Batman #666 is the conclusion of the “Three Ghosts of Batman,” an informal storyline in which Batman faces off against a trio of insane replacement Batmen.  Previously Batman fought a rogue cop who assumed his identity (#655) and his back-breaking nemesis Bane dressed as a Batman (#664-665).

“Batman in Bethlehem” takes place in a near-future that finds Damian, the son of Bruce Wayne/Batman and Talia al Ghul, having taken up the mantle of The Dark Knight.  Damian faces the last of the replacement Batmen – a madman who claims to be the Biblical Anti-Christ.  The Batman and “the third ghost” have their final confrontation in Hotel Bethlehem, while the world boils over, and Damian plans on showing this other Bat which man really has the devil in him.

THE LOWDOWN:  Batman #666 is an entertaining story – no better or worse than anything Grant Morrison has done so far with this series.  As usual the real treat here is Andy Kubert’s superb art.  He’s good, but like Jim Lee, Kubert also draws a great Batman but he is drawing the character for stories that don’t match his talent.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  If you stomached Batman: Hush for Jim Lee’s art, then, you can deal with a much better story to see Andy Kubert’s art.

B+