One of the difficulties that Snyder and Tynion must face in writing this title has to be the need to be seen as forwarding the narrative with each issue. With only 52 issues, the title carries the presumption that any sub-plot that doesn't directly contribute to the overall story is a waste of time. But, 52 issues is also a lot of issues, so it's not like they can get right to the point.
I mention this balancing act, because my first reaction to the introduction of Killer Croc was, "Jesus, don't we have enough going on right now?" Our four ongoing plots at this point are Commissioner Gordon's incarceration, Tim's investigation into the virus affecting Gotham's children, the burgeoning gang war between Falcone and Penguin, and the supernatural activity under Arkham. It's hard to see where Bard, Batman, and Croc mucking around the sewers fits into one of these. Batman stumbles upon Croc only because he and Bard are searching for a girl carried into the sewers by a bleeding man that they later find dead. Presumably something that they discover in the sewers will tie into one of the plots, but it's hard to see what it would be.
Conversely, the issue's other story, involving Batgirl, Batwoman, and Red Hood adventures in Brazil, clearly tie into the Gordon plot. Moreover, it earns this issue three stars due to the fun dynamics of this odd group and Jason's snarky sense of humor, something that we really haven't seen under any of his recent writers. I'd be thrilled to see Seeley take on his characters at some point.
Anyway, I have to assume that Snyder and Tynion are aware of the need to keep everything neatly connected. As such, my real frustration has less to do with the lack of an immediate connection between Croc and the ongoing plots and more to do with the fact that Batman -- yet again -- doesn't really seem to be focused on any of them. We keep getting all these assurances that he's working every angle of Gordon's case, but he's really just following around Bard. It's Babs, Jason, and Kate working the Gordon case, with Harper and Tim handling the virus, Batwing and the Specter handling Arkham, and pretty much no one focused on the gang war. If Snyder and Tynion were implying that Bard set up Gordon (conveniently removing him and the corrupt former Commissioner from the picture shortly after his arrival), I'd be OK with it. But, so far, they're not implying that. So, you have to wonder why Bruce has time to stalk Bard and save a girl that Bard seems equally capable of saving when he really should maybe be addressing one of the four previously mentioned mysteries out there. Maybe the gang war, since no one seems to be working on that?
*** (three of five stars)
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