EDITOR'S NOTE: This review contains what many would view as
SPOILERS, FYI. -
Jett
As I’ve probably mentioned previously, I have a love/hate relationship with all of this “Batman Reborn” stuff. For the most part, the stories have been really good. Regardless, I still can’t get past the stunt aspect of the real Dark Knight being “dead” and Dick Grayson donning the cape and cowl as the “new” Batman. That’s all water under the bridge now, so on with the review…
Grant Morrison’s BATMAN AND ROBIN starts a new 3-part story arc with issue #7 titled “Blackest Knight.” In regards to the previous two, while Morrison hit a homerun with the first one, the second story arc was average at best. But based on what I read here in issue #7 -- which is subtitled “Pearly and the Pit” -- it’s looking like we might just have another winner on our hands.
Basically, this ish’s story revolves around Dick Grayson’s attempt to resurrect the “dead body” of Bruce Wayne. This is Batman and the DCU, so how do you think he plans to do that? Well, with a Lazarus Pit of course. The only thing is that there’s only one left on the Earth and it’s somewhere over in England.
I know this is comic book time and all, but why didn’t he think of using a Lazarus pit right after he was F’n Omega Sanctioned? Anyway…
While abroad the Dick-Batman recruits Knight and Squire (England’s version of Batman and Robin) to help out. Batwoman’s assisting as well, though I never quite got exactly why she’s needed. Talia also appears in this issue, mainly to tend to the severe injuries Damien incurred in issue #6. Plus, she is the daughter of Ra's Al Ghul and the Lazarus Pit is a Ra's thing.
Though I prefer Batman being “Batman” exclusively in Gotham City, I’ll admit it was rather cool seeing him do his thing over in England against English super villains. Morrison does a nice job here -- especially setting up and explaining this “British DCU.”
The only problem I had was this strange dialogue balloon goof-up during an exchange between the Dick-Batman and Batwoman. I first thought it was simply more bizarre Morrison shenanigans, and was like, "WTF is this all about?" Just a mistake on part of the editors, not Morrison and the creative team.
Speaking of the creative team, the best aspect of this issue for me was Cameron Stewart’s art -- it’s simply fabulous and fits the story and this comic book perfectly. Great stuff here and MUCH better than what we got in B&R’s second arc.
Just like his run on BATMAN, Morrison is being vague in regards to peripheral events, all the while planting the seeds of things to come. As weird things seem to be at times, it does appear that there IS a purpose to all this stuff.
While I don’t necessarily agree with all that’s been done to Bruce Wayne (in particular, the events of FINAL CRISIS #6), I am definitely interested in seeing where all of this ends up. Speaking of that…
I figure that the “where all of this ends up” that most are interested in (like me) is the inevitable return of Bruce Wayne. Based the events of B&R #7 (especially the end of the issue and next month's teaser), it certainly looks as if we’re getting close.
Or are we?
