REVIEW: Batman - 676

So here we have it. The much anticipated first issue of the Batman R.I.P. storyline, written by Grant Morrison and penciled (in this issue) by Tony Daniel.

This, in theory, could be a very big storyline for DC. If it goes the way it probably should go - we might end up with a new Batman. If it goes the way we're expecting it to go - someone in the Batman family may very well bite the dust.

Before I get into the review - I'm going to take a stab in the dark at...

***SPOILER ALERT***

...Dick Grayson becoming Batman in issue 150 of Nightwing. Don't ask me why - I haven't got any insider info, just a gut feeling. Batman has bitten the dust (almost) once already during the return of Ra's al Ghul, falling into the Fountain of Essence after being beaten half to death by Sensei.

Batman 676 opens with a very interesting shot from 6 months in the future - a darkened image of Batman and Robin, atop a roof in the middle of a storm. Batman proclaiming aloud "You're wrong! Batman and Robin will never die!", Robin ready to pounce on whichever villain they are facing.

Now - a few things to note about the imagery here. DC has of late been leaving subtle little clues in its posters / display materials / etc, to the future of any given series. Let's just take a moment to reflect on the fact that Robin looks a wee bit tiny here. Tiny, and with a new haircut. A haircut that's a little Damian-esqe... Could Bruce be dying / passing the mantle on to Dick, Tim be stepping up into Nightwing, and Robin's boots being filled by Damian?

All just speculation - but damn that'd be interesting reading wouldn't it?

One of the best Batman storylines ever written (in my opinion) was Prodigal. Dick finally getting the chance to prove to Bruce that he was able to be the Batman - if he ever needed him to be.

Since then, I've always wondered if it could happen someday. It's certainly possible. Especially when you think about DC's history of killing characters and replacing them with their sidekicks (see the history of The Flash, etc...). Around the time of Infinite Crisis however, when it was originally planned for Dick to bite the dust, the outcome looked bleak.

But then Conner waved goodbye instead, because of massive fan outcry. And suddenly, it all became possible again.

Now - having said all of this - I'm conscious that Dick has been living on 'borrowed time' since Infinite Crisis, and that Final Crisis could very well be his final outing.

Yet... Something makes me think he's going to be around for awhile to come. And possibly wearing pointy ears come the end of R.I.P.

Buy Batman 676. It's a good read, it'll get your mind thinking, and it's very likely to be the start of something very very very big.

Pete's Score: 4 out of 5
(worth the $2.99 if for nothing more than it'll get your grey matter moving on what might be coming for Batman)