Still on a high from the supreme bad-assery of DETECTIVE COMICS #840, I'm proud to report that issue #841 of the comic that introduced Batman way back in 1939 is yet another home run for writer Paul Dini and new artist Dustin Nguyen.

I could never be a comic book writer. I could never come up with fresh takes and spins on old characters. And yet Dini still finds ways to keep it all feeling new and exciting.

This month's issue features Jervis "The Mad Hatter" Tetch, who's never particularly been one of my favorite Batman villains. After this issue, I'm feeling a little differently.

We begin with Bruce Wayne at Gotham Fashion Week, which he describes in Dini's beautifully crafted inner monologue as one of those things he endures to keep up appearances. Show up, mingle, toss out a few superficial comments and he's out the door until next year, except for…

… the rifle butt that comes smashing into his face. It seems The Mad Hatter and his gang have decided to rob the wealthy citizens in attendance. What unfolds is fun, brilliant writing as Bruce begins disarming and disorienting the Hatter's gang, all while making it look like random acts of clumsiness born from totally faked nervousness. It's awesome stuff, especially the bit with the camera, and more proof why Batman is Batman. Definitely one of my favorite openings of any Dini issue so far.

And so the Hatter's crimes continue, with each crime featuring hired muscle dressed in costumes that reflect the nature and place of the heist at hand. Batman does some snazzy detective work in trying to predict the Hatter's next targets, and it's all written vividly by Dini.

One of the best scenes in the book comes in the middle, where we find that Anthony "Little Italy" Marchetti and his giant bodyguard force the elderly owners of an Italian restaurant to feed them for free at all hours in exchange for "protection."

And then the lights go out.

Who needs protection now?

The scene of The Batman interrogating Marchetti in the kitchen near the oven is priceless. But the cool thing about it is that Batman doesn't just use terror against Marchetti. He uses reason and intelligence. And he gathers information. Dini truly understands the title of this book, and scenes like this are always a lot of fun to read.

And of course the best part of the scene is its resolution, where Batman turns the tables on Marchetti's cruel treatment of the restaurants owners in a way you've got to see to believe. It's fun and it's awesome and it's cool.

Batman tracks the Hatter to Amusement Mile and finds him sitting alone in the tea cup ride, sweating and barely conscious. He's been drugged and controlled just as Batman suspected, leading up to the brilliant big reveal of the issue's true culprits.

And as awesome as Nguyen's gorgeous, unique art has been so far, it really kicks into high gear when Batman begins his assault on the Hatter's goons in the fun house. I love the way he uses the fun house mirrors to build terror and dread before attacking with his typical precision and devising a clever, appropriate defeat for each of the goons based on their costumes and abilities. The action is insanely awesome.

After they've all been taken down, Batman takes the time to actually talk to Tetch as if he's a human being. And when he calls it in to Gordon, he says two things I like. First, he tells Gordon to go easy on Tetch because he's not to blame this time. Secondly, he tells Gordon that he'll explain it all later, which I like because it means he's going to talk to Gordon later and I like the idea of Batman and Gordon having that kind of relationship again where they can talk things out.

This is the Batman I love. The Batman who's a hero. The Batman who values hope and inspiration and justice. Dini's got it covered, and he also gives the ending a perfect twist that lets Tetch get the last laugh after all.

I can't say enough good things about this story. We get a fresh take on the Mad Hatter, fresh takes on his crimes and his crew, and massive amounts of detective work and big, awesome action from Batman. And all of it is brought to life by Dustin Nguyen's fantastic art.

And how about that cover? Amazing.

Next month's issue is unfortunately another fill-in without Dini. It looks like the story will be the origin of the armor Batman wore in the "Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul" crossover.

Are you kidding me?

Let's get back to real stories from Dini. Let's get back to Batman, because issues like this one reflect everything Batman is.