Batman R.I.P.

[CrimsonDeath]

I want to know what is going on, but to Kill Batman right before the movie comes out? does not seem smart, same reason I feel Iron Man is not a Skrull...

No matter what really happens Bruce Wayne will always be Batman in the main continuity. They may replace him with Azrael, then with Nightwing, then he may go away for a little while, but Bruce is DC's cash cow.
Let's enjoy this story if it's any good.

 

[David Rice]

It's not so much that it was bad, rather it was just meandering and became Hush's Gotham Knights title. Well, I guess that made it bad. No clear direction or plan with purpose of end perpetrated by Hush, and every other very capable and competent character was made to look really incompetent to make Hush look cool.
Dini just can't do worse than that.

True.

 

[Nepenthes]

Who would people prefer to see in the batsuit? In terms of an interesting story or whether you just think they 'deserve it'? I'd say for Jason Todd but I don't think Morrison has much interest in that character, Tim is most likely judging from the way he's been making appearances so far.

I can only think of two reasons Batman would give up. A) Bruce realises he's been playing into the Black Glove's hands all along, a guy who's been there "since before the beginning" and basically made Bruce a pawn in his game, or b) Bruce realises he has not actually accomplished as much as he thought he had. He might have saved the world a few times but Superman or a "proper hero" could have done it without bringing so much chaos and misery to Gotham as he has done.

Issue 666 is a symbolic portent of what Batman means for the future of the city - his own flesh and blood will have to sacrifice his soul to redeem the destuctive legacy of the Batman (represented by the Third Man), or else the city will liteally burn in hell. Sins of Father, maybe Thomas Wayne plays a role too. Morrison hinted at the big villan having mind contol - what if Joe Chill was under influence to kill the Waynes? Probably not. But you never know, Morrison did raise him again in a recent issue.....

After R.I.P. Bruce might try to step back and work on the bigger picture of what causes crime and inequality, leaving his apprentices to squabble over who gets to beat up the muggers and freaks. I always thought that was a major angle on Batman to be explored - he's wasted his potential on pajama games and locking up a revolving-door circus of freaks when he could have used his intelligence and resources to literally bring in a new age of peace worldwide. All these musing are faily obvious though; if you can think of it, Morrison probably won't be doing it.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Uh...Joker was beating up the first of the 3 fake Batman there...I thought that was obvious.

I think he meant more in the realms of a symbolic "full circle" thing rather than literally going back to that moment.

However, all the same, we won't see The Joker actually kill Batman.

 

[The Guard]

I really think Dick Grayson taking on the Batsuit again would be "It's been done". Tim Drake took on the role in YOUNG JUSTICE: SINS OF YOUTH and the effect was interesting. What's going on with Cassandra Cain these days?

 

[lixdexia]

I really think Dick Grayson taking on the Batsuit again would be "It's been done". Tim Drake took on the role in YOUNG JUSTICE: SINS OF YOUTH and the effect was interesting. What's going on with Cassandra Cain these days?

tims also worn it twice in the future titans stories and has sworn off ever becoming batman...

 

[hippie_hunter]

From what I've read so far from Scans Daily this looks like a very cool issue. I think Morrison is doing a fantastic job on how the obsessive Batman persona can easily overtake Batman and Bruce's true personality.

No matter how many times Bruce has placed Batman as the mask persona and had his true persona be the man inbetween Bruce Wayne and Batman (with Bruce Wayne: Fugitive after the events of Bruce Wayne: Murderer and with 52 after the events of Infinite Crisis), the obsessive Batman persona just keeps comming back and getting worse. That's what I feel what Batman RIP will be the death of the obsessive Batman persona so that it won't come back once again.

 

[GrendelPrime32]

anybody else get any ideas what's up as a result of bat's conversation w/ joker in this universe 0 special? i think i have a few ideas...

 

[ryche]

Well I do remember one issue of Superman/Batman that had Lex said that Batman should becareful cause he's becoming Lex's new favorite...that's one of my theories as to who all is part of this.

