The story starts with our detective doing a door to door investigation in a seedy but very ordinary New York street. It doesn't waste time and we plunge straight into the action as he knocks on a door, shows a photo of a little girl and asks "Have you seen her?"

Invited in and offered a hot drink, the detective has a brief conversation with the occupant soon realises that this may be the house he is looking for.

I wont go into anything in detail from here on, but it has to be said that the art in its scratchy yet detailed look really compliments the writing. Both art and story flow from page to page with a certain fluidity and pace which is really refreshing.

The issue draws to what seems to be an obvious conclusion, bad man shot durring arrest, presumed dead and imprisoned little girl rescued.

There is a scene during the arrest where Pickman reveals that he is indeed a monster, which is really creepy and illustrated really well.

Is he dead after six shots to the chest ? If only things were that simple.

Now this is a very impressive first issue, and it will be interesting to see where it goes, its either going to be brilliant and original, or fall short and become a bit ordinary. Having said that, there is nothing ordinary about it so far and if this artist can keep up the quality of his work in this first issue, it's going to be worth buying for that reason alone.

So how am I going to rate it?

Well no Bubblegum here so that's a 0/10
Art wise a healthy 9/10
Story so far also a healthy 9/10

Now onto the next one...

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All said over a grainy blurred almost photographic townscape with footprints in the snow. Now its got your attention and makes you want to read more. It's a nice opening page and like I said one that immediately grabs you.

January the 29th:

Things are happening here, strange things, murders, disappearances, in the last three week Park Falls has had four missing and three murders, Victims found massacred with teeth marks on what's left on them. What is going on?

Two days earlier:

A crazy woman called Cynthia calls on our friend wearing what looks like some sort of respiratory mask.

At this point the artwork has taken a turn for the worse and its sometimes difficult to determine exactly what it is you are looking at.

After a brief conversation she reveals that she knows what's going on,
Why haven't you gone to the police?
I did she replies, but they wouldn't listen to me.
And when she reveals what she knows to be the reason, there is a moment of uncomfortable silence, followed by a … Get Out!
But you have to listen to me...
I said GET OUT.
But I can prove it !
All right then tell me what you know of the killings.

And that as much of the story I am prepared to give away but suffice to say the events progress and leave you wanting more, another very impressive first issue. Mind you at times the artwork looks untidy, rushed and pretty awful, and at other times it looks dark eerie and has a wonderful atmosphere.

Ok again no Bubble Gum for the brain here.
So I will give it a 5/10 for the art
And a 8/10 for the story

Both comics were a worthwhile journey and worthy of the admission fee. I shall be reading issue two of both of them.

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best," he thinks, "I have learnt what is silly and what is fearsome, what works and what doesn't."

Even the Batmoblie gets a mention as we see what looks like The Batman Begins Movie version being upgraded to something more sleek.

Which brings me very tidily to my next observation. This could almost be the next chapter of Batman Begins. If you have seen the movie and then read this comic you might even think it was intentional! It really does seem to be a Batman Begins continuation and yet borrows nothing from the film.

As the story progresses we see The Batman doing what he does best, busting wimps, pimps, geeks and freaks. Then it's back to Bruce Wayne and enter a love interest, which he all but stands up on several dates due to his Bat time. We all know stopping crime comes first! Cut to a crime scene and Commissioner Gordon asks Batman to take a look over it.

"First time you have invited me to take a look" says Batman. "We need all the eyes we can get on this one and to hell with it! You will only break in later anyway, so you might as well take a look now" replies Gordon.

Yes, this is defiantly very early in Batman's career!

Investigations take place and we cut to a bar, this being the final sequence of this issue, and introduces us to Jack. He is one miserable son of a dog. I mean really miserable. This guy radiates misery. A girl in the bar chats with misery guts and he revels that he works in securities. The girl tells him that he really needs to find a smile, he really needs to find that one thing that would make him smile.

Next we see a robbery with misery guts doing the deed with hench men. He cracks the safe with the greatest of ease, maybe that's what he meant by securities, anyway the crap hit the fan, the robbery goes belly up and while making the escape he shoots a guard. "That's better," he says, but he still doesn't crack a smile.

Enter The Batman.

What's This, Jack asks, those toys, he jangles around, and yet he is a serious as serous can be, working so hard to undo my plans, and that costume, he looks ridiculous. And for the first time in his life, he smiles.

The story comes to the end of the first chapter with the blurb .. Lovers and Madmen Part One.

Its Funny.

What a great little read this comic was. If you are a seasoned Batman reader you will like it, as a new reader who has never read a Batman comic, but liked Batman Begins you will like it. Like I said before, this is Batman Continues!

And for the first time in history I am going give this highly enjoyable comic a single overall rating of a gorgeous 9/10.

Great stuff.