This third and final volume of Black & White collects short works by some of comics’ greatest names: Brian Azzarello, Ed Brubaker, Mike Carey, Alex Garland, Dave Gibbons, Mike Mignola, Sean Phillips, Judd Winick, et al. It seems impossible then that it would be this mediocre.

The stories included here are so short (usually just a scene) that they really just amount to an excuse for the artwork, which ranges in styles and effectiveness. The pastiches to classic comics don’t really work. There are a couple of the more original works that do pop, such as Aron Wiesenfeld’s, but it’s ultimately not enough to save the whole.

Grade: C

Batman: Black & White, Vol. 3 is currently available.