Batman Incorporated #3 Review

Batman Incorporated #3

writer- Grant Morrison

artist- Chris Burnham

Batman, Inc. #3 is set for an August 22^nd release. That's one month after its initial release date. Reportedly, DC held back on putting the book on shelves due to content that may be of a sensitive nature after the shooting in Aurora, Colorado. Despite talk about DC using the horrific incident in Aurora to boost book sales, one thing I can say about Batman Incorporated #3, is that it's the best issue so far.
The cover boasts the return of Matches Malone. To anyone familiar with the Batman mythos, Matches Malone is another one of Bruce Wayne's alter egos. He's the guy who has his finger on the pulse of the criminal underground, from the side of the criminal underground. And until now, everyone thought Matches was dead. The story follows Matches through the dark and seedy streets of Gotham, as he attempts to dig up more dirt on the evil workings of Leviathan. Issue #3 also gives us the return of a popular “character” from Batman Incorporated #1, the incomparable Bat-cow.

Before I go into the writing, I want to address Chris Burnham's art. I like Burnham. When his art looks good, it looks great. But there are those times that his characters look extra cartooney. Eyes are drawn too wide and smiles too exaggerated. And the way he draws Damien makes Batman's sidekick look a juvenile delinquent with nothing but bad behavior on his mind. What I have come to terms with after reading #3, is that Damien is a juvenile delinquent. Chris Burnham is partly responsible for bringing that to the surface. Toward the end of the issue, Burnham's art takes a very surreal turn. In this case, it's very appropriate.

Grant Morrison has recently announced that he's ending his run on DC's Action Comics with issue #16 and his run on Batman Incorporated with #12. He's got plenty of work after that, but comic book writers and artists move on and others take their places. It's without a doubt that Morrison is one of the hardest working men in the field and in an interview online, he's quoted saying, “I'm not saying that I'll never write superheroes again. It's just that my relationship to them has changed especially after finishing the book and I’m not sure if I want to maintain the same kind of relentless level of production.”

As I said, the writing in this issue is the best I've seen on the book. Matches Malone becomes an actual character, giving him a life separate from Bruce Wayne and Batman. The criminal underground from his eyes gives readers chills and makes us feel the danger behind every corner. The story and dialogue are tight, focused, and gripping. I've complained before that Morrison's writing can be confusing and fragmented, but the way he writes, he begins his stories fragmented and brings them all together in a perfect little package. It's obvious that Batman, Inc. is an epic story, spanning from before the New 52. It's the kind of story that gives you a payoff if you just stick around long enough. I'm feeling that in #3, and if any issue of any book ever made me decide to continue with a book I've been on the fence about, this one has me hooked till the end. I have to say that Grant Morrison is a genius for creating such a great dynamic between characters in the Batman Family. Nightwing and Robin squabble like brothers and I think it makes for some of the best family realism in comics ever. And speaking of Robin, Damien is at his disobedient best in the last few pages of the issue. Don't worry, there are no spoilers here. Just buy the book when it hits shelves August 22^nd and I can almost guarantee you're going to find it as enjoyable as I did.