With Final Crisis done and dusted, we can finally get onto the second phase of Grant Morrison’s Batman run. So, Bruce Wayne is dead. Well, technically he is stuck in caveman times doing sweet FA, but virtually everyone else thinks he’s dead because Superman recovered a corpse. Regardless, to the people of modern-day Earth, he’s dead. Yet, Bruce Wayne may be dead, but not Batman. Morrison’s epic Batman RIP story, as the title suggested, showed that Batman cannot die, and that message continues throughout Morrison’s run. In the aftermath of a non-eventful and entirely lacklustre miniseries by Tony Daniel (yes, written by him as well), Battle for the Cowl, it is Dick Grayson who emerges as the new Batman! While the main two Batman titles depict Dick’s Batman on his usual Dark Knight adventures, Morrison’s own title, Batman and Robin, continues his run and a familiar young face emerges as Robin.
Damian Wayne, with his appetite for rudeness and crudeness far from diminished, tags along as a new Dynamic Duo debut on the streets of Gotham…
Batman and Robin (vol 1) 1-6 was published from August 2009 to January 2010. The stories were written by Grant Morrison with art by Frank Quitely, Phillip Tan, and Jonathan Glapion. I’ve read the issues in the Batman Reborn hardcover.
Batman Reborn --- Written by Grant Morrison with art by Frank Quitely
As we enter this new era, we’re thrown straight into the action. On the streets of Gotham, the villainous Mr Toad makes his escape after a failed drug deal, but he proves no match for the new Batmobile, piloted as always by Batman and Robin. Dick, a far more relaxed and calm Batman, teaches Damian the ropes of crimefighting as the two capture Mr Toad and find that he has only received a suitcase full of dominoes for his drug dealing. Dick then interrogates Mr Toad, holding him blindfolded off a large building. But, when Mr Toad reveals all, he knows, Dick drops him, and Mr Toad only falls about two feet onto the roof. While Dick has been Batman previously, Morrison’s take on him gives us a new Batman and ultimately, a more likable one. Dick is like a big brother. He has fun while being Batman. Effectively, it’s just Nightwing in a Batman suit and that’s a great change after years of moody Bruce Wayne. Including Damian is also genius since the two of them have very different characters. Clearly, there isn’t a huge bond between the two at the start, but in Damian’s strange sort of way, he comes to like Dick and the two of them feature as the most enjoyable aspect of Morrison’s Batman and Robin run. Anyway, Dick heads back to the Batcave where Alfred packs away all of Bruce’s belongings. Alfred continues to act like the father figure here, but this time Dick gives him a bit more time than Bruce did. He acts as the wise old man figure. The operations of the Dark Knight have now moved to a penthouse suite and its underground secret base. Again, a refreshing change. While Batman and Robin head out to meet Commissioner Gordon, the GCPD is attacked by a flaming villain who burns people to death and nearby, a crook trying to escape Gotham is found by a pig-masked foe and his Dollotron minions. As they melt a doll’s mask onto his face, the villain approaches his daughter and does the same to her. This is Professor Pyg, one of several villains who Damian brutally murdered in the dystopian Batman 666. He really was a character that couldn’t be forgotten as there was so much potential and it’s because of this story that he ranks highly as a modern classic Batman villain. At the same time, Batman and Robin confront the flaming man, who is revealed to be part of the Circus of Strange (a group affiliated to Mr Toad). Together, Batman and Robin fight against the clowns, but the whole operations turn out to be a disaster as not only is Damian as violent as ever, but four cops are killed, and Mr Toad is mysteriously killed. It’s here where we see that Dick’s Batman is still very new and Damian effectively leaves him because of the failed operation. Dick realises that he doesn’t have the same authority which Bruce had, nor the same respect. He believes that he can never replace Bruce as Batman and that he should give it up. However, the Dark Knight needs to act now as Damian, very clumsily, is captured by Professor Pyg and his Dollotrons. Saw that one coming. With the third and final part, we begin to see Dick in his element as Batman. He resorts to tough interrogation as he questions the flaming man, discovering that he and the rest of the Circus were simply Pyg’s foot-soldiers. Meanwhile, the villain himself reveals to Damian that he is simply an unseen genius who wants to bring out the best of people using his odd methods to improve (continued)
