Comic Books: November 2008 Archives

I just don't get Batman R.I.P. at all.  I'm probably too old, too dense.  I love Grant Morrison, but this is just way over or under my head.  I've read Timothy Callahan's annotations on Batman 681 and it still does not make sense.  Still no clue about who the Big-Bad Black Glove / Dr. Hurt really was; clearly it was not Thomas Wayne.  It was not Tim Drake (Robin) or whatever that rumor was.

I'm really disappointed in how both this story and Final Crisis has been executed.  I liked how Morrison handled Batman in JLA, and his first arc with Kubert that introduced his son Damian was terrific.  But after that, things really fell apart quickly for me.  Although I will never forget what a "Bat-Radia" device is from now on.  I also don't grok how Final Crisis works with Batman R.I.P., does this story take place after FC?

It's pretty clear that we're going to have a period of time where Dick Grayson takes on the role as Batman, while Damian takes over as Robin.  I'm psyched about this change, because it seemed to me that Bruce Wayne is pretty dammed near invincible--he even makes alternate personalities in his contingency plans.  I think having Dick finally become Batman and putting up with Damian's recklessness should be a real hoot.

What happens to Tim Drake?  That's the real question.  I can see why Chuck Dixon was so pissed that he quit working for DC.  I bet he had two years worth of plans for Tim that were thrown out the window by this change of events.

Such a change likely won't last more than a year or two, given DC's track record with Kyle Rayner, Wally West, and Connor Hawke.  Nuff said.