Row piques my interest in her future. Read Full Review

Overall, the story was average; nothing really new or exciting, but it was still a good story and I enjoyed it. Becky Cloonan's art stole the show, hands down, and if DC doesn't get her working on some monthly books after she's done with Dark Horse"or even if Dark Horse allows her to work with DC again, however that really works"it would be a huge mistake. Overall, buy this issue for the art if nothing else. Read Full Review

A very solid first half that has great art and introduces a cool new character. Unfortunately, the execution on the last few pages kinda drops the ball. Read Full Review

So the Court of Owls are gone for now, and most of the hanging plot threads have been dealt with in this issue. Harper Row has made herself known, and Snyder has laid the seeds for her further involvement in the series in an issue that has truly thrown me as to what rating to give it. There's nothing inherently wrong with the issue at all; I'm just not sure exactly where we're going just yet. However, as I said, I'm prepared to go along with the ride for now, and I expect fans of Snyder and Cloonan will be too. Read Full Review

It may not be as good as Snyder's pre-New 52 work, and it certainly drags in places with the sheer amount of Harper's narration, but it's refreshing to read something new after the prolonged Court of Owls arc. Whether meaning to or not Harper certainly reminds me of Carrie Kelly and from the final panels, despite Batman's orders for her to stop trying to help him, I have a feeling we may see her again. Worth a look. Read Full Review

This book suffers from expectations. Whether it's the high level of excitement Snyder has been providing throughout this series or Cloonan's inclusion, Batman #12 just isn't able to live up to its own hype. It's clear that this story and this character will be important to Snyder's future Bat-stories, but that in and of itself doesn't make the issue an interesting read. It really feels like there's no real payoff at the end of this issue, as if it's all building towards something that will come later. Even what little payoff we get in Harper's decision to help Batman is cheapened by the fact that we already know she does this in issue #7. And again, the art, which should have been awesome, was a bit of a let down, especially when it comes to the random swapping of artists at page 22. Read Full Review

Batman is only a supporting character in this book. Its really more of an introduction to Harper Row. Who will almost certainly become a key player in the coming issues. Harper is a strong and confident character who becomes fascinated with Batman after he saves her brother from being beaten

Writing was outstanding. Art? I can't in good conscience give any comic with unsolicited split art chores a very high grade. I love the art of Becky Cloonan and Andy Clarke. But the transition between their switch was so caustic that it marred the story for me. Shame on you, DC. It annoys me that so many fans complained about DC's shipping schedule before the New 52. The result? We have a ton of comics with split art chores, and the result is terrible. DC should know better than to listen to whiny comic fans. And to make matters even worse, DC tried to hide this fact by conveniently omitting Clarke's name on the cover credits. Bad form, DC. Bad form. This comic had 9.5 potential.

In normal circumstances, I would consider rating this issue as 4-4.5/10. The problem is, considering how strong and consistent Batman's run was up to this point, I believe the book should be held to higher standards. Being proceded by The Court of Owls, you'd expect it to be outstanding. Instead, it's painfully mediocre and anticlimactic.

The main problem I have with the issue is its protagonist - Snyder decided to focus it on Harper Row, a new character who no one knows and no one cares about. If she was introduced step by step, slowly and cautiously, like, let's say, Harley Quinn was, or Gotham Girl was about to be few years later, we wouldn't have this conversation now. But Harper's origin story has hijacked Batman's comic, and kept it in stagnation, not allowing the main story to progress.
It's not like I hate her - no, she didn't give me reason to hate her character so far, but she also didn't give me a single reason to like her either. She's a tabula rasa, and all we know about her, that's she's a lower class do-gooder tomboy.

The art is another major flaw of this issue - first half has one, very lighthearted, goofy an cartoonish at times style. I would not mind it in different series, with different tone. That's how I could envision Gotham Academy spinoff or Harley Quinn. Some panels are genuinely cute, like couple taking place at Wayne manor. Harper's poses and mimicks are cartoonish in a positive sense of that word.
The second half, while more detailed, also breaks the book and makes it look just plain awful. Harper reminds me of 40 year old crack addict, not a teenage girl. Such a style shift shouldn't have happened in such a prestigeous run.

This issue is nothing but a cheap, cheap filler. Skip it. more

oh boy!!! a WHOLE Batman story without any Batman in it! just doofy ol' Harper Row and her derpy brother Cullen! ....Yayyyyyyyyy! and even MORE painful is that it's NOT draw by Greg Capullo!

this is the first i've ever seen the art of Becky Cloonan, but it really doesn't impress me at all!

in fact thanks to this issue lacking the delicious sugar coating of Capullo's art was the very first time i realized that this Scott Snyder guy ain't the genius writer everyone claims him to be!

when Batman finally shows up it's the worst looking Batman art i've seen in any comic!

towards the end of the comic the art duties switch to a different artist. judging by the art-style it looks like Gary Frank? he's definitely a step up in art chops, but his trying to emulate a Capullo-type look into his own style looks a bit off to me.

after i read this comic when it first came out i wanted to cry! more

The cover art is fantastic; too bad this is the worst book in the N52 series. I love Scott Snyder, but apparently he (and Greg Capullo) needed time between his two killer arcs and couldn't think of anything else to write, so the DC editors got involved. All of the major review depots are raving about this issue because of its overtly gay agenda. Yes, gay-bashing is at an all-time high, isn't it? Personally, I am tired of the political correctness -- you never see evil gay characters, do you? Thanks for ruining my run, DC -- this one's going in the trash!