Well now DC's New 52 has released the books 'Damian: Son Of Batman', I actually like the character to be honest.
He is still ridden in teenage angst. But he very much becomes his own person thanks to the events that unfold around him.
He's generally quite an arsehole, and is rather similar to the very hated Jason Todd (post resurrection from The Lazarus Pit), which made me feel quite sorry for him. Well, to an extent.
Despite the liking of the character himself as he dons the Caped Crusader's outfit, it's a shame the story isn't much fun.
'Damian: Son Of Batman' the deluxe hardcover edition contains 'Damian #1-4' and 'Batman #666'.
The Batman has been killed, and Damian wants revenge on who did it and everyone else, ever...
But instead of taking on The Batman's name and nature, he just decides to kill everyone in sight.
Of course this is a what if story, set a good few years in the future.
(I'm not saying the what if, in case it spoils the books you haven't read).
As the story progresses, we see some familiar faces along with some unfamilar faces, Professor Pyg, Weasel, The Joker and more are involved. Unfortunately though the bigger better bad guys just aren't really in it, except it really tried to make Pyg something more than what he's been seen as up to now.
The main problem about the story however is that it sets up a lot of questions which are never answered, such as:
Was the priest Jim Gordon?
Who was the new Joker, and why has the old Joker returned?
Wait, it was Dick that died and not Bruce?
What the hell was Bruce doing while Dick was dead, and how did Damian not realise it wasn't his father in the costume?
And the weirdest part, when the story went odd:
(Little Spoiler here)
Was it really Alfred Pennyworth's soul in the cat, or was it Damian's mind going mental?
(To be honest I think it's all in his head after "Batman" died, like every single thing happening).
But none of that was the point, right?
RIGHT?
Oh who knows.
When 'Damian #4' ends, we have a half assed Batman who really wants to kill but doesn't thanks to a promise.
And this is one reason why I like him. He's an arsehole killer, but he has morals.
Ish.
Once that story has concluded, we get to read 'Batman', issue #666.
And of course the story has to do with the number as Bat-Devil arrives in town, and we find out that Damian sold his soul to the Devil when Bruce died.
So wait, I haven't read those issues of Batman. This story being here just confuses everything even more to do with the Damian story we've just read.
Granted #666 was a decent story in itself, but it needs a couple of issues previous to fully allow readers to be immersed and understand what's going on.
Either way, both stories have some bloody beautiful art, which is in reality the main story's saviour.
Overall I have to give the deluxe edition:
6/10.
It had potential, but overall failed to bring anything solid to the Batman universe. And there were just too many unanswered questions.
You can pre-order the hardcover copy by clicking here.