BATMAN #676

[MattBrady]

<a href="http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batman/RIP/676/Batman676cvr.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batman/RIP/676/t_Batman676cvr.jpg" border="0" align="right"></a>With the look at <b>Final Crisis</b> (http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=156159) this morning, are you game for <i>more</I> Grant Morrison? How about the first five pages of “Batman R.I.P.” from next week’s <b>Batman #676</b>?

Thought so.

The solicit for the issue reads:

Written by Grant Morrison; Art and variant cover by Tony Daniel and Sandu Florea; Cover by Alex Ross

Are you ready for "Batman R.I.P."?

Beginning the epic story that will change the legend of the Dark Knight forever! Everything in Grant Morrison's groundbreaking run on Batman has been leading to this story, and nothing will ever be the same again.

Who will live? Who will die? Who will be Batman? The answers are sure to shock you in "Batman R.I.P.," featuring artwork by Tony Daniel and Sandu Florea and covers by Alex Ross.

Batman | 32pg. | Color | $2.99 US

<center><a href="http://i.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batman/RIP/676/Batman676_01.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batman/RIP/676/t_BATMAN676_DYTLUXE-1.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://i.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batman/RIP/676/Batman676_02.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batman/RIP/676/t_BATMAN676_DYTLUXE-2.jpg" hspace="3" border="0"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://i.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batman/RIP/676/Batman676_03.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batman/RIP/676/t_BATMAN676_DYTLUXE-3.jpg" hspace="3" border="0"></a><a href="http://i.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batman/RIP/676/Batman676_04.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batman/RIP/676/t_BATMAN676_DYTLUXE-4.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://i.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batman/RIP/676/Batman676_05.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batman/RIP/676/t_BATMAN676_DYTLUXE-5.jpg" border="0"></a></center>

[ejulp]

I've warmed up to Tony Daniels much more than I thought I would...he does creepy very well.

[Pontius]

Wow!

Sign me up right now. It looks amazing. And I've never seen Daniel's art look more beautiful.

This looks to be very creepy.

[OMEGA_Red]

Have to do it.....first.

Looks great! Tony Daniel's art looks better than normal here, actually -- the villains look

Edit: awww....

[AlexLothos]

Ooh, looks nice. :)

[Shonborn]

So the Black Glove is an organization? Cool. And that's a creepier clown than the Joker ever wished he could be.

[nightw1ng]

although i'm sure many are excited for this, i really couldn't care less. no matter what, at the end of the day, bruce wayne will be batman and the status quo will remain the same. the same goes for superman. it's hard getting interested in a character knowing they'll never change, especially the icons the WB would never allow DC to permanently change. that's usually why i gravitate towards team books or less popular characters, because they're more likely to shake things up.

[durkadurka]

Dammit Grant...why must you toy with my emotions?

[adama]

Haven't even finished with this week's comics and they hit me with this!

[batmansgirl]

Is the first page *really* the first page? Because I feel like it's not. Or maybe that's Grant's intention, I don't know...

But, anyway, I'm gonna love this because the art's so gorgeous. Not sure about the story yet...

[Floyd Lawton]

I've warmed up to Tony Daniels much more than I thought I would...he does creepy very well.
He gets better every issue.

So looking foward to this though.

[Sanman]

A little nervous about what this arc will do to Bruce Wayne overall but not bad so far...

[TheJerkle]

I hate these minor known villains that keep popping up all of a sudden.

[izzatrix]

a story like this is even more fun because the writer can go all the way to the bottom
of the rabbit hole and then tell the story of how we climb back up. But if you are tired
of that story since we've certainly been there and done that many times before with
Batman and many others in the DCU than skip it. You know what form comics are
going to take before you open the cover. Bitching about it is like complaining that
a haiku is only 3 lines long and that you prefer epic poetry instead.

[Shonborn]

although i'm sure many are excited for this, i really couldn't care less. no matter what, at the end of the day, bruce wayne will be batman and the status quo will remain the same. the same goes for superman. it's hard getting interested in a character knowing they'll never change, especially the icons the WB would never allow DC to permanently change. that's usually why i gravitate towards team books or less popular characters, because they're more likely to shake things up.

I'm not going into this expecting huge changes that'll just revert back eventually, and anyone who does is kinda foolish for buying into it. I buy it because I enjoy Morrison's work, and as a comic fan feel that I'm allowed to occassionally enjoy a comic with Superman or Batman in it, as well as the smaller books, as well as books published by guys in basements, etc. I'm a comics fan. I'm hoping for an entertaining story. It's not your thing, cool, but kinda closed minded to immediately dismiss it "just because" it's Batman.

