Hoberg and Nebres’s art is a little perplexing. The medium shots, pretty much anything with Batman, the action sequences, none of these work out. No one’s really putting in any effort. The Batman cowl, for instance, is just awful. But in the pensive close-ups of characters? All of a sudden Hoberg and Nebres are trying.

While that emphasis makes some sense–the emotional resonance of the story–it’s also a superhero comic. Dynamic action, especially with a lame villain like Calendar Man, might make all the difference.

Sadly, Hoberg’s composition–even for the panels he does try on–isn’t any good. So they’re stilted, if detailed, close-ups.

Moench awkwardly resolves a big thread (rushing to a resolution, actually), then has Alfred again pimping out his daughter to Bruce.

Another goofy part is Jason suiting up as Robin to do some computer work in the Batcave. It’s just odd.

C- 

CREDITS

Broken Dates; writer, Doug Moench; penciller, Rick Hoberg; inker, Rudy Nebres; colorist, Adrienne Roy; letterer, John Workman; editor, Len Wein; publisher, DC Comics.

Editor Len Wein really should have sent this one back to the oven. First off, there’s the art from Rick Hoberg and Rudy Nebres. It’s awful. The figures are too static, the settings are too slight. Especially given Moench does a whole hostage airplane storyline–the art fails it every step of the way.

Except when Julia and Vicki stand around looking dumbfounded. Those panels are kind of funny.

Then there’s Moench. Moench tries to do a Batman and Catwoman star-crossed lovers story and he fails miserably. The dialogue’s stilted and rushed, the characters don’t act with any decent motivation. When he gets to the ending, which the artists screw up too, it’s hard not to roll one’s eyes. He goes for a big revelation about the relationship but he had a more honest moment in a brief comment from Gordon.

Not a good comic book, not at all.

D- 

CREDITS

The Vengeance Spiral; writer, Doug Moench; penciller, Rick Hoberg; inker, Rudy Nebres; colorist, Adrienne Roy; letterer, Ben Oda; editor, Len Wein; publisher, DC Comics.