This issue is probably the best of this series so far. Unlike previous issues, it's focused almost exclusively on one story: Stephanie's debut as Spoiler and her subsequent conflict with her father. This focus makes it feel like an actual comic book and not some sort of collectively written Batman zine distributed at ComicCon in the 90s (as the rest of this series has felt).
Even more than Stephanie (and we'll get to her in a minute), the best part of this issue is that we finally learn something about "the Chief's" plans for Gotham. Clarke doesn't really even try to hide the fact that the Chief is Hush, and it helps convey the sense that we're actually getting the real story as Cluemaster updates him on his activities. Moreover, Cluemaster's activities make sense in terms of bringing us to the denouement that we know is coming -- the burning of Gotham -- thanks to the preview of the future that we got in "Batman" #28. Cluemaster reveals that he's working with a network of uniquely skilled associates to cripple Gotham and stoke its citizens' collective rage. It's a remarkably clever plan to take out public and social services -- everything from poorly timed traffic lights (thanks to Signalman) to rolling blackouts (thanks to the Prankster) -- and, in so doing, break the social contract. It makes you understand how Gotham could be burning at some point in the near future.
But, I don't mean to understate the awesomeness of Spoiler's debut. The creative team puts some real effort into it making it a series of pleasant surprises. For example, a flashback of Cluemaster expressing concern over a young Stephanie breaking her arm on a bike jump seems to highlight the ridiculousness of him trying to kill, but actually just sets up the way that she manages to trick him into being arrested by the police. Moreover, they remind us that Stephanie hasn't connected with the Bat-family yet, underlining how brave she is to be trying to take down her father and his associates on his own. I'm assuming Bruce will at least be marginally impressed, which he should be, given that she knows a hell of a lot more than he does at this point.
Basically, if we could just stick with Spoiler, I'd be a happy camper.
**** (four of five stars)
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