Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes – Review

By: Grant Morrison (writer), Cameron Stewart & Chris Burnham (artists), Nathan Fairbairn (colorist)

The Story: Now that’s a boat ride you’re not bound to forget.

The Review: While it’s unclear where Batman Inc. fits into this refreshed DCU, with everyone still in the youth of their vigilante careers, it’s obvious Morrison’s grand idea for the next step of Bat-policing will stick around for a while (note that the final word of this issue says “to be continued” in 2012, not “to be concluded”).  But to stay on the safe side, it’s probably best to consider most of this story out-of-continuity, lest we run into unexplainable paradoxes later.

In fact, we could very well run into in the first act of this oversized issue (which, at seven bucks a pop, requires a major leap of devotion to take home), as it stars Stephanie Brown as Batgirl.  With Steph’s existence in the new 52 is still up in the air, fans will be glad to see possibly her last appearance under the cowl, especially since Morrison writes a pretty terrific version of her.  She comes with all her liveliness and charm intact (“…kiss my kung fu.”), and by infiltrating a finishing school for privileged girl assassins, she shows almost more competence than in her now-defunct solo title.

By itself, the Steph-as-Batgirl tale is great fun (with some tenderness in the background as Batman shows up as backup, giving her some much-desired praise as only a father figure can), but included as a finished product with the rest of the issue—it feels very disjointed, to say the least.  You have to remember, though, Morrison never intended for his story to be packaged in this way; the DC relaunch made the mash-up an unavoidable necessity.

That doesn’t entirely excuse the thoroughly confusing nature of remaining story, however.  Like with most Morrison tales, the surface of the plot is straightforward: Batman and his many Robins (with Dick Grayson still wearing a bat on his chest) arrives at a Leviathan freighter for a final showdown with Dr. Dedalus and take down his invasive organization for good.  The moment Bruce actually confronts the ex-Nazi mastermind, however, things go off the loopy end but good.

Batman Incorporated #6 – Review

By: Grant Morrison (writer), Chris Burnham (artist), Nathan Fairbairn (colorist)

The Story: No matter where you go, you can always count on your Bat-family.

The Review: Early issues of Batman Inc. made out this series as a world-hopping, adventure extravaganza—which it still is.  But recently, Morrison revealed an even bigger scope to Batman’s mission, as he prepares for a threat guaranteed to have lasting, sweeping consequences.  This issue transitions from the fun-and-games we’ve had into typical Morrison expansiveness.

Under Morrison’s pen, even a transition story can be fast-paced and high-action.  This issue flies by lightning quick, with scenes frequently cutting from panel to panel.  In record time Batman adds a couple more members into the fold (the Batman of Australia wears a rocket pack!), while the newly-joined are already hard at work, showing what kind of foe they’re up against in the process: Nightrunner stops a delivery of kidnapped children, but too late—they’ve already been indoctrinated to kill for Leviathan.

Batman also brings in members of his own inner circle as part of the Inc.  Some have obviously major roles in his big plan: while Red Robin takes lead of the Outsiders, Cassandra Cain makes an appreciable return as Blackbat, the Batman of Hong Kong.  It’s not clear where Dick, Damian, and Commissioner Gordon come in, devoted to Gotham as they are, but it’s great to see Bruce keeping them very much in the loop (although we the readers get kept out, obviously).

At the same time, Batman’s demonstrating how the logistics of this whole Inc. thing will work, with his civilian persona out in the open, prominently and publicly supporting the venture.  Not only does he bring in the Bat-bots (reminiscent of those in Kingdom Come) for high-tech back-up, he also uses the internet’s tireless rumor mill to build layers of conspiracy theories that “out” his true identity and hide it at the same time—very clever stuff.

And if you had doubts as to the necessity for this global network, you have only to look at the depiction of the enemy’s global reach.  Morrison places Dedalus and his Leviathan partner in full view of Earth, making it look as though they have the planet in their possession.  The constant scans across the world’s surface shows their nigh-omnipresent watch over it, and their dialogue implies they have a reach through time as well: “500 agents form the first battle formation.  The youngest and most zealous of these living weapons…is barely eighteen months old…”

Batman Incorporated #5 – Review

By: Grant Morrison (writer), Yanick Paquette (penciller), Michel Lacombe (inker), Nathan Fairbairn (colorist)

The Story: I’m afraid a bat’s too big to be caught in your web, Dr. Dedalus!

The Review: In talking about Batman Incorporated, plenty of people have made references to the James Bond quality of the series’ adventures.  The comparison has only become even more fitting as the storyline continues to veer Batman away from his private-eye roots and into the depths of international espionage and spy-work.  His trail of clues has expanded from the streets of Gotham to the countries of the world—the ultimate mystery for the ultimate detective.

And for the ultimate mystery-writer in comics: Morrison is all about weaving layers of secrets and lies, misdirecting you from one thing, only to have you come back to it eventually and discover it’s another thing altogether.  His meticulous plotting can be a frustrating kind of thrill: you have to work just as hard as the characters involved to piece out the answers, because Morrison is not the kind of writer who’s willing to let you into his master plan in any direct way.

In that regard, you can consider central antagonist Dr. Dedalus an analogue to Morrison himself.  It’s very easy for writers to give their villains master plans, but very difficult to execute these plans as such.  You’re set up to believe Batman’s appearance on the Falklands will nip Dedalus’ mission before it even begins, but in fact, you discover Dedalus has planned it so Batman’s appearance tips over the first in a long line of dominoes leading to civilization’s destruction.

Morrison effectively sells Dedalus as both a master spy (six codenames—really?) and a proponent of chaos quite nearly on the level of the Joker.  Like his clownish counterpart, Dedalus offers some fairly twisted logic to his actions, the best example being “…a kind heart deserves the cruelest end.”  By issue’s end, you realize that like Hitler, international terrorist group Leviathan is only an enabler for Dedalus’ own far-reaching ambitions.

Therein lies the reason for Batman Inc.: Dedalus may be one man, but he’s using an organization which spans nations.  Batman’s recruiting these heroes not just to be his contemporary in their own crime-ridden worlds, but to come as close as possible for him to act in many places at once.  But that requires his recruits to have nearly the same level of nerve and competence as he does.

Batman Incorporated #4 – Review

By: Grant Morrison (writer), Chris Burnham (artist), Nathan Fairbairn (colorist)

The Story: Batman doesn’t like a lot of people, so killing off his first love is not a great idea.

The Review: Probably the most distinguishing trademark of Morrison’s writing is the grand scope of his vision: his ideas stretch far into the future, and with his reputation, he can afford to imagine that much in advance.  For readers who stick with him to the end, the payoff of all the groundwork he’s lain down can be a very special satisfaction, but you’ll need patience to handle the frequently bewildering threads he’ll weave through every story arc.

This issue features a good sampling of typical Morrison fare: the fraught interweaving of past, present, and future events; seemingly out-of-context plotlines; charged, even melodramatic dialogue.  It’s the kind of stuff he’s known for, but very at odds with the spy-thriller feel this title had been going for.  Still, this is Morrison’s big pet project; it’s inevitable it’d have greater stakes than Batman globe-trotting for lookalikes.