Review: Batman R.I.P.

Quick Summary

Pros: The main storyline is thrilling and works as a conclusion to previous stories. The entire volume helps build excitement for future stories. Batman is well written and works well as the collection’s subject. The artwork looks great.

Cons: Many of the volume’s subplots feel superfluous, rather than adding to the overall narrative.

Overall: This book is an instant classic and remains so to this day. The collection takes Batman through the ringer, pushing him to his limits and showing his capabilities as a hero. The conflict is exciting, the conclusions are worthwhile, and the hints at the future are tantalizing. Plus, the artwork only serves to make everything even better. Put simply, no Batman fan should miss out on reading this volume.

Story

Batman: R.I.P., by Grant Morrison, is an awesome continuation to Grant Morrison’s Batman saga. This volume takes everything fun and exciting about the previous volume and moves it to the next chapter, providing epic conclusions to some storylines and teasing future success with others. The entire experience, minus a few subplots, is fun and engaging. In addition, most of the collection provides an interesting examination into Batman, one that is not afraid to dive into the weird or even psychotic aspects of his character. For Batman fans, this collection has a lot to offer.

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The majority of Batman R.I.P. is focused on concluding many of the storylines that were set up in Batman and Son (Review). It has Doctor Hurt launch a mental attack on Batman, Joker break free of Arkham, and Jezebel Jet betray Bruce. All this opposition pushes Batman near death on more than one occasion but he is able to rise above each time. In the end, the seemingly insurmountable odds here make Batman’s ultimate victory even sweeter.

While all of this action and suspense is taking place, the collection continues the exploration into Batman’s crimefighting technique. In most places, it shows how amazing he is. This is a man who mentally prepared a backup personality in case of a psychological attack and who is able to literally dig himself out of his own grave. However, in other places, it shows how broken he is. This is a man who nearly drove himself mad trying to understand the mind of a psychopath and who’s dedication to his mission isolates him from those around him. The writing throughout this comic makes it clear that Grant Morrison has a great understanding of how Batman’s brain works.

In addition, Batman R.I.P. also leaves a lot of material open for the future. Doctor Hurt’s disappearance, rather than death, along with the hidden information he claims to possess, makes for a tantalizing reason to return to this series. In addition, the return of Talia and Damian hints at their larger role in future storylines.

My only problem with this narrative is that most of the subplots are disappointing. The opening chapters tease Tim Drake, Commissioner Gordon, and the International Club of Heroes’ importance to the fight against Doctor Hurt. However, in the end, they all have a much smaller role than was initially teased. It feels like they could have been completely left out of the story with almost no negative repercussions.

This volume’s final two chapters are a tie-in to Final Crisis. They have Batman experiencing a variety of hallucinations and memories as his mind is probed by Darkseid’s forces, who are attempting to use Batman as a template for their future soldiers.

These two final chapters are amazing glimpses into Batman as a character. They look at who he is, where he came from, and what he could have been. Readers have a chance to see him in a ton of new situations over a relatively small number of pages. Batman’s triumph over his captors is also one more testament to his prowess as a hero. Finally, these two chapters also work as a fantastic prelude for what happens in Final Crisis, which is essentially the continuation of this story.

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Art

The artwork in Batman R.I.P. looks great from the very beginning. Tony S. Daniel’s work is detailed and realistic, making it feel like the characters and actions in this volume have additional weight to them. This helps make a serious comic feel even more dramatic. I particularly enjoyed Daniel’s work on the buildings in Gotham, with views of Arkham Asylum, Wayne Manor, and the city’s skyline being specifically impressive.

Then, the volume closes with two chapters from Lee Garbett. Though the artwork here is not as immediately impressive, it works with the subject material of these chapters. Garbett is able to produce art that reflects on Batman over time, with creative takes on elements from his past or completely new elements. In general, the artwork here looks good all around and is a noticeable asset to the collection.

Continuity

Batman: R.I.P. continues the story from Batman and Son (Review).

The Batman R.I.P. storyline ties in to other storylines. These include:

• Final Crisis: The final two chapters of Batman R.I.P. are tie-ins to the Final Crisis event. These tie-in chapters occur after Final Crisis #2 and before Final Crisis #5.

The story here continues in Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?

This volume also references other comic books, detailed below:

• The Zur-En-Arrh phrases and the Bat-Radia are a reference to Batman #113.
• Batman underwent the Thörgal Ordeal back in 52 #47, collected in 52 Volume 2.
• Batman’s hallucinations about Robin’s death and his statements about participating in an isolation experiment are clear references to Batman #156.
• Batman #678 starts by showing The Rainbow Creature, from Batman #134.
• Batman #678 also shows scenes from Batman #153.
• Batman #682 makes a number of references to Batman’s history. This includes:
  • His origins from Batman #1, collected in Batman: The Golden Age Vol. 1 and Batman: Year One.
  • His Golden Age relationship with Julie Madison. Julie was his fiancé from Detective Comics #31 to Detective Comics #49.
  • Commissioner Gordon and Bruce Wayne’s conversation about a man named “Rogers” is a reference to the events of Detective Comics #27, collected in Batman: The Golden Age Vol. 1.
  • The origins of Dick Grayson were originally detailed in Detective Comics #38, collected in Batman: The Golden Age Vol. 1. 
  • Robin’s worries about a potential marriage between Batman and Batwoman are a reference to a number of imaginary tales based on this concept, with the most prominent being Batman #122.
  • Dick Grayson became Nightwing in Tales of the Teen Titans #44, collected in New Teen Titans Vol. 7.
  • Alfred “died” in Detective Comics Vol. 1 #328 and was brought back in Detective Comics #356.
  • Alfred’s reference to an imaginary story about a world without Batman may be a reference to “The Second Life of Batman” from Batman #127.
• Batman #683 also references a number of aspects from Batman’s history. This includes:
  • The death of Jason Todd from Batman #427, part of the Batman: A Death in the Family story arc.
  • The Joker’s attack on Barbara Gordon from Batman: The Killing Joke.
  • Tim Drake’s discovery of Batman’s identity, revealed in Batman #442, collected in Batman: A Death in the Family.
  • The breaking of Batman’s back from the Batman: Knightfall arc.
  • The rise of Jean-Paul Valley as a new Batman in the Batman: Knightquest arc.
  • The near destruction of Gotham City, which started in Batman: Cataclysm and continued on through Batman: No Man’s Land.
  • The death of Tim Drake’s father from Identity Crisis #5, part of the Identity Crisis event.