Batman is back and training a new sidekick, Duke from We Are Robin. However, Calendar Man is back and reinvented as something horrifying. This is the issue that is the bridge to the next Batman series, as well as getting the series back to a place longtime Batman fans will be more familiar with.

Under Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's tutelage, Batman had gone through quite a journey with Bruce Wayne losing his memories of him being Batman, more recently. Playing off the events that the New 52 built, including We Are Robin, the Rebirth issue adds Duke to the mix, who is being trained by Bruce. While this does leave some questions like "where the heck is Damian," it's nice to see Bruce Wayne working with someone again.

In addition to building on the dynamic between Duke and Bruce, this issue does a stellar job at reinventing Calendar Man. There's a bit of a metahuman aspect to the character now, so he's not just a man who commits crimes on holidays anymore. He molts into a younger man every year and the depiction of that is incredibly creepy.

What really works as a collaboration between these two authors on this book is the element of horror that's felt throughout the background of the issue. Both Snyder and Tom King deliver an issue that gets Batman back on track, truly embracing the title "Rebirth." This is a great mixture of the old and the new, with a solid set-up for where Batman is headed.

The art team of Mikel Janin and June Chung do a phenomenal job on the artistic side of things this week. The layout of pages 2 and 3 is a chaotic, tone-setting, beautiful piece of art. Janin's style is wonderful and completely fitting for this book, and his overall layouts are unique and keep the book exciting. Meanwhile, Chung's colors give the book an ominous feel. At any moment, something awful could happen to these characters.

The only disappointment with this story is that the issue doesn't cover anything to do with the three Jokers, which was introduced in Justice League #50. It's a bit of a bummer, but nonetheless, it's not needed for this issue, since it's already pretty packed with story.

Seeing someone else write a Batman series can be a bit of a shock, since Snyder and Capullo had such a long, wonderful run on the book, but the series is easily in good hands with King and Janin. There's a lot of set-up for the new series that is relatively accessible to new readers without alienating those who have enjoyed the run from the past few years. This is a great issue bridging the last volume to the new.

I'm just glad Batman is still in good hands.

Heading out to grab this and GA Rebirth momentarily. I cannot wait to see the direction of King's and Snyder's new series. Plus excited to see what Duke's role will be, since it isn't as a Robin.

Wont be reading this or anything else from DC. I wont be supporting them.

Pretty strong start for this new Batman age. Excited about the title's future!

Definitely enjoyed the issue, though I would of preferred Damian over Duke. Not a big fan of the batfamily getting bigger

@doc-holiday: Any real reason why and do you feel the same about Marvel after what happen with Cap?

So after this issue, is Duke going to be in Tom King's Batman book? I'd presume so since as far as I know, All-Star is a Two-Face road trip and Detective is Kate, Tim, Cass, Steph etc, but does anyone know for sure?

@wardishy_: Duke will appear in both Batman and All-Star Batman.

@doc-holiday: ok.

DC has been pandering like Marvel, so I am trying to avoid them both. I've seen proof that they ignore sales and continue to produce bad comics so long as critics promote them. I don't want to be apart of anything like that.

I jumped ship on both long before Cap became a nazi, that is just one more reason not to return. I simply check back every now and then to see what is new and see if it's safe to return.

This issue was a strong start for the new Batman book.

@doc-holiday: If in the same boat you are. You should give Valiant comics a try. Valiant, IDW, and Image is what I'm currently reading.

Way ahead of you. I've been reading Invincible for years and Hellboy (from Darkhorse) but recently started giving more obscure or lesser known companies a chance. I got into Captain Canuck.

One thing I appreciate about Image is a lack of universal reset buttons; meaning they don't constantly reset the universe their characters are set in just to make new comics.

Everything I've seen out of Rebirth has been really strong so far. That doesn't say a whole lot though because so was New 52 for the most part to start of with but I have faith. Just please give Batman a new suit, I don't know what it is but this suit is just so disappointing to me after all the twitter hype out of Greg Capullo.

Loved how GA Rebirth dealt with the biggest issue I had with GA N52 immediately. Good job writers!

I'm sorry but this issue was terrible and too short. Good art and that was about it. Barely any story there at all :/

Just finished this, great creative team off to a great start.

Decent issue.

This issue is disappointing. Art is gorgeous but everything else is just so dull and boring. Didn't expect that from Tom King. Oh, and Snyder just couldn't not bring his boring pet character in this issue. "Hey, you will be something else, totally not Robin, my sidekick. Well, you'll do everything other Robins did, but you're different." Eh, such a letdown.

