Bat-Mite #3 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Dan Jurgens
Art By: Corin Howell, Mike Atiyeh
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 5, 2015

Mite-y Fine Pair

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

I've been loving this six issue mini something fierce.  It's really fun to be able to step back sometimes and just look at something that doesn't really matter to continuity and just have a goofy good time.  Yeah, you might say that continuity really doesn't matter in the DCYou, but that's just lazy thinking and I won't be apart of it.  Anyway, in the previous issue we saw our Dark Mite take down Dr. Trauma and end her plans of permanently transferring her mind into Hawkman's body....... I say permanently because she did manage to get a little savage until Bat-Mite took her down and got her assistant to swap the brains back to their original places.  Happy endings all around and our little hero even managed to find a place to stay with two captives that were really appreciative in not having their minds scooped out and their bodies sold to the highest bidder.  All is not well though in the world of Bat-Mite, as we saw as the issue ended.  It turns out that there's a new villain in Gotham going by the name of Gridlock and it seems that he's got his eye on the city's newest hero.  Let's jump into this issue where our impetuous imp meets up with the Boy Wonder.  Hopefully Damian doesn't kill him outright.  Let's check it out.

Explain It!:

Our issue begins with Damian begrudgingly having to take care of the Batmobile that Bat-Mite stole and drove off a cliff in the first issue.  With too many things in the car that shouldn't fall into the wrong hands, Damian sets off a charge, blowing the car to bits.  It's a good thing too because it seems that Gridlock showed up to get his grubby hands on whatever secrets the Batmobile held.  After a quick fight, where Damian taunted the hell out of Gridlock, we find out that all it takes is a single touch from the villain to leave one paralyzed and Damian finds himself at the mercy of the youth hating madman........... Don't worry, we'll get to the youth hating part in a little bit.

Back on the Bat-Mite front, we find out that this 5th Dimensional annoyance, is just a terrible roommate.  He snores, he hogs the shower, leaves the bathroom a mess and apparently he doesn't mind flashing his Mite-hood either.  After thoroughly pissing off the woman of the house: Reagan, she storms out and we get a plot twist I never saw coming.  It turns out that Reagan secretly works for the government and her superiors now want her to find out all she can about her new house guest......Which should be hilarious.  Back at the apartment, Bat-Mite and Reagan's boyfriend Weed have a hilarious conversation about the Brady Bunch, but all of that is put on hold when the news announces Gridlock's capture of Robin.  Immediately Bat-Mite "pops" away and saves the Boy Wonder from being eaten by sharks..........With Bat Shark Repellent.  Classic.  Of course the two butt heads and it's ridiculous and hilarious, but when Gridlock makes his return, they'll have to work together to take him down.

In the end, we find out that Gridlock is obsessed with keeping things the way they are in the world and hates the youth for all their tweeting and selfies and................ you know what?  I could actually get behind Gridlock....... I wonder if he has any henchmen openings.  Anyway, the whole point of him kidnapping Robin was in the hopes of Batman rescuing him and the world realizing that kids can't do anything on their own and that they should continuing relying on the heroes they've always known...... of course Bat-Mite screwed that all up.  After Bat-Mite gets touched and paralyzed, Gridlock throws him into the shark infested water, forcing Damian to save him.  Even though it's against his better judgement.  As the issue closes, Gridlock gets away and Bat-Mite becomes furious with Damian for his lack of humor and anything that resembles fun and considers the boy a lost cause as he teleports away.  The greatest part of this book is after Bat-Mite disappears, Damian leaves laughing his ass off at the antics of Bat-Mite.  Just the best part of the book.  Don't worry though, even with Bat-Mite and Damian making their leave of one another, it looks like Booster Gold is going to need the imp's help in the future.

That's it for this issue of Bat-Mite and I just love this book.  I know this is going to sound ridiculous because I'm talking about comic books, but this comic is just so much fun because it doesn't mean anything in the long run....... Yes, I know, it's ridiculous because no comic really means anything, but.....shut up.  The pairing of Damian and Bat-Mite is just so brilliant for how no nonsense Damian is and Dan Jurgens didn't disappoint here with this juxtaposition.  I chuckled throughout this book and really laughed out loud when Damian began laughing at the end,  It's just as creepy as when Batman began laughing in the Killing Joke, but it's also good to see Damian is capable of this kind of enjoyment........ even though it doesn't matter like I said at the beginning.... continuity and all.  It's just fun and this issue is the best so far.  I love Corin Howell's art here, especially with Mike Atiyeh's vibrant colors and I can't wait to see what this creative team does with Booster Gold in the next issue.

Bits and Pieces:

Bat-Mite meets Damian Wayne....... right there should be enough of a selling point for anyone.  These two characters contrast so much, that hilarity just ensues and this issue quickly became my favorite so far of the series.  The art continues to be great and Dan Jurgens really hits a home run with the pairing of these two characters.  So much fun.

9/10