I'm reminded of a quote from Matt Fraction, about working on bigger Marvel characters. He said that it's his job as a writer to take the toys Marvel gives him, and break them thoroughly in as entertaining a way possible, and then put them back together before he leaves.

[BillReed]

Hmm.<woooooahhhh>

[Kevin T. Brown]

Wow.

Just WOW.

Tony Daniel has really amped up his game with Batman.

[greenflameuk]

Is the first page *really* the first page? Because I feel like it's not. Or maybe that's Grant's intention, I don't know...
Well, the 2nd page says six months earlier, so i guess were meant to wonder who that Batman and Robin are.

[HartyPotter]

Looks like it could work out to be good.

[bluebird]

I hate these minor known villains that keep popping up all of a sudden.

Um, I believe they were all at least name-dropped in the three-part club of heroes story.

[ziza9]

Well, the 2nd page says six months earlier, so i guess were meant to wonder who that Batman and Robin are.

Dick Grayson's second shot at being the Batman perhaps? I'd be all for that.

[De Martini]

Have to do it.....first.
Be honest: why would you want to? It's the lowest rung on the nerd ladder. And you missed it too! ;)


Anyway, AWESOME preview. DC has totally been on an upswing lately. Then again, after COUNTDOWN that's not too tricky is it?

[SpaceButler]

Looks awesome. Can't wait. :D

[caats19]

i'll buy it.

[Haterade]

Ay, CARAMBA! NOTHING is more HUMILIATING than being defeated by MEXICAN LUCHADORS wearing CHEAP SUITS! R.I.P, BATMAN'S DIGNITY!

http://www.robotsandwrestlers.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/santo_blue_demon_03.jpg

[Simon DelMonte]

As with the Final Crisis pages, the art is so utterly good that it could make up for any sins the story commits. However, I am less sanguine about RIP than FC. FC will be in the mode that Grant was in his JLA days. That usually works after some fashion. But here, his Batman mode is something rather bizarre, manic, unpredictable and uneven. I am trying so very hard not to get my hopes up in the least for RIP.

I'm failing, though.

[nietoperz]

No thanks, not for me.

[batmansgirl]

I hate these minor known villains that keep popping up all of a sudden.
Same here. It's very Silver Agey, boring, and annoying. I'd rather have the Crime Doctor do this, not some unknown guy called Dr. Hurt.

Edit: I'm aware that he killed himself in a recent BOP storyarc.

[BoosterGold]

you guys are dumb. I love when writers use unknown villians, instead of the same ones over and over again. It's Boring and repetitive.

[CeeDiddy4h]

DC Comics is giving usa blockbuster summer with these upcoming arcs. Cannot wait to get my hands on this book.

[Super-Bat]

Anyone else notice the RED SKIES behind Batman & Robin? Subtle FC tie-in? Hmmm.

[breakfast]

Ugghhh and I really wasn't going to buy this. What's with all this big stuff coming up that actually looks good?

-clings to wallet-

[Kolimar]

That's one odd bunch of characters. I like it. :D

[Question86]

Morrison's Batman run has confused the hell out of me to no end

[circularbell]

Here's the Batman RIP Checklist if you're interested:

Batman #676-681
Detective Comics #846-850
Nightwing #147-150
Robin #175-176
Batman and the Outsiders #11-13

[Volvic]

Like the art. Still unsure about the story.

[GrundyPants]

I and here I thought Batman RIP was going to be all nice and self contained! damn!

[Lars]

"Call me... Doctor Hurt!"

Doctor HURT? DOCTOR HURT?

Oooooo.... scary stuff, kiddies!

Worst name that isn't intentionally bad EVER!

I keep thinking that the Flaming Carrot will come crashing in to fight them, along with his partners Bondo-man, The Shoveler, Screw-Ball (the ORIGINAL), Jumpin' Jehosephat, Red Rover and Mr. Furious...

Why not Mr. Ouch? Ms. Woopsi-Daisy? Booger-Man?

That's the BEST you got, Grant?

If Final Crisis is anything like this, I'll re-read my copies of Countdown twenty times in one sitting!

Edit: And if Grant did NOT create him, I don't care! The cornball dialogue and the fact that he's even using a character called Dr Hurt is enough to make fun of... Maybe Judd Winnick is writing to see if he can get judos while posing as Grant Morrison. If only Puck would write a comic...

[SpaceButler]

I and here I thought Batman RIP was going to be all nice and self contained! damn!

As I understand it the main story in Batman will be, the other stuff is basically how it affects other elements of his life. They haven't said anything about needing to pick up each book, so I will just be reading the ones I read normally: Nightwing and Batman.

