Batman Inc. ends w/ "Batman Incorporated Special #1" in August

July the conclusion to the epic Batman Incorporated series by writer Grant Morrison with issue #13, but DC Comics plans to end things big the following month by releasing a special one-shot issue that'll be handled by some of the best the company has to offer!

Via Bleeding Cool, IGN has an exclusive look at the cover to "Batman incorporated Special #1", which has the pooled creative talents of regular Batman Inc. artist Chris Burnham, Dan DiDio, Ethan Van Sciver, Joe Kintage, and much more. With the cover acting as a tribute to both the "Superfriends" and Batman's global crimefighting taskforce, the plan is to end Batman Inc. w/ a bang, and Chris Burnham also talks with IGN about stepping up as writer for this month's Batman #11, where he pens while Jorge Lucas illustrates. For more on the announcement and details on the one-shot, visit the source posts at Bleeding Cool and IGN.

Batman Incorporated Special #1 will be released on August 28.

DC The New 52 "0" Month confirmed

This coming September, DC Comics will be celebrating the first year anniversary of launching their "NEW 52" initiative of comics. As part of the celebration and to introduce new titles into the fold, the publisher has officially announced the recently rumored "0" Month, wherein all DC Comics The New 52 issues will be numbered at zero starting this September (much like the 90's Zero Hour era). All titles, like Justice League, Batman, Batman Inc., Superman, and Wonder Woman will be given a #0 issue that month, and each will either tell an origin story or back-up tale that fills the gaps between running storylines.

Four new titles will also be debuting at #0 that month, and they are Talon, Sword Of Sorcery, The Phantom Stranger, and Team Seven! Be sure to check out more info via the source post at DC The Source, and get the scoop there!

DC The New 52's "0" Month begins this September!

DC unleashes One Shot issues and variant cover madness this January!

On January 2011, DC Comics will releasing a series of of one-shot books circling around 4 key players in the DCU. These include Starman/ Congorilla, Shazam, Steel, and Congorilla, and solicitations are listed in via DC and posted in DC's blog The Source and comic book news site Newsarama.

However, the real treat is catching some unique variant covers that follow the same logo cover treatment the one-shots are using, and up above is the variant "one-shot type cover" to Batman Inc. #3! Possibly my favorite among the bunch, it spotlights the new costume of Bruce Wayne as Batman, with the redesigned logo above and the art illustrated by David Finch! Pretty rad, but Bats is not the only one to get the logo cover treatment. Fellow JLA members Superman, Flash, and Green Lantern also have their own variant covers, so be sure to check 'em out at the post over at Newsarama, and comic shops this January!

It's Official: Two Batmen will defend Gotham and the world!

Like I said in a previous post, there WILL BE two Batmen, and now it's been officially confirmed by both DC The Source and the NY POST that both Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne will be carrying on the mission to take down crime under the guise of the cape and cowl. Dick and his sidekick Damian Waye/ Robin will be continuing their adventures in the pages of Batman, Batman and Robin, and Detective Comics, protecting Gotham at all costs. On the other hand, the newly returned Bruce will be taking centerstage in new titles Batman Inc. and Batman: The Dark Knight, sporting a new costume and taking his fight against crime with a global approach! A new era is dawning for Batman, and it begins this November!

Comic Book Review: Batman #702

More than a month after I last touched on Batman, the second and last part of the chapter that explains the gap between Batman R.I.P and Final Crisis is finally here! What lies in store for Bruce Wayne before he finds himself displaced in time? Plenty, and every reason for me to give this short but sweet review of this latest issue of Batman, which is a must read again for fans who have resigned themselves to everything and anything about the Dark Knight under writer Grant Morrison's watch.

Batman #702
Written By: Grant Morrison
Illustrated By: Tony Daniels

The second and final part of "The Missing Chapter" picks up right where things left off - Batman investigating the death of the New God Orion and reporting his findings to Superman and the rest of his Justice League teammates. As I mentioned in the previous issue's review, things won't be immediately accessible to the average reader here. Keep in mind that the narrative follows the flow of the events chronicled in 2008's "Final Crisis", so it may be confusing to anyone jumping in and reading the story as is. Even before touching this book, I'd strongly recommend reading that miniseries first, and/or R.I.P for that matter just to get an inkling of what is going on. Morrison already assumes that the readers here are those who have already familiarized themselves with his run on both books, so this is just the clincher to fill in any other pieces missing in the puzzle. That said, this tale now proceeds with explaining just what happened to Batman before meeting his ultimate fate with destiny at the hands of Darkseid. What could be a fate worse than death? Well, this explains just what that is, and without giving away spoilers, it certainly feels a lot more burdening than the Dark Knight is accustomed to. His thoughts, feelings, and last moments before and after "Omega Day" are conveyed spectacularly by Morrison, and it's already a given the writer knows what he's doing with his material since it's just a matter of laying out the cards and explaining the interim period between his two crossovers.

I'll admit, I was very reserved with how he treated Batman during that time, but the fruits of his labor proved effective in the end when he introduced the new status quo reflected under the Batman: Reborn banner. Fans loved the changes, and so did I, but we all knew Bruce Wayne would return someday, and that's currently happening as we speak. Right now, questions surrounding his disappearance have been answered. The matter of appreciating how it went down, however, is left to the reader entirely, and in my own opinion, things went smoothly alright... at least where the entire event is concerned. Magic, time travel, and all that stuff not really associated with Batman have been the most frustrating things to gradually take in and accept, and Morrison's writing does take time to digest and appreciate. At least he's clear on his intent on the direction he wants to bring Bruce in. All we'll have to see is how that journey ends... and begins again once Batman Inc. comes into play come November. Also, art by Tony Daniels is still top notch as ever. I've come to appreciate the guy's pencils more and more as he chugs out his works for the caped crusader's exploits, and his tenure as writer isn't bad either. He and Morrison make a great pair though, and heavy writing plus inspiring artwork make for an awesome comic book package.

