We are attending the Black Mass... R.I.P. classic Batman
*The Short Review*
A long time of build up and finally some answers. We finally learn what R.I.P. stands for and we finally get to see this new era of Batman that Grant Morrison is spearheading. This was a great issue to end Grant Morrison's run on Batman and Robin. This is also an important issue because it is the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.*The Longer Review*
With all the comics out to buy, Grant Morrison's Batman story is once of the safest investments because of its rereading value alone. The Magick Grant Morrison puts in his writings extents past The Invisibles, but transcends to him as the best writer in mainstream Superhero comics. A lot of his concepts are overwhelming for readers not use to the layering in his story and that is why the rereading level of his books are so high. On the surface Grant Morrison's Batman run is a solid Batman story and the deeper you look the more you can see how Grant Morrison orchestrates the Batman universe. In my review for the Invisibles: Bloody Hell in American, I made reference that because it is Book 4, it could be a reference to Aleister Crowley's Book 4. Book 4 is his handbook to Magick. I mention this because the arc collected in Bloody Hell in American is an arc called Black Science. This issue is called Black Mass. "Black" likely referring to evil or bad and "Mass" meaning both "a collection of incoherent particles, parts, or objects regarded as forming one body" and "a considerable assemblage, number, or quantity". By taking the lessons from Crowley, Morrison takes two simple words had creates a comic that reflects as many meanings of those words he could in this comic. Crowley believed "Magick" is "the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will." Morrison's Batman is doing just that.Grant Morrison has become a master of layering comics and Batman and Robin is just that. With almost a year and a half of Dick as Batman, Grant has set up this new era of Batman. There are now Batmen to strike more fear into the superstitious criminals. The set up to this point has left many readers on their seats each time Grant Morrison name would be on a Batman related comic. Grant Morrison's story is magical because it has taken a life of its own. Grant Morrison has divined the Bat symbol and has modernized this new age of Batman.
My two concern with this comic was (1) the art was not as clean as it could be, not sure if its was dealine issues, hence the multiple artist and (2) with the introduction to Batman Inc. the Urban Myth stories of Batman are now dead. It is now canon that Batman is real, so the Urban legend stories end with Batman Inc. This is a sad day, since I personally love the stories where Batman is presented like a monster. Just recently I reread Batman # 584 - The Dark Knight Project because it was collected in the DC Comics Presents: Batman #1 reprint and that is a story where Batman is a "Myth". I enjoyed the times where a artist like Kelley Jones could create an almost demonic looking Batman. Those times are dead and are left to Rest in Peace.
This comic was very satisfying as a way for Grant Morrison to leave the series. Batman is in safe hands with Grant Morrison and this comic is an example of that. Not flawless since the Road to Bruce Wayne has been bumpy, but once reading this issue collected with the "Black Mass" of the other Batman books, the sermon of Grant Morrison will echo even louder and clearer.
Cheers
- Silkcuts