Batman Comics

Happy Wednesday, Bat-fans! It’s a great week for new comics, we get some really fun things to read today. In related news, San Diego Comic-Con is rapidly approaching and the costume making is going quite well. Now I just have to be patient and wait for the organizers to post the panel schedule! Is anyone who reads this planning to be there? Leave a comment and let me know! Now, here’s what I found in my pull file this week:

Batman Incorporated 2 – I was very into issue 1, and I’m sure that Morrison and Burnham will continue to provide excellent Bat-stories with gorgeous art. Burnham teased on Twitter today that we get some back-story for the Talia/Bruce relationship, please tell me I’m not the only one hoping for some Naked Bruce Wayne time!!

For those of you wondering if Bruce was Batman yet when Damian was conceived, you’ll find out in just a few short hours!

— Chris Burnham (@TheBurnham) June 27, 2012

Batman: The Dark Knight 10 – This title has been kind of all over the place, with art that’s sometimes awesome and sometimes less so, and writing that’s been kind of uninspiring. Today Gregg Hurwitz takes over the writing with a new story arc featuring Scarecrow as the villain. The problem that Batman: The Dark Knight has had all along is that it doesn’t know what distinguishes it from all the other Bat-titles, so if this is their way of moving towards a more horror-themed comic, I think that’s a really good idea.

Justice League 10 - Who has two thumbs and can’t remember anything about Justice League 9? This girl! I even went back and read a summary of the issue (thanks gothamspoilers.com) and still have no idea what’s going on. It’s a great comic, but maybe my attention has been a little too dedicated to making the Bat-dress…

Teen Titans 10 - It feels too early for another Titans book, but that’s cool, I’m into anything that involves Tim Drake and dinosaurs! This week we get more info about Kid Flash’s background, and Bunker asks Red Robin what the deal is with their missing teammate Skitter; the Titans are definitely keeping busy! I had to share this cover for those dinosaurs I mentioned, but I love it for another reason too: I hope it’s the first in a long line of pictures I can tag “Kid Flash Outruns His Uniform.” This is by Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund and Andrew Dalhouse.

Happy Wednesday, Bat-friends and Bat-foes! New comic day once again, and as always there are some great things waiting for me at The Beguiling. There’s been a lot of internet buzz lately about DC’s announcement that someone’s coming out as gay, and I’ve got a post about that coming later this week, but first things first. What are you reading today? Here’s what’s in my pull file:

Batman Incorporated 1 – Grant Morrison returns to the Bat-verse with the continuation of his pre-relaunch Batman Incorporated story. Bruce Wayne has publicly stated that he’s financially supporting Batman, and Batman goes around the world setting up franchises while learning more about the evil organization Leviathan. I’ve loved Morrison’s work with Batman; he understands the character so well, and brings a very special twisted sensibility that works perfectly in this setting. Now that Damian is Robin, I’m excited to see how Morrison writes the little Wayne brat. Chris Burnham’s art was superb on the previous run of this title, so that’s another reason to pick this one up. Plus, nobody forget, issue 3 has Matches Malone on the cover, my little fangirl heart is all aflutter!!

Batman: The Dark Knight 9 – Keeping the Night of the Owls showdown active while we wait for the upcoming conclusion in Batman 10 and 11, Red Robin heads back to Gotham for a showdown with a Talon! This kind of demonstrates exactly why B:TDK is not my favourite comic – what do Red Robin and the Talon have to do with Batman being the Darkest of Knights? That said, I won’t complain about seeing more Red Robin, we all know I love me some Tim Drake, and overall this title has been fun to read.

Teen Titans 9 – Two Tim Drake comics in one day? I may never recover! The Titans and some other dudes continue fighting a bunch of bad guys in a weird hellish arena, and more importantly, some creepy character in a hood is stealing Red Robin’s style. When it comes to feathered capes, there can be only one! Here’s the cover, by Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, and Andrew Dalhouse, click to enlarge and fully enjoy the wingspan.

Thanks to Dee for the shiny new ‘pull file’ header image, based on Dustin Nguyen’s cover for 2011′s Batman 80 page giant.

Writer: Grant Morrison

Artist: Scott Clark, Dave Beatty

Date: October 2011

My Rating: Fun, exciting, beautiful to look at – everything a comicbook should be!

I vastly enjoyed Batman Inc 8, it was an engaging and satisfying read. Wayne Tech has developed “Internet 3.0″, an immersive virtual reality environment that both recreates and enhances our own world. On top of all that, it looks like Tron!! Malware attacks during the demonstration to a group of investors, and Mr. Wayne reveals something very interesting about Internet 3.0:

I can’t get over how publicly Bruce is connecting Wayne Industries with Batman! And it seems like he’s selling Batman’s services, right? I’m not sure how I feel about all that, but we’ll see what happens. The title page of this issue is beautiful, Oracle is amazing on her lightcycle.

Batman and Oracle determine that one of the investors was a Trojan horse, bringing the malware in with him. They fight it out as though it’s a video game, I love the writing (“Boss Level!”) and the aesthetic.

