Batman and Son
"Batman and Son" | |
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Publisher | DC Comics |
Publication date | September – December 2006 |
Genre | |
Title(s) | Batman #655–658 |
Main character(s) |
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Creative team | |
Writer(s) | ISBN 1-4012-1240-9 |
"Batman and Son" is a 2006 comic book story arc featuring the DC Comics character Batman. Written by Grant Morrison and drawn by Andy Kubert, the story was published in four parts in the comic book Batman starting in #655 and ending in #658. The story was the beginning of Morrison's run in the Batman comic as well as their long-term take on the character of Batman through multiple titles over the next seven years. The arc introduced Batman's son, Damian Wayne, bringing him into the mainstream continuity of the DC Universe.
Morrison was hired by DC editors to give their take on Batman after having recently given their definitive take on the character of
The arc served as the beginning of Morrison's Batman run and was followed by a
Background
The character of Batman was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Bob Kane. He was introduced in the anthology comic book series Detective Comics #27 in May 1939 published by National Allied Publications (later renamed DC Comics), though at the time was referred to as "The Bat-Man".[1] The character was quickly deemed a success, and followed Superman's lead with the debut of a second on-going self-named title.[2] Batman #1 premiered in spring 1940. The two titles quickly added new characters to the Batman mythos, including the Detective Comics #38 debut of a sidekick for Batman, Robin.[3] Super-villains and other nemeses for the duo were created as well, with Talia al Ghul introduced in Detective Comics #411,[4] and her father, Ra's al Ghul in Batman #232.[5]
The cast of characters in Batman expanded over the years as characters evolved and left for their own comic books. The original Robin left to become his own character,
Batman also had many interactions with the al Ghul family through the years. Early in their interactions it was established that Talia would be a love interest for Batman even against her father's wishes.[9] Ra's eventually decides that Batman is the perfect mate for his daughter, and after a test where Batman saves her from apparent kidnappers, he considers the two married despite Batman's objections.[10] This idea was later explored in 1987's Batman: Son of the Demon, where the two have a child, Damian. Though the story was never in continuity, themes and plot points from it would be used in other stories.[11] In the 2003 story, Batman: Death and the Maidens, Ra's is apparently killed and Talia psychologically tortured until she disavows her love of Batman. After the story, Talia was portrayed more as Batman's enemy than his lover.[10]
Production
Senior editor at DC Comics,
After Morrison was chosen as writer, an artist was needed. It was decided that they would be paired with Andy Kubert, who had started his career at DC Comics and had just signed a three-year exclusive contract with the company.[17]
Plot
The story begins
In the Batcave, Alfred tells Batman that he has been so focused on his war on crime that he has started to lose touch with his Bruce Wayne identity. Robin states that he believes a vacation away from Gotham could be beneficial, so Batman decides to attend a charity event at the London Pop Art museum where he can spend time rejuvenating the playboy Bruce Wayne identity. Although he is troubled by a quick meeting by Dr. Kirk Langstrom, the former Man-Bat, he attends the party talking with a myriad of women. One woman that intrigues him is millionaire Jezebel Jet, former supermodel and newly named leader of a small African country. They chat for a while before she claims that she does not want to be one of Bruce Wayne's conquests.
Meanwhile, Langstrom is confronted by Talia al Ghul, who threatens that if he does not give his Man-Bat serum to the League of Assassins she will poison his wife Francine, rendering her blind and crippled. While Bruce is at the party, Kirk and Francine are thrown out the back of a van in front of Alfred. He asks them what is wrong, and Kirk tells him that Talia now has the Man-Bat serum. Inside, the party is interrupted as an army of ninja Man-Bats attacks. Bruce changes to his Batman costume and faces down the army in an effort to save the attendants of the gala until he is rendered unconscious. When he awakens, he finds himself in front of Talia, who explains to him that he is the father of her son Damian.[18]
Batman and Damian return to Gotham City where the Dark Knight introduces his son to the Batcave, Alfred, and his adopted son, Tim. Damian is immediately hostile towards Tim, as he believes he alone is truly Batman's son and rightful heir. His petulant attitude gets him locked up in one of
Back at the cave, Batman cares for Tim and reluctantly agrees to take Damian with him to stop Talia and save the British Prime Minister's wife, when Damian reveals he has worked out that Talia wishes to trade her hostage for control over Gibraltar. Batman wants to keep Damian under his control, as he realized that Talia sent him with Batman to cause havoc in his life. The two soon reach Gibraltar where they confront Talia. Damian appeals to both of them that he wants them all to be a family, but Britain's Royal Navy bomb the ship on where they are fighting. Batman escapes, while Talia and Damian vanish in an explosion.[18]
Aftermath
After the four-issue interlude Batman: Grotesk, Morrison returned with the prose story "The Clown at Midnight" in Batman #663. The story was acclaimed and called one of the definitive Joker stories.[19] Den of Geek called it one of 10 essential Joker stories,[20] and it was revealed that Heath Ledger read the story to help him become the character for the film, The Dark Knight.[21] Many of the plot points in the story were used later in Morrison's run during the story arc Batman R.I.P. when the Joker would return.
