I thought having Dick takeover as Batman would simply be a rehash of the "Prodigal" storyline we saw in the 1990s, but so far it's been fun and different. It's a much more interesting storyline so far than what we saw in "Prodigal" and I can't wait for more! Read Full Review

Ultimately, though, with his deft understanding of characterization and human emotion, Winick justifies the continued existence of this book alongside Batman and Robin. He reminds us that Batman, as scary as he may have been, was a human being who was driven by love as much as a thirst for revenge, and that the individuals who carry on his legacy are no different. Read Full Review

I started off by saying I love Batman. I also said that I was not buying into anyone other than Bruce Wayne playing that part and that Judd Winick is not on my Christmas card list. With all of that said. I still love Batman. I am now more intrigued to see how Dick Grayson can handle the mantle and Judd Winick did a great job of writing a powerful story that pulled together the past year of Batman. Even if you plan to only pickup Morrison’s Batman & Robin, I would encourage you to grab this first issue. It helps pull the story together and provides a good launching pad for the next chapter of the Dark Knight. Read Full Review

Judd Winick successfully cleans up after the chaotic mess of an ending in Battle for the Cowl, as he offers us a truly fresh start. Furthermore, he gives us the logical and believable (and much needed) “before moment” where Dick Grayson chooses to become the new Batman. As this book manages to be pretty new reader friendly, it also provides fans the logical transition and closure to the death of Bruce Wayne. With that, Winick promises us a Batman that's worth reading. Read Full Review

Now Ed Benes. I dont know how many times I have said that this guy just is not at the level that DC Comics is pretending he is by giving him all those top assignments that he cant possibly deliver correctly. As this issue was mostly talking heads, he was capable of doing a decent job, but the man cannot choreograph action to save his life. At this point, I consider him as nothing than a cheaper Jim Lee knock off to sell books DC Comics thinks are important. Benes wrecked the Justice League series with scenes that did not make sense, he continues to draw stuff all over the place without any sense of composition. Perhaps DC Comics thinks that putting an overrated writer with an overrated artist is the way to go. Well, its making it easy for me to skip this series. Read Full Review

This issue is a more succinct and focused take on the recent changes in Batmans world than Battle For the Cowl turned out to be, and deserves a lot of credit for pulling off the transition from Bruce to Dick without the change feeling editorially mandated or contrived. It also functions as a great pre-credits sequence for the new era of Batman comics, giving us some early indications of how Dick might make for a quite different Caped Crusader to the one weve been reading about for so many years. It suffers from a slight feeling of repetitiveness (since a lot of the Batbooks seem to be covering similar ground at the moment), and the artwork doesnt feel particularly well-suited to the subject matter, but this is a solid effort that will encourage me to check out Winicks upcoming run on the book with artist Mark Bagley. Read Full Review

Unfortunately, Ed Benes's exaggerated style, with the hulking heroic figures lurching about almost every page, doesn't suit the grounded, emotional elements from which the story draws its strengths. His style just doesn't feel right for these characters, for this story. It worked at times for the epic, colorful tone of Justice League of America when the most recent incarnation of that title first debuted. Read Full Review

I'm actually looking forward to seeing Winick team up with Mark Bagley next month, and I think I'm just going to pretend that "Batman" #688 is the real start to Winick's return to the title. This just wasn't fair to everyone involved, unfortunately. Read Full Review

The writing would earn this issue a strong recommendation, but the art is simply horrible and that makes me want to tell you to avoid this issue. Taking both into consideration, my advice is to read with extreme caution. Read Full Review

If you skipped Battle for the Cowl, you might enjoy seeing Dick come to terms with becoming Batman more than I did, but for the rest of us, I think it's a weak first issue and not nearly enough to get me to come back again next month. Read Full Review