BATMAN R.I.P. is here at last, and there’s no going back. Grant Morrison is about to take Batman on his wildest ride yet,and we’re all coming along. This storyline has promised to change the Legend of the Dark Knight forever. Does part one stand up to the hype? Read on and find out.

FIGURES AND MORE COMIC REVIEW: BATMAN #676

ISSUE: BATMAN #676

STORYLINE: BATMAN R.I.P.

PRICE: $2.99

BATMAN #676 is the first part of the epic BATMAN R.I.P. storyline by Grant Morrison. As you might expect from the first part of a storyline, it introduces all the characters and sets up the rest fo the story, but only in general terms. It leaves the specifics for further issues. All of the questions Morrison has posed and the plot threads he has woven will come together in this storyline. You see that coming together begin in this issue, as Robin asked whether or not Damian is biologically Batman’s son. Alfred chooses to withhold the answer from him, at Batman’s request. In addition, we are at last introduced to the mysterious Black Glove, whom Batman believes have been plotting against him. The Black Glove is a group of villains with an apparently large sphere of influence, led by a man who is known as Doctor Hurt. Nothing more is known as of yet about the rest of the organization. The relationship between Bruce Wayne and Jezebel Jet is also developed further, stemming from Jezebel’s discovery that Bruce is Batman in issue #675. There is a touching scene between Bruce and Jezebel at his parents’ grave where she asks him if he will know when his mission is over? This issue also introduces the new Batmobile, which visually is reminiscent of the one from Batman: the Animated Series, except the windows and headlights seem to be red. Towards the end of the issue, Jezebel shows Bruce an invitation she received addressed to both of them from the Black Glove to a party they are holding with the theme “the danse macabre.” But, some of the most chilling scenes int he issue come at the end. They herald the return of the Joker, whom the Black Glove invite to the Batman’s Dance of Death. There is a truly terrifying close up of the Joker on the last page of the story.

The story is superb and the art is amazing. Grant Morrison has written BATMAN like a superb work of fiction ever since he took over the title. Tony Daniel, the illustrator who replaced Andy Kubert, does a superb job in this issue, with two of the highlights being his amazing two page rendition of the new Batmobile and the five page spread at the end of the book featuring an absolutely terrifying rendition of the Joker. Besides Batman, this storyline will also cross over into Detective Comics, Robin, Nightwing and Batman and the Outsiders. Also, the covers for all of the R.I.P. parts of BATMAN will be done by well known comic artist ALEX ROSS!

I haven’t been this excited and nervous for Batman storyline since Knightfall/Knightquest/Knightsend in the 90’s. I had the opportunity to meet Grant Morrison at New York Comic Con and he told me that R.I.P. was going to go much farther than Knightfall. I have thoroughly enjoyed Batman ever since Morrison took over the title with the Batman and Son storyline. I can’t wait to see where R.I.P. is going, although I am very nervous about where it might end up. I encourage everyone to jump on board as well. I can promise you a wild ride where you will need to hang on tight. The ride is underway, so jump on, or get left behind.

BATMAN #676 gets 5 Batsignals out of 5