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Batman Incorporated (2011/2012) #3
Batman Incorporated, Volume 2: Gotham's Most Wanted
Years of epic storylines converge as Batman Incorporated battles Talia and Leviathan for the very soul of Gotham City!
Tragedy and triumph are the hallmarks of the second volume of Grant Morrison's epic Batman Incorporated. Batman and his allies must strengthen their resolve as Leviathan moves to take Gotham City. Everything since Batman Incorporated #1 has been leading to this!
Collects #7-12 of BATMAN INCORPORATED.
Tragedy and triumph are the hallmarks of the second volume of Grant Morrison's epic Batman Incorporated. Batman and his allies must strengthen their resolve as Leviathan moves to take Gotham City. Everything since Batman Incorporated #1 has been leading to this!
Collects #7-12 of BATMAN INCORPORATED.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2013
24 people are currently reading
1153 people want to read
About the author
Grant Morrison
1,510 books4,565 followersGrant Morrison has been working with DC Comics for twenty five years, after beginning their American comics career with acclaimed runs on ANIMAL MAN and DOOM PATROL. Since then they have written such best-selling series as JLA, BATMAN and New X-Men, as well as such creator-owned works as THE INVISIBLES, SEAGUY, THE FILTH, WE3 and JOE THE BARBARIAN. In addition to expanding the DC Universe through titles ranging from the Eisner Award-winning SEVEN SOLDIERS and ALL-STAR SUPERMAN to the reality-shattering epic of FINAL CRISIS, they have also reinvented the worlds of the Dark Knight Detective in BATMAN AND ROBIN and BATMAN, INCORPORATED and the Man of Steel in The New 52 ACTION COMICS.
In their secret identity, Morrison is a "counterculture" spokesperson, a musician, an award-winning playwright and a chaos magician. They are also the author of the New York Times bestseller Supergods, a groundbreaking psycho-historic mapping of the superhero as a cultural organism. They divide their time between their homes in Los Angeles and Scotland.
In their secret identity, Morrison is a "counterculture" spokesperson, a musician, an award-winning playwright and a chaos magician. They are also the author of the New York Times bestseller Supergods, a groundbreaking psycho-historic mapping of the superhero as a cultural organism. They divide their time between their homes in Los Angeles and Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
March 19, 2024
(A-) 82% | Very Good
Notes: Replete with homages, deep cuts and callbacks, it's packed with poignant pay-offs: evocative echoes of an era ended.
*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Issues #7-9 ◦ Issues #10-12
Notes: Replete with homages, deep cuts and callbacks, it's packed with poignant pay-offs: evocative echoes of an era ended.
*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Issues #7-9 ◦ Issues #10-12
December 23, 2013
Talia Al-Ghul’s Leviathan is taking over Gotham and only Bruce Wayne’s Batman Inc. can stop them! This is it, the final battle between good and evil, father and mother - and what happens when parents fight? The kids suffer. Gotham’s Most Wanted is a kitchen sink soap opera played out as high melodrama between superheroes. It’s also Grant Morrison’s final book in his seven year Batman run and it’s as amazing a finale as you’d hope.
I highly recommend re-reading the first volume to remind yourself how it ended because the second volume picks up immediately after, mid-action sequence and barrels straight on through to the bitter end. The pacing in this story is insane as Morrison throws massive scenes at the reader, one after the other. Some members of Batman Inc. have already been killed by the Abomination – another of Talia’s experiments with Bruce’s DNA and hers, though this one turned out far more physically monstrous than Damian – while Gotham’s children have been brainwashed into becoming homicidal maniacs, fighting what remains of Batman Inc and the GCPD in the streets alongside Leviathan’s forces!
This book has one of the year’s most talked about moments in comics: the death of Damian (and no it’s not a spoiler when it makes international headlines!). Morrison goes full circle from introducing Damian to readers in his first book, Batman and Son, to taking him away in his final one. You can see what a great writer Morrison is in the way he’s developed Damian over the years. Re-read those early books and you’ll notice how insanely evil Damian is when he first arrives. He nearly kills Tim and beats Alfred, refusing to listen to anything Bruce has to say, and even killing one of Gotham’s lesser costumed crooks. In this book Bruce knows Talia’s after Damian so tells him to stay behind in the Batcave – and he does! And when he sees the havoc Leviathan is unleashing and wants to help his friends, he looks to Alfred for permission to leave. Damian’s changed over the years, respecting his new family and changing his values from the ruthless to the compassionate.
Damian’s character shows in other ways as his pet menagerie grows with the inclusion of Alfred the cat (who readers will remember seeing in those amazing alternate future Damian-as-Batman issues like Batman #666 and Batman Inc. #5), alongside his dog Titus and, of course, Batcow. He’s gone from unfeeling ninja assassin to an ordinary kid who loves animals.
If Damian’s character has softened, his fighting abilities sure haven’t and he goes down in his fight against Abomination like the legend he is. I could write in depth about this scene but I’ll just say 1) his final farewell with Dick Grayson was awesome (Damian: We were the best, Richard, no matter what anyone thinks. Dick: Hey, we can’t help being great. Damian: Ready?), and 2) the way Chris Burnham draws the fight is phenomenal, at one point putting in 20 panels on one page and making each one count – that’s special. It was my favourite fight scene of the year, it’s so damn brutal and brilliant.
Bruce meanwhile is the other half of what makes this book a masterpiece. Talia brilliantly puts him in a death-trap knowing he’ll escape but knowing that the time it takes for him to escape will make him unable to save Damian in time. She’s such an evil genius! Damian’s death is as shocking to Bruce as it is to us readers, and his reaction is crazy. Barefoot, barehands, stepping on broken glass, he goes to town on the armoured Abomination! Dick joins him in defeating him, though of course don’t kill him. It’s a very cathartic scene if you’re a Damian fan. Bruce saves his rage for Talia, turning himself into a one-man army in the process – double Batman (that’s deliberately cryptic, you’ll have to read this to see what that looks like)! I won’t talk about the final act because it’s full of surprises that I don’t even want to hint at – discover them for yourself.
There are a couple of issues included that are non-sequiturs like Batman Inc #11 which is a Batman of Japan issue written by Chris Burnham and drawn by Jorge Lucas, and the Batman Inc Special which features the various members of Batman Inc in multiple short stories. The #11 issue was created partly because it enabled Burnham the time to draw every page in the final two issues – Jason Masters was the able fill-in artist for several issues in this arc – and partly because there’d be nowhere else to feature Jiro stories. This issue shows that Burnham’s not as accomplished a writer as he is an artist, but it’s a fun campy issue that feels Power Rangers-y and pays homage to kitschy Japanese culture.
The Special, while taking place after the main story ends, isn’t at all related to it and shouldn’t be read as a coda but more of an extra for the fans. It features a number of standalone stories, my favourite of which is the silent Batcow issue because it’s so funny and who doesn’t love Batcow? I feel that, after Damian, he’s the breakout character in Morrison’s run (seriously!). Whatever, more Batcow please!
Gotham’s Most Wanted is an amazing story written beautifully by Morrison and drawn unbelievably well by Chris Burnham. This is a terrific finale to the story and an incredible way to end Morrison’s run. This is Morrison bowing out big style. It’s simply one of the best books of the year and one of the finest Batman books ever written. Thank you for writing Batman, Grant Morrison.
Is Damian really dead? Is Leviathan? Or Batman Inc.?
Moo!
