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Batman (1940-2011) #655–658, 663–666
Batman and Son
Comic legends Grant Morrison (ALL STAR SUPERMAN, SEVEN SOLDIERS) and Andy Kubert (Ultimate X-Men, 1602) join forces to bring you an unforgettable tale of the Dark Knight.
After Batman faces down an army of winged horrors in a no-holds barred, bone-crunching superbrawl among the treasures of London's Pop Art Museum, Batman receives the greatest shock of his life when he discovers that he has a son. Sparks fly when the new addition to the Bat-family is introduced to Batman's adopted son, Robin, the Boy Wonder. Which one will be chosen to carry on the legacy as Gotham's protector?
Collecting BATMAN #655-658 and #663-666.
199 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
85 people are currently reading
12492 people want to read
About the author
Grant Morrison
1,791 books4,564 followersGrant Morrison has been working with DC Comics for twenty five years, after beginning their American comics career with acclaimed runs on ANIMAL MAN and DOOM PATROL. Since then they have written such best-selling series as JLA, BATMAN and New X-Men, as well as such creator-owned works as THE INVISIBLES, SEAGUY, THE FILTH, WE3 and JOE THE BARBARIAN. In addition to expanding the DC Universe through titles ranging from the Eisner Award-winning SEVEN SOLDIERS and ALL-STAR SUPERMAN to the reality-shattering epic of FINAL CRISIS, they have also reinvented the worlds of the Dark Knight Detective in BATMAN AND ROBIN and BATMAN, INCORPORATED and the Man of Steel in The New 52 ACTION COMICS.
In their secret identity, Morrison is a "counterculture" spokesperson, a musician, an award-winning playwright and a chaos magician. They are also the author of the New York Times bestseller Supergods, a groundbreaking psycho-historic mapping of the superhero as a cultural organism. They divide their time between their homes in Los Angeles and Scotland.
In their secret identity, Morrison is a "counterculture" spokesperson, a musician, an award-winning playwright and a chaos magician. They are also the author of the New York Times bestseller Supergods, a groundbreaking psycho-historic mapping of the superhero as a cultural organism. They divide their time between their homes in Los Angeles and Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 487 reviews
September 30, 2014
Batman has a son and it's something of a surprise as to how and when it happened unless you've been collecting Batman comics for decades (see spoilers below and yeah it's no suprise Grant Morrison mined this one). His son, Damian, is a little squirt who has been taught by “evil” yet capable assassins and the like so he goes trying to help his father and while there why not eliminate a Bat sibling or two?
Meanwhile, Batman before and after said event above is advised by Alfred to maintain his playboy image as Bruce Wayne so off he goes to Europe to do his part and wouldn't you know it but man-bat ninjas are assaulting the party. Were they trying for some symbolism here? Heh. Oh, he also gets to start a relationship with model turned princess-dictator of a foreign country superstar Jezebel Jet. Definitely notice the name and she'll be a recurring character for a time.
Look for the Bane wanna be.
In the middle there is an abrupt stop and we get a short story dealing with Batman and the Joker and a smidgen of artwork. I skipped this one as I wasn't in the mood for a short story. I read those separately from graphic novels thank you very much.
There's a “last chapter” bit which forwards into the future as Damian as the new Batman in an overcoat but with a more lethal edge (he doesn't mind guns) somewhat allied with Commissioner Barbara Gordon as they take out the evil Batman (who is dressed at Batman and if you follow the Bat Family you shouldn't be surprised it's probably Jason Todd).
This tale is before “Batman R.I.P.” which was before “Infinite Crisis”. Clue trails are in each of the books but unless you're a Batman pro you won't spot some of them and I daresay that most of the pros won't spot all of them because Morrison knows how to mine and twist old Batman stories.
Written by Grant Morrison and artwork by Andy Kubert. Artwork was well done with proper panel spacing and emotional close ups that were not over the top. Well colored so kudos to Guy Major and Dave Stewart for their contributions. And I'm going to mention letterer Jared K. Fletcher (in case he's reading this) as I'm getting familiar with the names and I see him a lot in the credits.
ARTWORK PRESENTATION: B to B plus; CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: B to B plus; STORY/PLOTTING/PANELS: B; BATMAN MYTHOLOGY (something new): A minus;
ACTION SCENES: B to B plus; OVERALL GRADE: B to B plus; WHEN READ: mid to late December 2012.
Meanwhile, Batman before and after said event above is advised by Alfred to maintain his playboy image as Bruce Wayne so off he goes to Europe to do his part and wouldn't you know it but man-bat ninjas are assaulting the party. Were they trying for some symbolism here? Heh. Oh, he also gets to start a relationship with model turned princess-dictator of a foreign country superstar Jezebel Jet. Definitely notice the name and she'll be a recurring character for a time.
Look for the Bane wanna be.
In the middle there is an abrupt stop and we get a short story dealing with Batman and the Joker and a smidgen of artwork. I skipped this one as I wasn't in the mood for a short story. I read those separately from graphic novels thank you very much.
There's a “last chapter” bit which forwards into the future as Damian as the new Batman in an overcoat but with a more lethal edge (he doesn't mind guns) somewhat allied with Commissioner Barbara Gordon as they take out the evil Batman (who is dressed at Batman and if you follow the Bat Family you shouldn't be surprised it's probably Jason Todd).
This tale is before “Batman R.I.P.” which was before “Infinite Crisis”. Clue trails are in each of the books but unless you're a Batman pro you won't spot some of them and I daresay that most of the pros won't spot all of them because Morrison knows how to mine and twist old Batman stories.
Written by Grant Morrison and artwork by Andy Kubert. Artwork was well done with proper panel spacing and emotional close ups that were not over the top. Well colored so kudos to Guy Major and Dave Stewart for their contributions. And I'm going to mention letterer Jared K. Fletcher (in case he's reading this) as I'm getting familiar with the names and I see him a lot in the credits.
ARTWORK PRESENTATION: B to B plus; CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: B to B plus; STORY/PLOTTING/PANELS: B; BATMAN MYTHOLOGY (something new): A minus;
ACTION SCENES: B to B plus; OVERALL GRADE: B to B plus; WHEN READ: mid to late December 2012.
June 21, 2017
Grant Morrison's epic run on Batman has ended with
Batman Incorporated
; so what better time to start the series than with the book that kicked it all off:
Batman and Son.
Batman discovers he has a son - Damian - following a druggy one-night stand years ago with Talia Al-Ghul who stole his DNA and combined it with hers to grow Damian in a lab. Jezebel Jet is introduced as Bruce's love interest, Joker pops up for his usual Joker shenanigans, and the book ends with a grown-up Damian in the future, now the Batman of Gotham City.
I loved reading Batman and Son; it is a fun and rewarding read. Morrison provided a lot of clues as to the direction the R.I.P. Series in Batman Black Casebook . For example, notice the graffiti featured in the background of the first issue - Zur-En-Arrh – a clue from The Black Casebook . It really shows the extensive planning and effort Morrison puts into his work.
The opening sequence set in London is a brilliant start.
Damian's character evolution is brilliant; we’re given hints of where this he’s going and it is fascinating and complex character Morrison has written.
Morrison also begins experimenting with style immediately in this first book. I love that he doesn't even give the readers a grace period and starts playing with form and implementing his years-long story right off the bat (pun intended). Morrison impresses with his long-game approach to Batman – in reading this you know great things are to come.
Batman and Son is such a solid start to a legendary run that holds up all these years later. Batman and Son is an outstanding Batman book that fans will love. And now we know that Alfred reads Artemis Fowl too; how cool is that?
My final thought on Batman and Son ? It rules!
Batman discovers he has a son - Damian - following a druggy one-night stand years ago with Talia Al-Ghul who stole his DNA and combined it with hers to grow Damian in a lab. Jezebel Jet is introduced as Bruce's love interest, Joker pops up for his usual Joker shenanigans, and the book ends with a grown-up Damian in the future, now the Batman of Gotham City.
I loved reading Batman and Son; it is a fun and rewarding read. Morrison provided a lot of clues as to the direction the R.I.P. Series in Batman Black Casebook . For example, notice the graffiti featured in the background of the first issue - Zur-En-Arrh – a clue from The Black Casebook . It really shows the extensive planning and effort Morrison puts into his work.
The opening sequence set in London is a brilliant start.
Damian's character evolution is brilliant; we’re given hints of where this he’s going and it is fascinating and complex character Morrison has written.
Morrison also begins experimenting with style immediately in this first book. I love that he doesn't even give the readers a grace period and starts playing with form and implementing his years-long story right off the bat (pun intended). Morrison impresses with his long-game approach to Batman – in reading this you know great things are to come.
Batman and Son is such a solid start to a legendary run that holds up all these years later. Batman and Son is an outstanding Batman book that fans will love. And now we know that Alfred reads Artemis Fowl too; how cool is that?
