Comic Book Spotlight: Batman Incorporated

Believe the hype. 

The other day I posted some background information for this new (relaunch) volume of Grant Morrison's "Batman Incorporated" and I finally had a chance to read it and it does not disappoint. It carries over the same sleek and fluid storytelling from the first volume. You won't have to pick up last year's original volume now available and collected in a hardcover edition (but I would recommend it) to immerse yourself in this #1 issue. 

Briefly, all you need to know is that since Batman came back from the dead he realizes he has friends to help administer his kind justice all over the world and begins to franchise his brand. An evil organization called Leviathan is run by Batman's baby momma, Talia al Ghul, who is not pleased that their love child, Damian Wayne is his sidekick, Robin. A woman scorned will sometimes put out a contract on her estranged son as Talia has done here. This brings assassins from all over to Gotham looking to bag the petulant child. 

The book opens up with Bruce Wayne being arrested then flash backs a month to Batman and Robin chasing a culprit through a bloody meat processing plant, we meet a desperate hit man, we see a creepy dinner party held by Leviathan, we meet some of the Batman Inc. operatives briefly, then work our way to another exciting chase that leads to an unexpected cliff hanger. The book is full of information, juggles different perspectives, has some humor in the exchanges between smart alecky son, Damian and daddy Batman, all of which transitions seamlessly. It feels like a much longer book than it actually it is. 

Morrison's  dialogue is pitch-perfect. Some writers like to over-write sometimes but Morrison says so much with less. He moves the story along and the action is gritty and reminds me of a lighter version of Quentin Tarantino with some of the bloodier scenes infused with some humor. The beautiful artwork is by Chris Burnham with great detail and color (Nathan Fairbairn) in each panel. Probably Burnham's greatest achievement is rendering the looks of expression on the characters. As concise as an artist as Morrison is as a writer. So much is expressed in his detailed drawings. 

I don't know where 'Batman Incorporated' sits in the continuity of the new DC universe but if you want a fun and actually exciting title you can't go wrong with this one.