Morrison's next three issues have been called by the title of the first one, in Batman #664, The Three Ghosts of Batman. The ghosts referred to in the title were three individuals who wear variants of Batman's costume and take his crime fighting to the extreme. The first was the fake Batman who shot the Joker in Morrison's first issue. Later in that issue, he had been revealed to be an ex-cop who had become a vigilante. The second ghost showed up in #664 when a pimp that had been supplying an ex-policeman who lived on an abandoned facility with prostitutes told Batman that the women turned up dead. Batman tracked him down and was severely beaten by the man, who was dressed in a mixture of Batman's and
In Morrison's next story arc, Batman takes Robin with him to the Island of Mister Mayhew where he learns that the organization the Black Glove is out to kill him. After a two-issue interlude in the Batman title crossover
In recent events, Lane was revealed to be Michael Washington Lane. He became the new
Collected editions
The story has been collected into a single volume in both hardcover and softcover formats. This volume includes the "Three Ghosts of Batman" arc as well as the prose Joker story. It covers issues 655-658 and 663-666 of Batman.
- Batman and Son (200 pages, hardcover, August 2007, ISBN 1-4012-1241-7)
- Batman and Son - an expanded edition was released in 2014, collecting Batman issues #655-658, 663-669 and 672-675 (384 pages, softcover, February 2014, ISBN 1-4012-4402-5)[30]
- Absolute Batman and Son - an oversized edition will be released July 9, 2024, collecting Batman issues #655-658, 663-669 and 672-675, and Batman Incorporated volume 2 issue #5, and featuring "a new cover, an introduction from Andy Kubert, and other extras" (456 pages, hardcover with slipcase, July 9, 2024, ISBN 1-7795-2736-5)[31]
In other media
Film adaptation
- The DC Universe Animated Original Movies' film Son of Batman was inspired by the story arc.[32] The film differs from the comic in many points, making Deathstroke the main antagonist and severely downplaying Talia's and Damian's negative traits. Much of Talia's role in the story arc is adapted to Deathstroke in the film.
Impact and legacy
Morrison's first run in Batman has had generally positive reviews, but the first arc has been called weaker than the second. The issues of Batman and Son were given a B+ grade by Batman-On-Film saying that though the first two issues were well paced and interesting, it suffered from too fast an ending.[33] Tor.com, however, claimed the story began an epic ultimate definition of Batman.[34] In IGN's review of the three issues of The Three Ghosts of Batman arc, they called #672 great,[35] #673 awesome,[36] and #674 awesome.[37] The storyline was not universally praised, with it being called inconsistent, frustrating, and disjointed.[38]
The story had a lasting impact on Batman stories as well as the DC Universe as a whole with the introduction of the character of Damian Wayne and the set-up of plot elements in Morrison's stories. Damian would eventually become the fifth Robin and co-star in Morrison's on-going Batman and Robin title since. He has also appeared in other titles, especially those set around Gotham City. Morrison knew that the character was hated from the start, but was glad that people warmed to the character and he appeared in other books.[39] The plot points introduced in the story would be continued throughout Morrison's run on Batman and their continuation in the other Batman titles of which Morrison is the head writer.
References
- ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.
DC's second superstar debuted in the lead story of this issue, written by Bill Finger and drawn by Bob Kane, though the character was missing many of the elements that would make him a legend.
- ISBN 0-8018-7450-5.
- ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.
Writer Bill Finger and artist Bob Kane justified any hyperbole in this issue, for with the introduction of Robin, Batman's world changed forever.
- ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.
Before Batman first encountered one of his greatest adversaries, Ra's al Ghul, he met his daughter, the lovely but lethal Talia [in a story by] writer Denny O'Neil and artist Bob Brown.
- ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.
Writer Denny O'Neil once stated that he and artist Neal Adams 'set out to consciously and deliberately to create a villain...so exotic and mysterious that neither we nor Batman were sure what to expect'. Who they came up with was arguably Batman's most cunning adversary: the global eco-terrorist named Ra's al Ghul.