My final thought on Batman and Son ? It rules!
December 2, 2010
I expect any story written by Morrison to be dark, and this is one lived up to my expectations. Good stuff.
I'm not giving it five stars because I absolutely hated the chapters in the middle of the book. It always annoys me when I pick up a graphic novel only to discover that the writer has decided, at some point in the story, to leave out the graphic part. Sorry, it's just a personal peeve of mine.
I'm not giving it five stars because I absolutely hated the chapters in the middle of the book. It always annoys me when I pick up a graphic novel only to discover that the writer has decided, at some point in the story, to leave out the graphic part. Sorry, it's just a personal peeve of mine.
July 7, 2011
In the middle of a story involving man-bat ninjas, among other things, Ra's Al Ghul's daughter dumps a ten year old brat off at the Batcave, saying he's Batman's son. Damian, raised by the League of Assassins, shakes things up immediately and raises the ire of Robin. Who will emerge as Batman's heir?
I swore I reviewed this when I read it but apparently I didn't. Morrison picks up a plot thread left over from the twenty year old Son of the Demon story and runs with it. Damian, Batman's alleged offspring, is a colossal prick and provides a nice contrast to the usual Batman and Robin relationship. Overall, I liked the story but it wasn't a masterpiece. The most memorable part for me was the Man-Bat ninja's and Damian decapitating the main villain. The future story where Damian is Batman was kind of pointless being that it will immediately be invalidated when Morrison stops writing Batman. In all likelihood, so will Damian's place as Batman's son, for that matter.
Not a bad read but pretty pricey in hardcover. It's a must read for people that are fans of Morrison's run with Dick Grayson as Batman and Damian Wayne as Robin.
I swore I reviewed this when I read it but apparently I didn't. Morrison picks up a plot thread left over from the twenty year old Son of the Demon story and runs with it. Damian, Batman's alleged offspring, is a colossal prick and provides a nice contrast to the usual Batman and Robin relationship. Overall, I liked the story but it wasn't a masterpiece. The most memorable part for me was the Man-Bat ninja's and Damian decapitating the main villain. The future story where Damian is Batman was kind of pointless being that it will immediately be invalidated when Morrison stops writing Batman. In all likelihood, so will Damian's place as Batman's son, for that matter.
Not a bad read but pretty pricey in hardcover. It's a must read for people that are fans of Morrison's run with Dick Grayson as Batman and Damian Wayne as Robin.
August 28, 2023
I have read twenty-something Batman graphic novels, and this is easily the least accessible of the entire lot. My inner monologue while reading was something like this:
Wait, the Joker just killed Batman on the first page? That is... oh wait, he isn't dead... Huh, Batman just shot the Joker in the face with a handgun. But he doesn't use... Wait, he isn't the real Batman? Weird... Okay, we are moving on from the cold open, let's see if we can follow it better from here... Okay, Bruce Wayne is leaving Gotham, and now there are dozens of Man Bat Ninjas attacking a foreign art gallery Wayne is attending... Sent by the League of Assassins' Talia al Ghul to help introduce their love child to Batman? Okay, I thought Son of the Demon was non-canonical... Wait, now Batman is taking the kid to the Batcave and leaving him unattended? That is clearly not a good idea... What is this, an issue filled with prose of an unrelated Joker story? Man I would be pissed if I bought this single issue... And we're back to a comic, and back to the fake Batman... Oh, three fake Batmen, and one is getting Man Bat serum and Venom serum? This is getting rather convoluted, and they haven't cleared up what is going on with Damian yet... Wait, now we are in the future and Damian is Batman? WTF, we haven't resolved any of these other plot threads yet... And we are back, but Damian is gone again, and now we are in some sort of hybrid Watchmen/And Then There Were None mash-up with Batman and the International Club of Heroes, where the Black Glove is trying to kill them all... Is this related to the Black Casebook? No matter, it's over and we are back... To a weird hallucination/vision of Joe Chill... And now we meet Dr. Hurt, who engineered the three fake Batmen, this is starting to make some sense, except there is really no resolution on Damian considering this was titled "Batman and Son"... and now it's to be continued in Batman RIP, oh hell no.
Yeah, I get that in some ways this is groundbreaking, and appreciate how incredibly meta the whole thing is — like Ulysses for Batman die-hards — tying in things together from decades of Bat-lore, regardless of accepted canon, but as a cohesive collection of comics, it makes almost no sense whatsoever. The Joker parts had nothing to do with the Damian/Talia parts, which had nothing to do with the Black Glove, which had nothing to do with Dr. Hurt and the three ghosts of Batman — and only the last of these plot threads was in any way resolved. This collection is more Batman deconstruction, or Dark Knight doctoral thesis, than it is a compelling and well told graphic novel.
I don't think it is a coincidence that my all-time least favorite Batman story is Batman: Arkham Asylum - A Serious House on Serious Earth, also by Grant Morrison.
Wait, the Joker just killed Batman on the first page? That is... oh wait, he isn't dead... Huh, Batman just shot the Joker in the face with a handgun. But he doesn't use... Wait, he isn't the real Batman? Weird... Okay, we are moving on from the cold open, let's see if we can follow it better from here... Okay, Bruce Wayne is leaving Gotham, and now there are dozens of Man Bat Ninjas attacking a foreign art gallery Wayne is attending... Sent by the League of Assassins' Talia al Ghul to help introduce their love child to Batman? Okay, I thought Son of the Demon was non-canonical... Wait, now Batman is taking the kid to the Batcave and leaving him unattended? That is clearly not a good idea... What is this, an issue filled with prose of an unrelated Joker story? Man I would be pissed if I bought this single issue... And we're back to a comic, and back to the fake Batman... Oh, three fake Batmen, and one is getting Man Bat serum and Venom serum? This is getting rather convoluted, and they haven't cleared up what is going on with Damian yet... Wait, now we are in the future and Damian is Batman? WTF, we haven't resolved any of these other plot threads yet... And we are back, but Damian is gone again, and now we are in some sort of hybrid Watchmen/And Then There Were None mash-up with Batman and the International Club of Heroes, where the Black Glove is trying to kill them all... Is this related to the Black Casebook? No matter, it's over and we are back... To a weird hallucination/vision of Joe Chill... And now we meet Dr. Hurt, who engineered the three fake Batmen, this is starting to make some sense, except there is really no resolution on Damian considering this was titled "Batman and Son"... and now it's to be continued in Batman RIP, oh hell no.
Yeah, I get that in some ways this is groundbreaking, and appreciate how incredibly meta the whole thing is — like Ulysses for Batman die-hards — tying in things together from decades of Bat-lore, regardless of accepted canon, but as a cohesive collection of comics, it makes almost no sense whatsoever. The Joker parts had nothing to do with the Damian/Talia parts, which had nothing to do with the Black Glove, which had nothing to do with Dr. Hurt and the three ghosts of Batman — and only the last of these plot threads was in any way resolved. This collection is more Batman deconstruction, or Dark Knight doctoral thesis, than it is a compelling and well told graphic novel.
I don't think it is a coincidence that my all-time least favorite Batman story is Batman: Arkham Asylum - A Serious House on Serious Earth, also by Grant Morrison.
July 6, 2022
This was so good omg!
We start with the intro of Damian as he meets Batman "I imagined you'd be Taller, father" that was such an iconic line and then we see what Talias plans are regrading man-bats and how she intends to do something with a politician and so its upto Batman to stop the plans of his beloved and thus the battle begins and also raising Damian sort of and stopping him and what he does to Alfred and Tim is Brutal and we see how dangerous and different he is and that presents such a different challenge to him and I freaking love it!
Seeing Bruce handle Damian and the challenges of it was awesome and then seeing his love life with Jezebel Jet was cool too and there's a prose story with Joker which was a long read lol but fun and then next we see Batman trying to stop some hulking figure whose kidnapping girls and well sort of drugging them and maybe cops are mixed upto and Bruce and Tim stopping him and that was fine I guess.. also mentions of the Black casebook which was so cool!
Then a vision of Batman 666 of Damian as Batman in Bethelem fighting the villains there and Barabara hunting him, omg that was cool. We see the brutality of how he is as Batman and I love it, a dark future indeed!
Plus the art was great again and this gotta be one of the best Batman volumes easily, its dark and gritty and out there but expands the myth of Batman so much in a better way! Definitely recommending it!
We start with the intro of Damian as he meets Batman "I imagined you'd be Taller, father" that was such an iconic line and then we see what Talias plans are regrading man-bats and how she intends to do something with a politician and so its upto Batman to stop the plans of his beloved and thus the battle begins and also raising Damian sort of and stopping him and what he does to Alfred and Tim is Brutal and we see how dangerous and different he is and that presents such a different challenge to him and I freaking love it!
