Batman & Robin, Vol.2-3: “Batman vs. Robin” & “Batman and Robin Must Die!” (DC)

I’m still catching up with a huge backlog of comics/graphic novel reviews, but I decided to collect these two books together. Partly because they’re obviously connected, but also because I wanted to get the reviews out of the way. After liking the first volume in Grant Morrison’s Batman & Robin run far more than I anticipated (I’ve written plenty of times how I think he’s highly over-rated), I dove in to the second and third volume pretty soon afterwards. (Told you I was being slow with reviewing…) Sadly, my pleasant surprise at the quality of volume one evaporated with these two books. These are, frankly, not so good.

“Batman Incorporated” (DC)

Writer: Grant Morrison | Artists: Yanick Paquette (#1-3,5), Chris Burnham (#4,6,7, Leviathan Strikes #2), Scott Clark & Dave Beaty (#8), Cameron Stewart (Leviathan Strikes #1), & Pere Perez | Inks: Michel Lacombe (#1) | Colors: Nathan Fairbairn, Scott Clark & Dave Beaty

The next stage of evolution of the Dark Knight. Bruce Wayne publicly announces that he is the financial backer of Batman and establishes a worldwide franchise of Batmen that will protect the entire globe.

This is the beginning of a stunning new direction for the world’s greatest detective that will team him with Catwoman, Batwoman and Batman Inc. representatives on international crime fighting missions against Lord Death Man in Japan, South America and Argentina.

So, Grant Morrison. We meet again... I honestly don’t know what to make of him. I can’t tell if he’s taking the piss and just falling flat, or if he’s a subpar writer who happens to have a massive following that allows him to write this drivel.