*
Of all the comics I’ve written about this year, I think this Batman Inc. series is the one I’ve written about the most, and was certainly one of the most enjoyable to write about. This review would be ridiculously long if I wrote about everything I loved about this book, so I’ll instead include links to reviews I wrote for another site on the individual issues as they came out, which you can read if you want to read more about me evangelizing about Batman Inc.!
Batman Inc. Vol. 1 Review
Batman Inc. #9
Batman Inc. #10
Batman Inc. #12
Batman Inc. #13
Batman Inc. Special #1
I highly recommend re-reading the first volume to remind yourself how it ended because the second volume picks up immediately after, mid-action sequence and barrels straight on through to the bitter end. The pacing in this story is insane as Morrison throws massive scenes at the reader, one after the other. Some members of Batman Inc. have already been killed by the Abomination – another of Talia’s experiments with Bruce’s DNA and hers, though this one turned out far more physically monstrous than Damian – while Gotham’s children have been brainwashed into becoming homicidal maniacs, fighting what remains of Batman Inc and the GCPD in the streets alongside Leviathan’s forces!
This book has one of the year’s most talked about moments in comics: the death of Damian (and no it’s not a spoiler when it makes international headlines!). Morrison goes full circle from introducing Damian to readers in his first book, Batman and Son, to taking him away in his final one. You can see what a great writer Morrison is in the way he’s developed Damian over the years. Re-read those early books and you’ll notice how insanely evil Damian is when he first arrives. He nearly kills Tim and beats Alfred, refusing to listen to anything Bruce has to say, and even killing one of Gotham’s lesser costumed crooks. In this book Bruce knows Talia’s after Damian so tells him to stay behind in the Batcave – and he does! And when he sees the havoc Leviathan is unleashing and wants to help his friends, he looks to Alfred for permission to leave. Damian’s changed over the years, respecting his new family and changing his values from the ruthless to the compassionate.
Damian’s character shows in other ways as his pet menagerie grows with the inclusion of Alfred the cat (who readers will remember seeing in those amazing alternate future Damian-as-Batman issues like Batman #666 and Batman Inc. #5), alongside his dog Titus and, of course, Batcow. He’s gone from unfeeling ninja assassin to an ordinary kid who loves animals.
If Damian’s character has softened, his fighting abilities sure haven’t and he goes down in his fight against Abomination like the legend he is. I could write in depth about this scene but I’ll just say 1) his final farewell with Dick Grayson was awesome (Damian: We were the best, Richard, no matter what anyone thinks. Dick: Hey, we can’t help being great. Damian: Ready?), and 2) the way Chris Burnham draws the fight is phenomenal, at one point putting in 20 panels on one page and making each one count – that’s special. It was my favourite fight scene of the year, it’s so damn brutal and brilliant.
Bruce meanwhile is the other half of what makes this book a masterpiece. Talia brilliantly puts him in a death-trap knowing he’ll escape but knowing that the time it takes for him to escape will make him unable to save Damian in time. She’s such an evil genius! Damian’s death is as shocking to Bruce as it is to us readers, and his reaction is crazy. Barefoot, barehands, stepping on broken glass, he goes to town on the armoured Abomination! Dick joins him in defeating him, though of course don’t kill him. It’s a very cathartic scene if you’re a Damian fan. Bruce saves his rage for Talia, turning himself into a one-man army in the process – double Batman (that’s deliberately cryptic, you’ll have to read this to see what that looks like)! I won’t talk about the final act because it’s full of surprises that I don’t even want to hint at – discover them for yourself.
There are a couple of issues included that are non-sequiturs like Batman Inc #11 which is a Batman of Japan issue written by Chris Burnham and drawn by Jorge Lucas, and the Batman Inc Special which features the various members of Batman Inc in multiple short stories. The #11 issue was created partly because it enabled Burnham the time to draw every page in the final two issues – Jason Masters was the able fill-in artist for several issues in this arc – and partly because there’d be nowhere else to feature Jiro stories. This issue shows that Burnham’s not as accomplished a writer as he is an artist, but it’s a fun campy issue that feels Power Rangers-y and pays homage to kitschy Japanese culture.
The Special, while taking place after the main story ends, isn’t at all related to it and shouldn’t be read as a coda but more of an extra for the fans. It features a number of standalone stories, my favourite of which is the silent Batcow issue because it’s so funny and who doesn’t love Batcow? I feel that, after Damian, he’s the breakout character in Morrison’s run (seriously!). Whatever, more Batcow please!
Gotham’s Most Wanted is an amazing story written beautifully by Morrison and drawn unbelievably well by Chris Burnham. This is a terrific finale to the story and an incredible way to end Morrison’s run. This is Morrison bowing out big style. It’s simply one of the best books of the year and one of the finest Batman books ever written. Thank you for writing Batman, Grant Morrison.
Is Damian really dead? Is Leviathan? Or Batman Inc.?
Moo!
*
Of all the comics I’ve written about this year, I think this Batman Inc. series is the one I’ve written about the most, and was certainly one of the most enjoyable to write about. This review would be ridiculously long if I wrote about everything I loved about this book, so I’ll instead include links to reviews I wrote for another site on the individual issues as they came out, which you can read if you want to read more about me evangelizing about Batman Inc.!
Batman Inc. Vol. 1 Review
Batman Inc. #9
Batman Inc. #10
Batman Inc. #12
Batman Inc. #13
Batman Inc. Special #1
September 9, 2024
2024 - still as good as it was 6 years ago. Great stuff and ends Morrison run on a very very high note.
Original review - I'm excluding the last two part arc in this book because I don't care about Japan's Batman. He's okay, semi-interesting backstory, but I just do not give a flying fuck. It just wasn't something I read and was like "OMG" saying that, excluding the "okay" story there, the rest of this book is a damn near masterpiece. It really banks on you reading the first rise of the leviathan arc from volume 1 to get the full emotion here. Talia is the villain and never has she been more...evil? I mean I know she's been wicked since forever but holy hell the things she does here. I mean...just fucked up as hell. This story is a few years old but I won't spoil what happens but when a certain someone dies all hell breaks lose and the final fight for the city of gotham is underway.
What I liked: Emotion. Grant usually writes stories I can't stand with stilted dialog, and weak pacing. From volume 1 into this volume the pacing is near perfect. The stakes are high, the emotional fallout is amazing, the fights are intense, the dialog is near perfect for the situation. Everything works here. I loved the 20+ fight with Damien and his clone. I loved Batman's "Do you hear that?" moment. I loved Dick's "What happened? He was fine a minute ago..." and the "We were the best team ever" moment. Oh so many wonderful moments, all written and drawn to near perfection.
What I didn't like: Like I said, the last two part arc here feels like a side story. It's not horrible but forgettable.
This is what I wish Grant wrote ALL the time. I was on the edge of my seat the ENTIRE arc. From volume 1-2 this is how you build and create a satisfying ending with a ton of stakes that pay off. Bravo Grant, you finally made a book I can call a masterpiece.
Original review - I'm excluding the last two part arc in this book because I don't care about Japan's Batman. He's okay, semi-interesting backstory, but I just do not give a flying fuck. It just wasn't something I read and was like "OMG" saying that, excluding the "okay" story there, the rest of this book is a damn near masterpiece. It really banks on you reading the first rise of the leviathan arc from volume 1 to get the full emotion here. Talia is the villain and never has she been more...evil? I mean I know she's been wicked since forever but holy hell the things she does here. I mean...just fucked up as hell. This story is a few years old but I won't spoil what happens but when a certain someone dies all hell breaks lose and the final fight for the city of gotham is underway.
