BATMAN VOL. 3 I AM BANE is written by Tom King and drawn by David Finch. This book collects BATMAN 16-20, 23-24; and BATMAN ANNUAL 1. I have never really cared for the character Bane from the moment he made his debut. Because he doesn't have superpowers, Batman has to rely on his intelligence in many instances to defeat villains. I always think Batman's brain is capable of defeating Bane's brawn on any day. In this collection, Bane faces a bunch of villains I think are much cooler, like Two-Face, Scarecrow, and Mr. Zsasz. Despite my misgivings about the character, Tom King, and David Finch have put together a great bit of storytelling.

I love how Tom King and David Finch recall Bruce Wayne and Bane's early years by stacking the histories in panels side by side. This storytelling technique tries to show how Bruce Wayne and Bane suffered similar pain in their formative years, but how they took completely opposite paths. Even though I don't care for Bane, every time Batman faces him in a battle royale, Batman's character becomes sharper, more defined, and easier to cheer on. The rogues' gallery that Bane plows through on the path to Batman - Solomon Grundy, Amygdala, Mr. Freeze, Firefly, Black Spider, Flamingo, Man-Bat, Mad Hatter, Dr. Phosphorous, Hush, Copperhead, Calendar Man, and more -- are like familiar evil friends and are a nice contrast to Bane. As much as I found the little yet fabulous touches in the Bane/Batman story appealing, my favorite stories in this book are the smaller ones at the end. I love the heart-to-heart between Batman and Gotham girl. Their conversation shows an introspective Batman peeking through his gruff exterior.

BATMAN VOL. 3 I AM BANE has a super-sized slugfest with a glimpse of Batman's soul. This book is full of whimsical touches to offset the intensity of the battle between Batman and Bane, like the significantly-named landmarks "McKean Clock Tower" and "Nolan Alley". As a longtime Batman fan, I also really enjoyed the opening scenes with many of the various Robins represented. Catwoman is a standout character in this book and adds some smarts and some charm to the villain versus superhero action. I really enjoyed the Swamp Thing story and the dynamic between that character and Batman. I've heard of Swamp Thing but haven't read any books featuring that character. After reading about him in "The Brave and the Mold", I feel like I need to read up on Swamp Thing.