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There have been detractors to the Batman R.I.P. storyline who said that Grant Morrison would not be able to make any far reaching changes to the Batman mythos. There were others who said that Morrison’s storytelling was too convoluted and confusing to ever make any sense. This issue proves that both groups were wrong.
While it’s certainly true that any new reader to Batman will be hopelessly lost trying to read this issue, or any issue of Batman R.I.P. for that matter, Morrison uses this issue to explain what he’s been writing. A lot of the most confusing aspects of Batman R.I.P. grew out of the fact that characters were reacting to something from the past, but the true nature of what it was and why they were reacting the way they were was hidden. I don’t know if Morrison wanted to confuse everyone for the sake of later showing how it all fits together, but he has finally taken the time to expose the truth and it truly seems like Batman will never be the same.
Let it be known that Morrison still has more tricks up his sleeve, but in this issue he takes the time to explain why Batman is now wearing a red and purple version of his suit, talking to inanimate objects, hanging out with Bat-Mite (yes, that Bat-Mite), and going to the violent extreme with villains. We finally see Jezebel Jet and Alfred again, and Commissioner Gordon makes his way to Wayne Manor.
The Joker returns too.
With as much as this issue gives away, I feel like I should not spoil it for anyone. Even if you are just now getting around to reading the first issue of R.I.P., you can be confident that it will make a lot more sense once you get to this issue.
The only downside to this issue is the artwork. I don’t know if Tony Daniel has been rushed or if inker Sandu Florea is to blame, but the characters look somewhat inconsistent throughout the book. The anatomy and perspective fail at times, though the storytelling and layout is still very sound. I’ve been impressed that these issues have been coming out as quickly as they have, and perhaps this is the price to pay for it.
Problems with the artwork aside, this is a very good issue and well worth checking out. The Black Glove may still have some secrets left to reveal (could Bruce Wayne’s long dead father have returned from the grave?) but we now have a clearer picture of what has been going on for the last few months and it only whets the appetite for more.