Batman Vol.3 #2

Sep 2012. Cover price £2.99.
76 pages. Full colour contents.
Titan Magazines.

Cover p: PAT (Patrick Gleason), i: Mick Gray, c: Moose Baumann.
r: cover from Batman and Robin (DC Comics) #01 (Nov 2011).

Contents:

 2 Justice League in-house advertisement

 3 Contents Page

 4 Batman pin-up. p: PAT (Patrick Gleason), i: Mick Gray, colouring by Moose Baumann.

r: cover from Batman and Robin (DC Comics) #03 (Jan 2012).

 5 Knightmoves w: Peter J. Tomasi; p: Patrick Gleason, i: Mick Gray, lettering by Patrick Brosseau, colouring by John Kalisz.

r: Batman and Robin (DC Comics) #03 (Jan 2012).

25 The Dark Knight Rises official movie novelization advertisement.

26 Batman pin-up; p: PAT (Patrick Gleason), i: Mick Gray, colouring by John Kalisz.

r: cover from Batman and Robin (DC Comics) #04 (Feb 2012).

27 Matter of Trust w: Peter J. Tomasi; p: Patrick Gleason, i: Mick Gray, lettering by Patrick Brosseau, colouring by John Kalisz.

r: Batman and Robin (DC Comics) #04 (Feb 2012).

37 Batman pin-up; p: PAT (Patrick Gleason), i: Mick Gray, colouring by Moose Baumann.

r: cover from Batman and Robin (DC Comics) #03 (Jan 2012).

38 Batman pin-up; a: Jason Fabok, colouring by Peter Steigerwald.

r: variant cover from Batman (DC Comics) #08 (Jun 2012).

43 Subscribe

52 Missed an Issue? Back issues.

53 Batman pin-up; a: Greg Capullo, colouring by FCO Plascencia.

r: cover from Batman (DC Comics) #08 (Jun 2012).

54 Attack on Wayne Manor w: Scott Snyder; p: Greg Capullo, i: Jonathan Glapion, lettering by Richard Starkings, colouring by FCO Plascencia.

r: Batman (DC Comics) #08 (Jun 2012).

74 Batman Letters readers' mail

75 Next Time! in-house advertisement.

76 Batman: The Dark Knight in-house advertisement.

Continuing on, without any discernible personality or style, this reprint title presents absolutely no incentives for readers interested in the character of Batman, resorting to relentlessly churning through DC's relaunched line with no commentary. hoping that its insipid strips will, somehow, achieve a degree of sense by virtue of so many appearing in one publication. It is folly to assume that volume equates to quality, which this does.

With this issue I'm beginning to really like Morgan. More than Batman, even - and I think everyone knows by now that I want to see the Joker snuff out Damian just like he did with Jason Todd. Maybe an entire issue dedicated to having him slowly boiled to death. The character isn't merely depicted as a brat, but as an entirely unbelievable collection of stock traits, gathered together without a balancing degree of humanity to offset the more ridiculous elements.

Damian's fundamental cartoonishness drags the stories down to such a degree that it is difficult to remember that there was a time when Batman routinely enoyed top-tier creators and stories.

While there are highlights to savor (Damian being drugged, a few beautiful pin-ups, and one of the dumbest speeches Batman has ever given), the rather silly dialogue given to Alfred is beginning to annoy me. The Owls storyline ramps up in fine style in comparison with a rather poor main feature, and the addition of a page for readers' letters finally gives the title a little more value. Not much, but it is a start.

#01

Batman Vol.3

#03