What I liked: Emotion. Grant usually writes stories I can't stand with stilted dialog, and weak pacing. From volume 1 into this volume the pacing is near perfect. The stakes are high, the emotional fallout is amazing, the fights are intense, the dialog is near perfect for the situation. Everything works here. I loved the 20+ fight with Damien and his clone. I loved Batman's "Do you hear that?" moment. I loved Dick's "What happened? He was fine a minute ago..." and the "We were the best team ever" moment. Oh so many wonderful moments, all written and drawn to near perfection.
What I didn't like: Like I said, the last two part arc here feels like a side story. It's not horrible but forgettable.
This is what I wish Grant wrote ALL the time. I was on the edge of my seat the ENTIRE arc. From volume 1-2 this is how you build and create a satisfying ending with a ton of stakes that pay off. Bravo Grant, you finally made a book I can call a masterpiece.
May 20, 2014
Also posted at Addicted2Heroines
Ehhhh.
I didn't love this volume of Batman Incorporated as much as some of my friends. Sorry, but I guess it just seemed kinda of chaotic and weird to me.
Then again, with Grant Morrison you never know what you're going to get. I doubt that anyone will argue with me when I say that he's almost as iconic as the characters that he writes about. And when he's on his game he's undoubtedly the best. When he's not?
Well, let's just say I have a love/hate relationship with his stuff.
So in this one, there's lots of Talia Al-Ghul and her special brand of lunacy.
She's Bat-shit crazy!
Get it? Get it?!
*snort, snort*
Whatever. I'm hilarious, and you know it...
She's determined to bring Batman to his knees and get revenge on Damian for turning his back on her.
It just goes to show you that if Mamma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.
Since she has the power of Leviathan behind her, she's in a great position to do it, too.
This is just my opinion, but Talia seemed wackier than normal. I prefer the version of Talia that is semi-sane, not the one with spittle flying out of her mouth.
Ok. I'm exaggerating...but you get my point.
Then Damien's clone shows up and takes the insanity to a whole new level. Hilarity ensues as the Bat-family bands together to save the day!
There are a couple of 'shocking' deaths that I thought were well done, but the Big Bomb didn't have the same effect on me.
And here's why:
You can't kill off a fan-favorite. I mean, you can, but I don't think anybody is going to buy it. The joke is that nobody stays dead in comic books. In Green Lantern's Blackest Night arc, you can see the scope of it perfectly. For those of you who don't know the storyline, the Black Ring not only resurrected dead superheroes, but also turned everyone in the DC universe who had ever died into a Black Lantern. Needless to say, not many superheroes were left over to fight them.
On a side note, I believe they used this story arc to bring a few characters back from the dead.
Ta-da!
Does this mean I'm done with Batman Inc.? No way! It's a great title, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
Does it mean I'm done with Morrison? Are you crazy?! There's too much genius rattling around inside of his head for me to ever give up on his stuff.
Thanks to NetGalley for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Ehhhh.
I didn't love this volume of Batman Incorporated as much as some of my friends. Sorry, but I guess it just seemed kinda of chaotic and weird to me.
Then again, with Grant Morrison you never know what you're going to get. I doubt that anyone will argue with me when I say that he's almost as iconic as the characters that he writes about. And when he's on his game he's undoubtedly the best. When he's not?
Well, let's just say I have a love/hate relationship with his stuff.
So in this one, there's lots of Talia Al-Ghul and her special brand of lunacy.
She's Bat-shit crazy!
Get it? Get it?!
*snort, snort*
Whatever. I'm hilarious, and you know it...
She's determined to bring Batman to his knees and get revenge on Damian for turning his back on her.
It just goes to show you that if Mamma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.
Since she has the power of Leviathan behind her, she's in a great position to do it, too.
This is just my opinion, but Talia seemed wackier than normal. I prefer the version of Talia that is semi-sane, not the one with spittle flying out of her mouth.
Ok. I'm exaggerating...but you get my point.
Then Damien's clone shows up and takes the insanity to a whole new level. Hilarity ensues as the Bat-family bands together to save the day!
There are a couple of 'shocking' deaths that I thought were well done, but the Big Bomb didn't have the same effect on me.
And here's why:
You can't kill off a fan-favorite. I mean, you can, but I don't think anybody is going to buy it. The joke is that nobody stays dead in comic books. In Green Lantern's Blackest Night arc, you can see the scope of it perfectly. For those of you who don't know the storyline, the Black Ring not only resurrected dead superheroes, but also turned everyone in the DC universe who had ever died into a Black Lantern. Needless to say, not many superheroes were left over to fight them.
On a side note, I believe they used this story arc to bring a few characters back from the dead.
Ta-da!
Does this mean I'm done with Batman Inc.? No way! It's a great title, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
Does it mean I'm done with Morrison? Are you crazy?! There's too much genius rattling around inside of his head for me to ever give up on his stuff.
Thanks to NetGalley for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2017
FUCK THIS. FUCK ALL THIS SHIT.
After the absolute EPICNESS of "Death of the Family," issue #18 of every single New 52 Batman series I was following is essentially ruined because I have to go and find this shit to see how one of the ?!
-18 Stars
After the absolute EPICNESS of "Death of the Family," issue #18 of every single New 52 Batman series I was following is essentially ruined because I have to go and find this shit to see how one of the ?!
-18 Stars
November 10, 2018
The finale of Grant Morrison's lengthy Batman run, Gotham erupts in war and chaos, hyperbolic violence, and a satisfying resolution.
After reading this entire series, I think of how perfectly Morrison weaves storylines together, retcons all of Bat history into one unbelievable continuity, while making it feel fresh with a myriad of colorful yet forgotten characters. The comedy and heartbreak, the love and madness. The incredible artwork. It’s over.
After reading this entire series, I think of how perfectly Morrison weaves storylines together, retcons all of Bat history into one unbelievable continuity, while making it feel fresh with a myriad of colorful yet forgotten characters. The comedy and heartbreak, the love and madness. The incredible artwork. It’s over.
August 16, 2014
Was kinda hard to avoid hearing the big news re: Damian that spills in this book, so I come to the volume with a little dread and a little hope that comics will keep the dream alive the way they have done quite a lot of recently. I really hate to see the really great characters go away, and there's just so much potential for mischief and permanently-changed tension to keeping him on as an oversized piece of Batman's life puzzle.
I find the re-emergence of Jason Todd is one of the better subtle surprises of the Batman Inc run. He's just enough of a wild card to attract all my attention, revulsion and surreptitious interest while I'm trying to appear to my higher self to have no interest in him.
The meta textual commentary Morrison brings to the phenomenon of Batman Inc is a good surprise too. Self-aware as ever, Morrison doesn't let the world act like this is some unseen event stream, and grants us the back-and-forth among two independent vigilante organizations (BI and Leviathan). Smart - maybe a little too smart or self-aware, like Morrison had planned to rip off the Occupy/Anonymous zeitgeist - but as it's such a rare pleasure to see the comics this self-aware (especially DC), I'm going to let that cynicism go.
However, as self-aware as Morrison appears to be, he falls into the blind trap that so many comics-enamoured writers can't help: if Talia's plan is so epic, why does it hinge so squeakily on Gotham of all places? It's like those brainless tentpole summer action flicks - when the entire world is about to go down, why is everything about one American city so fucking vital, and every other larger centre across the planet so irrelevant? It's especially egregious when a Brit trips on this storytelling flypaper. My fellow commonwealth'ers have no excuse - if anything, London or frickin Edinburgh would be at least a little more believable.