There was also part in the Killing Joke (new released version that I have) that has a little skit about a guy who'll snipe the Batman....but I think the census of the fans is he'll go insane, not die...

 

[BubbaGump]

There was also part in the Killing Joke (new released version that I have) that has a little skit about a guy who'll snipe the Batman...

Umm...no. That was an out of continuity story for Batman Black and White.

Anyway, I think everyone's overlooking Batman #666 and dismissing it just because it's so far fetched, but I think 666 is the ending of RIP. Once again, just a theory. But Grant Morrison's run has been so ****ing crazy, anything's possible. Damian was obviously brought into the mythos for something.

There's Batman dead, lying in the street (cause unknown). Damian takes the mantle. And there's the new suit everyone's been dying to see.

 

[ryche]

Yeah but Damian doesn't seem to want to kill his father ATM...or at least that's how it seemed in the newest Batman issue. He doesn't seem to be rebelling is what I mean and his mom seems to be going along with him on this. They'll also have to grow him up quick to replace Bruce if that's the case anyway. Perhaps in a far future? Instead of Terry it's Damian who's BB..

 

[tigerknight]

I think he meant more in the realms of a symbolic "full circle" thing rather than literally going back to that moment.

However, all the same, we won't see The Joker actually kill Batman.

I beg to differ, Joker killed Batman and became emperor. It was in a superman comic three part that at the end batmite resurrected batman.

 

[GrendelPrime32]

i think mr j was trying to tell bats some fairly simple stuff and bats misunderstood his intent, with the whole 'if i was afraid...tell them to...' speech- umm, for anyone watching the news over the last several years, a chill had to go down their spine on that famous line, and since it appears mr morrison hasn't exactly not been watching the news (from his interviews), i wonder how accidental the reference, or possible quote was, and what if anything that implies...
of course with morrison comes self doubt about whether you're reading too much into what's there or not enough...
and when i say simple, i mean it's protracted little sequence, he seems to really try and spell something out to bats out of pity almost, Knowing that he'd miss the point- the line about 'I don't know whether to laugh or cry...' it's cryptic, but there's 2 or maybe a few ways the next thing that follows can be taken, although it's Quite clear that Bubbagump's just stumbled over One of them (goodlookinout,man, forgot about that panel, although i'd considered that possibility amongst the few, although i didn't get the impression from the panel that little d was the one who killed him- Maybe failed to save him, froze like bruce did as a kid watching His parents get gunned down, makes for symmetry...hmm)- few other ways joker's statement/action could be taken's all- or i'm up too late after a long day at work- that's Entirely possible too-
but then, i'm also wondering what about that little splash at the end of the sequence- how's that happen? more of the same from the prose/spittle vein? or did he just outsmile his stitches?

oh and when i get my scanner workin, i'm gonna put bolland's back page Joker Origin from the countdown series up in the fave J pix forum- stumbled across the ish for a buck, bought it for j todd on the cover and got That as a nice little bonus at the end- Nice work, BB! and i wonder how that plays into some of the other rumors too about RIP (there was a weird little bit at the end of the 2 page spread, possibly no big deal, but possibly a clue...especially with all this time travel stuff, but who knows what anymore...i Do know i'm on third tho stealin home)

 

[BubbaGump]

I never said Damian killed Bruce, but from #666, it would appear that he does become Batman.

 

[Dirt Like Me]

I never said Damian killed Bruce, but from #666, it would appear that he does become Batman.

But, don't forget that in Issue 666 Damian says that he knows he won't be as good of a Batman as his father or Dick Grayson, so he specialized in cheating. So while Damian might become Batman in the future, that suggests to me that Dick would take over first.

Plus, aren't Damian and Tim just too young for the role right now?

 

[BubbaGump]

Damian pumps himself with growth hormones. He IS genetically engineered...

 

[Kaizer]

But, don't forget that in Issue 666 Damian says that he knows he won't be as good of a Batman as his father or Dick Grayson, so he specialized in cheating. So while Damian might become Batman in the future, that suggests to me that Dick would take over first.