Seeing Bruce handle Damian and the challenges of it was awesome and then seeing his love life with Jezebel Jet was cool too and there's a prose story with Joker which was a long read lol but fun and then next we see Batman trying to stop some hulking figure whose kidnapping girls and well sort of drugging them and maybe cops are mixed upto and Bruce and Tim stopping him and that was fine I guess.. also mentions of the Black casebook which was so cool!
Then a vision of Batman 666 of Damian as Batman in Bethelem fighting the villains there and Barabara hunting him, omg that was cool. We see the brutality of how he is as Batman and I love it, a dark future indeed!
Plus the art was great again and this gotta be one of the best Batman volumes easily, its dark and gritty and out there but expands the myth of Batman so much in a better way! Definitely recommending it!
August 19, 2017
Kubert's artworks were just great and loved how Morrison took back into Dark Knight's continuity the Son of the Demon storyline, but sometimes I just can't follow Morrison's writing, the Clown at Midnight prose story was ultra-boring for me, everybody seemed acting out of character for me (can't imagine Alfred reading Artemis Fowl, Bruce almost killing paparazzi throwing them off the sky, and Talia not calling him beloved), and totally missed the point of the final story with Damian future soulless Batman, probably retconned after the end of Morrison's run or some Crisis... at last it inspired DC animated movie Son of Batman screenplay by Joe Lansdale. Loved that flick!
August 30, 2013
Grant Morrison's epic 7-year run on Batman ended last month with the brilliant Batman Incorporated #13, so what better time to revisit the book that kicked it all off: Batman and Son?
Batman discovers he has a son - Damian - following a druggy one-night stand years ago with Talia Al-Ghul who stole his DNA and combined it with hers to grow Damian in a lab. Jezebel Jet is introduced as Bruce's love interest, Joker pops up for his usual Joker shenanigans, and the book ends with a grown-up Damian in the future, now the Batman of Gotham City.
I forgot how much I enjoyed this book the first time around, but knowing all that happens down the line makes re-reading Batman and Son all the more fun and rewarding. For example, I didn't notice the graffiti featured in the background of the first issue - Zur-En-Arrh - which is relevant because Batman becomes the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh in the Batman RIP arc, a couple of years after this issue came out. It really shows the extensive planning and effort Morrison puts into his work.
The opening sequence set in London is a brilliant start. Here Talia doses a number of her assassins with Kurt Langstrom's Manbat serum while Bruce is attending a pop art exhibition in the National Gallery and meets Jezebel Jet. The pop art exhibition is a masterstroke by Morrison as the pieces look like Roy Lichtenstein's work so you get captions like "WOW!" in the background art when Jezebel is introduced - looking amazing of course - or "POW!" when Batman is fighting the Manbats. It reads like an episode of Adam West Batman! Incredible.
Damian, once he's introduced to Bruce, is a very different character to the one most readers will have gotten used to in recent years. Initially, he's basically a stone cold psycho. He beats the crap out of both Tim and Alfred, and decapitates a D-list villain before his father appears to stop him. Damian's character evolution over the series is brilliant. That he learns with his time as Robin and changes his attitude to fit to a more honourable code like Batman's than the bloodthirsty and inhumane one that he was indoctrinated with by Talia and Ra's, makes him that much more of a complex and involving character to the reader. It's the fact that we've seen him change over the years which goes some way to explaining why the reaction to his death earlier this year elicited such a strong reaction among the fans. But seeing him here at the start of his journey is quite striking in his brutality.
Morrison also begins experimenting with style immediately in this first book. I love that he doesn't even give the readers a grace period and starts playing with form and implementing his years-long story right off the bat (no pun intended). We get a prose issue starring the Joker, that I will say was the weakest part of the book - there is a reason why Morrison is an acclaimed comic book writer than a novelist - and then the book closes out by jumping ahead 20 years to Damian as Batman operating in a nightmarish Gotham City that's gone to hell. Incredibly, this issue would receive a second part 6 years later with New 52 Batman Incorporated #5 (and Andy Kubert is working on a miniseries out later this year as well)! This is also the start of Morrison's Bat menagerie with Alfred the Cat making his first appearance. Once more, Morrison impresses with his long-game approach to Batman.
The Damian-as-Batman issue and the opening Manbat sequence in the art gallery were my favourite parts of the book but I enjoyed all of it really. It's such a solid start to a legendary run that holds up on re-reads as much as it does reading it for the first time. Batman and Son is an outstanding Batman book that every fan will love. And the fact that Alfred reads Artemis Fowl means I might just have to pick up one of those books now!
Morrison's Batman begins with this book - and it rules!
Batman discovers he has a son - Damian - following a druggy one-night stand years ago with Talia Al-Ghul who stole his DNA and combined it with hers to grow Damian in a lab. Jezebel Jet is introduced as Bruce's love interest, Joker pops up for his usual Joker shenanigans, and the book ends with a grown-up Damian in the future, now the Batman of Gotham City.
I forgot how much I enjoyed this book the first time around, but knowing all that happens down the line makes re-reading Batman and Son all the more fun and rewarding. For example, I didn't notice the graffiti featured in the background of the first issue - Zur-En-Arrh - which is relevant because Batman becomes the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh in the Batman RIP arc, a couple of years after this issue came out. It really shows the extensive planning and effort Morrison puts into his work.
The opening sequence set in London is a brilliant start. Here Talia doses a number of her assassins with Kurt Langstrom's Manbat serum while Bruce is attending a pop art exhibition in the National Gallery and meets Jezebel Jet. The pop art exhibition is a masterstroke by Morrison as the pieces look like Roy Lichtenstein's work so you get captions like "WOW!" in the background art when Jezebel is introduced - looking amazing of course - or "POW!" when Batman is fighting the Manbats. It reads like an episode of Adam West Batman! Incredible.
Damian, once he's introduced to Bruce, is a very different character to the one most readers will have gotten used to in recent years. Initially, he's basically a stone cold psycho. He beats the crap out of both Tim and Alfred, and decapitates a D-list villain before his father appears to stop him. Damian's character evolution over the series is brilliant. That he learns with his time as Robin and changes his attitude to fit to a more honourable code like Batman's than the bloodthirsty and inhumane one that he was indoctrinated with by Talia and Ra's, makes him that much more of a complex and involving character to the reader. It's the fact that we've seen him change over the years which goes some way to explaining why the reaction to his death earlier this year elicited such a strong reaction among the fans. But seeing him here at the start of his journey is quite striking in his brutality.
Morrison also begins experimenting with style immediately in this first book. I love that he doesn't even give the readers a grace period and starts playing with form and implementing his years-long story right off the bat (no pun intended). We get a prose issue starring the Joker, that I will say was the weakest part of the book - there is a reason why Morrison is an acclaimed comic book writer than a novelist - and then the book closes out by jumping ahead 20 years to Damian as Batman operating in a nightmarish Gotham City that's gone to hell. Incredibly, this issue would receive a second part 6 years later with New 52 Batman Incorporated #5 (and Andy Kubert is working on a miniseries out later this year as well)! This is also the start of Morrison's Bat menagerie with Alfred the Cat making his first appearance. Once more, Morrison impresses with his long-game approach to Batman.
The Damian-as-Batman issue and the opening Manbat sequence in the art gallery were my favourite parts of the book but I enjoyed all of it really. It's such a solid start to a legendary run that holds up on re-reads as much as it does reading it for the first time. Batman and Son is an outstanding Batman book that every fan will love. And the fact that Alfred reads Artemis Fowl means I might just have to pick up one of those books now!
Morrison's Batman begins with this book - and it rules!
January 7, 2008
Part of the joy in reading Grant Morrison's comics is the suspense in teetering on the line between genius and incomprehensible. This book logically follows up a very old, out of continuity story in which Batman has an affair with Ra's al Ghul's daughter Talia. Now, she had a prepubescent son with all the skill and drive of both his parents. Batman begrudgingly takes on his new ward/son, who instantaneously cramps his style.
All of this is a great story, but, much like his run on New X-Men, it runs off the rails at points. The last issue of this volume is (again, just like X-Men), a story set in the future (with Batman's son as the new Batman... I think) that doesn't make a lick of sense. So while most of the book is great, it does end, like most Morrison books, with you scratching your head.
All of this is a great story, but, much like his run on New X-Men, it runs off the rails at points. The last issue of this volume is (again, just like X-Men), a story set in the future (with Batman's son as the new Batman... I think) that doesn't make a lick of sense. So while most of the book is great, it does end, like most Morrison books, with you scratching your head.
June 28, 2017
REREAD: I'm rereading because every so often I realize that I never fully understood this insane series. Detailed, not really-a-review-spoilers follow.
