TITLE: Batman Incorporated Issue #9
YEAR: May 2013
COMPANY: DC Comics
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Chris Burnham
Colorist: Nathan Fairbairn
Assistant Editor: Darren Shan
Group Editor: Mike Marts
Batman is created by Bob Kane
“Batman Incorporated” was another DC Comic Batman title which focused on Bruce Wayne returning (after being presumed dead) and wanting to take the war on crime to the next level by franchising and drafting, training and commanding a global team of heroes known as Batman Incorporated.
Written by Grant Morrison, the first series focused on Bruce Wayne sporting a new costume, while Dick Grayson was still as Batman. The first series lasted for eight issues plus a one-shot.
But it was the second series that would shock fans as Batman and Damian must deal with Talia planning to take over Gotham and her network of Leviathan agents are working to make it happen throughout the city.
Damian has a bounty on his head and with Leviathian invading Gotham City, Damian takes on Talia’s bodyguard, the Heretic. And literally gets stabbed with Heretic’s sword, killing him.
Needless to say, the killing of the latest Robin received a lot of backlash and support. Backlash for the fact that in a “Batman” issue, a young boy was murdered savagely. Something you just don’t see in a comic book.
While others felt it was part of Batman’s world and literally bad things happen, and with the new direction of comics going more darker and skewing to an older demographic, it was acceptable.
Whether or not you supported Damian Wayne’s initial death (which is not much a spoiler, as the character today is very much alive), suffice to say, Grant Morrison wrote one hell of an bold story arc.
As Batman tries to fight the Heretic, things don’t go so well. Even Nightwing tries to help Batman out and that doesn’t go well.
And as the story flip flops from the fight against Heretic and the funeral of Damian Wayne, needless to say, this was one of those stories where you see Bruce Wayne at his worst and even going so far to show his anger towards his most closest confidant, Alfred (who Bruce was upset about Alfred letting Damian out of the cave).
You then get the political side of the story as Batman Incorporated is considered by the Mayor of Gotham as Provocative Capitalist Imperialism and anything branded with Batman Incorporated is banned from the streets and Batman is no longer welcome in Gotham.
Suffice to say, nothing looks good for Bruce and the members of Batman Incorporated.
And it no doubt made this volume exciting and entertaining to read. But for those who despised the violence that comics were now headed, felt DC Comics may have went too far.