@apokos7: Okay, thanks!

Great issue. Cannot wait to see more of Duke in All-Star and read more of King's work in the main Batman series. Janin's art is amazing as ever. Please tell me he is working on Batman after Finch's arc. Please.

This issue was great for furthering the overall tone of Rebirth. I'm also really glad Duke finally appears as Lark after being teased in the first issue of Endgame. All of the Bat-fam looks really great this year

This is basically a set up issue that's why there's no major storyline. main storyline will start in batman #1 ..

Literally nothing happened in this issue.

Waste of money, nothing happens, nothing is set up. Lame Duke, lame Calendar Man, lame return to status quos. Should've waited for the first real issue, this clearly wasn't anything but fluff.

Harper Row was obviously a throwaway character and so is duke. Not interested in this when Detective will have Cassandra and Stephanie, either of whom would make a perfectly good sidekick. Tired of this crap.

Nothing happened, right. Well, except the greatest scene ever involving Calendar Man. Plus a new bird in the nest. Plus a reinvigorated Batman handling things a little differently than in the past. Nothing happened, pfft, nothing better than a review by somebody who didn't read the comic.

Why do marvel books look so much better on comixology?

Why do marvel books look so much better on comixology?

@jim158: what do you mean? like image quality?

This was a great read. Loved it. Bat's is in great hands with Tom at the wheel. (Also thought Finch was doing art for Batman? Or was that Detective Comics?)

@batman3000: no batman #1

Haha I read your post and was like "dang, that list is right, those really were the three most interesting things that happened, that might've been even worse than I thought."

I thought this was good, not great. I think that yellow costume looks kinda dumb, but whatever. I'm more excited for Detective Comics than I am this series, but I think this series will be great.

Yea, sometimes I wonder did they really read the issue or just complaining for no reason.

This was a good issue and probably the best of the other Rebirth titles. Don't care much about Duke's costume.

@theexile285: @jim158: it may have just been the batman rebirth. The colors where not very brite. I opened the Green Arrow and that one was much better. Rebirth looked awesome on the tablet, but it upgraded to hd after I bought it?

@dankhan6: I forgot the fourth great thing in the comic: Janin's two page layout of the batcave was magnificent. You should buy the comic and give it a try. Most comics don't contain four great things, but this one does. Buy it if you can find it, shops in my area did not properly gauge the demand for the Rebirth comics.

This was fine for what it basically is, a #0 setup issue. I agree Duke is pretty much an unnecessary character with an already bloated Robin and other bat family characters around, but it's certainly not any kind of deal breaker on the book.

I loved most of Snyder's run, but I hope this is the last time I see his name on the credits and isn't behind the scenes steering Tom King in particular directions. He needs to be able to put his own voice and stamp on the characters and stories, otherwise I could see this all not working out too well.

I liked this issue, but I really don't know what to think of it. Out of all the other Rebirth titles I liked Superman and Green Lanterns more. I feel like more questions and mystery was introduced than a line of sight for me. It looks like this title will all be about Batman and Duke.

Is it just me, or is there a thing where Damien just doesn't have a presence in a main Batman title even though he's a Wayne?

This sounds great. I'm jumping on Batman, which I haven't done in a while.

I liked the setup with calendar man, good issue imo.

This is issue was awesome and a perfect setup for what's to come.

@ultimatepower6: I really wish they somehow just got rid of Damian since he seems to be generally ignored in the main batman title. Morrison was the only one who did him justice anyway (although Tomasi was close).

As a preview it was fine. I think it will get going once the title actually starts. This is like an issue #0.

@themantisshrimp: I'd actually flip them. Damian was insufferable until Tomasi. Tomasi actually gave him a heart. Plus there's lots of character potential and opportunity for him as a character. Him joining Teen Titans and doing the Super Sons title are both fantastic, what I'm confused by is why he is ignored in the main Batman title. It almost feels like no one really likes to use him (although he is a difficult character to write).

Just read this a few mins ago, i thought the art was great, and the story really got me into it wanting more. i look forward to batman # 1 when it comes out in 2 weeks.

"training a new sidekick, Duke"

Kill me...

Well Grant Morrison took Damian's development further in Batman and Robin, which he grew to be a better cooperative player. In my opinion, I always thought Peter Tomasi made Damian more humorous and likable. I actually enjoyed that series probably more than Scott Snyder's main Batman title.