Batman # 687 - A Battle Within(Battle For The Cowl Epilogue)

This video includes Batman 687 and the new Batman & Robin #1.

Funny that a couple of months ago I would've never touched a DC Comics issue.... but this was too intreasting an oprtunity to pass. So maybe I'm the last person who should say anything about this issue since before this all I knew about Batman was what I saw in movies.

I was actually surprised I understood it.

Dick, the old old Robin and now Nightwing, has recieved the Cowl for his own now this whole issue was about how he feels insecure about taking over the mantle as Batman.....
Superman and Wonder Woman even make an appereance all grieving about Bruce Wayne's loss along with Robin, Nightwing and Alfred. I was moved with a part where Superman asks Alfred if he was "all right"....
He answered: "No sir. I am not. My son has died."

The art was good I loved the colors because the whole story's mood was set beause of the colors.....
4.5 out of 5..... Did I mention this is my first DC Comic ever? XD

I was terribly disappointed with the first issue of Judd Winnick's return to Batman. Maybe my hopes were just a bit too high, but another sentiment saturated story about Dick coming to terms with Bruce's death was not what I was expecting. He's gone; Dick is reluctant; we got that already. We've practically been bludgeoned over the heads with this for the past few months. We've all said our goodbyes and made our peace and look forward to Bruce coming back in the future. If you need to see a more tactful and well-written approach to Dick's reluctance, read Grant Morrison's Batman & Robin #2. 
 
I'll just get to the meat of it by saying, Batman fans could very well have done without an issue of nothing but filler which had already been addressed in other issues and other series. I wish Winnick had just started his new run with "Long Shadows Pt. 1."

Hated the cover to this issue, the JG Jones variant I wanted was too expensive for me too, but on with the story. This issue pretty much pointed out that Battle for the Cowl was totally unnecessary; I mean I thought Battle for the Cowl was okay and a fun ride, but this is the issue that actually deals with Dick deciding to take up the mantle of the Bat. Not much really happens accept for Dick contemplating taking continuing Bruce’s legacy, and deciding that if he does it has to be in his own way. The artwork by Benes is decent and the emotional moments where Alfred expresses his feeling about the loss of his ‘son’ to Superman were written and drawn beautifully. Winick did a good job overall with the characters. The reason I can’t give this more than 2.5 mark, as it was a pretty good issue, is that I am pissed at the way DC have handled this issue and Battle for the Cowl as a mini. DC could have easily put out one extra oversized issue compacting both stories and saving the readers money. Having said that I am looking forward to the next issue and where Winick takes this story.

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This was really, really bad. DC had just spent the last three months spoon-feeding us the Battle for the Cowl story-arc (which was okay, mind you  -- Judd Winnick with this issue proving just how awful Tony Daniel's series could have been had he written it). Really, for three months we were immersed with Dick Grayson's decision to take up the mantle of the Bat, something that by the Secret Six tie-in was clearly inevitable.

Who retcons innocuous details from last month's story? Judd Winnick. Who manages to make Scarecrow infinitely more tame than I have ever seen the villain depicted? Judd Winnick. What writer, given the quality of this issue, has me considering to drop this title from my pull-list despite loving Bats to death? Guess. This thing just pales in comparison to the other Batman: Reborn titles this month, namely Morrison & Quitely's Batman and Robin and Dini's Streets of Gotham.

Some of this was salvageable, though. The flashback at the beginning of the book to Grayson pulling a prank on Bruce was particularly well-drawn and touching, as was Alfred's emoting in front of Kal and Diana. I guess I liked Dick's speech at the grave. But that was it, I swear. I'm probably less pissed than I think I am. Still, a let down.