Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Chris Burnham
The Solicitation
• BATMAN and TALIA AL GHUL continue their fight for control of their son DAMIAN – better known as ROBIN! • WINGMAN and REDBIRD descent upon GOTHAM CITY! Who are these heroes, and what is their relationship to THE DARK KNIGHT?
Preview
Why I Bought It
Well, after a bit of a delay, we come back to Morrison's Batman. Let's see how the story is flowing.
What I Liked
I like that this issue really felt more like a team book than having a couple of side characters make a random appearance and then shuttle off to the background. I also liked that, thanks to the revelation of Wingman's identity, that Batman Incorporated is really about reaching out as far as Batman can to find allies. And I would definitely like to see a Wingman and Redbird mini sometime down the line.
I don't know who has Damian down better, Tomasi over in Batman & Robin, or Morrison here. I'll go for the split and say that Redbird shines in Batman Inc, while Robin shines better in Batman & Robin. But this issue has a really good moment at the end that just shows how naive and innocent Damian can be even considering the type of world he grew up in. The moment at the end of this comic where he just looks up wondering what everyone else knows that he doesn't just shows how human he can be. Burnham had a moment with that panel that just really sells it.
This isn't a Batman book designed for new readers. I think we can all admit that upfront. And that is including if you have read it from the reboot. I personally like a Batman book like this, simply because I am a long time reader and am finding some enjoyment out of it. I can't quite divorce myself from that knowledge when reading it, so I can only imagine what a new reader would think of this book.
What I Didn't Like
Is it good or bad that I didn't recognize who Wingman was until Damian pointed out who is was? Are all the secondary characters in Bat-comics really all clones or something?
The only real big name villain in this issue was Merlyn, and even that was iffy at best. So while it was nice to see Batman Incorporated actually through down, it just feels a little wasted on all these no name villains and henchmen who are supposed to be the world's top assassins.
With each time Damian refers to Batman and Talia as mother and father, I can't help to wonder if all of Batman Inc knows Batman's identity. I'm almost going with the idea that they have to know. And if that is the case, it just makes things a little less enjoyable for me. Almost no one has really focused on the world knowing that Bruce funds Batman Incorporated. We've had a couple of flashes to indicate that Bruce and Batman (Nightwing) have been in the same room, but I wish we could see more of a legal fallout for Bruce sponsoring vigilantism.
But these are Batman books. I guess it would be a little much to ask for some Bruce Wayne in the real world time every now and again, isn't it?
Panel to Remember
I'm going with the moment at the end when Damian asks what everyone else knows that he doesn't. It is just the look in his eyes that Burnham captures just right.
Quotable
"Who the hell are - oh. You're not supposed to be here." - I find it funny that Jason knew right away who Redbird was but it took Damian some time to figure it out. Maybe they could make a really nice dynamic duo.
Grades
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 8/10
Buy Next Issue: I think this is supposed to be a 12 issue series or something like that. I'll probably be buying it until the end anyhow.
No comments:
Post a Comment