Finally! I Didn't Hate Dick Grayson!
Battle for the Cowl plus the two Gotham Gazette ( Batman Dead? / Batman Alive?) issues included in this volume make for a nice bridge between the events of Final Crisis and the post-Bruce Wayne Batman world.
Battle for the Cowl, itself, was a three issue mini-series written and drawn by Tony S. Daniel. It's just long enough to say and show what needs to be shown. I always assumed by the cover and the title that this was going to be a much more "epic" story/battle. But, the title doesn't lie, it IS a battle for the cowl - I had just assumed it wasn't merely a battle between two people.
So, the story - without spoilers - is Bruce Wayne is gone, presumed dead, after Final Crisis. Gotham quickly noticed the lack of the Dark Knight and is fast slipping back into the chaos of violence and crime. Nightwing, Robin and many others are doing what they can to keep Gotham safe, but without the presence of Batman, there isn't the presence of fear. The stories three main characters are Dick Grayson, Tim Drake and (perhaps this is a spoiler, but ... there's no reason why it should be. Warning anyway.)
Damian Wayne is there, but basically to let you know he's there. In three issues, Dick Grayson struggles with the decision on whether to take up the legacy of Batman but before he can decide, someone else has started to fight crime in Gotham as Batman, but not using the code Bruce, Tim, and Dick follow (he's killing.) Ultimately, of course, Dick Grayson becomes the new Batman (setting up for Morrison 's then-next project, Batman and Robin.)
Now, the good things: Like I mentioned earlier, running just three issues, this is the perfect length for this story. Plus number two: Tony S. Daniel is perhaps the first writer (I've read) who has written Dick Grayson in a way in which makes me like him. Then there's the art. I like Daniel's art. Love it a lot, at times, even.
Now the bad (I'll spoiler this as well, to be consistent with my earlier spoiler):
Anyway, the last two issues in this volume are written by Fabian Nicieza. Two issues of Gotham Gazette. One taking place before Battle for the Cowl and the other after. They tell the stories of Vicki Vale, Harvey Bullock, some doctor lady, Stephanie Brown and some chick I don't know. Each persons story has art done by a different person and the art ranges from good to amazing. Writings good too.
Battle for the Cowl, itself, was a three issue mini-series written and drawn by Tony S. Daniel. It's just long enough to say and show what needs to be shown. I always assumed by the cover and the title that this was going to be a much more "epic" story/battle. But, the title doesn't lie, it IS a battle for the cowl - I had just assumed it wasn't merely a battle between two people.
So, the story - without spoilers - is Bruce Wayne is gone, presumed dead, after Final Crisis. Gotham quickly noticed the lack of the Dark Knight and is fast slipping back into the chaos of violence and crime. Nightwing, Robin and many others are doing what they can to keep Gotham safe, but without the presence of Batman, there isn't the presence of fear. The stories three main characters are Dick Grayson, Tim Drake and (perhaps this is a spoiler, but ... there's no reason why it should be. Warning anyway.)
Damian Wayne is there, but basically to let you know he's there. In three issues, Dick Grayson struggles with the decision on whether to take up the legacy of Batman but before he can decide, someone else has started to fight crime in Gotham as Batman, but not using the code Bruce, Tim, and Dick follow (he's killing.) Ultimately, of course, Dick Grayson becomes the new Batman (setting up for Morrison 's then-next project, Batman and Robin.)
Now, the good things: Like I mentioned earlier, running just three issues, this is the perfect length for this story. Plus number two: Tony S. Daniel is perhaps the first writer (I've read) who has written Dick Grayson in a way in which makes me like him. Then there's the art. I like Daniel's art. Love it a lot, at times, even.
Now the bad (I'll spoiler this as well, to be consistent with my earlier spoiler):
Anyway, the last two issues in this volume are written by Fabian Nicieza. Two issues of Gotham Gazette. One taking place before Battle for the Cowl and the other after. They tell the stories of Vicki Vale, Harvey Bullock, some doctor lady, Stephanie Brown and some chick I don't know. Each persons story has art done by a different person and the art ranges from good to amazing. Writings good too.