I'm not an idiot - it's clear that every writer of Batman for decades has to honour the raging hard-on that the Al-Ghul's have for the man in black. But good god, are they that petty under all the grand designs for the planet, that they just can't seem to pull that sliver out once and for all? Hell, I finally fired one of my best friends (who was an abusive narcissistic manipulator) after fourteen years. You'd think these two for all their world-conquering fortunes would be able to afford a little therapy.
Morrison wraps up this romp with as much syllogism or something - tries to make the wrap-up feel symphonic and poetic, plus give us some kind of commentary on what the Batman and Bruce Wayne represent. I'm not entirely sure I buy it, but that's because I'm watching Morrison play his readership like the good little comic buyers (and Morrison pocket-liners) that we are.
Still, even through a cynical fog of war I realize that this final chapter of this Batman run at least tones down the hyperactive trivia contest and just plays with the toys that were already on the board. I appreciate it when I'm not continually assaulted with memory tests and the feeling that if only I was better able to retain the 75 years of Batman minutiae, I'd get the in-jokes a little more often.
It's the same feeling I get reading latter-day Alan Moore - he's writing books that he likes to read (maybe) or just writing books that make him feel like his years of paying attention to the obscure corners of the literary/comics/cultural world must surely pay off in how smart and above-the-herd he feels.
When I feel excluded by the writer - when they make no attempt to weave us into their stories - I feel like they're doing the wider readership a disservice, and creating a little game of "I'm smarter than the bullies who used to beat me up" therapy that demeans the medium. I feel this should be entertaining in a way that brings more of us up, without stepping on others to make us feel superior.
So there's *my* commentary on the comics of today - or at least one sliver of it, inspired by the very commentary I saw in this fine but not perfect book. It's certainly one of the least inscrutable of his books, but seeing how far into the abyss we normally have to stare, that's not necessary a virtuous position.
Would I recommend people read this? Sure - if you've already committed to any amount of Morrison's Batman already, this should leave you feeling more satisfied than the emptiness or confusion of the earlier stuff. It's good.
Oh. And I didn't read any of that fanfic they tacked on at the end. Hah - nice try folks.
I find the re-emergence of Jason Todd is one of the better subtle surprises of the Batman Inc run. He's just enough of a wild card to attract all my attention, revulsion and surreptitious interest while I'm trying to appear to my higher self to have no interest in him.
The meta textual commentary Morrison brings to the phenomenon of Batman Inc is a good surprise too. Self-aware as ever, Morrison doesn't let the world act like this is some unseen event stream, and grants us the back-and-forth among two independent vigilante organizations (BI and Leviathan). Smart - maybe a little too smart or self-aware, like Morrison had planned to rip off the Occupy/Anonymous zeitgeist - but as it's such a rare pleasure to see the comics this self-aware (especially DC), I'm going to let that cynicism go.
However, as self-aware as Morrison appears to be, he falls into the blind trap that so many comics-enamoured writers can't help: if Talia's plan is so epic, why does it hinge so squeakily on Gotham of all places? It's like those brainless tentpole summer action flicks - when the entire world is about to go down, why is everything about one American city so fucking vital, and every other larger centre across the planet so irrelevant? It's especially egregious when a Brit trips on this storytelling flypaper. My fellow commonwealth'ers have no excuse - if anything, London or frickin Edinburgh would be at least a little more believable.
I'm not an idiot - it's clear that every writer of Batman for decades has to honour the raging hard-on that the Al-Ghul's have for the man in black. But good god, are they that petty under all the grand designs for the planet, that they just can't seem to pull that sliver out once and for all? Hell, I finally fired one of my best friends (who was an abusive narcissistic manipulator) after fourteen years. You'd think these two for all their world-conquering fortunes would be able to afford a little therapy.
Morrison wraps up this romp with as much syllogism or something - tries to make the wrap-up feel symphonic and poetic, plus give us some kind of commentary on what the Batman and Bruce Wayne represent. I'm not entirely sure I buy it, but that's because I'm watching Morrison play his readership like the good little comic buyers (and Morrison pocket-liners) that we are.
Still, even through a cynical fog of war I realize that this final chapter of this Batman run at least tones down the hyperactive trivia contest and just plays with the toys that were already on the board. I appreciate it when I'm not continually assaulted with memory tests and the feeling that if only I was better able to retain the 75 years of Batman minutiae, I'd get the in-jokes a little more often.
It's the same feeling I get reading latter-day Alan Moore - he's writing books that he likes to read (maybe) or just writing books that make him feel like his years of paying attention to the obscure corners of the literary/comics/cultural world must surely pay off in how smart and above-the-herd he feels.
When I feel excluded by the writer - when they make no attempt to weave us into their stories - I feel like they're doing the wider readership a disservice, and creating a little game of "I'm smarter than the bullies who used to beat me up" therapy that demeans the medium. I feel this should be entertaining in a way that brings more of us up, without stepping on others to make us feel superior.
So there's *my* commentary on the comics of today - or at least one sliver of it, inspired by the very commentary I saw in this fine but not perfect book. It's certainly one of the least inscrutable of his books, but seeing how far into the abyss we normally have to stare, that's not necessary a virtuous position.
Would I recommend people read this? Sure - if you've already committed to any amount of Morrison's Batman already, this should leave you feeling more satisfied than the emptiness or confusion of the earlier stuff. It's good.
Oh. And I didn't read any of that fanfic they tacked on at the end. Hah - nice try folks.
March 17, 2021
Unfortunately, while Grant Morrison consistently puts out the best ideas in comics time and again, the esteemed author's strong suit just isn't endings. These years of Batman stories finally culminate in global Batman Inc's climactic final battle with Leviathan led by Lady Talia, and that's it.
Some the disappointment stems from DC's sudden New 52 continuity that interrupted volume 1. The way the previous stories "counted" was left unclear. Still, the promised potential of all these different Batmans adventures weren't fully utilized in yet another dragged out Gotham-city-in-flames storyline.
Even the best addition to the mythos, Damien Wayne as Robin, was oddly undone in such a grimly dark moment that didn't fit with the more fun Grant Morrison Batman. Then, other titles promptly brought him back anyway.
Well, it was certainly worth reading to the end, and now I'm gonna go on to Scott Snyder's Batman because apparently that's the version that currently matters more...
Some the disappointment stems from DC's sudden New 52 continuity that interrupted volume 1. The way the previous stories "counted" was left unclear. Still, the promised potential of all these different Batmans adventures weren't fully utilized in yet another dragged out Gotham-city-in-flames storyline.
Even the best addition to the mythos, Damien Wayne as Robin, was oddly undone in such a grimly dark moment that didn't fit with the more fun Grant Morrison Batman. Then, other titles promptly brought him back anyway.
Well, it was certainly worth reading to the end, and now I'm gonna go on to Scott Snyder's Batman because apparently that's the version that currently matters more...
August 7, 2016
Grant Morrison's epic saga Batman Incorporated was seven years in the making, going back as far as Batman and Son where he introduced Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul's love child Damian, and continuing on with his run for Batman and Robin where Damian becomes the new Robin to Dick Grayson's Batman, as well as touching upon other Morrison Bat-stories like Batman 666 and Batman R.I.P.
Its scope was that far-reaching; an accumulation of years of careful planning that aimed to unify and tie up every plot thread that Morrison created separately in each of the Bat-stories aforementioned. What the readers were imparted with in the end was a comic book series that is rich, diverse and resonant in all the right places possible.
