Batman Incorporated, Volume 2 by Grant Morrison

He was apparently killed when Deathwing stabbed him, but not before stabbing Deathwing too. Deathwing brings him Robin, who he plans to kill at dawn. We'll miss ya, buddy.Doctor Hurt recruited Professor Pyg and made him create Dollotrons of Robin and Nightwing. Maybe it was time for this to end, but it's hard to not be a little bit sad. The cowl has been passed to others and it's hard to see the new crop of writers and artists picking up these story threads. There's little fanfare and not nearly enough excitement. Morrison's run is over and the story of Batman Incorporated is most likely finished, as well. At the very least, it's sad to see one of DC's most visually unique books leaving the shelves. The image of all the Batman Incorporated members on a giant globe could fit right in with an issue of Batman '66. It's dynamic, heartfelt, and, at times, wonderfully ridiculous. If nothing else, Batman Incorporated #13 is, visually, a fitting tribute to what came before. Burnham does spectacular work which is only enhanced by the stunning color work of Nathan Fairbairn.

On the art side, this is one of the slickest issues we have seen in quite some time. Batman Incorporated needed to be its own thing and in that respect Morrison surely could have ended it. This series never really had a place in the New 52 and attempts to tie it to current continuity never rang true (like Jim's reference to “Zero Year”) and only served to weaken the book. That said, Batman Incorporated doesn't exist without Morrison, and I wouldn't want it to.

His run embraced Batman's history and his future, so it's fitting that Morrison would just set up the story to continue on. Of course, Morrison probably never intended to give us an ending. Batman and Talia's battle is somewhat anti-climatic, lacking any real punch or excitement. The battle of Gotham is over as quickly as it started. If you were looking for a stunning ending to a truly gigantic run, this isn't it. However, as bookend, as the conclusion of years' worth of stories, it feels jumbled and bloated. Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham deliver a fun, over-the-top read that matches the wit and tone of the rest of the series. Batman Incorporated #13 is a good comic book.

Batman Incorporated, Volume 2 by Grant Morrison