Plus, aren't Damian and Tim just too young for the role right now?

I think he's saying he won't be as good as Bruce or Grayson, not necessarily Grayson as Batman, but Grayson in general.

 

[FCEEVIPER]

Guys, when it's all said and done, Bruce will be Batman and Batman will be Bruce.

 

[SpideyForPrez]

So... which Batman title is all this going down in? And is it worth buying and picking up? I've decided to drop ASM recently and may replace it with Batman. But is Batman continuity just as contraversial as Spider-Man's? I just want some cool stories.

 

[David Rice]

So... which Batman title is all this going down in? And is it worth buying and picking up? I've decided to drop ASM recently and may replace it with Batman. But is Batman continuity just as contraversial as Spider-Man's? I just want some cool stories.

It's happening in Batman.

 

[lixdexia]

But, don't forget that in Issue 666 Damian says that he knows he won't be as good of a Batman as his father or Dick Grayson, so he specialized in cheating. So while Damian might become Batman in the future, that suggests to me that Dick would take over first.

Plus, aren't Damian and Tim just too young for the role right now?

damian? yeah, but he was genetically altered before, what's to say he can't be hyper aged as well? as for tim? he's around 19 or so i think, so i could potentially see him as batman.

and bruce speciallizes in cheating too...it's kinda his thing

Guys, when it's all said and done, Bruce will be Batman and Batman will be Bruce.

the way they work the multiverse right now, i'm not so sure that's true...this could all be on earth-bananas and bruce could very well die

 

[Kraven]

So... which Batman title is all this going down in? And is it worth buying and picking up? I've decided to drop ASM recently and may replace it with Batman. But is Batman continuity just as contraversial as Spider-Man's? I just want some cool stories.

As someone has already said, it is going down in the Batman title, although the other titles such as Detective and Robin will either tie-in or make references to the R.I.P. story. I'd say it's very much worth buying, but I wouldn't jump into it without looking into the other stuff Morrison's done in the title. This sounds like it'll be the payoff of what his run has been building to somewhat, so the story might not make much sense if you jump in blindly. On the last note, I don't think anybody's continuity could be as controversial as Spider-Man's right now.

 

[baerrtt]

From what I've read so far from Scans Daily this looks like a very cool issue. I think Morrison is doing a fantastic job on how the obsessive Batman persona can easily overtake Batman and Bruce's true personality.

No matter how many times Bruce has placed Batman as the mask persona and had his true persona be the man inbetween Bruce Wayne and Batman (with Bruce Wayne: Fugitive after the events of Bruce Wayne: Murderer and with 52 after the events of Infinite Crisis), the obsessive Batman persona just keeps comming back and getting worse. That's what I feel what Batman RIP will be the death of the obsessive Batman persona so that it won't come back once again.

True I feel that this will be the death of the Batman we've known for 20 years or so. By making all stories in past eras/decades a canon part of the modern Batman (especially the silly stuff) in preparation for the RIP storyline Morrison wants us to fully understand why the obssessive persona (for all the great stories it's given us) is ultimately not fitting of a hero.

 

[BubbaGump]

So... which Batman title is all this going down in? And is it worth buying and picking up? I've decided to drop ASM recently and may replace it with Batman. But is Batman continuity just as contraversial as Spider-Man's? I just want some cool stories.

We all do.

That's exactly what's wrong with comics today. Endless crossovers with civil wars, exploding multiverses, and tie-ins and spinoffs, etc. etc.

They're not cool stories, no matter what the publishers say. They're simply nauseous.

 

[Mutagen]

Umm...no. That was an out of continuity story for Batman Black and White.

Anyway, I think everyone's overlooking Batman #666 and dismissing it just because it's so far fetched, but I think 666 is the ending of RIP. Once again, just a theory. But Grant Morrison's run has been so ****ing crazy, anything's possible. Damian was obviously brought into the mythos for something.

There's Batman dead, lying in the street (cause unknown). Damian takes the mantle. And there's the new suit everyone's been dying to see.

I don't like that costume