Divided into a 2010 run and a New 52 sequel, there were a total of twenty-two issues for this series which I individually reviewed as dutifully as I could manage this year. Most of them have been spectacular; decisive, creative and well-nuanced tales about extraordinary people caught up in high-stakes events; while a few (that were mostly present in this volume) could have been improved upon. Nonetheless, I can guarantee that Batman Incorporated remains as an enduring, respectable work that deserves a place in the Batman legacy.
The premise for Batman Incorporated was simple enough: in the aftermath of Bruce Wayne's return from the dead, he finances a franchise that would recruit aspiring and noble vigilantes across the globe and turn them into heroes that bore the brand of Batman. Consequently, a criminal organization known as the Leviathan has taken root for years, and has freely infested many countries in the world. An inevitable clash between these distinct forces will definitely occur at the most opportune time, and Morrison and co. built an impressive setting for Batman Incorporated that served as the perfect landscape for the espionage caped adventures of the Bat-Inc crusaders. Meanwhile, the set pieces established about the Leviathan as a frighteningly encompassing criminal entity might as well be Morrison's own brand of conspiracy saga which he almost turned into an art form.
The 2010-2011 run composed of nine issues focused more on the Batman's search for these promising recruits as well as the side missions in between that take him and his new team closer to the Leviathan by cornering and unravelling their criminal activities scattered among continents. By the time New 52 rolled around, Morrison has produced thirteen issues that took us right at the heart of the beast, and this creature is known as the Demon Star and operates for a singular purpose.
It was at this time that Batman Incorporated was turned into a beguiling and elegant family soap opera, cinematic in scale, where Bruce Wayne's main nemesis was the woman he loved long ago who bore him his son Damian (now the current Robin to his Batman).
The same woman is no other than Ra's al Ghul's daughter, the cunning and driven Talia who spent almost a decade creating and distributing an image and reputation for Leviathan. This was all prove to her father and her beloved detective and child that she is not to be underestimated. Heiress to an empire of blood and ashes, Talia will stop at nothing to convince Bruce that her son is meant to rule by her side.
In a chilling confrontation, Talia asked Bruce to choose between his beloved city Gotham or Damian and whichever he chooses, the other one shall die.
This volume entitled Gotham's Most Wanted was the second and last part of the series. Comprised of issues #7-13 plus a special, this is where Morrison ends it all. To be honest, it wasn't the punchline I was looking for especially when I felt that this series as a whole deserved more. The conclusion was a bit underwhelming and incomprehensibly unsatisfying for me. All the wonderful build-up, symbolic, biblical and mythological references that were weaved into the narrative, plots and characters for Batman Incorporated led up to a resolution that barely justified or lived up to the journey itself. The destination just lacked something I still could not figure out even as I write this review. I also complained about the fact that this series never should have been labeled as a New 52 story because the general inconsistencies in details and timelines eventually became too hard to ignore as you go on, especially if you read this alongside other New 52 Bat-titles, so I advise that you don't, and treat this as its own breed of animal.
However, I think the real drawback for the later part of the series was when Damian Wayne finally dies in issue #8 which was truly the high critical point of everything this series stood for. Morrison has written Damian Wayne's character specifically and arguably only to die once Bat-Inc gets closer to its grand finish. It was the catalyst that will guarantee Talia and Batman's confrontation by the last issue. Unfortunately, it was after this show-stopping demise that also killed the momentum and excitement of the things that happened in its wake. The next issues (#9-#13) just didn't keep the ball rolling. I felt that they slowly became less engrossing as the series neared the thankful end. The story didn't deteriorate completely, of course. The said issues are still serviceable but quite average when you compare it to the grand scheme of Batman Incorporated, that's all.
I can look back at this series as a work that's relentlessly creative, oddly endearing and shockingly well-layered, however. It's a comic book series you should pick up if you ever dare call yourself a long-time and avid Batman fan. Grant Morrison has created something special here and perhaps in time and with age, I could re-read this series again and appreciate it better somewhere down the road.
I suggest that you pick up Batman and Son, Batman 666, Batman R.I.P and Batman and Robin which were all penned by Morrison before you dig into this. Perhaps starting from where it all began would give you a more nuanced perspective of how this saga has evolved since. Though not always readily accessible to newbies, Batman Incorporated as an epic adventure and drama is enjoyable if you're patient enough to see it through.
It has distinguished itself as yet another Grant Morrison work that earns a spot as a contemporary classic in the comic book medium. Get to reading! :)
RECOMMENDED: 8/10
DO READ MY BATMAN COMICS REVIEWS AT:
Its scope was that far-reaching; an accumulation of years of careful planning that aimed to unify and tie up every plot thread that Morrison created separately in each of the Bat-stories aforementioned. What the readers were imparted with in the end was a comic book series that is rich, diverse and resonant in all the right places possible.
Divided into a 2010 run and a New 52 sequel, there were a total of twenty-two issues for this series which I individually reviewed as dutifully as I could manage this year. Most of them have been spectacular; decisive, creative and well-nuanced tales about extraordinary people caught up in high-stakes events; while a few (that were mostly present in this volume) could have been improved upon. Nonetheless, I can guarantee that Batman Incorporated remains as an enduring, respectable work that deserves a place in the Batman legacy.
The premise for Batman Incorporated was simple enough: in the aftermath of Bruce Wayne's return from the dead, he finances a franchise that would recruit aspiring and noble vigilantes across the globe and turn them into heroes that bore the brand of Batman. Consequently, a criminal organization known as the Leviathan has taken root for years, and has freely infested many countries in the world. An inevitable clash between these distinct forces will definitely occur at the most opportune time, and Morrison and co. built an impressive setting for Batman Incorporated that served as the perfect landscape for the espionage caped adventures of the Bat-Inc crusaders. Meanwhile, the set pieces established about the Leviathan as a frighteningly encompassing criminal entity might as well be Morrison's own brand of conspiracy saga which he almost turned into an art form.
The 2010-2011 run composed of nine issues focused more on the Batman's search for these promising recruits as well as the side missions in between that take him and his new team closer to the Leviathan by cornering and unravelling their criminal activities scattered among continents. By the time New 52 rolled around, Morrison has produced thirteen issues that took us right at the heart of the beast, and this creature is known as the Demon Star and operates for a singular purpose.
It was at this time that Batman Incorporated was turned into a beguiling and elegant family soap opera, cinematic in scale, where Bruce Wayne's main nemesis was the woman he loved long ago who bore him his son Damian (now the current Robin to his Batman).
The same woman is no other than Ra's al Ghul's daughter, the cunning and driven Talia who spent almost a decade creating and distributing an image and reputation for Leviathan. This was all prove to her father and her beloved detective and child that she is not to be underestimated. Heiress to an empire of blood and ashes, Talia will stop at nothing to convince Bruce that her son is meant to rule by her side.
In a chilling confrontation, Talia asked Bruce to choose between his beloved city Gotham or Damian and whichever he chooses, the other one shall die.
This volume entitled Gotham's Most Wanted was the second and last part of the series. Comprised of issues #7-13 plus a special, this is where Morrison ends it all. To be honest, it wasn't the punchline I was looking for especially when I felt that this series as a whole deserved more. The conclusion was a bit underwhelming and incomprehensibly unsatisfying for me. All the wonderful build-up, symbolic, biblical and mythological references that were weaved into the narrative, plots and characters for Batman Incorporated led up to a resolution that barely justified or lived up to the journey itself. The destination just lacked something I still could not figure out even as I write this review. I also complained about the fact that this series never should have been labeled as a New 52 story because the general inconsistencies in details and timelines eventually became too hard to ignore as you go on, especially if you read this alongside other New 52 Bat-titles, so I advise that you don't, and treat this as its own breed of animal.
