Commissioner Gordon hunts a serial killer while wondering whether his son might also be a psychopath.

This is a very low-key, psychological story and a very unusual Batman tale. In fact, Batman barely appears in this comic at all, only coming in at crucial moments, almost as an afterthought.

The real story is Gordon's hunt for an old serial killer which in turn awakens old fears that his son, James Junior, may also be a psycho. There are flashbacks, looking at Junior's strange behaviour even as Gordon gets closer to his quarry.

It is an intriguing story which makes poor, hard-working Gordon even more sympathetic. You can't help wondering how an honest, straight-arrow cop like Gordon could have produced such a twisted kid-- especially one who, in a hilarious sequence, decides to go trick-or-treating as the Joker.

But the story isn't for everyone. The action is too subdued and the big mystery about Gordon's kid isn't resolved which may leave readers feeling cheated. The continuity about Gordon's history is also a bit screwy. Partly, this is the fault of editors who have let the character's past get mixed up with ex-wives and nieces-turned-daughters. But they should decide once and for what is in-canon about Gordon and what isn't.

The art is moody and mysterious which suits the story well. The human figures and the scenes of a realistic, dreary world are done well but the superhuman action is a bit stiff. Maybe that is because costumed heroics don't really fit in this world of humdrum evil.