the world. How does this work? It doesn’t since his name is Lazlo Valentin and he uses narcotics to brainwash people into becoming his Dollotrons. He’s definitely the most twisted villain that Morrison ever created, but in many ways the most interesting for his unpredictability and uniqueness. Pyg’s pretentious speech gives Damian the time to break free and Batman arrives just in time for the two of them to take out the villains together. While Pyg is arrested by the cops, Batman finds an antidote for the villain’s narcotic that spreads like flu, and he gives it to Gordon for safe keeping. Batman also finds another domino. The mystery continues, but we’re not at the end yet as Pyg’s melted masks on his Dollotrons take off the person’s face bloodily and the Dynamic Duo take care of some unfinished business by taking out Le Bossu, one of the Black Glove members. And finally, we’re given a great introduction to the next story as Sasha, the daughter turned Dollotron captured by Pyg, is found by not just the police, but then another vigilante searching for a partner. He is the Red Hood. Before we get onto that story, I have to say that Batman Reborn offers a great introduction to the run and Morrison delivers a story that is both entertaining, but also chilling. Professor Pyg proves to be a great villain and its clear that Morrison will be using him again. There’s some great development for Dick’s Batman and it’s interesting to see how the relationship between Dick and Damian changes. Overall, the concise length of the story means that it’s never dull and with the great plot and characters, Batman Reborn is simply a flawless start.
Frank Quitely has often been a collaborator with Grant Morrison and since they both possess such unique styles of storytelling, the two of them work very well together. Quitely’s style is unique in that characters don’t look overly muscular. If anything, Batman looks like he’s two hunger strike days away from anorexia. Where he really shines is when the Dollotrons feature, as they’re made to look very twisted and grotesque. Quitely’s inks may often be over-zealous or too detailed at times, but his very unique style of storytelling is where he really shines…
Story: 10/10
Art: 9/10
Revenge of the Red Hood --- Written by Grant Morrison with art by Phillip Tan and Jonathan Glapion
For those three people who are unaware, Jason Todd returned from the dead and Judd Winick wrote a great story, Under the Hood, where Todd became the Red Hood to basically unleash a more violent form of vigilantism on Gotham’s streets while also going after Batman. Here, that same narrative continues as Batman and Robin hunt
down a villain in the Batmobile, but the enemy is found by the Red Hood and Sasha (now calling herself Scarlet) and brutally murdered. This is the third Red Hood killing of the week. This story depicts the fight between Batman and the Red Hood to be much more personal and if you’ve read Tony Daniel’s Battle for the Cowl, you’ll understand why. Jason Todd thought that he himself was the best person to take over the reigns of Batman, but Dick thought otherwise and beat him to it. But before we carry on with that, Dick and Damian have an appointment with luxury as at a billionaire’s party, Damian is introduced as Bruce Wayne’s son, and he gets all the women after him (despite being only 10 years old). Nearby, Dick Grayson meets a masked man called Oberon Sexton. Ignoring his hilarious and clearly fake name, along with the fact that he wears black clothing and a mask 24/7, Dick learns that they has a mutual interest in crime. But, before we can get more into that, Dick has to leave. Elsewhere, an alternative relationship to the one formed by Batman and Robin emerges as the Red Hood acts as a brother-figure to Scarlet. She didn’t feature much in the previous story, but her vengeance against Pyg continues. Jason and Scarlet have similar backgrounds when it comes to what made them the way they are. It gives Jason Todd a new and different story to feature. Yes, he still hates Batman, but now he’s got a Robin of his own. Meanwhile, Batman and Robin watch the Penguin meet with the other gangsters of Gotham to discuss organised crime, but yet again, the Red Hood and Scarlet intervene and brutally murder everyone in the room (apart from the Penguin of course, who escapes). With that, Batman and Robin confront the