Batman Battle For The Cowl #2 (OF 3)

I remember back when issue one came out, I was very hesitant to pick this event up.  I loved Dini's one-shots, but I felt so badly burned by Batman R.I.P. that I wasn't sure if I was ready or not to succumb to that sort of pain and torture again.  But luckily I was feeling like a masochist that day, because the first issue alone blew me away.

I wasn't all that familiar with Tony Daniel and his work at the time, I just knew he did some Teen Titans art.  So could this guy really do an event with a cast as diverse as Batman's? Apparently he could, and he's brought back the fun and enjoyment of reading a Batman story.

The cliff-hanger of Jason Todd in his Batman outfit with guns a-blazin' from issue one was burned into my mind.  With issue two, I have all sorts of new images burned into my mind to accompany it!

First let me just say that I really like Jason Todd as Batman.  It really fits well in the current state of Gotham, and reflects the lawlessness of both heroes and villains.  And the fact that he built his own underground Batcave?  That shows his dedication right there.  Like he tells Dick in their little conversation, he brought the Batman mantle back from the dead while Dick did nothing a let it stayed burried.  And although wrong, I did enjoy seeing him shoot Damien to make his getaway.

And while I like seeing Tim run around in the classic costume, I just think he's still too short and doesn't carry much presence like Jason or Dick does.  However, when Tim was beating Jason in the face with a crowbar, that was a major OH SNAP! moment for me.

Lastly, the gang wars of Gotham.  Black Mask refuses to be seen as a Z-List villain, and is slowly taking Gotham away from both Two Face and The Penguin.  When you have all the inmates at Arkham Asylum as your own personal army, you make sure things get done.

So at the end of the day, I was mesmerized by this issue.  This has become such a fun event, that it takes any of that Batman R.I.P. taste out of your mouth.  Tony Daniel has proven to us that he has the chops to write and draw this event, and I say let him do whatever he wants on future books.

Action, plot-twists, and great villains are what make Batman an enjoyable read.  This issue covers all that and more.