Batman by Grant Morrison Book One

by Grant Morrison, Andy Kubert (Illustrator), Tony S. Daniel (Illustrator)

One of the greatest storytellers of his generation, Grant Morrison's arrival in the world of the Dark Knight changed the character forever.

Now collecting the entirety of their legendary saga, Book One introduces Batman to his son, Damian Wayne, reunites the Club of Heroes to solve a murder, and takes the Caped Crusader from the brink of death to the edge of madness. Witness the deconstruction of a hero and the beginning of one of comics' greatest epics.

Batman by Grant Morrison Book One collects Batman #655-658, #663-675, and stories from 52 #30 and #47, from groundbreaking artists Andy Kubert, J.H. Williams III, and Tony S. Daniel.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Unfinished, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics

443 pages, Paperback

First published September 17, 2024

About the author

Grant 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.

Reviews

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong opening with some great stories, but also kinda messy and hard to follow in places.

The main plot of this volume is the introduction of Damian - Batman's rebellious son. He's feisty and ready to claim his place as Robin, and won't let current Robin Tim Drake stand in his way. But he's still got a lot to learn!

Morrison crafts some really interesting stories, but some of them can be a little hard to follow. There's a completely, unrelated-to-anything story in the middle that was actually my favourite part, but it comes out of nowhere and disappears equally fast, bookended by Damian Drama.

Still, even with the sometimes-chaotic storylines, it was a really fun read, and I'm keen to move on to the next volume. The artwork is glorious, though sometimes story is lost to style. Some clever devices used, but some just didn't translate the story too well.

On the whole, it's a pretty strong entry into the world of Batman, so well worth the read.

[Raul Reyes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I disliked or hated most of the stories in this book. First, I don’t understand why Morrison changed it so Talia r*ped Bruce. It smells of racism, since if you read the original issue where “Damian” is born, it’s clear they love each other. Then, I was bored out of my mind with the Batman club story. Just because you, Grant Morrison, care about them doesn’t mean I do. The multiple Batman arc was solid, but even then, it took me a while to figure out what was happening, and I don’t appreciate making Batmite “grounded”. But, the story overall had a solid concept.

[Ev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have I been missing out this whole time? My graphic novel experience thus far has been limited to Berserk (insane), Gerard Way’s Umbrella Academy (disappointing, love him down though), and my dad’s copy of The Complete Frank Miller Batman (too long ago to recall). I picked this up at the library out of passing curiosity and name recognition (Grant Morrison plays the villain in My Chemical Romance’s Danger Days music videos), and I am so glad I did.

[Gotham is] the kind of town that whispers “baby” while it’s picking your pockets, that promises the world and delivers the gutter, or vice versa, and puts out your lights with a kiss, or a bullet, then forgets your name before dawn.”

Me from two days ago would’ve never believed this line was in a comic book with such a well-trodden IP. Morrison’s Batman has the darkness, as expected, but also surprising humor, emotional complexity, and breakneck cleverness that kept me glued to the page. The art is spooky and expertly employed, perfectly accompanying the text without overpowering it.

As instant classics Megamind and The Lego Batman Movie do so masterfully - and I’m barely kidding - the most delicious feature was the relationship between Batman and the Joker.

You can’t kill me without becoming like me. I can’t kill you without losing the only human being who can keep up with me. Isn’t it IRONIC?!

A few bloody moments later…

That’s why it could never be you,” the Joker slobbers on, incoherently. “I could never kill you…Where would the act be without my straight man?”

Are you kidding me?! The enemies-to-lovers drivel pumped out by romance publishers could only dream of this tension.

Their fated bond demonstrates Batman’s codependency with Gotham itself. Without his role as their crimefighter, who is he? When Alfred encourages him to “just be Bruce Wayne”, does he even know what that means anymore? Does he really want peace? Or is his devotion to the city rooted in the fact that it’s so beyond saving and therefore he’ll always have a purpose? As Nietzsche stated, “Under peaceful conditions, the warlike man attacks himself.”

Much like our hero, I’m left questioning my existence. Am I…a Batman fan? Eagerly seeking the next volume and flipping through the first to reread my favorite lines? I can’t say every story landed its punches, but who woulda thunk!

If you loved this volume, what else would you recommend? Does the rest of Morrison’s bibliography maintain this quality? I’m unabashedly seeking my next fix.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another new edition of Grant Morrison's terrific but trippy Batman run. This one collects the first 2 trades, Batman and Son and The Black Glove. The first one introduces Damion Wayne to the canon, one of the best new DC characters of the 21st century. I love how he's such a little shit. He's the character you love to hate, at least here he is. He's been toned down over the years. Then there's the issues where J.H. Williams draws. I love the Club of Heroes and how it's kind of like an Agatha Christie mystery. There's just so much fun to be had in this era of Batman.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I am literally only reading this for Damian. Occasionally there would be a page where the art and paneling was REALLY cool, but the way it writes women (mostly Talia) is weird and flatly and boringly evil. This collection in particular hopped around a lot in a way I found incredibly frustrating. I thought this was an editorial decision on placing issues weirdly but looking again no, it seems like they're in order and the story just takes some side detours? I also wish the full Ra's event was here instead of just the first and last issue :/

[Steven desJardins · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a while since I read these stories, which I bought as single issues. I enjoy them more now than I did at the time, perhaps because Damian Wayne has developed into a more interesting character since his introduction, perhaps because without a gap between issues I'm following the stories better. He's no Paul Dini, who I gave five stars last month, but Morrison's Batman is recognizably and enjoyably Batman, which is more than many Batman writers accomplish.

[Bryce Blackard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy PEAK! Grant Morrison might be the best Batman writer of all time in my opinion and this book only pushed me more towards that thinking. Morrison proves the range of Batman stories he can tell in this collected edition. He’s incredible at writing the characters around Batman too (Robin, Damian Wayne). The Black Glove story was SOOOOOOO good, felt like a movie, and layered in some comedic moments that allowed the story to not take itself too seriously.

[Rachael O'Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This included fun stories. It was interesting seeing Damian’s origin and introduction to Batman. I also enjoyed the Black Glove story, it was like putting Batman in an Agatha Christie novel but with superheroes. There was also the story of the three Batman impersonators who are villains and were created to replace Batman which was a fun story too. However, The story with Ra’s Al Ghul for example was largely told through narration like a catch-up and the stories seem to be a bit jumbled and potentially some parts are missed out.

[Kurtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

You trained for decades? I’VE HAD CENTURIES

[irenemelita ౨ৎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

it's over it's oveeeeer THANK GOD IT'S OVER