[rorschach_42]

I hate these minor known villains that keep popping up all of a sudden.
This is the first appearence of these villains. They were all mentioned in the Club of Heroes arc last year.

From left to right: Charlie Caligula (Legionnaire villain), Unknown (The guy in the gasmask. Perhaps Springhill Jack, the guy who killed the third Squire's father?), Pierrot Lunaire the Murder Mime (Musketeer villain), El Sombrero (Gaucho villain), Dr. Simon Hurt (Doctor who perfomred isonlation experiment on Batman in Three Batmen arc), Scorpiana(Gaucho Villain), King Kraken (Ranger villain). The Hunchback also appears. He is also a Musketeer villain.

[TheMightyGeek]

Dr. Hurt is his real name. You know, like John Hurt or William Hurt.

Still kinda lame, though.

Know what'd hurt? Dr. Nutpunch. That'd make Bats cringe, even if only inwardly.

[Lupek]

That looks really, really good!

[Cray_ws]

I'm liking Tony Daniel's work it has a very cinematic style that AUTHORITY was known for. I'd love to see his take on some WSU characters.

although i'm sure many are excited for this, i really couldn't care less. no matter what, at the end of the day, bruce wayne will be batman and the status quo will remain the same. the same goes for superman. it's hard getting interested in a character knowing they'll never change, especially the icons the WB would never allow DC to permanently change. that's usually why i gravitate towards team books or less popular characters, because they're more likely to shake things up.I completely relate to how you feel, If you're looking for sweeping changes that don't immediately revert to status quo of yesterday. Then perhaps you should pick up a Wildstorm book. Try NUMBERS OF THE BEAST. It's an 8 issue miniseries that will change the status quo, with lasting effects on the characters and surroundings. It leads into WORLD's END event that places WSU in a post-apocalyptic setting and pretty much changes everything as we know it. So its definitely going to be new-reader friendly.

Wildstorm has always been not afraid to kill off, torture, and/or radically alter their characters. They did it with STORMWATCH: FINAL ORBIT in which they brutally killed off practically the whole team and replaced them with characters we know as AUTHORITY.

Looking for something different? Try any of the WORLD's END event books starting July 30th.

Here are some previews
WILDCATS: WORLD'S END #1 (http://www.dccomics.com/media/excerpts/9772_x.pdf) - Written by Christos Gage; Art by Neil Googe and Trevor Hairsine; Covers by Neil Googe

THE AUTHORITY: WORLD'S END #1 (http://www.dccomics.com/media/excerpts/9854_x.pdf) - Written by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning; Art & cover by Simon Coleby; Back-up art Trevor Hairsine

GEN 13 #21 (http://www.dccomics.com/media/excerpts/9851_x.pdf) - Written by Scott Beatty; Art & cover by Mike Huddleston; Back-up art Trevor Hairsine

STORMWATCH: PHD #13 (http://www.dccomics.com/media/excerpts/9852_x.pdf) - Written by Ian Edginton; Art by Leandro Fernandez & Francisco Paronzini: Cover by Fernandez; Back-up art by Trevor Hairsine

As you might've noticed all 4 books will have back up stories to get you caught up in what's going on in WSU. All these books are ongoing titles.

[Ian Brooks]

wait...so who are those villains? I must have missed that one if they've been named before.

[Ian Brooks]

d'oh, just saw rorschach's post above, NEVERMIND. nothing to see here.

[The6th]

I'm not going into this expecting huge changes that'll just revert back eventually, and anyone who does is kinda foolish for buying into it. I buy it because I enjoy Morrison's work, and as a comic fan feel that I'm allowed to occassionally enjoy a comic with Superman or Batman in it, as well as the smaller books, as well as books published by guys in basements, etc. I'm a comics fan. I'm hoping for an entertaining story. It's not your thing, cool, but kinda closed minded to immediately dismiss it "just because" it's Batman.

I'm reminded of a quote from Matt Fraction, about working on bigger Marvel characters. He said that it's his job as a writer to take the toys Marvel gives him, and break them thoroughly in as entertaining a way possible, and then put them back together before he leaves.

You and me both man, but in this day and age we seem to be few and far between...

[House of J]

Yeah, thanks for listing the names of most of those guys, I either missed or don't remember that issue.

Grant is doing for Batman what Ed did to Cap for me--making me appreciate and really look forward to reading solo adventures of a character I hadn't enjoyed much for over 20 years.

But wait--I have to buy issues of Nightwing and the Outsiders to follow this? Aw, man. I enjoy these types of stories more when only one or two writers & titles get involved. I guess in this case it wouldn't make any sense for them to be out of the loop.