Oracle isolates the virus and Batman realizes Tanaka was aided by Leviathan, so this all fits into that larger overall story. I think the Leviathan thing will be carried into the DCnU, but we’ll have to wait for the next run of Batman Inc. to find out what happens, and that waiting’s going to be hard.

I also just wanted to note that the artist’s name is spelled Dave Beatty on the cover, but Dave Beaty on the title page. Holy editing error, Batman! So amusing. Check it out, this is is the top of the cover:

Writer: Grant Morrison

Artists: Yanick Paquette, Michel Lacombe

Date: February 2011

My Rating: Sexy bats and wet cats, oh my!

An excellent second issue in the new Batman Inc series! As you remember from last time, issue 1 ends with Catwoman and Misaki trapped in a giant fish-tank with an octopus. The first page of this book answers my question, which was how an apartment building in Tokyo can have a sunken fish-tank big enough for an octopus and two people – it really can’t. They just filled up the whole downstairs apartment with water. Also, sucks that Catwoman didn’t manage to put her goggles on before being dunked in the water.

I really like the way this page is set up, with the big fight scene on top and then the window from different points of view on the bottom half of the page. It presents the information about what’s happening in the moment in a way designed to remind you one peice at a time of what’s going on in the story – first we have Batman and Jiro fighting the skeleton men, then we are reminded that Misaki and Catwoman are in danger, then we see the Octopus, and finally Catwoman fighting it with anything she can find (the umbrella – good weapon choice!). We’re brought right back into the story before we even turn the page.

When the action is over, Catwoman keeps Batman company while he searches the apartment-turned-fish tank. I love how her ears are kinda drooping like a real wet cat’s ears would! (At least, it looks real – I’ve never actually seen a wet cat in real life.)

Near the end of the book, Bruce and Selina share a conversation and Selina asks the question I’ve been wondering since the big announcement – what happens when someone (a) tries to get to Batman through Bruce, or (b) puts the peices together and figures the whole thing out? Silly me, not trusting – Batman always has a plan.

In the end, this book is as much about Batman’s relationship with Catwoman as it is about Bruce’s new Batman Incorporated franchise plan. I’m excited to see how both play out in the future.

Writer: Grant Morrison

Artists: Yanick Paquette

Date: January 2011

My Rating: Holy Batman Comic, Batman!

This is the first issue of a new ongoing series written by Grant Morrison. I’ve really enjoyed where Morrison’s taken the Bat-verse over the last while, and I’m definitely into this new series as well. In these stories we’ll see Batman go around the world recruiting and training other Batmen, he starts in Tokyo. Catwoman’s gone with him as well, and Bruce and Selina have rekindled their romantic relationship.

I wanted to show you two cool things going on in Batman Inc. The first is that the comic’s kinda sexy, in (I think) a more grown-up way than Batman has been in the past. Batman and Catwoman are definitely sleeping together as well as working together; I know that’s not new, but somehow it seems more open and maybe more functional (though I am still holding out for Bruce/Tim in the comics, it’s gonna happen one day). Also, I’m really into how they’re drawn together, Paquette’s style is classic and very clear, and the characters look great. And my feminist sensibilities don’t need to be offended – I can objectify Bruce just as easily as Selina in this scene

I think Morrison is bringing together old-school high camp Batman with the more gritty, modern, realistic portrayal. In this issue we have a guy killed with acid, which is pretty hardcore, but we also have a woman dropped into a fishtank with a giant octopus. Here’s the second-last page of the issue, where Catwoman dives into the fishtank to rescue the woman (water! poor Catwoman). I love the text!!

There we have it. Next up, DC Comics and I need to have a little chat about reunion scenes.

Writer: Grant Morrison

Artists: Lee Garbett, Pere Perez, Alejandro Sicat

Date: December 2010

My Rating: Extremely Satisfying!

So, here we have our conclusion of Bruce Wayne’s journey through time to return to Gotham, his family and allies. Overall I enjoyed it, was surprised and intrigued, and appreciated the tying up of loose ends. But, it didn’t have the reunion moments I was hoping for – guess we’ll have to wait for the Batman: The Return one-shot I read about the other day.

This issue starts off at the end of time, with the Archivist showing us things that symbolize Bruce’s life. There are the pearls, a bell (which he rang to call Alfred when he decided to be Batman), and a gun. Kind of makes me wonder what things would symbolize my own life, you know? The crazy sea-monster is back, it seems to be like a physical representation of the curse that’s followed him through time (and is that curse responsible for his parents’ death? Is that the implication? Kind of means he’d always be Batman, no matter what.) I like how it looks like a good old vagina dentata, and also the face-hugger from Alien, anyone else find that?

When Superman and some other JLA type guys show up at the end of the universe to stop Batman, he takes their time machine and goes back to the ‘present’, leaving them there to escape right after in a different time machine that Batman left for them. He’s smart like that. Why don’t people trust Batman to always be himself, no matter what happens to him?

Batman shows up at wherever the Justice League is (the Tower?…), and Tim has to explain that he’s become a threat to existence. They have a really great moment:

So basically, everything comes together in a crazy way. Superman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern save the day, reminding us that Batman needs his allies in order to ultimately succeed. The book closes with Batman rededicating himself to protecting Gotham city, and balance is returned to the universe.

