Batman:RIP Begins Wednesday
May 13, 2008 by brian
Acclaimed writer Grant Morrison’s widely anticipated Batman:RIP storyline hits shelves May 14. I don’t think anybody believes DC Comics plans to kill its Cash Bat, particularly with The Dark Knight coming to theaters July 18.
Bruce Wayne retiring for a while? But he took a year off in 52. Bats is kind of a type A personality. Two vacations in the same decade seems unlikely. But DC is teasing that someone else may pick up the Bat-Mantle. DC brass say Morrison has been working on this for years and recently we have seen an increase in “potential Batmen.”
There’s Batman’s son Damien. There’s the recently resurrected Jason Todd. As always, there’s the former Robin Dick Grayson. Maybe they all start wearing the cowl and duking it out. A theory on the message boards that makes some sense to me is that Batman is presumed dead and goes back to being the “urban legend” of the DC Universe.
Criminals would be even more scared of Batman if he’s supposed to be dead. They are, as you may have heard, a cowardly and superstitious lot.
TM & © DC Comics.
Photo by Stephen Vaughan
What?! When did Batman have a kid? Let me guess, during the “52″ or “Infinite Crisis” storyline. As to who the mother–Catwoman/Selina Kyle–would be my answer. As you can see I’m not reading Batman series as much anymore.
As for vacations, if anyone deserves one–it’s Bruce Wayne/Batman. Matter of fact, it should be longer than week AND somewhere other than Gotham.
The “resurrection” of Jason Todd. That was the one aspect of Lee & Williams “Hush” storyline that I thought was absurd & a waste. According to the background on why the execs & writers @ DC killed him was because that Robin was the worst one & he didn’t sit or sell well w/the readers. All of it do to the arrogant & brash nature of that Robin’s character that did not listen or respect the Bat.
Who will carry the mantle while he’s on hiatus? Hopefully the execs learned their lesson w/Azreal and they won’t make that mistake again. Even though Nitewing has spent the most time w/Bruce I can agree & understand why he would decline the role. He’s made Nitewing something separate from Batman & garnered that respect from the populace he protects as such. My best bet would be let his absence be taken up by GCPD: SCU and allow the urban legend to perpetuate itself in the meantime.
While he’s away the writers could give us a mini-series about Bruce Wayne travels abroad. Maybe have him run across a mystery/crime that he feels compelled to solve as BRUCE, not Batman. They did something like that w/Supes on the Animated Series once. Perhaps, during that case we could be introduced to the vast resources (people & places) that Batman uses in solving crimes. Just a thought.
BTW, who is Aztec?
I’m guessing Tim will be Batman, it kind of fits Morrisons ‘young funky heroes’ approach, his Batman’s been a lot closer to a 70’s Batman than any of the recent takes. I think Tim, with Damian (son of Talia) as Robin and Bruce in the cave (like old man Bruce in Batman Beyond) would turn the dyamic on it’s head and would be very in keeping with Morrisons style.
Aztec was a 10 issue superhero comic written by Grant Morrison and Mark Millar, it was a lot of fun but sold nothing, his story comes to an end in the JLA story World War III (not to be confused with the 52 spin off of the same name).
I’m surprised that Grant Morrison’s style leans toward younger characters. Especially after his introductory & ingenious run on “Batman: Shadow of the Bat” series. Which had great covers by Norm Breyfogyle, BTW. It was that series that kept me reading comics, specifically the Bat, much longer than one would expect for a 20-something.
But I digress, if memory serves during his run on that series there’s no young, funky “heroes” that stands out…other than Robin, of course. Then again, that may be why I didn’t & don’t watch “Batman Beyond”. Young & Funky heroes in Gotham City, no matter what time frame, just doesn’t work for me.
–Godspeed–
Think it was the excellent Alan Grant who started Shadow with Norm Breyfogyle not Morrison, I was a big fan of those covers too. My ‘young funky characters’ quote does make me cringe but its the best way I could come up with of describing Morrisons style.
You’re right, it was Alan Grant–my bad.
I’ve collected quite a few comics since I started reading, so I’m sure I’ve read some G_Morrison stories before. That’s probably why that name stuck out.
–Godspeed–