However, I think the real drawback for the later part of the series was when Damian Wayne finally dies in issue #8 which was truly the high critical point of everything this series stood for. Morrison has written Damian Wayne's character specifically and arguably only to die once Bat-Inc gets closer to its grand finish. It was the catalyst that will guarantee Talia and Batman's confrontation by the last issue. Unfortunately, it was after this show-stopping demise that also killed the momentum and excitement of the things that happened in its wake. The next issues (#9-#13) just didn't keep the ball rolling. I felt that they slowly became less engrossing as the series neared the thankful end. The story didn't deteriorate completely, of course. The said issues are still serviceable but quite average when you compare it to the grand scheme of Batman Incorporated, that's all.
I can look back at this series as a work that's relentlessly creative, oddly endearing and shockingly well-layered, however. It's a comic book series you should pick up if you ever dare call yourself a long-time and avid Batman fan. Grant Morrison has created something special here and perhaps in time and with age, I could re-read this series again and appreciate it better somewhere down the road.
I suggest that you pick up Batman and Son, Batman 666, Batman R.I.P and Batman and Robin which were all penned by Morrison before you dig into this. Perhaps starting from where it all began would give you a more nuanced perspective of how this saga has evolved since. Though not always readily accessible to newbies, Batman Incorporated as an epic adventure and drama is enjoyable if you're patient enough to see it through.
It has distinguished itself as yet another Grant Morrison work that earns a spot as a contemporary classic in the comic book medium. Get to reading! :)
RECOMMENDED: 8/10
DO READ MY BATMAN COMICS REVIEWS AT:
June 6, 2014
Why waste an entire comic telling a Japan Batman story when you needed every one of those pages to give the series finale some substance? For the love of gawd, Grant Morrison!! FOCUS!!!!! For once in your career, focus on the story you started with!!
A ridiculous ending to a typical Morrison project. It's a frenetic, unsatisfying mess. Moo.
And the "Big Event" in issue 8? Without the brief Requiem arc to follow it up, you would never know it even happened. Zero lead-up, zero catharsis; the opposite of eventful.
Batman Incorporated will go down in history as one of the most over-hyped, under-stuffed, incongruent DC titles to have ever been published. A writer's ego gone amok.
2/5
A ridiculous ending to a typical Morrison project. It's a frenetic, unsatisfying mess. Moo.
And the "Big Event" in issue 8? Without the brief Requiem arc to follow it up, you would never know it even happened. Zero lead-up, zero catharsis; the opposite of eventful.
Batman Incorporated will go down in history as one of the most over-hyped, under-stuffed, incongruent DC titles to have ever been published. A writer's ego gone amok.
2/5
August 30, 2015
I wrote and entire review for this. Then my internet connection acted up and it was all lost. I hate it when that happens. But here goes another shortened attempt at a review for this finale to Grant Morrison’s run on Batman:
I did it. I've read the entire Grant Morrison Batman run. I even squeezed in some of the books by other writers. The original pitch for this was 15 issues, which wound up being Batman R.I.P. These 15 issues became a seven year run. One of the greatest things I’ve ever read.
I started this run by reading Batman the Black Casebook. I recommend anyone who wants to read Morrison’s run to do this. And anyone who has read the run already to read the Black Casebook now. Reading it will clear up where Morrison found a lot of his inspiration for story lines, plot points, characters etc.
The Black Glove and Leviathan are some of if not the most challenging foes Batman has ever faced and brought with them some of the most trying ordeals he has ever gone through. This run is a good example of why I love comics. They do things no other medium can.
Like in Demon Star (the previous volume), a lot of Batman allies make an appearance and help Bruce in this war he’s waging with Talia al Ghul. She really proved to be one of the most dangerous villains of Batman’s rogues gallery. I did not see that coming. We do get some Batman solo action too. And finally some Batman (Bruce) and Robin (Damian) team up action.
As Damian remarks in this book, Dick Grayson and he made the best Batman and Robin team. They have a great moment in this story. I will miss them being Batman and Robin.
Damian Wayne really shines in this book. As he has done in the last couple of books. He went from a stuck up, know it all brat to someone worthy of Bruce Wayne’s and more importantly Batman’s name and legacy.
This really was quite the ride. Filled with action, suspense, new characters, new villains, new ideas, old ideas made new, etc. I can go on and on about this run. But I’ll just leave you with this…
BATMAN and ROBIN will NEVER die!! Same goes for Grant Morrison’s run!
I did it. I've read the entire Grant Morrison Batman run. I even squeezed in some of the books by other writers. The original pitch for this was 15 issues, which wound up being Batman R.I.P. These 15 issues became a seven year run. One of the greatest things I’ve ever read.
I started this run by reading Batman the Black Casebook. I recommend anyone who wants to read Morrison’s run to do this. And anyone who has read the run already to read the Black Casebook now. Reading it will clear up where Morrison found a lot of his inspiration for story lines, plot points, characters etc.
The Black Glove and Leviathan are some of if not the most challenging foes Batman has ever faced and brought with them some of the most trying ordeals he has ever gone through. This run is a good example of why I love comics. They do things no other medium can.
Like in Demon Star (the previous volume), a lot of Batman allies make an appearance and help Bruce in this war he’s waging with Talia al Ghul. She really proved to be one of the most dangerous villains of Batman’s rogues gallery. I did not see that coming. We do get some Batman solo action too. And finally some Batman (Bruce) and Robin (Damian) team up action.
As Damian remarks in this book, Dick Grayson and he made the best Batman and Robin team. They have a great moment in this story. I will miss them being Batman and Robin.
Damian Wayne really shines in this book. As he has done in the last couple of books. He went from a stuck up, know it all brat to someone worthy of Bruce Wayne’s and more importantly Batman’s name and legacy.
This really was quite the ride. Filled with action, suspense, new characters, new villains, new ideas, old ideas made new, etc. I can go on and on about this run. But I’ll just leave you with this…
BATMAN and ROBIN will NEVER die!! Same goes for Grant Morrison’s run!
September 6, 2017
Probably 3.5 stars. The Talia al Ghul story-line appears to come to a blood-spattered, teeth-spilling, bone-fracturing, glass-breaking end. When I think of this book I likely will remember all of that detailed carnage. But . . .
Even more entertaining were the several short Batman Inc. character stories that close the edition. Batman of Japan & Canary have a couple of horror/comedy adventures. The Squire-turned-The Knight (I imagine her played by Saoirse Ronan in the big-screen adaptation) works through the stages of grief. Raven Red has an illuminating conversation with "O-Ron-Ye-Ke-Te." Even 'Bat-Cow' (???) saves the day. These alone were worth the price of admission, so to speak.
Even more entertaining were the several short Batman Inc. character stories that close the edition. Batman of Japan & Canary have a couple of horror/comedy adventures. The Squire-turned-The Knight (I imagine her played by Saoirse Ronan in the big-screen adaptation) works through the stages of grief. Raven Red has an illuminating conversation with "O-Ron-Ye-Ke-Te." Even 'Bat-Cow' (???) saves the day. These alone were worth the price of admission, so to speak.
March 4, 2016
Well they do say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. This is certainly the case here as Talia Al Gul and Leviathan war against Bruce Wayne and Batman Inc. comes to a dramatic conclusion as she intends to make both Damien and Bruce pay for turning their back on her. To quote Batman explaining to Jim Gordon how it came to this, "There are people who's hurt feelings become a grand opera on an international scale". That sums this book up better than I ever could.