[Asian Pirate]

Sweet, the Club of Villains!

[SpaceButler]

Yeah, thanks for listing the names of most of those guys, I either missed or don't remember that issue.

Grant is doing for Batman what Ed did to Cap for me--making me appreciate and really look forward to reading solo adventures of a character I hadn't enjoyed much for over 20 years.

But wait--I have to buy issues of Nightwing and the Outsiders to follow this? Aw, man. I enjoy these types of stories more when only one or two writers & titles get involved. I guess in this case it wouldn't make any sense for them to be out of the loop.

I think you just have to buy Morrison's Batman to follow the story, but hey if you want to pick up Nightwing I can only say that Tomasi has been doing a fantastic job in that book. Should be a lot of fun to see his take on the fallout. :)

[Muady]

People have been saying a lot that the status quo will return before long, but thats what they said about Captain America when he died. I don't think Brubaker has any intention of resurrecting Rogers at all. The fact that they're being quite upfront about whats going to go on with Batman, rather than trying to surprise us, that this change will last for a long time, if it doesn't last forever.

Hell, since Bruce Wayne is going to be "worse than dead" according to Morrison, not actually dead dead, he's going to leave some sort of circumstances that will allow the return of Bruce Wayne as Batman when it is appropriate, rather than forcing the company to haphazardly retcon everything out of his run like Marvel did after his New X-men.

Oh yea, a villain named "Dr. Hurt" is just a bit of Silver-age silliness Morrison has injected into the story, christ I can't believe how genuinely appalled someone can be by that name.

[BGSU]

Morrison's Batman run has confused the hell out of me to no end

I felt a little confused as well [and many reviews have agreed]. I decided to reread ONLY the stories involving the "three batmen". The whole storyline was really splintered by the Son of Bat story, Batmen of the World, and by Ra's return.Try reading those separately and you get a better sense of what Morrison seems to be developing. He shouldn't have split it up so much [editorial decisions?]. Irregardless, I know some will say they shouldn't have to work so hard... but if you are a Batman fan and really want to understand... I suggest reading those separately.

[grendel824]

you guys are dumb. I love when writers use unknown villians, instead of the same ones over and over again. It's Boring and repetitive.

Seconded - especially when it's by guys like Morrison, who are able to show you something cool about pretty much ANY character. He's got the right formula - mix the iconic characters, the "obscure" characters, and brand new stuff together. I love seeing obscure characters show up because I used to read all of those old Marvel Universe and WHo's Who comics, and I would imagine stories in my head for characters that I had never seen elsewhere. It was always exciting to see one of them show up from time to time - it makes the DCU (or wherever) seem like a much bigger, living place.

[House of J]

I think you just have to buy Morrison's Batman to follow the story, but hey if you want to pick up Nightwing I can only say that Tomasi has been doing a fantastic job in that book. Should be a lot of fun to see his take on the fallout. :)

I'll probably give it a try when it ties into R.I.P.-- I intend to try and enjoy the hell out of R.I.P., Final Crisis, and Secret Invasion. It's not every year the Big Two offer up so many compelling events or stories. Plus, R.I.P. shouldn't have any Monitors--that's my one complaint about FC, hate the Monitors. Hate the idea of them. Hate their hairstyles.

[JLAJRC]

The art is nice, but I certainly found the dialogue underwhelming, just like most of Grant's run on Batman.

[DiscoVietnam]

Looks amazing. I love the Ned Kelly reference!

http://nationaltreasures.nla.gov.au/xpf/sites/Treasures/media/glyph/items/nla.int-ex13-s2-item.jpg

[comic_guy]

Ok, here is what we are going to get (in a great way). Nightwing will be cancelled in 6 months with issue #150. The book is going nowhere and neither is the character of Dick Grayson. Meanwhile, Batman hasn't been living as Bruce Wayne for a long time. When this story is over, Dick becomes Batman, Tim Drake is still Robin and Bruce Wayne finally gets to be himself for a while. I am actually fascinated with the prospects of what changes Dick will go through being the Batman, finally, and what Bruce will do with his life giving it up for a while. Of course Bruce will become Batman again down the road after Dick is killed being Batman and that will probably occur by the time issue #700 comes out in a couple of years. Grant has already stated that he will be writing the book for some time to come. Grant's run on Batman is definitely on a par with what Ed Brubaker is doing over on Captain America for Marvel. I'm not interrupting my 400+ issue run of Batman now. You can't go wrong with either Final Crisis or Batman by Mr. Morrison.

[SpaceButler]

"Call me... Doctor Hurt!"

Doctor HURT? DOCTOR HURT?

Oooooo.... scary stuff, kiddies!

