Kicking off this arc in explosive fashion, Peter J Tomasi truly begins his run while being accompanied by artist Bradley Walker. Investigating an inexplicable mass deaths of bats across the city, the Caped Crusader comes face to face with his brand new adversaries. Tomasi and Walker deliver an exciting chapter for this title as well as the perfect jumping on point for anyone who somehow missed out on the previous landmark issue.

With the previous arc played as a self-contained story, this issue truly kicks off Tomasi’s plans for the new run on the title proceeding the landmark 1000th issue. As Batman follows a lead down the rabbit hole after finding dead bats around the city, a new group of medieval-themed adversaries begins to hunt down the Dark Knight. With the previous milestone issue setting the stage for Tomasi’s latest arc, it also introduced DC’s comic version of the Arkham Knight. As the group circles in on the Caped Crusader, they illuminate the entirety of Gotham and the Arkham Knight finally makes his presence known.

Bradley Walker (Action Comics, Aquaman) joins Peter J Tomasi on the title, adding a cinematic aesthetic instead fitting for this arc. His use of negative space to begin a new scene is a small but noticeable trademark to juxtapose his grand establishing shots. Walker’s keen sense for pacing out action sequences lends himself excellently for the spectacle Tomasi commands with his scripts. Nathan Fairbairn brings it all together with his polished colorwork, adding a typically unseen vibrancy to Gotham and Batman alike. Walker and Fairbairn make this issue a sight to behold as they bring an overall more shine to the run processing Mahnke’s gritty and visceral pencil work.

In what is in essence issue one, Peter J Tomasi sets the stage for his vision on the title. After months of speculation, the Arkham Knight and the army they command look to be a far more interesting and developed than the video game counterpart. Tomasi takes the Dark Knight through new get familiar areas, but with the master class writer at the helm to truly drive this series home. No stranger to Gotham, Tomasi’s Batman stands above all counterparts on the market.

Yet again standing as the uncontested premiere Bat-title, Tomasi and Walker deliver a momentous introduction to the Dark Knight’s newest group of villains and show the amount of prep time needed to take out Batman himself.

Grade: A