Biff Bam Pow Comics

Now, here’s a little known fact about my relationship with Batman. For most of my life - I’ve been a huge Batman fan. That’s not the little known fact - pretty much everyone knows that.

The little known fact is that I used to read Batman and fantasize about being Batman. About taking up the mantle of the Bat - fighting the good fight on the deep dark streets of Gotham. And the bad thing about this? Last time I fantasized about it was only a year or so ago.

So it’s fair to say I’m a big Batman fan.

Now - having said all of that - I’ve not been all that impressed with his books over the past year. But - happily - the last issue of Batman (676) left a good impression on me.

But what of Batman issue 677?

***SPOILER ALERT***

The book opens with an interesting sequence - Batman ‘interrogating’ one of the Black Hood’s ‘hentchmen’ - literally beating him to a pulp for information.

Going further in to the issue, plot seeds are laid for Bruce to go off the deep end, as it appears that he had a ‘trigger phrase’ implanted into his subconcious some years back - which the Black Hand would like to activate (with the help of a little librium).

Jet meets Bruce in full uniform under the Batcave, and begins to question his attachment to his calling - asking him if the Black Hand could really be within his head - and that’s when things start to turn a little ugly…

As with the last issue - this is a great book, beautifully drawn by Tony Daniel and exceptionally written by Grant Morrison. Happily - I’ve got a good feeling about Batman R.I.P.

And even more happily - I still think that I might get a shot at the Bat’s throne…

Pete’s Score: 4 out of 5
(recommended - there are some dark days ahead for Bruce Wayne)