Just when you thought DC was giving the All Star Batman and Robin treatment to Batman '89 ... you know, something so unbearably awful, they abandon it in the middle of the run... along comes issue 5.
It opens on Harvey Dent, now decked out in his Two-Face costume, negotiating with a certain Mr. Karp to take over the so-called "Joker gang" that has been running rampant in Gotham. Commissioner Gordon questions his daughter if she knows where Harvey is. She says she doesn't, but she has a note from him asking her to meet him at Gotham Park. Jim mentions he's put in his resignation. Batman and Drake in the Batmobile lead a police car on a seemingly needless and pointless chase, only to have the police car abandon the chase to go after something more serious. Four subway tunnels collapse and there is a gas leak all near Police HQ. Police Captain Ramirez is shot on live TV during a new interview. The Joker gang invades the streets. It's all a diversion so Dent can get inside the evidence room at Police HQ. Gordon gets to the roof to light the Bat-Signal. Batman arrives in time to save Gordon from a couple Joker gang goons, and they get down to the evidence room where Gordon says 31 Million Dollars from the Lincoln Savings Job is being held. As they get there, they encounter Dent, who shoots Bullock, and evades Batman while kidnapping Gordon. Dent gives out the money to the poor and needy. Dent then meets up with Barbara at the park. She arrests Dent but he tells her he has her father. Catwoman jumps from the shadows, knocking Barbara unconscious and tells Dent to run. Catwoman then orders Drake to follow Dent. Dent gets back to his hideout, and Gordon goads Dent into shooting him. Batman arrives.
The extra time it took to put out this issue may have been worth it, as it is the best issue of the run. But then again, that's not saying much. Never the less, this issue has better pacing, plot points, and some suspense. A clear improvement in script quality by Sam Hamm. Joe Quinones' art is excellent this issue, with the likenesses to the actors more definitive than previous issues. This issue earns a B.
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