--
2011: For the past few months I've been leering from the sidelines as some friends of mine have entered the world of comics via an all-girl comic book reading group. Aside from the nerdjoyment (new word, bookmark that) I have in spewing vitriol when they Just Don't Read the Right Comics, this experience has also had the side effect of making me examine the comics I read but don't feel the need to recommend to them...which of course must include (must) the latest Batman comics I'm reading.
Which leads me to Batman and Son, the first part of Grant Morrison's run on Batman, which has so far crossed through at least three (or four) different titles and about nine (or thirteen) trade paperbacks, with no end in sight. Grant Morrison has an interesting distinction in being, arguably, one of the most important and influential writers in comics today -- but people who don't read comics usually don't have any idea who he is.
Which is really crazy, because I think you could probably take the entire bodies of work of Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller and the other handful of writers people outside comics HAVE heard of, and they still wouldn't touch on all the corners of traditional superhero comics, seemingly unsalvageable non-superhero comics, mindbending creator-owned work and overarching comic universe restructuring that Grant Morrison has been a part of since the 1980s. He's pretty much done EVERYTHING, and if anything he does more of it with each passing month. And while everyone in comics and those who read comics are perfectly aware of this (the same way we are aware of, say, gravity, or maybe Elvis) I still don't think that any of my friends who've just started out in reading funnybooks would be able to pick his name out of a lineup.
And sadly, Batman and Son is not the sort of book that can really fix that anytime soon -- despite the fact that it's fascinating, and probably the hippest and most modern Bat-book to come around since Batman's last real heyday in the 80s.
The long-running problem of superhero comics -- well, one of many -- is that new readers often have to dig through decades of continuity and backstory in order to enjoy what's currently being released (which often isn't worth the trouble). Superhero books that end up breaking into the mainstream are often the ones that don't require a lot of catching-up on the part of the reader, and usually if a particular run on a series is being primed for crossover appeal, a lot of work is done to ensure that the story can stand alone.
Unless you're Grant Morrison, and you are in fact so freaking Elvis-like in your appeal within comicdom that you can write a book and ensure sales no matter what, and if everyone outside comicdom can't make heads or tails of what you've done, that's their problem.
Case in point: Batman and Son.
The nutshell (not that it matters: if you like comics you already know, and if you don't this won't make a lick of sense) is that back in the 80s, a Batman storyline led our hero into a strange encounter with Ra's Al Ghul (you know, Liam Neeson) and his daughter Talia, wherein Pop and Daughter Al Ghul demanded that Batman sleep with Talia and sire a child that would grow up to lead their League of Assassins in conquering the world.
And, in the culmination of a weird and overly sexy series of issues, Batman actually did it. He totally banged the shit out of her and left.
Despite the fact that this story (Son of the Demon) has been republished in a collected edition since then and prompted two sequels (Bride of the Demon and Birth of the Demon), at a certain point the entire narrative was declared non-canon, which is the nerd equivalent of sticking your fingers in your ears and singing "LALALALALA" anytime anyone brings it up. The rule was that it would Never Be Spoken Of Again.
Unless you're Grant Morrison, and you really don't give a shit about what you're told not to speak of, because you're Comic Book Elvis.
The breaking of this taboo is where Batman and Son starts -- except pretend you never read my little explanation, or the Batman Wikipedia page, or anything else. Because the craziest thing about Batman and Son is that it makes absolutely no effort whatsoever to get you up to speed. It just sort of Goes, demanding that you consume it not as text but as Metatext, finding your own reference guides and doing your own background work while it moves forward like a bullet train. And the odd thing is that this isn't a "fanboy" story, making in-jokes just for the sake of it or following up on decades-old characters and plots just to be amusing. Morrison is actually making a commentary here; it's all less geeky fan-fiction and more a freaking graduate thesis on Batman.
But the sad thing -- the real tragedy -- is that all that is only one reason that Batman and Son is a really interesting opening to a truly interesting series. If that were all that was here -- a Batman story for Batman academicians -- then shit, the rest of the world could leave the Bat-nerds to it and go about their business.
But the fact is that Morrison is also breaking into an entirely new level of sequential narrative, insisting that the reader follow at breakneck speed through jarring scene transitions and emblematic dialogue that is almost always 'Show' and very rarely 'Tell.' Brief exchanges between characters and single isolated frames representing larger action sequences work as a storytelling shorthand, covering large swathes of narrative in a few pages and requiring the reader to assemble the story between the panels on their own just to move forward. Morrison has figured out how to destroy unnecessary exposition in a medium that is plagued with it, and it's a thing to behold. This may just be a superhero comic -- but the style makes the initial read-through a brainbuster, while subsequent reads become richer and more textured as we fill in more of the blanks ourselves.
So it's well-researched, and it's smart. It's also hip. It's funny. It's cool. The first issue opens on the Joker screaming, "I finally killed Batman! In front of a bunch of vulnerable, disabled kids!"
And two seconds later, Batman sits up and shoots him in the face.
And then in the second issue, as giant sword-wielding mutant bats smash their way into an art gallery, Bruce Wayne pauses in thought. "Not Man-Bat," he thinks. "Man-Bats. Ninja Man-Bats. Alarming twist."
This all gets worked out soon after -- Batman does not start carrying a gun, and it turns out that even Ninja Man-Bats can't keep a good hero down -- but that doesn't matter. What matters is that that shit is funny and it is awesome, and Grant Morrison did it just to be Awesome in the way that makes you capitalize the word Awesome.
Which is sort of a lot of what Batman and Son is -- being too smart for your own good because that's Awesome, and bringing in taboo storylines just to be Awesome, and just generally rocking out with your everlovin' cock out. And despite the fact that self-awareness and Awesomeitude don't generally co-exist that well, there's still no denying that this is a modern and relevant superhero story, the kind of thing that makes the whole genre -- hell, the whole medium -- a little less embarrassing.
Which makes it a tragedy -- a real tragedy -- that absolutely no one who hadn't already planned to read it is ever going to pick it up on the fly and be able to get through it. Because in its analyzation of the fascinating impenetrability of superhero comics, Batman and Son manages to become one of the most fascinatingly impenetrable comics, period, to come out in recent years.
Which is not a real big deal for Batman or Grant Morrison; two entities that are way too huge to care whether or not You Get It.
But I care. And for what it's worth, it's a damn shame if you don't.
--
2011: For the past few months I've been leering from the sidelines as some friends of mine have entered the world of comics via an all-girl comic book reading group. Aside from the nerdjoyment (new word, bookmark that) I have in spewing vitriol when they Just Don't Read the Right Comics, this experience has also had the side effect of making me examine the comics I read but don't feel the need to recommend to them...which of course must include (must) the latest Batman comics I'm reading.
Which leads me to Batman and Son, the first part of Grant Morrison's run on Batman, which has so far crossed through at least three (or four) different titles and about nine (or thirteen) trade paperbacks, with no end in sight. Grant Morrison has an interesting distinction in being, arguably, one of the most important and influential writers in comics today -- but people who don't read comics usually don't have any idea who he is.
Which is really crazy, because I think you could probably take the entire bodies of work of Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller and the other handful of writers people outside comics HAVE heard of, and they still wouldn't touch on all the corners of traditional superhero comics, seemingly unsalvageable non-superhero comics, mindbending creator-owned work and overarching comic universe restructuring that Grant Morrison has been a part of since the 1980s. He's pretty much done EVERYTHING, and if anything he does more of it with each passing month. And while everyone in comics and those who read comics are perfectly aware of this (the same way we are aware of, say, gravity, or maybe Elvis) I still don't think that any of my friends who've just started out in reading funnybooks would be able to pick his name out of a lineup.
And sadly, Batman and Son is not the sort of book that can really fix that anytime soon -- despite the fact that it's fascinating, and probably the hippest and most modern Bat-book to come around since Batman's last real heyday in the 80s.
The long-running problem of superhero comics -- well, one of many -- is that new readers often have to dig through decades of continuity and backstory in order to enjoy what's currently being released (which often isn't worth the trouble). Superhero books that end up breaking into the mainstream are often the ones that don't require a lot of catching-up on the part of the reader, and usually if a particular run on a series is being primed for crossover appeal, a lot of work is done to ensure that the story can stand alone.
Unless you're Grant Morrison, and you are in fact so freaking Elvis-like in your appeal within comicdom that you can write a book and ensure sales no matter what, and if everyone outside comicdom can't make heads or tails of what you've done, that's their problem.
Case in point: Batman and Son.
The nutshell (not that it matters: if you like comics you already know, and if you don't this won't make a lick of sense) is that back in the 80s, a Batman storyline led our hero into a strange encounter with Ra's Al Ghul (you know, Liam Neeson) and his daughter Talia, wherein Pop and Daughter Al Ghul demanded that Batman sleep with Talia and sire a child that would grow up to lead their League of Assassins in conquering the world.
