Review: Batman, Incorporated #13

There will be some major spoilers for the conclusion of Batman, inc. below.

Well, we've finally reached the end. This is the finale of Grant Morrison's Batman story. A lot has happened in this run; Dick Grayson becoming the Batman; the founding of Batman, inc.; The arrival and death of Batman's son, Damian Wayne and much more, but was this a fitting ending? I guess that's what I have to say here...

This was another fast-paced, exciting issue of Batman, inc. and it showed me how much I'm going to miss this series now that it's over. The writing of the issue is brilliant ( as you would expect from Morrison ). What Morrison does to Batman in this issue is very clever, that after years and years of building him up to his peak, he knocks him straight back down.

 I feel like you have to read this issue again to spot some of the interesting symbolic things that happen in the issue, one that I'll point out is that despite all of the travelling around the world, building up an empire, advancing his resources, Batman's final battle against Talia takes place in the Batcave, the home of Batman. Another is that one of the people he couldn't get to in time to save their life, rescues Batman. There are a few more, and I think you'll probably have to read it more than once to get them, but I find them really interesting.

I do have a bit of a problem with how the issue is set out, though, at the start you see Bruce Wayne sitting in the police station, talking to Jim Gordon, after his final fight with Talia, and he tells the story to the Commissioner. I feel like this takes away from the suspense of the issue, and even though I knew from the moment I picked up the issue, that Batman wouldn't die; When you're engrossed in a story you don't really remember that, and it puts a bit of a downer on that excitement to see what's happening after the battle as the first thing in the issue.

My answer to the question in the first paragraph is yes. In my eyes, this was a fitting ending, it leaves a bit of a cliffhanger and I wonder if we'll ever get to see that followed up on. I really hope we do get a chance to see what happens next sometime in the future, but knowing it most likely will not be written be Grant if it even happens is a bit of a shame...

Now onto the art: Chris Burnham never fails to impress with the art on this book. He does all of the weird layouts perfectly, and we definitely get a few of those in this issue. The colours by Nathan Fairbairn compliment Burnham's pencils brilliantly, and they both are perfect for this story. I'm going to miss seeing the two of them work together on this book.

Another brilliant issue and a good conclusion to the story, even if it does take away some of it's own suspense, Grant leaves you wondering after the final scene which is exactly what I was hoping for and Burnham and Fairbairn do a great job on the artwork. I think you do need to have read Grant's entire run to appreciate this issue fully, but it's enjoyable nonetheless.

Rating: 9/10

Grant Morison's Variant Cover for Batman, incorporated #13

On Wednesday, the final issue of Batman, inc. will be released. This is also the final issue of Grant Morisson's Batman story, which has lasted since 2006. This is obviously a big deal, and it's going to be a huge conclusion to the story. To commemorate this, Morrison has done a variant cover for the issue, check it out below:

Not many people know that before he became a regular writer, Grant Morrison was actually a comic book artist, but he started developing eye problems, causing him to take up a different creative role.

I'm definitely going to try and pick this up, since I have a bit of a personal connection with Grant himself. When Grant Morrison was at secondary school he and a group of friends put together a school magazine called "The White Tree" which Grant illustrated. One of Morrison's friends, and one of them that wrote the issue, was my father. So you know, I feel like I have to pick this up because of that connection.

Batman, incorporated #13 is released on Wednesday, 31st of July.

Dan Didio and Ethan Van Sciver's... Bat-Cow?!

Recently DC Comics announced that after the main series ends in July, Batman, Incorporated will get a One-Shot "Special" and today we got some... interesting news on one of the stories in it. Dan Didio and Ethan Van Sciver will be doing a story for the Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham creation, BAT-COW! (Yes, Batcow! Bat Cow!)

You heard me right, Bruce!

Dan Didio, writer of the story and co-publisher of DC Comics posted this on facebook,

"Happy to announce that Ethan Daniel Van Sciver and I will be doing the first Bat Cow solo story in the just announced Batman Incorporated Special coming this August! We plan to milk this for all its worth. :)."

Personally, I think this is great news! Now excuse me while I sit and count down the days to this happening...

(SPOILERS) the beginnings of something unexpected in today's Batman #20?

Spoilers

Something very unexpected happened today's Batman #20 by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo.

So,Bruce Wayne and Lucius Fox are trapped by Clayface in pretty much a rubbish tip for the Batman, Incorporated robot prototypes and are about to be crushed and incinerated. How do they escape with their lives, by using this...

From Batman #20

Yes, this is what seems to be a prototype for the suit used in the Batman Beyond animated series and comics! Not quite what I expected to see today, but it's a great little teaser!

Now, I'm not a huge Batman Beyond fan but even I was excited by this.

Don't forget to pick up Batman #20 written by Scott Snyder with pencils by Greg Capullo and inks by Danny Miki, on shelves today!

Bruce Wayne shall become a bat. Again.

This wednesday Batman, Incorporated #10 hits the shelves, Bruce's had it pretty rough in the past few issues, his son; Damian Wayne, Robin;  has died, he's become an outlaw in the city he's saved countless times, argued with his oldest friend, lost the trust of Commisioner Gordon and the crime-fighting organisation he's spent years building has gone underground and half of it's destroyed. So, yeah, he's probably gonna be a little bit ticked off.

Batman, obviously, wants to avenge his son and all his other falen allies, and he's going to be very, VERY desperate. Desperate enough to transform himself into a monster, perhaps, to get revenge on the evil mastermind who did all of this to him, the mother of his son, Talia al Ghul.

Well it seems that's the case judging by the gatefold cover of the issue, before you look at it, here's a bit of info you might want to know.

Leviathan, Talia's criminal organisation has been using the Man-bat serum, created by (you guessed it!) Man-Bat. It was used to tansform regular soldiers into deadly human/bat hybrids, obviously if this serum got into the hands of one of Leviathan's enemies it'd be pretty bad for them.

Oh...

Batman, Incorporated #10 cover. By Chris Burnham.