Well, we have passed the halfway point of Grant Morrison’s brain-bending, status quo shattering Batman R.I.P. storyline. The threads of Morrison’s wide ranging story are finally starting to come together. So, if you been following along, is it worth it to pick up part 4? Read on and find out

When I met Grant Morrison several months ago at New York Comic-Con, He told me that Batman R.I.P. would be taking Batman farther then ever before. Although there had been some clues up to now as to the direction Morrison might be taking, it is only with this issue that I really began to understand what Morrison meant.

Batman #679 is the fourth part is the 6 issue Batman R.I.P. storyline. Up to this point, Batman has finally come face-to-face with the mysterious Black Glove criminal organization. The confrontation left Bruce Wayne delerious and destitute in the poorest section of Gotham. But thanks to the intervention of a homeless man named Honor Jackson, Bruce refashions a makeshift garrishly colored Batman costume and becomes the Batman of Zur-en-Arrh. At, the end of Part three, Bruce has made his reapprearance as the Batman of Zur-en-Arrh, with Bat-Mite flying above his shoulder.

In this issue, Morrison finally starts to draw his threads together.The issue begins with a very different looking Batman breking into a building searching for the source of the “Gargoyle” costumes that belong to the Black Glove’s Henchmen. He discovers that the person paying for the costumes is Le Bossu, the Hunchback. A short while later, on the rooftops, Batman seems to hallucinate talking Gargoyles as he observes some of the Black Glove’s Gargoyles.  He realizes, looking at the streets he finds himself on, that in his mind, he can see the grids he divided Gotham into when he first became Batman. Bat-Mite, meanwhile alerts him to the fact that a tracking device has been implanted in his tooth. Bruce removes the device, and his tooth. He then brutally attacks the henchmen with a baseball bat. Later, in a run-down theater, the truth comes out. Batman recounted the Zur-en-Arrh incident during the isolation experiment that Batman took part in for the Army. Dcotor Hurt decided to use Zur-en-Arrh as a trigger phrase to “turn off” Batman whenever he wanted. But, Batman had been underestimated by Doctor Hurt. Batman created a a backup identity, a secret self to save him: the Batman of Zur-en-Arrh.

Meanwhile, Robin is in a junkyard trying to contact help. He tells whoever he is talking to that he can’t raise Nightwing, whom we know is in Arkham, and that the Batcave isn’t safe. Robin is on the run from one of the Black Glove’s members called Swagman, who has chased him from the Wayne Manor grounds. Robin gets the jump on the thug and steals his motorcycle.  Meanwhile, it is revealed that the voicemail Robin was recording was sent to Squire, from the Club of Heroes. Squire tell Knight about the voicemail and that the Batman is in trouble and the Club of Villains is involved. Knight says he will put in a call in to the lads., which sets the stage for the coming showdown.

Elsewhere, there is dissension within the Black Glove. On a loading dock somewhere in Gotham, Caligula and his associate, the monstrous King Kraken, are interrogating a Gargoyle over the whereabouts of his helpers and the fact that Le Bossu has been moving in on his teeritory. King Kraken gets carried away and kill sthe Gargoyle, leading Caligula to wonder who will load the artillery that they are there to transport. Suddenly, the crates collapse on them and Batman stands on top of the pile. Caligula screams that Batman is dead.

Commissioner Gordon arrives at Wayne Manor. Gordon and a young officer enter the Manor grounds aver conversing with “Alfred” through the intercom. Entering the Manor, they find it deserted. The young officer picksup a black bussiness card with a skull and crossbones wearing a sombrero on it. The officer trips a laser wire and is killed by three arrows to the head. A voice over an intercom tells Gordon to watch his step as the Manor has been boobytrapped coutesy of El Sombrero and the Black Glove.

In the Batcave, El Sombrero tells Doctor Hurt of the return of Bruce as Batman. In addition, he says that Batman has abducted Caligula. Doctor Hurt says the final act will take place at Arkham Asylum. Now, for the big revelation. Doctor Hurt claims that he is really *** SPOILER ALERT *** THOMAS WAYNE! Hurt insists that Alfred is Bruce’s father. Hurt says that they are going to ruin Bruce for good. Pierrot and Swagman appear and tell Doctor Hurt that they have lost Robin. Doctor Hurt tells them they must go find him, as he has been promised to the Joker.

In the abadoned theater, Batman has Caligula tied up. He tells Caligula that is small time compared to the Joker. He tells him that all of tyhe Black Glove’s traps have been laid for Bruce, not for him. He tells Caligula that he is the Batman you get when you take Bruce out of the equation. He takes out his baseball bat and beguns to interrogate Caligula.

Inside of Arkham, Doctor Arkham is questioning Doctor Dax, who is holding Nightwing’s mask, about a lobotomy he has sheduled on a new patient. Arkham objects to the procedure. Doctor Dax tells him he is no longer in charge. Arkham is attcked by Gargoyles in lab coats. Meanwhile, boxes of red and black roses are brought to Arkham, as are buckets of red and black paint and Jezebel Jet. In the operating theater, which has a black and red checkerboard floor, Le Bossu speaks to a man behind a glass wall, whom he refers to as the maitre. He tells him that all is prepared for the Dance of Death and Batman is on his way. The maitre says his nails are still drying and is revealed as the JOKER! Meanwhile, Batman is racing towards the trap that awaits inside Arkham as the issue comes to a close.

Well, here we go. The endgame begins next issue as Batman faces the Club of Villains and the Joker deep inside Arkham as the life of Nightwing hangs in the balance. If you have been following along since the beginning, the best is yet to come. If you have not yet gotten on board, get the back isues and jump on now. But, wither way, hold on tight, Morrison’s wild ride is reaching it’s crash landing.

Batman #679 gets 5 talking Gargoyles out of 5.