Review: Batman Incorporated #8

Variant cover to Batman Inc. #8. Art by Chris Burnham.

WARNING: Major spoilers ahead.

Intense.

That’s the best word to describe Batman Incorporated #8, the latest chapter in Grant Morrison’s seven-year-long Batman epic. From its New 52 outset, Batman Inc. has more or less followed a three-act structure. The first three issues, plus the zero issue, were Act I. From issue 4 on, the book’s second act has been non-stop action as Batman and his compatriots wage war on Talia Al Ghul and the forces of Leviathan. All the way, Damian Wayne, the son of Bruce and Talia, has been caught in the middle. With this issue, he takes center stage, bringing Act II to a stunning conclusion.

The news about what happens in this issue has been making the rounds online since DC released it to the media on Monday. Even knowing the fate of Damian Wayne, though, the way in which it happens is not what one might expect. There have already been casualties in the war between Batman and Talia in earlier issues – most notably Knight of the ‘Knight and Squire’ team – but Damian is certainly the most shocking of them.

The manner of his death is brutal. The pacing and panel layout by artist Chris Burnham calls to mind, whether advertently or otherwise, the classic death of Supergirl in Crisis on Infinite Earths #7. Damian’s death, though, is not on the cosmic scale of a Kara Zor-El or Barry Allen. Rather than saving a universe, Damian’s sacrifice is, in the immediate action, for one person, but in the overall it’s really for two others – Bruce and Talia. Bruce had sidelined him in order to protect him, but Damian gambles that the only way to keep Batman and Talia from destroying each other is to give himself over to his mother. That’s just what he sets out to do.

And yet, one gets the impression that Damian knew what was going to happen. He shares a moment with Nightwing that’s more retrospective than we’ve ever seen him. The two fight side-by-side in a wonderful tribute to the ’60s Batman series, culminating in a perfect callback to Morrison and Frank Quitely’s pre-New 52 Batman & Robin #1. And then the final battle begins, and the levity is gone, replaced with solid, wince-inducing action.

The level of craft on this book is undeniable. Throughout the last few issues the action has jumped around a lot from battlefront to battlefront. With this issue, though, eyes are firmly on the lobby of Wayne Tower. It’s almost a little disorienting – one reads it expecting to jump to another scene at any moment – which just adds another level to the intensity of the issue. Morrison packs a lot of emotion into these pages, and Burnham (with a three-page assist by guest-artist Jason Masters) brings it all to life perfectly.

Batman Inc. #8 is surely an instant classic. The repercussions of this issue are sure to be felt throughout the Bat-verse for years to come. Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham have taken the battle with Leviathan to a new level. Bring on Act III.