And, in the culmination of a weird and overly sexy series of issues, Batman actually did it. He totally banged the shit out of her and left.
Despite the fact that this story (Son of the Demon) has been republished in a collected edition since then and prompted two sequels (Bride of the Demon and Birth of the Demon), at a certain point the entire narrative was declared non-canon, which is the nerd equivalent of sticking your fingers in your ears and singing "LALALALALA" anytime anyone brings it up. The rule was that it would Never Be Spoken Of Again.
Unless you're Grant Morrison, and you really don't give a shit about what you're told not to speak of, because you're Comic Book Elvis.
The breaking of this taboo is where Batman and Son starts -- except pretend you never read my little explanation, or the Batman Wikipedia page, or anything else. Because the craziest thing about Batman and Son is that it makes absolutely no effort whatsoever to get you up to speed. It just sort of Goes, demanding that you consume it not as text but as Metatext, finding your own reference guides and doing your own background work while it moves forward like a bullet train. And the odd thing is that this isn't a "fanboy" story, making in-jokes just for the sake of it or following up on decades-old characters and plots just to be amusing. Morrison is actually making a commentary here; it's all less geeky fan-fiction and more a freaking graduate thesis on Batman.
But the sad thing -- the real tragedy -- is that all that is only one reason that Batman and Son is a really interesting opening to a truly interesting series. If that were all that was here -- a Batman story for Batman academicians -- then shit, the rest of the world could leave the Bat-nerds to it and go about their business.
But the fact is that Morrison is also breaking into an entirely new level of sequential narrative, insisting that the reader follow at breakneck speed through jarring scene transitions and emblematic dialogue that is almost always 'Show' and very rarely 'Tell.' Brief exchanges between characters and single isolated frames representing larger action sequences work as a storytelling shorthand, covering large swathes of narrative in a few pages and requiring the reader to assemble the story between the panels on their own just to move forward. Morrison has figured out how to destroy unnecessary exposition in a medium that is plagued with it, and it's a thing to behold. This may just be a superhero comic -- but the style makes the initial read-through a brainbuster, while subsequent reads become richer and more textured as we fill in more of the blanks ourselves.
So it's well-researched, and it's smart. It's also hip. It's funny. It's cool. The first issue opens on the Joker screaming, "I finally killed Batman! In front of a bunch of vulnerable, disabled kids!"
And two seconds later, Batman sits up and shoots him in the face.
And then in the second issue, as giant sword-wielding mutant bats smash their way into an art gallery, Bruce Wayne pauses in thought. "Not Man-Bat," he thinks. "Man-Bats. Ninja Man-Bats. Alarming twist."
This all gets worked out soon after -- Batman does not start carrying a gun, and it turns out that even Ninja Man-Bats can't keep a good hero down -- but that doesn't matter. What matters is that that shit is funny and it is awesome, and Grant Morrison did it just to be Awesome in the way that makes you capitalize the word Awesome.
Which is sort of a lot of what Batman and Son is -- being too smart for your own good because that's Awesome, and bringing in taboo storylines just to be Awesome, and just generally rocking out with your everlovin' cock out. And despite the fact that self-awareness and Awesomeitude don't generally co-exist that well, there's still no denying that this is a modern and relevant superhero story, the kind of thing that makes the whole genre -- hell, the whole medium -- a little less embarrassing.
Which makes it a tragedy -- a real tragedy -- that absolutely no one who hadn't already planned to read it is ever going to pick it up on the fly and be able to get through it. Because in its analyzation of the fascinating impenetrability of superhero comics, Batman and Son manages to become one of the most fascinatingly impenetrable comics, period, to come out in recent years.
Which is not a real big deal for Batman or Grant Morrison; two entities that are way too huge to care whether or not You Get It.
But I care. And for what it's worth, it's a damn shame if you don't.
November 6, 2020
This rating is in spite of Damian. I love Damian. This rating is not his fault.
Okay, so this book annoyed me so much that I had to review it. When I initially picked up Batman and Son, I actually thought I was going to like it. It got pretty good reviews, and despite everything, I kinda love Damian. Even though I knew going into it that Damian was going to be acting like a piece of hell-spawn, I was still curious to see his introduction and learn about his relationship to Batman. But despite that this book is called "Batman and Son" and is billed as Damian's introduction, I quickly discovered that it actually spends relatively little time on these topics. Instead, that story is swamped among other unrelated and frankly, less engaging plot lines that fail to tie into anything cohesive or even conclude satisfyingly by the end of the book.
Seriously, this thing was a bit of a mess. Let me elaborate:
And then things get worse. So. Much. Worse. Instead of continuing the momentum of Damian, Batman, and Talia's story, the action comes to a grinding halt and instead we get this crappy stand alone Joker story. It has a stronger relationship to Batman: The Killing Joke than it does to the book it actually appears in, has art that looks like bad video game graphics, and has more cringe-inducing similes than Selina Kyle has stray cats. Like...just don't read it. It's so bad. It's just some really, really awful prose, and it has almost nothing to do with the rest of the book.
After that hideous excuse for a short story, the book can't really seem to decide what road it wants to go down. Rather than picking up where it left off with Damian’s story, it instead meanders around from plot to plot. Should we talk about the false batmen? Corrupt cops? Batman's supernatural fever-dreams? Or maybe we should show Bruce and Jezebel going on dates. Or maybe we can have more panels of Talia being *jealous.* Actually, I'd like to take a minute to talk about just how incredibly angry Talia's portrayal in this book makes me. To be fair, I've not read many comics that feature her, so maybe this is par for the course, but it just infuriates me that we have this character who could be portrayed as strong, ruthlessly intelligent, and has the backing of an entire army of assassins to accomplish any scheme she wants, yet she spends all this time and energy being mad that Batman spurned her. Everything she does in this whole narrative is just to try and get Batman to like her. That's it! She comes across at best as a campy villain and at worse as an obsessed and delusional stalker, not an imposing opponent for Batman. Her entire motivation for this whole book is that she's a woman scorned.
It's disgusting to reduce her character to so little just for the sake of a plot line involving her and Batman's son, not to mention it's just sloppy and half-assed characterization.
Moving along to some other aspects of the book, I want to talk about this one particular scene during the first man-bat fight.
I’ll admit that at first I was totally into this scene. Bruce Wayne goes to this charity event exhibiting pop art, and it felt like it would serve as a clever way to be a little self-reflexive and also poke a bit of fun at the genre. I mean, check out this Warhol-esque portrait of Golden Age Wonder Woman, not to mention the painting hung below it that’s a clear call out to Superman comics. That’s fun.
I also quickly noticed that the pop art in the background was serving in-universe emanata, like in the picture of Alfred above, or as sound-effects, a la classic Batman and Adam West. The first two or three times, I thought it was kinda clever.
But then it just kept going…
And going…
And going.
You get the idea.
It started out fun, but honestly, it was a bit too on the nose for me. Not to mention, it got old, fast. (Also see the “BLAM!” picture for another one of Morrison’s many, many similes. That writer loves them some similes.)
So. Batman and Son. I won’t go so far as to say I hated this book, because I didn’t really. At first it was mostly just that god-awful Joker story that was pissing me off, but when I took the time to really think about the book, I realized that it’s pretty flawed, at least in my opinion. But that aside, I enjoyed some of the bits with Damian. I liked how we explore his character and what it says about him that he only knows how to react with violence and especially the situations he chooses to react to. His actions are definitely reprehensible (and it really bothers me that Batman doesn’t really do anything about it, but rather just appeases the demon child), but I still found it a very interesting reflection on his character that really, all his violent actions are done because he wants to prove himself, misguided as that may be. He’s bursting with potential and ready to begin coming into his own, and while I know a lot more happens with him in later books, I was disappointed that more doesn’t happen in this book. Yeah, yeah, I know. I’m greedy.
Mainly, I just didn’t think that these particular issues packaged in this particular way made a lot of sense–I know the way comics are packaged is messy and often not the most ideal format, but there it is. This book doesn’t really give you a cohesive arc, but rather the beginnings of several different plot threads, and although I know they’ll be built upon in later books, I’m just not very interested in most of them to bother reading all of Morrison’s run.
I was sorely disappointed by this book. Bad writing, sloppy plot, and too many stories that really just did not meld together at all. I love you, Dami, but not this much.
Okay, so this book annoyed me so much that I had to review it. When I initially picked up Batman and Son, I actually thought I was going to like it. It got pretty good reviews, and despite everything, I kinda love Damian. Even though I knew going into it that Damian was going to be acting like a piece of hell-spawn, I was still curious to see his introduction and learn about his relationship to Batman. But despite that this book is called "Batman and Son" and is billed as Damian's introduction, I quickly discovered that it actually spends relatively little time on these topics. Instead, that story is swamped among other unrelated and frankly, less engaging plot lines that fail to tie into anything cohesive or even conclude satisfyingly by the end of the book.