Now that it's gone and done, the two-part tale that brings Bruce Wayne back to the spotlight in the main Bat-book is over. Next month will see Dick Grayson back in the saddle, returning back to the present and preparing for the return of Mr. Wayne himself in a few months time. This issue didn't really blow my mind away after reading it the first time, but it certainly explained and supplemented to me material that compliments "The Return Of Bruce Wayne" storyline, leaving me anticipating his return and the impact that comeback will have on the future of the Bat-family. In all fairness, The Missing Chapter is a must read tale for fans who have followed Morrison's run on Batman, so pick this up if you are of that circle. I certainly am and did just that.

Rating - 9/10

Two Batmen fight crime this November!

Bruce Wayne will return, that's for sure., and he also has a new costume to sport when he comes back and reclaims the mantle of the bat. The variant cover to Batman Inc. #1, as illustarted by artist Andy Kubert, shows what fans can expect from Grant Morrison's new book than just a mere revival of his silver age gear. No, the yellow oval bat costume will have slight modifications to make him standout and look "different" for the new age.

As seen in DC's November Solicits at Newsarama, here's another look at the new costume Bats will wear. Honestly, and as I said before, it will take some time for me to get used to this new look for Batman. It looks like a cross between his Silver Age appearance, Batman Forever, and The Dark Knight, only it's intertwined in a manner that results in a very 90's look, which many people have similarly said about Wonder Woman's new costume as well. Could it be that we are experiencing a resurgence of that era's fashion and style? I certainly hope this is just temporary. Otherwise, the look is decent at best. Let's hope this "next stage of evolution for The Dark Knight" yields pleasant results once the book arrives in November!

Now to the other side of the coin... There are TWO BATMEN.

Yes, it's been confirmed that Bruce's protege and successor, Dick "Nightwing" Grayson, will still maintain his role as the "other" Batman, as seen in the covers to Batman #704 and Batman and Robin #17! That already answers questions and confirms suspicions fans may have had to the meaning behind "Batman Inc." - a Bat-family united and not necessarily limiting the mantle to just one man! Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne will apparently be Batman at the same time, and carry on the fight in their own and unique manner! Of course, this is just too similar to Steve Rogers and Bucky wearing the Captain America uniform during Marvel's Siege storyline, but eventually the mantle was passed to the former Winter Soldier, and Steve now carries on the fight minus shield and costume as the new top cop of the Marvel Universe, Commander Rogers. Anyway, it's nice to see Dick retain his Batman look, and it's more familiar to me since it's still the "Retro" design with a few changes attached to it. At least he can keep an eye on Damian while Bruce goes crusading, hehe.

Batman and his Bat-Family make trends this November!

Batman: The Return and A New Batsuit!

This November, Bruce Wayne officially makes his return to the regular DCU timeline, once again donning the cape and cowl to battle crime and the superstitious lot. To commemorate his return, however, DC has given him a "new" costume, and by new I mean something very familiar and old school.

No Bat-Fans, your eyes do not deceive you. As seen in The Source, The yellow oval bat symbol has returned, and it's the cover to BATMAN: THE RETURN #1, by writer Grant Morrison and artist David Finch. The look that defined the Dark Knight during the pivotal Silver Age has made a comeback, but this batsuit looks a bit darker, and does have a few cosmetic changes to make it stand out from its predecessor. UPDATE: The suit also features in the cover to "BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT" as seen below, also drawn by David Finch, who also happens to be double timing as the writer of the series!

The suit is actually reminiscent of the Tim Burton Bat-flicks, and the one Bruce wore when he reclaimed the mantle from Dick Grayson the first time his young ward stepped in to fill his shoes after the events of Knightsend.

Notice that the belt is still the old school "capsule batbelt", and the boots actually have scallops. The new "Return" Batsuit shares the same color scheme, but the belt is like that of "Batman Forever", which saw actor Val Kilmer don the batsuit (with nipples).

Truth be told, the return of the yellow oval is going to take some time getting used to again. After embracing Jim Lee's artwork during the "Hush" storyline, Batman is now returning to the look that I grew up with.

Even Dick Grayson paid homage to his mentor when he was thought "dead", by assuming the mantle of the Bat and wearing the "retro look", with a slightly modified suit that is equipped with a new utility belt design, new gauntlets with two scallops, and a lighter cape to accomodate the young man's acrobatic fighting style, which also doubles as a para-cape reminiscent of what Chritopher Nolan introduced in "Batman Begins". Now with Bruce returning, what does that mean for Dick's tenure as Batman? Will he return to being Nightwing, or become something more?

No matter what he wears, Batman will always be BATMAN, and I can't wait to see where Grant Morrison and crew take him and his proteges when The Dark Knight returns, along with new books - namely BATMAN INC. and BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT! Watch out for Bat season this November!

Oh, before his return, Bruce Wayne will have to contend with the changes made during his absence, notably with his extended Bat family! Also seen in The Source, Check out the first look to the covers of the titles that make up "BRUCE WAYNE: THE ROAD HOME", by artist Shane Davis!