Worst name that isn't intentionally bad EVER!

I keep thinking that the Flaming Carrot will come crashing in to fight them, along with his partners Bondo-man, The Shoveler, Screw-Ball (the ORIGINAL), Jumpin' Jehosephat, Red Rover and Mr. Furious...

Why not Mr. Ouch? Ms. Woopsi-Daisy? Booger-Man?

That's the BEST you got, Grant?

If Final Crisis is anything like this, I'll re-read my copies of Countdown twenty times in one sitting!

Edit: And if Grant did NOT create him, I don't care! The cornball dialogue and the fact that he's even using a character called Dr Hurt is enough to make fun of... Maybe Judd Winnick is writing to see if he can get judos while posing as Grant Morrison. If only Puck would write a comic...

Oddly enough I took a seminar this semester with a Dr. Hurt and he was pretty scary. Funny how that works out. :D

[SpaceButler]

Ok, here is what we are going to get (in a great way). Nightwing will be cancelled in 6 months with issue #150. The book is going nowhere and neither is the character of Dick Grayson. Meanwhile, Batman hasn't been living as Bruce Wayne for a long time. When this story is over, Dick becomes Batman, Tim Drake is still Robin and Bruce Wayne finally gets to be himself for a while. I am actually fascinated with the prospects of what changes Dick will go through being the Batman, finally, and what Bruce will do with his life giving it up for a while. Of course Bruce will become Batman again down the road after Dick is killed being Batman and that will probably occur by the time issue #700 comes out in a couple of years. Grant has already stated that he will be writing the book for some time to come. Grant's run on Batman is definitely on a par with what Ed Brubaker is doing over on Captain America for Marvel. I'm not interrupting my 400+ issue run of Batman now. You can't go wrong with either Final Crisis or Batman by Mr. Morrison.

I will agree that Nightwing was aimless for a long time, but since Tomasi took over it's been great. If you haven't given it a shot you should, it's a great book. :D

[Barnum01]

Is the first page *really* the first page? Because I feel like it's not. Or maybe that's Grant's intention, I don't know...

in medias res...9th grade English class, look it up!

[WType]

Looks amazing. I love the Ned Kelly reference!

http://nationaltreasures.nla.gov.au/xpf/sites/Treasures/media/glyph/items/nla.int-ex13-s2-item.jpg

I've always thought of him as more of a Superman villain.

[dbags]

although i'm sure many are excited for this, i really couldn't care less. no matter what, at the end of the day, bruce wayne will be batman and the status quo will remain the same. the same goes for superman. it's hard getting interested in a character knowing they'll never change, especially the icons the WB would never allow DC to permanently change. that's usually why i gravitate towards team books or less popular characters, because they're more likely to shake things up.


Then why comment on a thread about the "Batman" comic?

[Charlie Hustle]

I don't remember Tony doing work this good before..

[Genki]

Is it just me, or does Robin look like Damian in that first image??

[Ex-Villian]

Marvel proved it with New X-Men...anything Morrison can do, can also be undone. Morrison change dthe X-Men forever...until he left, that is.

But really, I'm enjoying this run (as I liked New-X-Men...don;t jumo the gun, though, cuz I don't highly value everything by Morrison), and Batman is such a classic character that I think no matter how he could die, will die or anything else screwy...Bruce Wayne will Batman (again?) when the time comes.

Superman died, became blue, whatever. Ollie died and returned (and was thought to have done it again last year). Hal died and came back, as well. I don't even need to mention the newest return for thos who had it spoiled for them. I was about to say that the popular/1st rate characters at DC always come back to what they were, but it even applies to some lower, less popular characters. Jason Todd, Donna Troy, etc.

I hope this story is fun and pisses some people off.

[Ian Brooks]

Ok, here is what we are going to get (in a great way). Nightwing will be cancelled in 6 months with issue #150. The book is going nowhere and neither is the character of Dick Grayson. Meanwhile, Batman hasn't been living as Bruce Wayne for a long time. When this story is over, Dick becomes Batman, Tim Drake is still Robin and Bruce Wayne finally gets to be himself for a while. I am actually fascinated with the prospects of what changes Dick will go through being the Batman, finally, and what Bruce will do with his life giving it up for a while. Of course Bruce will become Batman again down the road after Dick is killed being Batman and that will probably occur by the time issue #700 comes out in a couple of years.

kind of does a discredit to whole Nightwing concept to have him just willingly trade it for the bat mantle at this point. he's too well established now as Nightwing, wouldnt make sense.

now I was thinking, what could possibly be worse than dead for Batman/Wayne? taking away that which makes him special among superheroes: his humanness. what if he were to receive some sort of superpower, something that disestablished him as a near-peak level human fighter/mastermind? that would pretty much kill who and what Batman is. just a thought.