Seriously, this thing was a bit of a mess. Let me elaborate:
And then things get worse. So. Much. Worse. Instead of continuing the momentum of Damian, Batman, and Talia's story, the action comes to a grinding halt and instead we get this crappy stand alone Joker story. It has a stronger relationship to Batman: The Killing Joke than it does to the book it actually appears in, has art that looks like bad video game graphics, and has more cringe-inducing similes than Selina Kyle has stray cats. Like...just don't read it. It's so bad. It's just some really, really awful prose, and it has almost nothing to do with the rest of the book.
After that hideous excuse for a short story, the book can't really seem to decide what road it wants to go down. Rather than picking up where it left off with Damian’s story, it instead meanders around from plot to plot. Should we talk about the false batmen? Corrupt cops? Batman's supernatural fever-dreams? Or maybe we should show Bruce and Jezebel going on dates. Or maybe we can have more panels of Talia being *jealous.* Actually, I'd like to take a minute to talk about just how incredibly angry Talia's portrayal in this book makes me. To be fair, I've not read many comics that feature her, so maybe this is par for the course, but it just infuriates me that we have this character who could be portrayed as strong, ruthlessly intelligent, and has the backing of an entire army of assassins to accomplish any scheme she wants, yet she spends all this time and energy being mad that Batman spurned her. Everything she does in this whole narrative is just to try and get Batman to like her. That's it! She comes across at best as a campy villain and at worse as an obsessed and delusional stalker, not an imposing opponent for Batman. Her entire motivation for this whole book is that she's a woman scorned.
It's disgusting to reduce her character to so little just for the sake of a plot line involving her and Batman's son, not to mention it's just sloppy and half-assed characterization.
Moving along to some other aspects of the book, I want to talk about this one particular scene during the first man-bat fight.
I’ll admit that at first I was totally into this scene. Bruce Wayne goes to this charity event exhibiting pop art, and it felt like it would serve as a clever way to be a little self-reflexive and also poke a bit of fun at the genre. I mean, check out this Warhol-esque portrait of Golden Age Wonder Woman, not to mention the painting hung below it that’s a clear call out to Superman comics. That’s fun.
I also quickly noticed that the pop art in the background was serving in-universe emanata, like in the picture of Alfred above, or as sound-effects, a la classic Batman and Adam West. The first two or three times, I thought it was kinda clever.
But then it just kept going…
And going…
And going.
You get the idea.
It started out fun, but honestly, it was a bit too on the nose for me. Not to mention, it got old, fast. (Also see the “BLAM!” picture for another one of Morrison’s many, many similes. That writer loves them some similes.)
So. Batman and Son. I won’t go so far as to say I hated this book, because I didn’t really. At first it was mostly just that god-awful Joker story that was pissing me off, but when I took the time to really think about the book, I realized that it’s pretty flawed, at least in my opinion. But that aside, I enjoyed some of the bits with Damian. I liked how we explore his character and what it says about him that he only knows how to react with violence and especially the situations he chooses to react to. His actions are definitely reprehensible (and it really bothers me that Batman doesn’t really do anything about it, but rather just appeases the demon child), but I still found it a very interesting reflection on his character that really, all his violent actions are done because he wants to prove himself, misguided as that may be. He’s bursting with potential and ready to begin coming into his own, and while I know a lot more happens with him in later books, I was disappointed that more doesn’t happen in this book. Yeah, yeah, I know. I’m greedy.
Mainly, I just didn’t think that these particular issues packaged in this particular way made a lot of sense–I know the way comics are packaged is messy and often not the most ideal format, but there it is. This book doesn’t really give you a cohesive arc, but rather the beginnings of several different plot threads, and although I know they’ll be built upon in later books, I’m just not very interested in most of them to bother reading all of Morrison’s run.
I was sorely disappointed by this book. Bad writing, sloppy plot, and too many stories that really just did not meld together at all. I love you, Dami, but not this much.
December 28, 2014
I'm just lately diving deeply into the Batman comics, although I read them a long time ago, and I am a big fan of him as an iconic figure. To my surprise, I found out late last year that he had an actual son. Luckily, my library has a few of these books about Batman and his son, and this is one of them.
When Damian shows up, he's a fait accompli, and Batman has to deal with the pathology the boy has due to be raised to be an emotionless killer who believes he's destined to rule the world by Talia in the League of Assassins, and as the grandson of R'as al Ghul. The boy is already a killer and his moral compass is seriously skewed. Batman takes the boy under his wing, knowing that he's a loose cannon. Damian has a twisted daddy complex, and feels the need to prove himself to his father. He sees the current Robin, Tim Drake as competition, and deals with him brutally, as he also treats a somewhat harmless masked villain. It all adds up to one serious complication for Batman. But he knows he has a duty to his son.
Overall, I did like this, but I didn't like the prose story stuck in the middle of the graphic novel. To be honest, I stopped reading it. The gleeful brutality of the Joker grotesquely described by Grant Morrison's prose writing was stomach-churning. I had a sensitivity when it comes to that kind of subject matter, so I knew it was time to throw in the towel as the Joker begins his murderous rampage through Arkham. I really like the character of Harley Quinn (as she is portrayed in the Suicide Squad). While I know she's no innocent, it seems as though Joker brings out the very worse in her. Their relationship is the very definition of a toxic romantic relationship. I'm glad she later kicks him to the curve.
So the prose story brought down my rating a lot. Also, I felt the ending was too abrupt and a bit confusing. I think that one should try to figure out the chronology of the Damian Wayne story and have the next books handy after they read this.
When Damian shows up, he's a fait accompli, and Batman has to deal with the pathology the boy has due to be raised to be an emotionless killer who believes he's destined to rule the world by Talia in the League of Assassins, and as the grandson of R'as al Ghul. The boy is already a killer and his moral compass is seriously skewed. Batman takes the boy under his wing, knowing that he's a loose cannon. Damian has a twisted daddy complex, and feels the need to prove himself to his father. He sees the current Robin, Tim Drake as competition, and deals with him brutally, as he also treats a somewhat harmless masked villain. It all adds up to one serious complication for Batman. But he knows he has a duty to his son.
Overall, I did like this, but I didn't like the prose story stuck in the middle of the graphic novel. To be honest, I stopped reading it. The gleeful brutality of the Joker grotesquely described by Grant Morrison's prose writing was stomach-churning. I had a sensitivity when it comes to that kind of subject matter, so I knew it was time to throw in the towel as the Joker begins his murderous rampage through Arkham. I really like the character of Harley Quinn (as she is portrayed in the Suicide Squad). While I know she's no innocent, it seems as though Joker brings out the very worse in her. Their relationship is the very definition of a toxic romantic relationship. I'm glad she later kicks him to the curve.
So the prose story brought down my rating a lot. Also, I felt the ending was too abrupt and a bit confusing. I think that one should try to figure out the chronology of the Damian Wayne story and have the next books handy after they read this.
January 8, 2018
Batman and Son worked best when it was showing exactly what the title promises - Talia thrusts Damian into Bruce Wayne's life and it's like the proverbial pebble thrown into a pond. That, plus Batman concurrently working some investigations, was more than 80% of the content and it was really good. Less successful were the negligible short story text in the middle of the book, 'The Clown at Midnight,' and the final chapter 'Bethlehem,' which flash forwards several years to portray Damian now as Batman and Babs as the new Commissioner Gordon. Neither section fit well with the rest of the story-line, but are relatively minor quibbles.
November 24, 2019
Somewhat confusing but good.
December 15, 2022
This is the first volume of Grant Morrison's run. Not only that but it's also the first appearance of Damien!
I thought this was a great book. And if the rest of this run is anything near to as good as this was, I will be continuing. Talia is raging war on Gotham with new Man-Bats that she has created, and unleashing them out on Gotham. But she also brings her son Damien, where Bruce finds out that Damien is his son. Damien chooses to stay with Bruce in the Batcave, where of course chaos ensues.
About halfway through, Morrison starts smoking pot and decides to take the graphic out of graphic novel.
I absolutely hated this part. And it had nothing to do with the main story. It was just an odd story about Joker. So, yeah, aside from this, I really enjoyed it, and would highly recommend.
I thought this was a great book. And if the rest of this run is anything near to as good as this was, I will be continuing. Talia is raging war on Gotham with new Man-Bats that she has created, and unleashing them out on Gotham. But she also brings her son Damien, where Bruce finds out that Damien is his son. Damien chooses to stay with Bruce in the Batcave, where of course chaos ensues.
About halfway through, Morrison starts smoking pot and decides to take the graphic out of graphic novel.