It’s not quite what I expected as the main story concludes about two thirds of the way through the book. The last third is a collection of short stories featuring members of Batman Inc. We get a story featuring Batman Of Japan and Shy Crazy Lolita Canary (I'm not even going to touch that one) taking on a villain called Tiger Fist. Now you owe it to yourself to google Lady Tiger Fist if you are not going to read this book. I guarantee you will laugh. They also take on Dr. Inside out another pretty crazy Villain. Next is a story of Squire dealing with the fallout of events form the main story. Then Man of Bats and Raven Red. Next a story featuring Nightrunner, Dark Ranger and El Gaucho. In the final story Bat-Cow (yes that's right Bat-Cow) saves a baby. It's so funny. All of these stories are enjoyable and surreal, but like many short stories feel pretty rushed and the plots under developed.
Now on to the main event. This story follows on from Vol. 1 Demon Star. If you haven't read the first volume don't bother with this one, it really will make no sense at all. I recommend reading the first story though. It's very good and a great jump in point. Gotham is falling, Leviathan has tightened their grip and are in the process of destroying it completely. The public have turned against Batman Inc. Batman has told the Bat-Family not to get involved and that this is his fight. However at the end of Vol. 1 Heretic was handing his ass to him. They decide this is a fight Batman cannot survive alone and the must now come to his aid. I am struggling to say too much more as I don't want to give away any major plot details from this or the last Volume. The story is really good throughout, you really need to read it for yourself. Let's just say we have Bat-Bots vs Man Bats, a genetically engineered super human clone, Nightwing, Red Robin, Robin and Wingman (identity revealed in Vol.1) the rest of Batman Inc., an army of mind controlled child soldiers, Mutants, an utterly chilling and ruthless Talia, Batman in the Mech suit. The list goes on and on.
There is an incident in this book that impacts the entire run of Bat-Family titles. Interesting as Batman Inc. was a completely separate story. In fact since the New 52 rebrand you could almost say Batman Inc. is an elseworld story now. You have probably heard about or read some of the titles that it impacted. If not I won't spoil it but will say that it is quite shocking and moving. I really, really want to go into detail about it but I'm zipping it.
I have now read the entire Grant Morrison Batman, Batman and Robin, Batman Inc. run. There are highs and lows but I feel that this book is a fitting ending. In fact I was gutted when It ended as it just reminded me how good Morrison's writing and storytelling can be. It was also nice to see certain themes and characters from The Dark Knight Returns employed in this story. There are definitely some similarities between the two.
The main story is nothing short of excellent. I was worried that after reading the full Morrison run this would be an anti climax, it wasn't. It had drama, tragedy, character growth, plot twists, epic battles and fight scenes. The story is complex but easy to follow. You really can't read this volume on its own but the two together (or even 3 for the full Batman Incorporated story) are superb. The short stories bring it down a bit but I'm still giving it 5 stars. I highly recommend reading this.
It’s not quite what I expected as the main story concludes about two thirds of the way through the book. The last third is a collection of short stories featuring members of Batman Inc. We get a story featuring Batman Of Japan and Shy Crazy Lolita Canary (I'm not even going to touch that one) taking on a villain called Tiger Fist. Now you owe it to yourself to google Lady Tiger Fist if you are not going to read this book. I guarantee you will laugh. They also take on Dr. Inside out another pretty crazy Villain. Next is a story of Squire dealing with the fallout of events form the main story. Then Man of Bats and Raven Red. Next a story featuring Nightrunner, Dark Ranger and El Gaucho. In the final story Bat-Cow (yes that's right Bat-Cow) saves a baby. It's so funny. All of these stories are enjoyable and surreal, but like many short stories feel pretty rushed and the plots under developed.
Now on to the main event. This story follows on from Vol. 1 Demon Star. If you haven't read the first volume don't bother with this one, it really will make no sense at all. I recommend reading the first story though. It's very good and a great jump in point. Gotham is falling, Leviathan has tightened their grip and are in the process of destroying it completely. The public have turned against Batman Inc. Batman has told the Bat-Family not to get involved and that this is his fight. However at the end of Vol. 1 Heretic was handing his ass to him. They decide this is a fight Batman cannot survive alone and the must now come to his aid. I am struggling to say too much more as I don't want to give away any major plot details from this or the last Volume. The story is really good throughout, you really need to read it for yourself. Let's just say we have Bat-Bots vs Man Bats, a genetically engineered super human clone, Nightwing, Red Robin, Robin and Wingman (identity revealed in Vol.1) the rest of Batman Inc., an army of mind controlled child soldiers, Mutants, an utterly chilling and ruthless Talia, Batman in the Mech suit. The list goes on and on.
There is an incident in this book that impacts the entire run of Bat-Family titles. Interesting as Batman Inc. was a completely separate story. In fact since the New 52 rebrand you could almost say Batman Inc. is an elseworld story now. You have probably heard about or read some of the titles that it impacted. If not I won't spoil it but will say that it is quite shocking and moving. I really, really want to go into detail about it but I'm zipping it.
I have now read the entire Grant Morrison Batman, Batman and Robin, Batman Inc. run. There are highs and lows but I feel that this book is a fitting ending. In fact I was gutted when It ended as it just reminded me how good Morrison's writing and storytelling can be. It was also nice to see certain themes and characters from The Dark Knight Returns employed in this story. There are definitely some similarities between the two.
The main story is nothing short of excellent. I was worried that after reading the full Morrison run this would be an anti climax, it wasn't. It had drama, tragedy, character growth, plot twists, epic battles and fight scenes. The story is complex but easy to follow. You really can't read this volume on its own but the two together (or even 3 for the full Batman Incorporated story) are superb. The short stories bring it down a bit but I'm still giving it 5 stars. I highly recommend reading this.
August 24, 2021
A really fitting conclusion to the Grant Morrison Batman saga. There were a few major deaths in this storyline, but I know some of them have already been "erased" to speak as most characters in comics just don't stay dead. If I didn't know better I'd almost thing "Grant Morrison" was just a pen name several different writers use, because the way his writing goes from one extreme to the other shocks me. Sometimes I have no clue what's going on in his stories, and other times it's really great writing. This is one of the better times.
I'm guessing if you've followed the saga this far, you'll be reading this one anyway. If you haven't been, don't start with this one, go back and start at the beginning. Really good stuff.
I'm guessing if you've followed the saga this far, you'll be reading this one anyway. If you haven't been, don't start with this one, go back and start at the beginning. Really good stuff.
March 10, 2014
Unsatisfying in story and art. Much more could have been done with this material. And as in the first volume, it doesn't seem to be living up to its title as a world wide crimefighting organization when all things are centered in Gotham. The inclusion of a Bat-Cow adventure as one of the tying-up shorts at the end just seems to to be the gentle emphasizing wave of the middle finger this series was to me.
February 20, 2017
Craaaaazy!!
That was the one word that kept coming back to me through out this entire volume... Especially during the Japanese Batman story!! :D What was up with that tiger stronghold? Reminded me a lot of the thundercats' home :P
For the main story: Well, I think it's safe to say we all felt a major shudder when that blade went all the way through. It was quite the breathtaking moment...
And what about the FULL BAT mode ... my .. god...
And the artwork... FLAW-less !
you see, there are a lot of good things inside ;)
so final words: Loved..it!! From cover to cover..!!
That was the one word that kept coming back to me through out this entire volume... Especially during the Japanese Batman story!! :D What was up with that tiger stronghold? Reminded me a lot of the thundercats' home :P
For the main story: Well, I think it's safe to say we all felt a major shudder when that blade went all the way through. It was quite the breathtaking moment...
