Batman: Streets of Gotham #3 - DC

I think Paul Dini and Dustin Nguyen have really got a hold of the essence of Gotham City here. The focus of the story right now seems to be Thomas Elliot. He's broken out of the cage that Dick and Alfred were keeping him in and has decided to play up his role as Bruce Wayne. To that end, he's vowed to personally commit himself and his vast resources to the rebuilding of his city. In that role, he's already drained and put incredible weight on the Wayne foundation. But Dick and Alfred aren't without their own resources. While pouring money into Gotham, Thomas has also siphoned off a bit for himself. With it, he has bought the diminished Elliot estate. "Even this I lost when Catwoman and her friends ransacked my holdings. Right now, this house provides me with what I crave most . . privacy." But that's short lived as he opens his front door to find Dick and Alfred, with a few of their closest friends, waiting for him. He threatens to expose their 'family secrets', when Zatanna reveals that it's really a plethora of League and Outsider team-mates. " . . each one is a trusted ally sworn to preserving my father's legacy. There's no place you can run that we can't find you! So our advice to you is this . . play your part like a good little puppet! You move when we say, and not before. No more looting the family piggy bank. And for your own sake, remember . . no secrets pass a severed throat." Dick also tells him that the Foundation's board will be keeping a close eye on him. He's never to appear in public with out one of them nearby, and from now on all transactions will go through them and the spending committee. He may be free, but they've got him on a pretty short leash. As does the Black Mask with the Penguin. With the Black Mask consolidating the underworld of Gotham, he is now the 'King' in residence. Which means that everyone, including the Penguin, works for him, and tithes him. Although I'm sure it's much more than 10%. And this issue the Black Mask makes good on his promise to reward Zsasz for saving his life. He gives Victor a briefcase full of money, a new image, and a license to carry out his every sick twisted hope and dream. I'm not sure what this unbridled psychopath can gain the Black Mask that he doesn't already have, but . . I think we're about to see a Gotham held in the grip of terror. And in the back-up story . . Kate Spencer, having come face to face with Jane Doe, proceeds to kick the crap out of her. Although, in the end, she does get some help from the Huntress. It seems that even though they've split up, Oracle still keeps tabs on her favorite team-mates . . through GPS, and other means, I'm sure. This part of Gotham's landscape is brought to us by Marc Andreyko and Georges Jeanty. I was skeptical at first, but I'm liking this little side story about Gotham's newest DA.