I absolutely hated this part. And it had nothing to do with the main story. It was just an odd story about Joker. So, yeah, aside from this, I really enjoyed it, and would highly recommend.
November 10, 2023
This was great. I read this all the way back in 2015 and liked it but did not love it. This time with years and years of batman stuff now in my mind this was really fun and exciting. Damien is a great foil for Bruce, and Batman is actually pretty funny here. On top of that you get a jacked up bane in a bat suit who kicks the shit out of Bruce. Great times all around. The joker short novel-like story was a drag though.
September 1, 2021
Let's try this again.
So, I tried reading this over a year ago and couldn't get through the Batsy story that had nothing to do with Damian. Because he's the whole reason I picked this book up in the first place. I ended up selling the trade to Half Price because a year passed, I was still at 43% and I wasn't all that keen to pick this up again. So, this time, I skimmed the part that wasn't Damian centric: just being perfectly honest here.
Damian is why I read this book. I wanted to see where he started and coming back to try reading this book again, that was the motivation to keep going. Damian had a rough life. He was trained and indoctrinated into a life that was never meant for a child. And he didn't have a choice.
In re-reading, Talia's plan made even less sense to me. Sure, she planted Damian to distract Bruce but it makes her anger later on at Damian choosing Bruce's way of life more... confusing? "Here, Bruce, take the child I created against your will and train him" and then "Why has my son forsaken me for his father's way of life?" This entire thing feels very misogynistic because Talia's literally just here to everything in her power to make sure Bruce can't ignore her? Like... that's her only purpose in life? Add to that the there's that whole legend of R'as al Ghul thing that implied that only a blood male relative could fulfill the prophecy. Her entire life seems to involve several instances where she was passed over because she's a woman. Which makes me wonder if I've ever seen Talia al Ghul written by a woman? Because I remembered the weird sexual tones between her and Jason and I'm pretty sure that was Judd Winick so.. I think the answer is no.
Anyway, the Damian bits were great. It's interesting seeing how Damian was drawn to look more like a monster early on and later writers drew him like a child. Which he is.
Also, Damian's first words to the batfam:
To Bruce: Father. I thought you'd be taller.
To Tim: Don't patronize me. I'll break your face. (in rereading... Tim's line to Damian about "here on my world, this is called a handshake" felt... migroaggresive. Damian's from a different country - not a different planet. Considering who Tim's parents were, I'm honestly not surprised.)
To Alfred: Fuck you.
So, I tried reading this over a year ago and couldn't get through the Batsy story that had nothing to do with Damian. Because he's the whole reason I picked this book up in the first place. I ended up selling the trade to Half Price because a year passed, I was still at 43% and I wasn't all that keen to pick this up again. So, this time, I skimmed the part that wasn't Damian centric: just being perfectly honest here.
Damian is why I read this book. I wanted to see where he started and coming back to try reading this book again, that was the motivation to keep going. Damian had a rough life. He was trained and indoctrinated into a life that was never meant for a child. And he didn't have a choice.
In re-reading, Talia's plan made even less sense to me. Sure, she planted Damian to distract Bruce but it makes her anger later on at Damian choosing Bruce's way of life more... confusing? "Here, Bruce, take the child I created against your will and train him" and then "Why has my son forsaken me for his father's way of life?" This entire thing feels very misogynistic because Talia's literally just here to everything in her power to make sure Bruce can't ignore her? Like... that's her only purpose in life? Add to that the there's that whole legend of R'as al Ghul thing that implied that only a blood male relative could fulfill the prophecy. Her entire life seems to involve several instances where she was passed over because she's a woman. Which makes me wonder if I've ever seen Talia al Ghul written by a woman? Because I remembered the weird sexual tones between her and Jason and I'm pretty sure that was Judd Winick so.. I think the answer is no.
Anyway, the Damian bits were great. It's interesting seeing how Damian was drawn to look more like a monster early on and later writers drew him like a child. Which he is.
Also, Damian's first words to the batfam:
To Bruce: Father. I thought you'd be taller.
To Tim: Don't patronize me. I'll break your face. (in rereading... Tim's line to Damian about "here on my world, this is called a handshake" felt... migroaggresive. Damian's from a different country - not a different planet. Considering who Tim's parents were, I'm honestly not surprised.)
To Alfred: Fuck you.
December 25, 2016
Merry Christmas everyone!
On to the book, all I have to say is its amazing! Morrison is always like I say, a 50/50 writer, it depends on the comic he writes, I have hated some of his work, and others I have liked, but this one I loved! So the story is basically Batman meeting Damain for the first time, and as always I don't like this brat one bit, but luckily he's not the main focus! This story was overall just a really really good batman story, the dialogue is interesting, hell even the bits with Bruce Wayne being a playboy around woman, even those parts are a joy to read! Artwork by Andy Kubert is awesome to, I like his art, its like a more rough version of Jim Lee's art, especially if you take this and put side by side, with say Batman Hush, you can see the similarities, but of course in all the good ways! Overall, I was not expecting much to be honest, but Morrison knocked the ball out of the park with this one!
On to the book, all I have to say is its amazing! Morrison is always like I say, a 50/50 writer, it depends on the comic he writes, I have hated some of his work, and others I have liked, but this one I loved! So the story is basically Batman meeting Damain for the first time, and as always I don't like this brat one bit, but luckily he's not the main focus! This story was overall just a really really good batman story, the dialogue is interesting, hell even the bits with Bruce Wayne being a playboy around woman, even those parts are a joy to read! Artwork by Andy Kubert is awesome to, I like his art, its like a more rough version of Jim Lee's art, especially if you take this and put side by side, with say Batman Hush, you can see the similarities, but of course in all the good ways! Overall, I was not expecting much to be honest, but Morrison knocked the ball out of the park with this one!
January 23, 2012
The most important part of this collection is right there in the title: Batman has a son, his name is Damian, and he's a jerk. Can't stand that kid. The plotline starts out over the top and never really settles down. There's an army of ninja man-bats. I have no idea why Morrison made the last chapter an alternate future tale with Damian as Batman, but it definitely threw me off.
I wonder: in five years or so, when DC does yet another reality shift, will Damian survive or will he be negated?
I wonder: in five years or so, when DC does yet another reality shift, will Damian survive or will he be negated?
November 23, 2022
4⭐️ Pretty good start to grant Morrisons run. I absolutely loved all the scenes with Damian in it. But he’s sadly not in it long. Also i found it a bit confusing at times but that’s kind of my fault for not reading the black casebook. Overall it was pretty good if not for some missteps.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2020
The first half of this was entertaining and had some iconic scenes. I picked this up to get more clarity on Damian’s introduction, but this was really only scratching the surface. It left so much to be desired, and that’s probably because only the first half was truly the “Batman and Son” story. There was an interlude about the Joker that I skimmed; written in prose? And then I couldn’t even begin to describe the plot of the remaining issues here; stuff just kind of... happens. And then the final issue features a future version of Damian as Batman— an interesting choice, but one that didn’t feel earned. Again, this book didn’t finish establishing Damian as a character or his place alongside Bruce, so why was this future story included here? An odd decision. Overall, a mixed bag, and I wanted more focus on the “Batman and Son” story. 3/5 stars.
February 2, 2012
I don't know how to take this book. The characters are far fetched, and the addition of the "son" character smacks of old comic book switcheroo before the day is done.
December 6, 2024
My first introduction to Damian Wayne was through the animated movie that was based on this book and I really enjoyed the movie but the book is not what I expected. My first introduction to Grant Morrison was through Batman #666 which I really liked and I’ve heard many great things about his Batman series but after reading this, I question his abilities.
Let me explain, first off he seems to have difficulty understanding Batman and overall understanding basic human psychology. I found it very strange how quick Batman was to accept Damien. He had no prior knowledge of him but instantly believed it’s his son and upon going to the Batcave he doesn’t run any tests to confirm. Felt very unrealistic to who Batman is and even someone that isn’t the world greatest detective would be skeptical. I myself would absolutely want a blood test done before sharing the location of the Batcave and brining a potentially dangerous person around family.
Then Morrison lost me again with his lack of character depth and failing to write necessary character beats to promote change in a character. For example, Damian goes from a rebellious child to a subservient child that does exactly what his father wants without question. Nothing in the story changes, no dramatic events or inspiring conversation - he simply does it because the story requires it.
Again, Damian nearly killed Robin and beat up Alfred but Batman is quick to bring him along on a mission where he very likely is not trustworthy only because the story requires it. Furthermore, Damien went from not wanting to be around Bruce then quickly to wanting to help him defeat his mother then quickly to him wanting his parents to be together without any story beats to build toward that.
As for the dialogue, it was very rough, especially for Batman. There were many times that I was imagining Will Arnet’s LEGO Batman reading the lines because of how off beat they were.