And what about the FULL BAT mode ... my .. god...
And the artwork... FLAW-less !
you see, there are a lot of good things inside ;)
so final words: Loved..it!! From cover to cover..!!
June 9, 2019
This didn't have as big an effect as I expected it to. Maybe because A Death in the Family was so great (Jason's death) in terms of showing Bruce grieving for one of his sons. I just felt like that one did a better job and there's some great stuff with him talking to Clark in later comics.
This felt shortened, in a way. Perhaps it's better done across other Batman books of the time. I'm sure they mention Damian. As this was compiled, it didn't do a lot for me.
Anyway, I enjoyed the bits with Damian and Dick working together. Even knowing what was coming, the actual scene and the memorial had an effect. I remain confused as to whether Morrison likes any female characters, to be honest. They don't get great writing, from what I've read.
This felt shortened, in a way. Perhaps it's better done across other Batman books of the time. I'm sure they mention Damian. As this was compiled, it didn't do a lot for me.
Anyway, I enjoyed the bits with Damian and Dick working together. Even knowing what was coming, the actual scene and the memorial had an effect. I remain confused as to whether Morrison likes any female characters, to be honest. They don't get great writing, from what I've read.
July 9, 2024
yeah this sucks actually. i can’t believe talia was written even worse than in the previous book.
May 19, 2014
Kind of disappointed a little by this book. On the one hand, Grant Morrison wraps up his multi-year run on Batman with the battle of Batman's life, but on the other hand everything gets tied up somewhat too neatly at the end. The build-up was so great, Morrison having piled it on so thick, it's no surprise that - even though I had no clear expectations as to the ending (other than being 'awed') - I feel that what I got did not meet what I was led to believe I'd get. If that makes any sense.
However: By far the coolest thing in this book was Bruce Wayne injecting himself with the Man-Bat serum and putting on the exo-skeleton in preparation for the smackdown with the Damian-clone.
And then we're 'treated' to a series of vignettes starring different members of the Batman, Inc. family, which sort of detracted from the intended impact of the end of Morrison's run. I couldn't even be bothered to read all of them.
However: By far the coolest thing in this book was Bruce Wayne injecting himself with the Man-Bat serum and putting on the exo-skeleton in preparation for the smackdown with the Damian-clone.
And then we're 'treated' to a series of vignettes starring different members of the Batman, Inc. family, which sort of detracted from the intended impact of the end of Morrison's run. I couldn't even be bothered to read all of them.
August 8, 2021
Morrison’s Bat epic ends with a bang. Everything that was set up in Batman and Son comes full circle with some really heartbreaking moments. Definitely one of the greatest Batman runs of all time I highly recommend.
May 31, 2016
Still loving this art.
December 14, 2015
A great ending to an unexpectedly great series. I really enjoyed this story. Team Bat-Cow!
December 15, 2024
Batman Incorporated Vol. 2: Gotham's Most Wanted
Having written off Damian as a failed experiment, Talia al Ghul continues to wage war on Gotham, with devastating consequences.
The volume wraps up the Batman/Talia battle and the artwork conveys energy and anger as the Leviathan Project destroys everything Bruce Wayne has built.
Having written off Damian as a failed experiment, Talia al Ghul continues to wage war on Gotham, with devastating consequences.
The volume wraps up the Batman/Talia battle and the artwork conveys energy and anger as the Leviathan Project destroys everything Bruce Wayne has built.
May 24, 2023
I decided to pick this short run up sooner than later because I was reading New 52 Batman & Robin vol. 4 when I realized that in another series in between volumes 3 and 4 of Batman & Robin. Needless to say, I was blindsided, but I quickly found the first and second volumes of Batman Incorporated at my library and read through them. So now I am up to speed on the plot for Batman & Robin for the moment. But I was pleasantly surprised overall! I've found Grant Morrison to be pretty hit or miss, but this was pretty good.
February 9, 2017
Almost made me cry.
November 23, 2025
Some of Morrison’s best Batman, great finish to his run.
March 27, 2014
I finally got to read the death of Damian and I'm disappointed, mostly because I feel like the whole Leviathan storyline was dumb and there just wasn't enough to Damian's death. I'm sure the aftermath was focused on more in all the other bat books, but still, it seemed sudden and there wasn't enough emotional follow up. I did love Dick and Damian together, I thought their time as Batman and Robin made some of the most enjoyable comics I've read in recent times, and I appreciated that Dick at least had some emotions other than seeking revenge.
The second half of the book I almost liked better just because it seemed more like what I thought Batman Inc should be, focused on bat heroes outside of Gotham. Granted, I wouldn't bother to buy a comic focused on the non-Gotham bat family, but I still feel like that's what the title should be.
That first Japan based story was just terrible, but the short case files were all pretty good and the highlight of the book for me, especially since the art was in more pleasant styles. Damian's menagerie is a favorite thing to see and I hope all his animals continue to pop up occasionally. And also that Damian pops up again. No one really dies in comic books, right?
The second half of the book I almost liked better just because it seemed more like what I thought Batman Inc should be, focused on bat heroes outside of Gotham. Granted, I wouldn't bother to buy a comic focused on the non-Gotham bat family, but I still feel like that's what the title should be.
That first Japan based story was just terrible, but the short case files were all pretty good and the highlight of the book for me, especially since the art was in more pleasant styles. Damian's menagerie is a favorite thing to see and I hope all his animals continue to pop up occasionally. And also that Damian pops up again. No one really dies in comic books, right?
June 11, 2014
Grant Morrison - writer
Chris Burnham - illustrator
An amazing, epic and heartbreaking conclusion to Morrison's run as the main bat-scribe. Talia Al'Ghul seems to have defeated Batman and Gotham City is in Leviathan's clutches. Acting against orders, Damian steps up to save Batman Inc. and engages his mother's mysterious, giant bodyguard in direct combat. Damian saves the day, but at a terrible cost.
Basically, this volume is the reckoning Bruce must face for his hubris of trying to police the entire world. Suffice it to say that Batman will pay an unspeakable price that will impact the world of D.C. comics for years to come.
Terrific, mind-bending writing by Morrison and fantastic art from Burnham make this an easy book to recommend.
5/5
Chris Burnham - illustrator
An amazing, epic and heartbreaking conclusion to Morrison's run as the main bat-scribe. Talia Al'Ghul seems to have defeated Batman and Gotham City is in Leviathan's clutches. Acting against orders, Damian steps up to save Batman Inc. and engages his mother's mysterious, giant bodyguard in direct combat. Damian saves the day, but at a terrible cost.
Basically, this volume is the reckoning Bruce must face for his hubris of trying to police the entire world. Suffice it to say that Batman will pay an unspeakable price that will impact the world of D.C. comics for years to come.
Terrific, mind-bending writing by Morrison and fantastic art from Burnham make this an easy book to recommend.
5/5
April 15, 2014
I very fitting conclusion to Morrison’s run on the series but I can’t be the only one that doesn’t care for Burnham’s art? All the faces/heads looked squashed and misshapen (think pumpkin) oh well I’ll chalk it up to artistic license and hop off my soap box. Oh and me most certainly need more Bat-Cow books :)
March 4, 2014
Didn't care for this one. The death of Damien Wayne was wasted and the death of Knight was completely unneeded. This came off to me as an attempt to shock rather than reboot anything. The concept was great and I really do care about a lot of the international batmen roster but.... it just didn't grab me, not to mention the art was, at times, atrocious.
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