DETECTIVE’s 2-part filler arc -- “Absolute Terror“ -- with The Scarecrow comes to an end in issue #836.

To put it briefly, this was a sub par storyline churned out by writer John Rozum that featured example after example of cheesy dialogue. Hell, every character that appears in this story says something at least once that makes you roll your eyes.

Then, you have one of the best of Batman’s rogues gallery in The Scarecrow and he’s reduced to being a clichéd and very “B List” villain. Hell, he was more like “Mad Scientist Guy” as opposed to being the terrifying “Scarecrow.”

The premise was cool -- The Scarecrow instilling fear and terror in Gotham without the use of his fear gas. But unfortunately, the execution simply wasn’t there.

Also, there was this lame and quite forced “love story” involving Bruce and very boring female character. Look, I’ve got no problem with Bruce, ahem, “stepping out,” but this subplot just wasn’t worth a dang.

And why in the hell was Robin in this story? So The Scarecrow could call him "boy?"

Tom Mandrake’s artwork is not too shabby, but nothing to make one scream “badass!” But why in the hell does he have The Batman imitating Spider-Man’s upside down hanging move?

DETECTIVE‘s regular scribe and artist -- Paul Dini and Don Kramer respectively -- return next month. Here’s hoping that this title’s top notch quality returns as well.