The Good

After a fun trip to Japan last issue, we're back to the action with Batman and his army of bats ready to take on Talia, the Heretic and the Manbat army. Ever since issue #8, we've bee waiting to see what Batman will do. He brings the fight to Leviathan and things get brutal with Heretic.

This is where Chris Burnham shines. He adds a nice gritty feel to the fight scenes and it's so great to see Batman actually show signs of being in a fight. The way he draws Talia makes her look severely creepy, especially when she wears the Leviathan mask. Speaking of masks, wait until you see the Heretic without his!

Grant Morrison is bringing the series to an end. You can definitely feel that it's coming. That doesn't mean he's necessarily winding things down. With a bit of a revelation made here, you'll want to see if the suggested return of a certain character is what it seems.

The Bad

There's still that odd feeling of whether or not this series is supposed to fit in with the rest of the Bat-titles. We saw some great fallout issues after BATMAN INCORPORATED #8 but, at least for me, I can't help but wonder where those take place with this story and if they're meant to have happened after next month's issue.

There's also a weird feeling watching Talia's plan unfold and if we'll actually figure out what's going on with her when this series wraps. While the ending of this issue was cool, it makes you wonder if she's just completely insane.

Batman's abrupt end to the fight felt odd. He was savagely fighting and then seemed ready to leave and go home rather than seek out Talia.

The Verdict

Who hasn't wanted to see Batman cut loose a little? This issue delivers some savage Batman fighting which unfortunately doesn't last long enough. Talia's plan is continuing to unfold and you can feel the end is near. Rather than start tying up all the loose ends, Morrison actually unleashes some more surprises that will put you on the edge of your seat. There's no telling what the next issue will hold but you can bet it will be something everyone will be talking about.

I think seeing Heretic's face reminded Bruce of Damian and how Heretic is basically Damian if he was only raised by Talia with no good influences. Talia is more responsible for what has happened to Damian than Heretic. If they want they will figure out what continuity errors exist and try and fix them it's only natural if sometimes that happens. I think one more thing happens in the last issue that will be all over the Batman books.

That thing that happened, at the end, that was creepy.

This.

This was ssoooooo awesome!!! The fight! The dialogue! The art! The reveals! What happened to the tower!!!!

This was ssoooooo awesome!!! The fight! The dialogue! The art! The reveals! What happened to the tower!!!!

I stopped wondering how this series fits into the rest of the picture long ago. Batman Inc. is on it's own plane of insanity as far as I'm concerned.

I think we got a hint about how Damian will be coming back!!!!

Being that I started reading comics again when the reboot happened, who is the mystery chick that runs Spyral?

Possibly Kathy Kane, the original Batwoman.

Was the Heretic supposed to have baby face, or was that just the art? I love Chris Burnham's art, but I couldn't tell.

@sleepbutnodream15: He's only a couple years old, and he was rapidly aged, so I think it's intended that he has a baby face.

The baby face is supposed to show that deep down he was just a confused, deranged little kid and Talia is the one responsible for all of his actions.

Umm I have one complaint about this book, I feel like this should've been rated Mature because that scene at the end was completely uncalled for. It really pulled me out of the story.

Man, Batman's dialogue felt corny as hell in this issue. YOU HEAR THAT? YOU HEAR THAT? YOU HEAR THAT? HERE'S YOUR LEVIATHAN. ALSO YOUR FACE.

I dunno, I just feel like Bruce would be more silent fury at this point than that, I guess.

Great issue.Morrison is really making this the best book from DC right now and it is a shame that it is ending as is his run on Batman.Best Batman book and it is a shame that it is ending.

The issue was interesting.

Giant, baby-faced Damian was weird.
Grant Morrison is weird.