- ^ Marv Wolfman, George Pérez (w), George Pérez (p), Mike DeCarlo, Dick Giordano (i). "The Judas Contract: Book Three – There Shall Come a Titan!" Tales of the Teen Titans, vol. 1, no. 44 (July 1984). DC Comics.
- ^ Geoff Johns (w), Phil Jiminez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, Joe Bennett (p), Andy Lanning, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, Jerry Ordway, Sean Parsons, Art Thibert (i). "Finale" Infinite Crisis, vol. 1, no. 7 (June 2006). DC Comics.
- ). Batman, vol. 1, no. 654 (August 2006). DC Comics.
- ^ Cronin, Brian (8 January 2009). "A Year of Cool Comic Book Moments – Day 8". Comics Should be Good. Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ^ a b Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey Books. p. 180.
- ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.
In an over-sized hardcover graphic novel one-shot, writer Mike W. Barr and artist Jerry Bingham introduced a monumental new character into the life of the Dark Knight – Damian Wayne.
- ^ Weiland, Jonah (2 July 2003). "Peter Tomasi promoted to Senior Editor at DC". Comic Book Resources.
- ^ Renaud, Jeffrey (9 February 2011). "THE BAT SIGNAL: Peter J. Tomasi". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ISBN 1-4012-0425-2.
- ^ Goldstein, Hilary (25 October 2011). "The 25 Greatest Batman Graphic Novels". IGN. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ^ Renaud, Jeffrey (16 April 2008). "ALL STAR GRANT MORRISON II: Batman". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ^ "ARTISTS ADAM AND ANDY KUBERT SIGN 3-YEAR EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENTS WITH DC COMICS". ComicBookBin. 6 June 2005.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1.
- ^ Garneau, Eric. "The Great Morrison Bat Study #3: The Clown at Midnight". NerdyNothings. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ^ Patrick, Seb (15 July 2008). "10 Essential Joker Stories". Den of Geek. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ^ Vineyard, Jennifer (4 August 2008). "'Arkham Asylum' Scribe Grant Morrison Opens Up Heath Ledger's Joker Diary". MTV. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ^ Grant Morrison (w), Andy Kubert (p), Jesse Delperdang (i). "The Three Ghosts of Batman" Batman, vol. 1, no. 664 (May 2007). DC Comics.
- ^ Grant Morrison (w), Andy Kubert (p), Jesse Delperdang (i). "The Black Casebook" Batman, vol. 1, no. 665 (June 2007). DC Comics.
- ^ Grant Morrison (w), Andy Kubert (p), Jesse Delperdang (i). "Batman in Bethlehem" Batman, vol. 1, no. 666 (July 2007). DC Comics.
- ^ Grant Morrison (w), Tony Daniel (a). "Space Medicine" Batman, vol. 1, no. 672 (February 2008). DC Comics.
- ^ Grant Morrison (w), Tony Daniel (p), Jonathan Glapion (i). "Joe Chill in Hell" Batman, vol. 1, no. 673 (March 2008). DC Comics.
- ^ Grant Morrison (w), Tony Daniel (p), Sandu Florea (i). "Batman Dies at Dawn" Batman, vol. 1, no. 674 (April 2008). DC Comics.
- ^ Fabian Nicieza (w), Frazer Irving (a). "Book One: Simple Sacrifices" Azrael: Death's Dark Knight, vol. 1, no. 1 (May 2009). DC Comics.
- ^ "Batman and Son hardcover trade details". Dccomics.com. 2010-04-21. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- )
- ^ "Absolute Batman and Son by Grant Morrison by Grant Morrison: 9781779527363 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ "So about future DC animated features: Justice League: War in 2014, Son Of Batman and Batman: Assault on Arkham. #dcsdcc". DC Comics. Twitter. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
- ^ Ashby, Cary (6 January 2007). "COMIC REVIEW/ANALYSIS: "BATMAN AND SON"". Batman-On-Film. Archived from the original on 27 July 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ^ Dunn, Thom (10 October 2012). "How Grant Morrison's 7-Year Batman Epic is Becoming the Ultimate Definition of Batman". Tor.com. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ^ Phillips, Dan (28 December 2007). "Batman #672 Review". IGN. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ^ Phillips, Dan (31 January 2008). "Batman #673 Review". IGN. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ^ Phillips, Dan (27 February 2008). "Batman #674 Review". IGN. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ^ Doherty, Carol (9 January 2009). "Batman and Son TPB Review". ShelfAbuse. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ^ Renaud, Jeffrey (23 December 2009). "To The Batcave With Grant Morrison". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
External links
- Batman and Son at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)