Paul Dini diverts from his usual one-shot format for this two part tale and once again Zatanna is the focus. Where the last two parter was an amazing first issue followed by a satisfying conclusion, this one feels very flat.
We pick up from the last issue with Bruce in a car being shot at by Scarface. This cliffhanger however never felt significant due to the easily resolved threat and the villain who is threatening him. We discovered in the first part that Bruce previously knew the new ventriloquist and this proves to be a large focus of this issue. Her tragic tale however never invokes any feelings. Only when she jumps off the boat at the end did I find myself feeling sorry for her and by then its too little, too late. There is also the part in her story where she is shot in the head by her gangster husband and then precedes to wander around the building and find scarface. I repeat, she fetches a dummy with a hole in her head. It seems kind of ridiculous to me to cite realism in a story with Zatanna in it but it was just too unbelievable and took me out of the story. A lot. As a positive, I did love when Batman freed the gangster who had shot the ventriloquist and his reaction to having to save such a reprehensible criminal.
As for Zatanna's part in the tale, I thought her turning into a dove is a strong plot device although I was forced to really suspend my disbelief during the fight on the boat considering how powerful she is and that she was fighting Scarface. As for her relationship with Batman, it ended inconclusively and I found myself disappointed and indifferent about the 'will they, won't they' which will now inevitably follow.
The art from Nyguen is strong although I always feel that we are yet to see the best of him and soon he will really blow us away. His covers continue to be fantastic and a great contrast to the interior art.
Overall a disappointing issue but I remain cautiously optimistic about the upcoming Hush storyline. Its a five parter!
Story: 2 - Average
Art: 4 - Very Good