duo and a fight begins, but the Red Hood and his sidekick vanish. While Damian recognises Scarlet from the previous story, Batman finds another domino and captures the Penguin for the police. Meanwhile, Gotham seems to be pretty relaxed about the Red Hood’s exploits as he continues his murdering spree, with Sexton giving his views on the mental state of vigilantes. Perhaps I would take him seriously were it not for his bizarre name. That and the fact that he’s clearly a villain in disguise, but that won’t be revealed for a while. Throughout the story, Jason Todd is shown basically grooming Sasha into believing that only his form of “justice” works best, but she continues to worry about Pyg. Speaking of Pyg, why don’t the two of them just go straight after him. Instead of waiting for him to be released or escape (far far more likely), why don’t they take the battle straight to him? Regardless, Batman faces yet another problem as a cannibal villain by the name of Flamingo was caught eating the faces of several women. It suddenly dawns on him that the Red Hood is going after the same villain and Batman and Robin arrive just in time to stop the Red Hood and Scarlet killing him. However, that gives Flamingo himself the time to dress up and frighten Gotham’s heroes with his… pink motorcycle, pink mask, and pink clothing. To quote Damian, “I was expecting scary, not gay”. The third part commences with a bizarre hostage triangle as while Batman and Robin are held captive by the Red Hood and Scarlet, they themselves are held hostage by Flamingo. At the same time, the Red Hood is using his captives as stars of a television game and it’s for the public to decide whether Batman and Robin shall die. As you’d expect, Batman and Robin break free to confront Flamingo, but the villain shoots Damian. Using their brutal way of justice, the Red Hood and Scarlet fight Flamingo and the villain is seemingly killed when he is thrown to his death from a crane. In their final moments before the cops arrive, Batman offers to help the Red Hood in a scene that reminds me of the end of the Killing Joke. But Jason admits that he could never be Dick’s replacement as Robin and that his death in Death in the Family proved that. In the end, the Red Hood is arrested, and Morrison (continued)
leaves us with a nice ending as Scarlet drives away, leaving Gotham as she removes her face mask. But elsewhere, Oberon Sexton is sent a secret message by an El Penitente. He knows Oberon’s secret. He has some unfinished scores to settle. And somewhere else, Dick Grayson opens a sealed vault with the words “Zur-En-Arrh” to view of the corpse of his old master. He comes up with a plan. The Revenge of the Red Hood is another good addition to Morrison’s run, but one which leaves a few things unanswered. For instance, why didn’t the Red Hood and Scarlet go after Pyg? That would have made more sense for the overall story, particularly as Scarlet was tortured by him. I also think that Flamingo, while he was a villain that worked because of his twistedness, he should have featured earlier as he appears too late. Apart from that, the idea of a vigilante civil war of sorts is very good and the mystery behind Oberon Sexton is very intriguing. Just who is he? And who is this El Penitente? We shall have to wait and see…
Although Quitely leaves the title after only just three issues, Phillip Tan and Jonathan Glapion do a very good job in telling a dark story. It may lack some of the more unique storytelling from the previous issues, but it still looks impressive and unlike many other modern artists, interesting. The inks may sometimes give the story a rather ugly appearance but overall, it’s very good.
Story: 9/10
Art: 8/10
VERDICT
Overall, Batman Reborn offers the best stories in Morrison’s lengthy Batman run. Because of the different characters as Batman and Robin, it gives the stories a completely new feel and it’s great how the partnership between Dick and Damian changes and it develops throughout the stories. The Batman Reborn story is an absolutely brilliant introduction with a great villain and while Revenge of the Red Hood may have a few problems, it’s an intriguing and dramatic story that contributes to the development of both Dick Grayson’s Batman and the overarching theme in Morrison’s run that Batman will never die…
Stories: 9.5/10
Art: 8.5/10
Next Week: Batman Vs Robin (Batman and Robin (vol 1) 7-12. Written by Grant Morrison with art by Cameron Stewart, Andy Clarke, and Scott Hanna.
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