** spoiler alert ** 
 How to spot a dismal Batman book: 
 (a) Jason Todd is Robin, and/or 
 (b) Superman makes an appearance. 
 What saves it is the obvious (that Jason Todd bites it), but it's still pretty bad. The writing is mediocre, and the art--well, thank god for costumes, because otherwise everyone looks pretty much the same. Bruce Wayne and Jason Todd are nearly indistinguishable--a problem because Todd isn't supposed to look 35 years old--and they blend in with every other male face drawn. 
 Favorite moment: Batman and Robin are dressed as Arabs, to infiltrate a terrorist training camp. (Yeah, this was the '80s.) After the terrorists-to-be have been neutralized, Batman remarks "I see no need for these disguises anymore!" and they strip down to their Batman & Robin garb. Yes, in the middle of the desert, that's much more subtle.