Letters to Batman #16

The fight scene was intensely beautiful.....and I knew from Titans that Slade and Bruce had a history....but that Slade was one of the men who trained him? Genius. Pure genius.

Well, the teleportation scene threw up all sorts of questions (How did Batman know he'd hit Slade rather than just go smashing into a wall, colliding with Gordon or flying out of a window? Why couldn't J'onn just teleport Deathstroke away? Why didn't J'onn offer to help in any way?) and Batgirl and Batman's suddenly producing weapons they've never used before seemed a bit unlikely, and Deathstroke's use of gas was a bit disappointing (as it would have been if Batman had pulled a similar trick with his utility belt) , but overall it was a good read, with a great last line (although hadn't he already entered Gordon's room at the end of Detective #15, and presumably left a hole in the wall, so I didn't really see the point in him knocking on the door).

That cover was just masterful, Adam. It's easy to see why Deathstroke is so lethal when he's drawn like that!

I really wanted to like this issue, as it is the centerpiece of the crossover (as far as I can see), but a couple of things kept taking me out of it. The prose is a little forced, and tries too hard to be impressive (the whole first post of this issue was just a little too contrived, and came across like a pastiche of City of Crime--- though I understand this was probably written before the writer saw that work--- not to mention, it was kinda confusing, as well). There were plot holes (since when do the JL have transporters? And why didn't J'onn come to help Bruce--- or at least call for back-up?), the dialogue was still a little sketchy (at times it was difficult to determine who was speaking--- and whoever had the line "You're not the boss of me, you ba---" well... ), and the banter just a little too cliched.

Also, the violence and the damage that the combatants do to each other is a bit cartoonish (it was like watching the Itchy and Scratchy Show). Real people could not survive the punishment you put these characters through, Charlie (and frankly, I really don't like reading about that much graphic bloodletting)--- I think at one point Deathstroke walked away from a batarang jabbed into his empty eye socket (it was ridiculous when Green Arrow did it in Identity Crisis, and it is no less ridiculous now).

However, I did like the revelation that Bruce studied with Slade--- neat little twist there! Also, the scenes with Black mask were convincingly crazy (and you do know from crazy!)--- and I have to applaud you on your recent foray into writing in the past tense! You are getting better and better and more polished with each new issue!

I do have to say that in retrospect, saving all the big pay-offs til the end was not fair to Charlie. I do apologize to you for that. I will also confess that I didn't really want to use Deathstroke in the beginning since I'm deathly afraid of writing that guy. So I kind of dumped him on Charlie's lap. For that, I apologize as well.

I also want to add (and wanted to do it before but wasn't sure if I should bring it up) that I've noticed the past tense as well and have been enjoying the hell out of it.

Just to re-iterate...if you get stabbed in the eye, it CAN kill you. It's very painfull at any rate. Even a dead eye stab would hurt, so Charlie's Deathstroke eye-stab would hurt like hell and rattle even the greatest tactical villain.

Thanks for the words y'all...and see you in a few for the end of Charlie and I's historical run!