Having read the first two volumes of Batman: Urban Legends, I have decided the Batman family is waaaay to big nowadays and filled with waayyyy to many mopey characters who never do anything interesting. I'm done with this series.

The Outsiders in "The Caretakers" - 2 stars

A figure from Katana's past attacks, angered by their perception of her relationship with Black Lightning. Metamorpho is caught up in the action and dragged along. There's a whole lot of running in circles before the trio commits to expanding and relaunching their on-and-off group. Can't bring myself to care.

Tim Drake in "Sum of Our Parts" - 2 stars

Tim's questioning about his identity is undercut by the silly computer terminology and formatting of his narration and an unimaginative story about a cult kidnapping kids.

Azrael in "Dark Knight of the Soul" - 1 star

A delusional religious fanatic butts head with a mad scientist and another religious fanatic. Does anyone actually like Jean-Paul Vallee? He's the worst member of the Batman family, and I have no idea why DC keeps publishing stories about him.

Oracle in "Ghost in the Machine" - 2 stars

All the good comic villain names are already taken, I suppose, which is why Oracle has to face a pathetic hacker called Vi Ross (vi-rus).

Batgirls in "Wild Card" - 2 stars

All the good superhero names are also taken, I guess, so half the heroes in the DC and Marvel universes now have to share the same name. This book alone has three Batgirls and one of the two or twenty current Robins. This story tries to convince me a new character, another hacker called Wildcard is intriguing, but it fails. At least she wasn't also going by Vi Ross.

Batwing in "Superman Punch" - 2 stars

I've managed to miss most of Batwing's previous appearances, and the few times I have seen him he seems to be a complete non-entity. This story wherein he is strung along by the Riddler isn't doing anything to make him seem more necessary to the Batman family.

Batwoman in "Fear State: Disinformation Campaign" - 2 stars

Another character upon whom my interest has never been able to get any traction. Having a sister with mental health issues tied to an obsession with Alice in Wonderland is not helping.

The Outsiders in "Fear State: The Fearful" - 2 stars

I've managed to miss most of the Signal's previous appearances, and the few times I have seen him he seems to be a complete non-entity. This story wherein he joins the Outsiders and fights against a future dystopia caused by the Scarecrow isn't doing anything to make him seem more necessary to the Batman family.

Tim Drake in "A Carol of Bats" - 2 stars

Tim thinks Batman is extra broody this Christmas and wants to cheer him up. Maybe a nice tie?

Nightwing in "The Bats of Christmas Past" - 2 stars

Another Christmas story? Must be time to pull out the umpteenth homage to Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."

FOR REFERENCE:

Contents:
• The Outsiders in "The Caretaker" [chapters 1-3, issues 1-3] / Brandon Thomas, writer; Max Dunbar, artist
• Tim Drake in "Sum of Our Parts" [chapters 1-3, issues 4-6] / Meghan Fitzmartin, writer; Belén Ortega, artist
• Azrael in "Dark Knight of the Soul" [chapters 1-3, issues 8-10] / Dan Watters, writer; Nikola Čižmešija, artist
• Oracle in "Ghost in the Machine" [issue 2] / Cecil Castellucci, story; Marguerite Sauvage, artist
• Batgirls in "Wild Card" [issue 5] / Marguerite Bennett, writer; Sweeney Boo, artist
• Batwing in "Superman Punch" [issue 4] / Camrus Johnson, writer; Loviso Mkize, penciler; Trevor Scott, inker
• Batwoman in "Fear State: Disinformation Campaign" [chapters 1-2, issues 8-9] / Alyssa Wong, writer; Vasco Georgiev, artist
• The Outsiders in "Fear State: The Fearful" [chapters 1-2, issues 8-9] / Brandon Thomas, writer; Cian Tormey, penciler; Raul Fernandez, inker
• Tim Drake in "A Carol of Bats" [issue 10] / Meghan Fitzmartin, writer; Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque, artist
• Nightwing in "The Bats of Christmas Past" [issue 10] / Tini Howard, writer; Christian Duce, artist
• Cover Gallery / Derrick Chew, Irvin Rodriguez, Dustin Nguyen, Mimi Yoon, Colleen Doran, Francesco Francavilla, Khary Randolph, Riccardo Federici, Belén Ortega and Bengal, illustrators ( )