[ziza9]

Ok, here is what we are going to get (in a great way). Nightwing will be cancelled in 6 months with issue #150. The book is going nowhere and neither is the character of Dick Grayson. Meanwhile, Batman hasn't been living as Bruce Wayne for a long time. When this story is over, Dick becomes Batman, Tim Drake is still Robin and Bruce Wayne finally gets to be himself for a while. I am actually fascinated with the prospects of what changes Dick will go through being the Batman, finally, and what Bruce will do with his life giving it up for a while. Of course Bruce will become Batman again down the road after Dick is killed being Batman and that will probably occur by the time issue #700 comes out in a couple of years. Grant has already stated that he will be writing the book for some time to come. Grant's run on Batman is definitely on a par with what Ed Brubaker is doing over on Captain America for Marvel. I'm not interrupting my 400+ issue run of Batman now. You can't go wrong with either Final Crisis or Batman by Mr. Morrison.

That scenario though, minus the Dick dying part, would just be a retread of the last time/first time Dick assumed the mantle of the Bat from Bruce in "Prodigal." from the wiki cause it's just easier to quote it, :) "In the "Prodigal" arc, Bruce Wayne, still recovering from his broken back, asks a reluctant Dick to substitute for him as Batman for a time. He accepts. During this time, Dick is able to confront Two-Face and lay some demons to rest. He also establishes a friendship with Tim Drake, whom he later considers a little brother figure and friend. Bruce eventually heals and returns to Gotham to reclaim his role as Batman."

[Cray_ws]

Marvel proved it with New X-Men...anything Morrison can do, can also be undone. Morrison change the X-Men forever...until he left, that is..You know I hear this all the time and quite frankly this is garbage how people are quick to remind us that Morrison's X-Men was retconned so that is supposed mean his DC work will get screwed over too.

Has his JLA run been retconned? How about his Stint on Flash or the DC One Million event? Lets not forget Aztek, did DC screw with that? Did Vertigo change Invisibles or Animal Man run after he left? As far I know not much has been changed or deliberately altered since leaving DC.

The X-Men thing was an isolated incident and if you wanna get technical, retconning is like a normal thing when it comes to the X-Men. Every six months the entire X-Men line goes through the process of gutting what came before so they can go in a "bold new direction".

[Hyper-ion]

Is it just me, or does Robin look like Damian in that first image??


That's because it is. I keep telling EVERYONE, but nobody listens. Tim Drake will be Batman, and Damian will be Robin. It's that simple. Dick has ABSOLUTELY no desire at all, whatsoever in becoming Batman. This has been known for years. When he took up the mantle after JPV, it was a one time favor for Bruce, for a very short period.

Jason becoming Batman would be the biggest mistake since they brought him back to life. DC knows this, but people still ask Will it be Dick, Tim, or Jason.

I'll tell you all now....

Tim. Batman.

Damian. Robin.

[grendel824]

I second the motion for a "Dr. Nutpunch" to be created.

And really, none of this is nearly as ridiculous as "Mr. Sinister" from the X-books. Literally, and seemingly without irony, I remember a character who worked for the villain who thought he was a good guy saying "But, how could YOU be evil, Mr. Sinister?"

WTF? "Gee, how could Mr. IF*CKINGKILLEDHIM!ITWASME!I'MGUILTY be guilty of this murder? That just doesn't make sense! Next you'll be telling me that my fiancee, Ms. Wantonunfaithfulpromiscuouswhore, is cheating on me!"

[SuperheroTV]

That's because it is. I keep telling EVERYONE, but nobody listens. Tim Drake will be Batman, and Damian will be Robin. It's that simple. I'll tell you all now....
Tim. Batman. Damian. Robin.

You're absolutely right. You can see it coming a mile away. Tim Drake will don the cape and cowl, and Damian will replace him on an interim basis as the Boy Wonder. Besides, the opening panel of Batman R.I.P. is, er, a dead giveway. What I'm excited about is we know 'who' but not the 'how or 'why' because Grant Morrison is so unpredictable. And as for Dick Grayson, Dan DiDio, in typical DC fashion, will suffer a ( Mid-Life ) Crisis and kill him in Nightwing: R.I.P., something he has nefariously plotted and pined for since Infinite Crisis!

[MrToady12]

I'll tell you all now....

Tim. Batman.

Damian. Robin.

No offense but that idea sounds horrible. Tim Drake is a teenager! Will they change the name to Bat-teen or Bat-boy? As much as I like Drake, I find it highly unlikely that DC will place a teenage boy in the role of BatMAN. How intimidating is a Bat-Boy who is only 5"3" - 5"5? Has his voce even broken yet?

