Batman, Incorporated #0 - Brand Building

Best zero issue, period.

Just cracked the issue open this morning. Best issue I've read in this whole Zero month. More than that, it's one of the best single-issue explorations of the Bat-family I've read in 20 years. Such a great cast of characters, deftly re-introduced. Chris Burnham turned into a secret weapon here, apparently without penciling a bit of the interiors. He's credited for co-plotting this heartwarming issue, and I suspect he was also a kind of Director of Photography for Frazer Irving. Irving's art has always been pretty, but the storytelling has often been sloppy. Not here, where Burnham seemed to guide him into tighter, smaller, more expressive panels.

I especially loved the three-panel transformation of "Dark Ranger"s posture as Squire gives him a pep talk. Beautiful stuff, the kind of thing you re-read a page to digest. I felt a bit mixed about Morrison's "Happy!" this week, but THIS was the single-issue comic book at its best.

This artist needs to take over the series, because the regular art is awful.

Am I the only who despises Irving's art on here? He ruined Batman and Robin for me as well as the Return of Bruce Wayne. I don't know what the big deal is. His pencils are obscure and the inks are highly irregular. At best his art is only worth 2 out of 10.

I really liked Frazer Irving in this issue. Him and Grant Morrison gel. Knight and Dark Ranger stole the show for me and the ending was very heartfelt. I like seeing that side of Bruce. This and Talon were some of the best comics out this week. I love it that the Bat books are so strong right now.

I think this issue is a tad overrated. Yes, it did give us much needed character development from different operatives, but it was also quite scatterbrained and failed to reach any sort of satisfying conclusion.

Here is my review: http://www.comicvine.com/batman-incorporated-brand-building/37-358818/user-reviews/?review_id=32083

How many issues until morrison is gone? Cant wait to start reading it then. Hope Higgins get this series.

Batman Incorporated and Green Lantern seem to be mostly unaffected by the New 52, and that's fine with me. Especially with Incorporated. Morrison was head Batman writer before the change, so DC couldn't just sweep it aside. And it's definitely in-continuity with the rest of the 52, whether you like it or not. Especially when other titles reference it: Batman and Robin (obviously, especially with their own #0), Batwing (again, obviously and with #0 as well), and other Bat-titles like Batman: The Dark Knight that reference Wayne's funding of Batman. I do miss his original Incorporated costume (designed by Finch), it was pretty sweet looking. They kept Aquaman's costume from Brightest Day, they could've kept Batman's. Ah well...

Damnit Morrison! You know how hard it is to hate you when you put out awesome work such as this?! Since its announcement, I've had a hard time accepting the idea of Batman, Inc., but looking at the arc again and reading this particular issue; its grown on me. The humor was cute (a shrink ray gag and Bat-Mole: I laughed out loud), while at the same time it established Batman as this larger-than-life figure to the members. And Scout/John Riley/Wingman II actually looked like an Aboriginee, which was refreshing. I wish I read all of Morrison's run. Batman Incorporated #0 may have saved me from dropping the series. Phenomenal issue.

Totally unnecessary issue in my mind. While the art was top notch, the colors were a bit too muddy for my tastes on every page except the boardroom scene.

More than usual, it starts to muddy the waters about how Batman Inc. fits in with New52 (I still say it isn't involved in it at all), especially given the 0 month tagline of "Before the New 52" since it seems to be more literal here. If you want to read about the forming of Batman Inc., it was well documented in the old DCU and didn't happen so long ago that it really benefits from this condensing or modernizing.

Lastly, I'm kinda mad that Jiro (assuming that was Jiro) didn't go back to the cool looking Mr. Unknown costume, or some sort of Kamen Rider/Super Sentai inspired Bat outfit.

3/5 stars.

The opening scene was straight out of Batman Black Glove. Always loved the Batman Inc concept and it is interesting to see Chris Burnham as co writer. Frazer Irving's art is always awesome.

I feel bad for you that you missed out on everything Morrison did leading up to this. I've read it all since he started with Batman #655 way back in 2006. I've read it all (Batman, Batman and Robin, Return of Bruce Wayne) and Batman Incorporated is my favorite. It's a shame that it'll end with issue #12, which will be Morrison's last Batman story :(

So would you say it's new reader friendly? And how did change in his suit to catch the bad guy. I feel the Opposite on this one.

Ha! I thought this was a cool #0 issue that further developed Batman dating service...uh, I mean, Inc.

Veiniac has to be the grossest villain ever. I think I'd hurl & pass out if I saw dude swinging around on his own veins. LOL!

You should really go back and read The Black Glove (the deluxe is great) and first Batman Incorporated hardcover. Grant's really sewn a masterful web.

I really dig the winks that he, Burnham, and Irving chose to highlight here.