A review by scrooge3
Batman: Detective Comics, Vol. 3: League of Shadows by James Tynion IV

4.0

This volume focuses on some interesting family relationships. Cassandra Cain, aka Orphan, and her very complicated relationship with her mother, Shiva, is highlighted. The story also examines Cassandra's obsession with a talented ballet dancer, contrasting the use of dance movement to express beauty versus martial movement to express violence. Cassandra's violent tendencies relative to Batman's is another avenue this story explores. Batman admits that Orphan could beat him in a "real" fight, but I think that's only because Batman's strict moral code forbids him to kill whereas Orphan's does not. In addition, Clayface, Azrael, and Batwing all get good supporting moments. There's even a flashback with Tim Drake that foreshadows that Batman knows much more about what's in store for the team than he is letting on. And if the army of ninjas that make up the League of Shadows isn't the worst threat, I can only imagine what is. We get a hint near the end of the volume with the reveal of the mastermind behind Shiva and the Shadows. But is he in turn being manipulated by some even greater evil? Stay tuned....
The artwork by Marcio Takara, Christian Duce, and Fernando Blanco ranges from good to excellent, although not quite as crisp as I prefer, but is hampered by Alex Sinclair and Marcello Maiolo's dark colors that favor blacks, browns, and reds.

Note: I read this as individual comic book issues.