With Issue 3, Neal Adam’s Batman VS Ra’s Al Ghul is hitting stride. This DC title is not for the uninitiated, instead, a ‘box of chocolates’ for the long time fan.

Adams, of course, needs no introduction, and I won’t take your time here with a list of his comic book accomplishments. But what is this 78 years old creating this time?

In essence, Adams is poking fun at the seriousness and darkness of the Batman franchise, and mixing things up. The younger generation BatGuys are tripping over themselves, Batman is living in two dimensions as the result of a personality split (I think), and Deadman is in and out of bodies like there’s no tomorrow.

It’s wild, it’s wacky and wonderfully creative. Perhaps it tinkers a bit too much with the Batman literary canon, and perhaps Adams is wise to try to recap things here and there for us slower readers. But it’s not often that we are able to witness a writer/artist like Adams taking time this late in the day to take another shot at the iconic hero and his foes.

Strongly illustrated, a bit idiosyncratic, and staggering along the border of exaggerated parody.

DC, Batman VS Ra’s Al Ghul #3, $3.99 for 22 pages of content. Teen plus

By Alan Spinney

After a career of graphic design, art direction and copywriting, I still have a passion for words and pictures. I love it when a comic book comes together; the story is tight, and the drawings lead me forward. Art with words... the toughest storytelling technique to get right. Was this comic book worth your money? Let's see!!