Batman #43

   In order to enjoy comics one generally must be able to suspend one's sense of disbelief.

   I have to admit, the current storyline about the Batman who really isn't Batman is putting a strain on that ability.

   We're following the adventures of a new Batman, put into service to replace the (presumably dead) original version.

   The new Batman is - well, a well-known supporting character, and just about the last person (aside from Alfred) who you might expect to see wearing the high-tech suit that allows him to duplicate some of Batman's abilities.

   Ah, but who else do we find in this story, but Bruce Wayne, who has lost his memory and thus isn't able to go back to his old line of work.

   And then there's the introduction of a new villain, Mr. Bloom - who certainly holds much promise.

   The story by Scott Snyder features the usual action sequences and death traps we might expect in a Batman story - but it just isn't Batman. And the Bruce Wayne storyline teeters a bit too close to the old amnesia storylines, though it at least offers no apparent path back to the status quo for Bruce.

   As for Mr. Bloom -- well, he (or she) holds lots of surprises.

   The art by Greg Capullo and Danny Miki is excellent as always, but so far the story is just galumphing along,

   It seems to be a pattern with the new series, with great characters and strong visuals, but the stories are often improbable. My disbelief, I'm sorry to say, is sinking fast.                                                                            

Grade: B+

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