Batman and the Mad Monk #1 - DC

What I really like about these mini-series that Matt Wagner is doing, is that is goes back to Batman's roots. They're set literally in the first days of his "coming out" as Batman. Everything he goes through, he literally is learning as he goes. He's not the "fine tuned" / "polished diamond" that he is today. He's not thinking of 14 different ways that he can bring a criminal down, before he even enters the fight. 3 of which are leathal. No this Batman, is just trying to make it through the night, and try to keep his mysterious / seldom seen persona. As he's fighting Catwoman he's thinking, "First, her . . . and then that poor wretch in the red cape and hood. Have I inadvertently given license to every crook with a flair for the dramatic?" I like this Batman. On the outside he's the rough, gruff, try to scare you out of your pants, Batman. But inside, he's still trying to justify what he's doing and why he's doing it. After Catwoman scratches him and drugs him he thinks, "Perhaps it's time I took to wearing armor underneath the outfit." He's still trying to clumsily balance his nocturnal activity with his social life. As is witness by Julie Madison's frustration over waiting for him to go shopping with her. And his relationship with Jim Gordon is still new and not completely without reservation. There's no "Bat-Signal" yet. Right now he's using a pager. And Jim, with Batman's help, is still trying to deal with, and even come to terms with, all the corruption in the Gotham city govt.. Including the Police Dept.. But on top of all this is a new storyline about what appears to be some Vampire type murders. I assume this is where the "Mad Monk" comes in. But, in this issue we don't see him. This issue is just laying the groundwork for the grand story. All we see of the protaganists so far is Dala, whom I assume is the person who goes out to retrieve the "meat". She mentions some "Brotherhood". And that, "Niccolai will be pleased." But that's all we know so far. This issue also, literally, picks up days after the "Monster Men" storyline. With Matt's unique style of art, and all the depth he puts into his stories, this should be a great series.