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+