If anyone takes over the role (I find it unlikely that Morrison would go down such a well traveled path) it would have to be Dick Grayson... at least he's an adult. Damian taking on the role of Robin - that I can possibly see.

[MrToady12]

Double post - whoops. Hmm... the art is OK but I still pine for Roger Robinson. Loved him on Gotham Knight.

Cheers :)

[Spikey_Jim]

Okay would really like to give this a try, but, I haven't read anything else of Morrison's Batman thus far.

Will it confuse the piss out of me just to jump straight in at this point?

And that art is awesome.

[Barrel05]

What the Hell is Ned Kelly doin in a Batman comic????!!!!!

[Barrel05]

No offense but that idea sounds horrible. Tim Drake is a teenager! Will they change the name to Bat-teen or Bat-boy? As much as I like Drake, I find it highly unlikely that DC will place a teenage boy in the role of BatMAN. How intimidating is a Bat-Boy who is only 5"3" - 5"5? Has his voce even broken yet?

If anyone takes over the role (I find it unlikely that Morrison would go down such a well traveled path) it would have to be Dick Grayson... at least he's an adult. Damian taking on the role of Robin - that I can possibly see.

Didn't they actually give it away in an interview that Dick was takin over

[newfoundma]

Awesome. The splash of the villains entices me so much. Instead of constantly going back to the Joker, Morrison introduces (or revamps) more villians for Batman in two pages than have successfully been integrated in the last two decades.

[dkc_2001]

I just noticed that Robin has the original costume on. Looks like the straight cape and bare legs from the picture.

[Spade]

There will be multiple Batman's and 2 robins atleast.

[Skyrider]

Is it me...or does that robin not look like Tim?

...:(

[Grievous]

looks fantastic, The new inker is really making a difference in Daniels pencil line work,

sweet, The Club of villains look creepy and scary.

[blckng]

kind of does a discredit to whole Nightwing concept to have him just willingly trade it for the bat mantle at this point. he's too well established now as Nightwing, wouldnt make sense.
Maybe we've just been reading different comics, because it really does depend on the writer. Dixon and Wolfman both wrote Dick pretty adamant about no longer wanting to be Batman, but most of my opinions on the matter were shaped by Devin Grayson's Gotham Knights stuff, mainly because it made more sense than Dick's wholesale abandonment of the legacy he was originally striving to fill. He says, "the only thing I hate more than filling that cape and cowl and imagining a world without you in it is watching someone else do it." To me that's pretty telling, because it takes into account his actions under other writers, and explains his change of heart.

Robin in that image looks like Damian, Batman is either Dick or Jason. Keep in mind, Didio's white-board had "Rockin' Robins" written on it. It's possible that both Damian and Tim will be running around calling themselves Robin during or after Batman RIP. Anyone else notice that Robin drops out of the crossover in July? Curious...

[Genki]

Is it me...or does that robin not look like Tim?

...:(

It looks a LOT like Damian.

[Robb Welch]

ever since the announcing of this storyline, I've assumed this was about the death of batman as an idea. As in an idea inside Bruce's head. Maybe he just... lets go and heals?

[Eric Haar]

"But, how could YOU be evil, Mr. Sinister?"

Something that has always struck me in a similar fashion is "Sinestro." Can't you just see the Guardians (maybe we will in Secret Origin?) saying, "Brothers, I cannot believe our great lantern Sinestro has turned evil!"

[Dynamite Kid]

ever since the announcing of this storyline, I've assumed this was about the death of batman as an idea. As in an idea inside Bruce's head. Maybe he just... lets go and heals?

See? This is what I don't get. I thought that after the events of Infinite Crisis and One Year Later, Batman was supposed to be more human. Not so much the brooding, dark, distrustful, SOB anymore. Maybe not a full blown campy Adam West but basically not so damn grim anymore. What the heck happened to that?????

[rorschach_42]

Looks amazing. I love the Ned Kelly reference!

http://nationaltreasures.nla.gov.au/xpf/sites/Treasures/media/glyph/items/nla.int-ex13-s2-item.jpg
Glad someone else got that. Early in the Batmen of Many Nations, the Dark Ranger made a reference to his 'Ned Kelly headgear' in pertinence to his helmet. Given that he is Australian, his villain having a similar helmet is a great idea.

[bungi43]

You guys have missed the obvious.

