Now that Battle For the Cowl has ensued,...
Over the course of the past two days I have to say I am quite tired. I never really imagined that a comicbook would have the capability of driving a person mad, but it did just that (well, almost). After reading Batman R.I.P., reading the finale to Final Crisis and going back and searching for clues over the course of the last two days; I can safely say my brain is fried, my hair matted, and my eyes have deep set circles beneath them. (I know, lovely image.) And although I may not have the answers to all the questions that arose throughout my reading of what might be the last story of Bruce Wayne for a long time; I can safely say I have come up with about five different scenerios, and I still feel compelled to say it is still one of the greatest Batman stories ever written.
How can a story that doesn't seem to make much sense, be considered one of the best Batman tales ever?
If it seemed like mumbo-jumbo to you, then you didn't read the story correctly. If you thought or expected the physical death of Batman throughout the comic, then you need to read it again.
A word of advice, from one comicbook reader to another...
Morrison kills Batman in this way: He take's him down, and builds him back up- from the ground up. He reconstructs Batman before your eyes and you will watch as the caped crusader slowly declines into insanity and rises back up from the ashes.
Before you read, keep in mind...
- Organization is key. Every issue is valuable. I did not read the branch off series connected to this story, and I don't recommend that you do either because they really aren't necessary. They are separate stories and are not needed to understanding "BATMAN R.I.P." (i.e: Nightwing R.I.P., Robin R.I.P., Batman Detective R.I.P., etc. All are fine stories in their own right, but are not necessary for the main storyline.
- Get yourself a notebook and a pen. Write things down. It'll help, a LOT.
- If you find yourself reading into images and clues and begin thinking you are going crazy; you aren't. You're on the right path (or one of them anyway). There is symbolism in the words Morrison chooses to tell the story, as well as the images in the pictures so brilliantly depicted by Tony Daniel. For example, the COLORS MEAN SOMETHING! ;)
- Keep in mind, that this is supposed to be the most diabolical end result to occur in 70 years! HOWEVER it is left completely up to your interpretation.
- Start before R.I.P. Trust me.
I'll probably split it between issues
Batman #'s 664-675
Batman R.I.P. #'s 676-681 and touching briefly on Last Rites and his "death" in Final Crisis #6.
This is speculation. The whole purpose of this arc was to make you think and do some detective work. I'll try my best to work through some possible scenerios and hopefully do this great piece some justice. So hold on tight, we're gonna go for a crazy ride.
-B
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