Batman vs Ra’s al Ghul returns this month from DC after a year’s absence.

Issue 5 continues to weave the complicated tapestry of Batman, Deadman, Ra’s al Ghul, and a cast of supporters. It’s a lot to handle, but comic artist veteran Neal Adams is quite familiar with his surroundings. His work on Batman spans decades, in fact, back to the 60s, when Adams helped usher in the ‘darker’ Batman. Plus Deadman, and so on.

A shadowy group is running a competition to find the new Batman. Many have applied, but only one shall be chosen. But things look a bit shady, a whiff of a scandal, of things not being on the ‘up and up’.

It’s a winding, convoluted story with plenty of conflict and arguments. Adams writes, draws, and colours this mini-series, and it’s gold for fans of the multilevel, multi-subplot Batman.

DC Comics, Batman vs Ra’s al Ghul #5, $3.99 for 24 pages of comic content. Teen.

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!!