I liked everything about this book. Except . . . for Tom Mandrake's art. I mean the guy obviously has talent. But, with all the stylized artists that have been through this book, in the last year or two, I just don't think that Tom's work fits here anymore. It's just my opinion, but that's what I think. Fantastic cover by Simone Bianchi thought. I don't know how this girl turns out so much work every month? Anyways, this story basically re-invents the Scarecrow. While sitting in Arkham he has the epiphany that he keeps getting beat because of his tools. Specifically, his fear gas. He's come to rely o it so much that Batman has worked out an antidote. Also since Batman relies on a certain fear factor also, it ends up being more a battle of wills. So Jonathan has resolved to overcome his obstacle. After all he's a trained psychologist, a scientist, and fear was the center of all his research. "The gas was just a tool. One of many. . . . . he doesn't need the special terror gas to strike terror into others. He will show them what real fear is all about." And that he does. Over the course of the issue he begins terrorizing all of Gotham City. Killing people at random. Putting Scarecrows all over the city. Striking when everyone least expects it. So Batman ups his terror quotient also. By being much more aggressive in the ways that he's seeking information. "All of Batman's carefully constructed files about Jonathan Crane and his alter ego are useless." The final straw, of this issue, is when Crane strike during the day. Killing a woman and leaving her hanging in a restroom dressed as a Scarecrow. Great story by John Rozum. Fantastic cover. And the interiors . . . were actually ok. Tom's just not my cup of tea. But that's just me.
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