Last month's issue of The Kryptonian Age left me saying that I wish I had more to chew on. Though don't they say you should be careful what you wish for? I guess we'll have to see if this month manages to push a more central story.

Where does he get those plentiful plot threads?

If last month didn't have enough to chew on, this issue left me fit to burst. We not only get a continuation of the altercation between Batman and Talia, we also get two other sub-plots introduced. These take the form of Dr. Adam Strange's arctic escapade and the appearance of one John Constantine, spiritual advisor to Queen Victoria.

Wow.

That's a lot of plot. My main issue with the last book was that it didn't have enough to keep me fully invested. So now we have even less because the same amount of time is divided between three plots in total. It's not so bad for the main story between Bruce and the League of Assasins since we already know more about them. The Strange and Constantine stories suffer more noticeably from this. They all have elements I enjoy but are not long enough for me to be fully invested in them.

Let's at least review the story. Heck, let's look at all three of them. Adam Strange has arrived at "the edge of the world" at the behest of Bruce Wayne. He's told that his compass and star navigation won't work here. the stars just ain't right. We then see his expiration locate ruins of the Kryptonian Age. Seeing the city itself reminds me of the legends of El Dorado and other such "lost cities". The etchings in the ruins have me oh so very interested in what it is the Kryptonian Age ends up being. I just wish I got to see even a tiny bit more before seeing the next thing.

We're now back with Bats fighting Talia on the train. The dialogue in this scene seems a bit more heavy-handed than last time. I obviously see that you have to have the characters talk in a time-appropriate way. With Bruce, it doesn't come off like that and just seems rather awkward and blocky. The line "Why does the League of Shadows hunt these ancient relics -- and murder those who possess them?" seems rather overly expository. The readers should already know this by now, we don't need Batman to re-explain it to us.

The saving grace for me is the use of gadgets in this fight. It would make sense for a Victorian Batman to carry around acid with him and that he does, which he uses to dissolve a sword. the grapnel gun looks as if it's been made from a modified shotgun which is also quite grounded in the period. It's quite simple, yet more effective at giving me a sense of the period than the dialogue is.

We then switch yet again, to the bedroom of Queen Victoria at the Balmoral estate. She is informed by a member of staff that she is needed, as there is an intruder in the crypt. This intruder reveals himself to be none other than John Constantine. It is revealed that he works for the Queen and is intrigued by the various artefacts from the Kryptonian Age. They have all started glowing and he demands to know when. After revealing it was after the "Carrington Event", the monarch quickly sentences him to be hung. This is rather swiftly revealed to be a ruse to fake his death, so he may serve the British Empire in spite of his past.

Quicker than The Flash

If that sounds like a lot of story, that's because it is and it's not even all of it! The rest of the issue gives us another glimpse of Bruce and Strange, hinting towards an involvement of the Amazonians. Holy overstuffed comic! In all seriousness, there is way too much going on here. The pacing feels much too rushed and I feel like every other second I'm seeing something new and different. It feels like a bit too much going on overall, with not enough going on in the individual stories.

To save the book's bacon, Fernandez comes to save the day. The art in this issue was outstanding. The train fight would have to be a standout for me. An image that sounds out in particular is a body shot of Batman. Slashed, blood-stained and teeth barred, the glow of the street below reflects up on him as he raises his fist. Truly awesome.

The colouring works just as well. The blood in this issue looked particularly good. Again, the train fight comes to mind. The fight showcases the visual talent of the creative team, with the background colours perfectly chosen to match the dark tones of the characters. Fernandez and Stewart have recaptured the essence of Mignola's gaslit Gotham more than any other artist has. It feels like a perfect visual continuation and the character designs continue this sentiment.

I mentioned Batman's and the Assassins' costumes in my last review, and the quality continues. The expedition outfits and the Amazon clothes feel like a Gotham By Gaslight take on things we've seen before. The thing that is most strange for me is the design for Constantine. His whispy head is a strange look for one I associate with being more full-headed, but it feels right for the period.

Recommended If...

• Mingola-esque art appeals to you
• information overload is a hobby
• You want to see a really good fight scene. Seriously, it's the best thing in the book.

Overall:

More of a mixed bag this time. I am intrigued by all the story elements, really I am. They just move on too quickly for me to be invested in any great detail. The art is fantastic and a good-looking book will keep me reading. You need good writing to make it memorable. Reading this as Absolute Power comes out is quite fitting. Good-looking books, with writing that lets it down. I know set-ups can be a risky bet. Here's hoping the next one can cash in the chips.

Score: 6.5/10

DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purposes of this review