I was completely shocked as I read this comic book when I discovered that the title of this limited series is meant to be taken literally. It's a rather ludicrous premise that eclipses the strengths that are to be found in this story. The writers open with a dramatic and even plausible development that gets to the very heart of the title character, but the subsequent exploration of that notion is awkward and unconvincing. Furthermore, though they've been heralded for their work in the past, the Pander Brothers' style is one that's never really appealed to me.
When an innocent is struck down in the middle of one of the Batman's many violent encounters with the criminal element in Gotham, Bruce Wayne decides to hang up his cape and cowl for a time as he considers whether or not he's really doing any good for his home and the people who live there. Meanwhile, a charismatic and unconventional city planner presents a cutting-edge proposal to the civic leaders of Gotham City, putting forth the notion that the city's ills can all be traced back to its dark and gothic design. A new look -- an incandescent city of light -- is proposed, but to get the plan to go forward, the approval of Gotham's favorite, most wealthy son, Bruce Wayne, is needed.
The Pander Brothers boast an exaggerated style that fails to capture the mature and dark atmosphere that's called for here. The exaggeration leads to rather cartoony figures, and it's difficult to accept the tragedy of the opening scene, for example, when the Batman looks like a sad jack o' lantern rather than a driven man who believes he's utterly failed in the mission to which he's devoted his life. The artists do bring some energy and youth to the book in the form of the hip "submergist" artists and friends, but overall, the visuals just don't grab me.
A city bathed in organic light? The notion is far to sci-fi for the dark corner of the DC Universe that the Batman Family inhabits, and some characters' easy acceptance of the notion robs them of all credibility. The premise is just way too over the top, and it's difficult for the book to recover from the outlandish idea.
I'm surprised at how the writers don't give the reader much in the way of information on Batgirl. Their portrayal of this unusual new character is surprisingly conventional, and she seems more like the Batgirl of the 1960s Adam West/Burt Ward TV show rather the exotic and tortured former assassin now associated with the name.