Bart Allen comes back from the dead and takes Robin with him in the speed force. They come back, and Robin is in his 20's (just like Bart). Robin then finds Damian, slaps him around a notch or two, and says "you are going to be Robin and like it...AND...no leggings for you...only briefs and robin hood shoes"

Then Jason Todd will show up and put the smack down on Tim Drake just because he can.

I can't believe none of you guys have put 2 and 2 together. Pure Craziness.

[Kolimar]

That's one freaky bunch of characters. :D

[Happyhatter]

I hate these minor known villains that keep popping up all of a sudden.

I say it's about time someone came up with new villians for Batman... How many times does he have to fight The Joker???

That's one thing I love about Grant Morrison, he's not afraid to experiment and think out the box. Batman seems to be going to France... I love Batman OUTSIDE of Gotham(reason why I love his JLA/Outsiders adventures)...

Can't wait for R.I.P.

[Ken B.]

This looks like it will be a better tokyo drift than Final Crisis, really. Count me in.

But if this screws up with just how mind-boggling awesome Nightwing has become under Tomassi, I will fly up to the DC offices and punch someone in the face. Because Nightwing is the best book published right now. You cannot argue that. No one can.

[Happyhatter]

The Mime = my new favorite rogue

[Happyhatter]

But if this screws up with just how mind-boggling awesome Nightwing has become under Tomassi, I will fly up to the DC offices and punch someone in the face. Because Nightwing is the best book published right now. You cannot argue that. No one can.

Quoted for Truth

[Robb Welch]

See? This is what I don't get. I thought that after the events of Infinite Crisis and One Year Later, Batman was supposed to be more human. Not so much the brooding, dark, distrustful, SOB anymore. Maybe not a full blown campy Adam West but basically not so damn grim anymore. What the heck happened to that?????
I'm not sure how healing and moving on from emotional scarring makes you a brooding sob......

[DCKnight]

No offense but that idea sounds horrible. Tim Drake is a teenager! Will they change the name to Bat-teen or Bat-boy? As much as I like Drake, I find it highly unlikely that DC will place a teenage boy in the role of BatMAN.

two words: BATMAN BEYOND... teenage batman has been done before, and based off the success of that show, it can be done successfully

[DCKnight]

double post

[ziza9]

two words: BATMAN BEYOND... teenage batman has been done before, and based off the success of that show, it can be done successfully

Two completely different mediums with slightly different fanbases. What was successful in one does not mean automatic success for a similar idea in another medium. There are more crossover fans comic to cartoon - wise than the other way around. Same with movies. I know a few people who loved the Batman Beyond cartoon who couldn't be less intersted in picking up a comic.

[MrToady12]

two words: BATMAN BEYOND... teenage batman has been done before, and based off the success of that show, it can be done successfully

Terry McGinnis was a 16yr old wearing an ADULT sized high-tec batsuit. That's why he was convincing - everyone thought it was an adult Batman. Batman Beyond was a totally new version of Batman in a futuristic environment. It was successful for a short period (52 episodes in all) but hardly as enduring or popular as the Bruce Wayne version

That's a lot different than a 5" 5" teenage boy running around in a skintight spandex costume with a boy sidekick only a few years younger than him. There is absolutely NO WAY Tim Drake could convince anyone that he was Batman, let alone intimidate anyone. He would be a laughing stock.

I like my Batman to have at least gone through puberty before striking fear into the hearts of criminals everywhere.

But like I said before... I doubt Morrison is going to go this way as replacing the hero with another has been done so much it's getting old and repetitive.

Cheers :)

[purecorkboy]

No offense but that idea sounds horrible. Tim Drake is a teenager! Will they change the name to Bat-teen or Bat-boy? As much as I like Drake, I find it highly unlikely that DC will place a teenage boy in the role of BatMAN. How intimidating is a Bat-Boy who is only 5"3" - 5"5? Has his voce even broken yet?

If anyone takes over the role (I find it unlikely that Morrison would go down such a well traveled path) it would have to be Dick Grayson... at least he's an adult. Damian taking on the role of Robin - that I can possibly see.


Hes been 16 for a decade isn't it about time he was aged. Drake needs aging and so do the other older titans in the current teen titans. As for batman I'm picking the book up for the first time with this story so I hope it lives up to promise

[gwangung]

...is as bad as Dr. Hugo Strange.

Also...Steve Englehart's run on Batman mixed obscure villains with icons.

[Paul Rogan]

Huh? Hugo Strange was one of Batman's greatest foes during the late 70's. :confused:

Those Englehart/Rogers issues of Detective where he defeated Bruce and took over his identity as Batman were nothing short of magnificent. And damn creepy.

[Eric Haar]

I think that Gwangung is just saying that the name "Dr. Hurt" is as no more unusual than the name "Dr. Hugo Strange."