One last thing I wanted to say was that the artwork in this book is excellent. I love how Bruce and the other people are drawn, they look like the ultimate versions of themselves. The bat-suit’s various incarnations throughout time are great, variations but always around that same theme and it works really well. If you didn’t follow Return of Bruce Wayne as the issues came out, it’s definitely a story I would recommend buying when it’s published in a compilation. OK, I’m off to read Red Robin 17. Have a great weekend! I am the night.

Writer: Grant Morrison

Artists: Cameron Stewart, Chris Burnham & Frazer Irving

Date: January 2011

My Rating: Awesome!

Wow, what a great issue! Just a reminder, I’m gonna assume you’ve read it already, or don’t mind about spoilers. Instead of going page by page through the issue, I just want to talk about a few things I found interesting. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the book too, please feel free to comment! Also I think I’m required to say that all images taken from the comicbooks belong to DC, not to me.

One thing I’ve found kind of confusing lately is the timeline, since Return of Bruce Wayne isn’t finished yet, but Bruce is here in this issue. I’m so excited to see him again, but I hope the reunion moments are a bit more involved than what we see here – there should be hugs!! Dark, battish hugs. Maybe  R of BW 6 will take care of that, or Batman 704. And I just realized I have Detective Comics 870 and haven’t read it yet!!

So, I really liked the opening with the flashback Thomas Wayne/Dr Hurt/Barbatos thing. It’s great to have some clarity as to who Hurt is and why he’s involved with the Waynes. I love the image of Wayne/Hurt with the Bat on page 5, the way the bat is all kinda fuzzy and Wayne/Hurt is all clear and crisp, great style. Then we have our title page, where the Batman facing down Hurt is very much Bruce, not Dick. Love how he’s drawn here, looks very strong without being too square. He could take criminals out with that chin alone.

The fight scene after, with two Batmen and a Robin, I think was drawn really well. I especially love Damian on the bottom of page 13, the flip and arrow shot. The panels aren’t standard shapes, and the action feels very dynamic, like it was moving. You really get the sense of Damian flipping and flying through the air, and still able to shoot the gas canister. Sorry my scans aren’t awesome quality, I didn’t even realize we had a scanner until yesterday

Then bottom of pg 15, Bruce tells Damian “You made the right choices. I’m proud of you.” I got a little teary! So nice to have Bruce back. And apparently willing to say all sorts of things one might not expect to hear! There are so many ways his relationship with Damian could change now that he’s back, it will be really interesting to watch it all unfold. Another cool thing re Damian in this issue was that he helped Dick out a couple times in fights, which seems to be a big step for them. Everyone’s been speculating about what’s going to happen to Batman and Robin now that Bruce is back, but I’m almost more interested in what’s going to happen to Dick and Damian (and Tim!). Will they have a hard time having to take orders again, or will they arrange things so they don’t have to? I can’t imagine Bruce not being in charge, but they’ve all had to work without him on a variety of occasions including just over the last little while. So, we’ll see. What do you think?

Again, the art in this issue is awesome. The scene with Batman running through the manor, down to the Cave, and then the difference in texture of how the trap he ends up in is drawn, so beautiful. (And why, WHY would Hurt think he could kill Batman in his own Cave??)

Are you into the whole Pyg thing? I’m really kinda not, though he gets some good lines – there was “PCP is for work” , and today we get “I’m not wearing protection, my darlings” as the insane mob overtakes him. Meanwhile, Batman (Dick) has been shot in the head in a non-immediately-lethal way that’s coming closer to being lethal, and Damian has to save the day. “Superhero time” – such a good moment. And lucky for all of us, Gordon gets cured from the dollotron-poison and returns to the precinct, still wearing the special little outfit:

Oh, Joker. Why are you so awesome? I love how Morrison writes Joker, so wrong yet so very very right. And I’m totally into how he’s drawn in this issue, such as on page 27 and 29. Mr J’s reunion with Batman on page 30 was my favourite moment in the issue. I love to think that after such a long journey, after Bruce has been gone for so long and Joker didn’t know what he was going to do with himself (I mean, what is Joker without Batman?) they’re together again, and fighting as they always do. The fact that they’re in a cemetery just fits, you know?

So, then we have the ending. It was written about pretty widely online, I think it got more publicity than most comicbook plot twists would because it’s such a fundamental change to the mythos. Bruce has always been the airhead playboy, and now not only is he admitting connection to the Batman, but he’s also taking on social responsibility in a public way. That’s gotta have consequences. It was cool to see Bruce standing on stage with his family (Alfred, Dick, Tim and Damian) and with several Bat-signals shining behind him.

So yeah, overall, I’d rate this book at awesome. Art, story, world changes, everything, it’s all excellent. I’m sure there’s a lot of subtext that I didn’t mention, but you can find that elsewhere. Let me know what you think, and see you next time! I am the night.

p.s. Just came across two *awesome* things regarding B&R 16. There’s a detailed analysis of the fight scene I mentioned, and Cameron Stewart (the artist himself) wrote about this issue on his blog.