The Joker and the Stag choose to pool their talents to challenge their respective enemies. But unlike the villains of the story. Batman and The Shadow are not cooperating as fully as one might hope. Perhaps it’s Batman’s ego, preventing him from acknowledging such a competent partner. Perhaps it’s The Shadow’s ego, unwilling to follow Batman’s lead. But Alfred? He will follow either.

Amidst a great deal of cryptic exposition, Batman finally confronts the Joker – as well as several other criminals he’s put behind bars. Of course, there’s only one many in Gotham City capable of pulling the Dark Knight’s fat out of the fire. The ranting, babbling version of The Shadow presented here.

I’ve forgiven a lot up to this point, but this aint The Shadow I know. Perhaps in drawing from the character’s lengthy history, we’ve entered the Dennis Lynd era. Can the Archie Comics version be far behind? I pray it doesn’t come to that.

I’m disappointed. This series has sunk into the realm of gimmick, perhaps goosing the sales of Dynamite’s Shadow comics for a time, and providing DC with a middling excuse to reprint Batman’s previous encounters with The Shadow (Batman #253 and 259). Whether DC will follow through on that overdue promise remains to be seen.

Rating: 3/10