For example: Batman talking to a prostitute “IM BUSY RIGHT NOW KEEPING THE CITY SAFE FROM DIRTBAGS, ROXY. WHAT'S UP?”
Another great example is after Alphamale beats Batman bloody, Batman’s plan on defeating him is to rub Bruce Wayne’s shirt on his bat suit because: “I WORE THIS SHIRT WHEN I WAS CHEWING OUT THE SHAREHOLDERS IN THE WAYNETECH BOARDROOM YESTERDAY. WHAT'S THE ONE THING AN ALPHA MALE IS PROGRAMMED TO RESPECT? ALPHA MALE PLUS.” that’s an actual line from the book!
Overall, the dialogue from other characters is mid but Batman’s dialogue is laughable. It feels like a spoof on the character more than an actual genuine interpretation of the caped crusader.
More on the Batman, he isn’t much of a detective in this book or a fighter. Although I don’t think Batman should easily win every fight, he should at least win more than he loses, but in this book he loses basically every fight he is in. The man-bats mess him up, Talia out smarts him and the roided out Alpha Male beats him up too. From start to finish, he loses every single fight until the last few pages he uses the Batmobile to beat Alphamale.
In conclusion, I would say that Morrison is my least favorite Batman writer so far. Although I didn’t like Jim Starlin’s writing, he at least understood the character and made the character believable. I hope the next comic I read redeems Morrison.
I would only recommend this book to die hard Batman fans otherwise it’s not worth the read.
Let me explain, first off he seems to have difficulty understanding Batman and overall understanding basic human psychology. I found it very strange how quick Batman was to accept Damien. He had no prior knowledge of him but instantly believed it’s his son and upon going to the Batcave he doesn’t run any tests to confirm. Felt very unrealistic to who Batman is and even someone that isn’t the world greatest detective would be skeptical. I myself would absolutely want a blood test done before sharing the location of the Batcave and brining a potentially dangerous person around family.
Then Morrison lost me again with his lack of character depth and failing to write necessary character beats to promote change in a character. For example, Damian goes from a rebellious child to a subservient child that does exactly what his father wants without question. Nothing in the story changes, no dramatic events or inspiring conversation - he simply does it because the story requires it.
Again, Damian nearly killed Robin and beat up Alfred but Batman is quick to bring him along on a mission where he very likely is not trustworthy only because the story requires it. Furthermore, Damien went from not wanting to be around Bruce then quickly to wanting to help him defeat his mother then quickly to him wanting his parents to be together without any story beats to build toward that.
As for the dialogue, it was very rough, especially for Batman. There were many times that I was imagining Will Arnet’s LEGO Batman reading the lines because of how off beat they were.
For example: Batman talking to a prostitute “IM BUSY RIGHT NOW KEEPING THE CITY SAFE FROM DIRTBAGS, ROXY. WHAT'S UP?”
Another great example is after Alphamale beats Batman bloody, Batman’s plan on defeating him is to rub Bruce Wayne’s shirt on his bat suit because: “I WORE THIS SHIRT WHEN I WAS CHEWING OUT THE SHAREHOLDERS IN THE WAYNETECH BOARDROOM YESTERDAY. WHAT'S THE ONE THING AN ALPHA MALE IS PROGRAMMED TO RESPECT? ALPHA MALE PLUS.” that’s an actual line from the book!
Overall, the dialogue from other characters is mid but Batman’s dialogue is laughable. It feels like a spoof on the character more than an actual genuine interpretation of the caped crusader.
More on the Batman, he isn’t much of a detective in this book or a fighter. Although I don’t think Batman should easily win every fight, he should at least win more than he loses, but in this book he loses basically every fight he is in. The man-bats mess him up, Talia out smarts him and the roided out Alpha Male beats him up too. From start to finish, he loses every single fight until the last few pages he uses the Batmobile to beat Alphamale.
In conclusion, I would say that Morrison is my least favorite Batman writer so far. Although I didn’t like Jim Starlin’s writing, he at least understood the character and made the character believable. I hope the next comic I read redeems Morrison.
I would only recommend this book to die hard Batman fans otherwise it’s not worth the read.
November 29, 2010
I love Morrison's writing when he's *on*. He has a turn for the sinister that compels me to smirk when social convention demands I scowl. This Batman is far too fun and off-balance not to enjoy every last word. And the interlude story - pages of text, dripping with phrases that sparkle in the black light - is rich with different voices, shadowy images and sickly suggestions.
What I find fascinating is how much Morrison drives love-it-or-hate-it opinions. Personally I have to wonder if the bad reviews are from folks that expect Morrison to spoon-feed his ideas and plot hints to them. I could be wrong, but one of the reasons I enjoy Morrison is *because* his writing makes me think and work for it.
What I find fascinating is how much Morrison drives love-it-or-hate-it opinions. Personally I have to wonder if the bad reviews are from folks that expect Morrison to spoon-feed his ideas and plot hints to them. I could be wrong, but one of the reasons I enjoy Morrison is *because* his writing makes me think and work for it.
July 6, 2017
Creo que la mejor categoría que lo describe es el "it was ok" de Goodreads.
No puedo decir que no me haya gustado, ni me haya aburrido, pero también me ha dejado una sensación de indiferencia. Es decir que no ha habido nada que me haya sorprendido especialmente o me haya gustado de decir "menuda pasada".
En general es que me ha parecido curioso pero innecesario. Por ejemplo, entiendo que quieran hacer hincapié en la diferencia de forma de operar y de concebir la lucha contra el mal de Tim y Damian. Para terminar, la parte de la trama que más me estaba llamando la atención e interesando, se trata muy de pasada y siquiera me da sensación de que tenga un cierre adecuado so...
No puedo decir que no me haya gustado, ni me haya aburrido, pero también me ha dejado una sensación de indiferencia. Es decir que no ha habido nada que me haya sorprendido especialmente o me haya gustado de decir "menuda pasada".
En general es que me ha parecido curioso pero innecesario. Por ejemplo, entiendo que quieran hacer hincapié en la diferencia de forma de operar y de concebir la lucha contra el mal de Tim y Damian. Para terminar, la parte de la trama que más me estaba llamando la atención e interesando, se trata muy de pasada y siquiera me da sensación de que tenga un cierre adecuado so...
June 13, 2016
Terrible. I thought this book was all over the place. I kept thinking am I missing something? Anyway the movie version is hella better.
October 18, 2024
Batman and Son opens with a scene where Batman shoots Joker, but just kidding it’s someone else dressed up as Batman. Put down your pitchforks, please. I was startled personally. What a great way to scare readers at that time who knew this issue was written by a new writer for Batman.
Speaking of that new writer, thank you Grant Morrison for bringing Damian Wayne into the then established canon DC community. Is that point now moot if it’s all canon in its own way?
Anyway, Bruce discovers he’s got a bio-son and takes him in. He’s also being pressured by Alfred to go on a few dates so Damian is left alone long enough to be a menace to everyone by locking Alfred up and trying to murder his adopted brother and current Robin, Tim.
Personally as a fan of the Bat family, I’m very pro give Batman another kid and shake up the dynamic. A completely feral one just makes sense after the others.
I will admit that the sudden prose interlude didn’t feel like it fit in this collected edition. It might have happened there chronologically, but I’m not certain how I felt about it in general and it’s pretty detached from the rest of the collection. The CGI images to go with it did not age gracefully either.
Speaking of that new writer, thank you Grant Morrison for bringing Damian Wayne into the then established canon DC community. Is that point now moot if it’s all canon in its own way?
Anyway, Bruce discovers he’s got a bio-son and takes him in. He’s also being pressured by Alfred to go on a few dates so Damian is left alone long enough to be a menace to everyone by locking Alfred up and trying to murder his adopted brother and current Robin, Tim.
Personally as a fan of the Bat family, I’m very pro give Batman another kid and shake up the dynamic. A completely feral one just makes sense after the others.
I will admit that the sudden prose interlude didn’t feel like it fit in this collected edition. It might have happened there chronologically, but I’m not certain how I felt about it in general and it’s pretty detached from the rest of the collection. The CGI images to go with it did not age gracefully either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2023
Woah, this was sick!!
Batman has apparently rid Gotham of crime!! That is until 2 pages later when crime happens... This book follows Batmans journey of meeting his son by a woman from his past (I'm sure you all know, but just in case.)
I really enjoyed this, I do wish it was slower paced, but it was really good 4.5/5
Batman has apparently rid Gotham of crime!! That is until 2 pages later when crime happens... This book follows Batmans journey of meeting his son by a woman from his past (I'm sure you all know, but just in case.)
I really enjoyed this, I do wish it was slower paced, but it was really good 4.5/5
September 29, 2025
4.3 (biblio)
December 19, 2018
Finally, a Grant Morrison Batman story worth the time. And Andy Kubert is always good.
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