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BATMAN INCORPORATED #5

Batman’s Argentinean adventure concludes as The Dark Knight and Gaucho fight to the death to save the lives of countless innocents.

Meanwhile, England’s other Batman, The Hood, stumbles across a monstrous conspiracy – can Batman and his international allies stop a plot that threatens to transform the whole world?

Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art by YANICK PAQUETTE & MICHEL LACOMBE
Cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
Variant cover by YANICK PAQUETTE & MICHAEL LACOMBE

Price: $2.99
iFanboy Community Pick of the Week Percentage: 6.0%

Reviews

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John4204/27/11NoRead Review
TheNextChampion04/27/11NoRead Review
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Comments

  1. Avatar photo TheNextChampion says:
    April 25, 2011 at 2:32 pm

    *sigh*

    This gets delayed so often now that I don’t find myself caring for the plot. But like a whipping boy to Grant Morrison I can’t find myself dropping this yet.

  2. Avatar photo DuncanIdunno says:
    April 25, 2011 at 2:41 pm

    @TheNextChampion – this is ,thankfully, my last issue of this mess. They can’t all be gems can they Mr. Morrison? I get trapped in these titles due to having to mail order my comics – so I had up until #5 pre-ordered…after about the second issue I knew I was gonna regret it.

  3. froggulper says:
    April 25, 2011 at 2:41 pm

    TNC: Dude, it’s only been 4-5 weeks since the last issue. Issue 4 came out the last week of last month; this issue is coming out the last week of this month. The series overall is still behind schedule (four issues since Nov ’10), but there hasn’t been a month+ delays anymore. It’ll be officially caught up overall in two weeks when #6 comes out.

    Really anticipating this issue.

    But the cover currently pictured was the cover to Inc. #3. DCcomics.com hasnt bothered to show us the actual cover to #5 yet. I imagine they’ll release it within the next 24 hours and then it’ll be updated here. I’m getting really sick of DC’s solicits being so damn incorrect, and they know about the problems long beforehand but never bother to fix them. They’ve had like two months to fix this solicited cover. C’mon solicit guys, what do they pay y’all for?

    Getting back to the actual content of this issue, I like how Grant’s building the backstory with Dr. Daedalus and putting the international pieces in place. I like that the international conspiracy isn’t something that’s happening right now but is something that’s been occurring behind the scenes for a long time (flashbacks of the first Knight and his crew at the beginning of #3, flashbacks of how the international conspiracy murdered the first Batwoman in #4). This is good, thought-provoking stuff. Even the symbology that Morrison’s using, with the oroboros, the levithan and the eye within a web–spooky and intriguing.

  4. Avatar photo AmirCat says:
    April 25, 2011 at 2:43 pm

    @TheNextChampion  it was not delayed from #4. Eventhough I like Paquette, I will miss Chris Burnham.

  5. Avatar photo misterckent says:
    April 25, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    I’ve been really enjoying this series. All the different Batmen are pretty cool interpretations. Keep it coming!

  6. Avatar photo wallythegreenmonster says:
    April 25, 2011 at 3:09 pm

     this is one week where i whish this issue was delayed. Might put it off till next week. 

  7. Avatar photo TexasZombie99 says:
    April 25, 2011 at 3:19 pm

    I really love Paquette’s art.  His arc on Wolverine: Weapon X with Jason Aaron (the insane asylum arc) was awesome work…definitely check that out if you’re interested.

  8. Avatar photo AmirCat says:
    April 25, 2011 at 3:21 pm

    @misterckent  – Great minds think alike! haha. I like that the new Batmen are not really batmen for the most part.

  9. Avatar photo WheelHands says:
    April 25, 2011 at 3:35 pm

    I have a feeling this’ll be yet another Morrison slow burn that impatient people misinterpret as lacking direction (even though they should know better), then regret bailing out when it starts to pick up steam. What follows is a bunch of people too proud to admit that they didn’t give it a chance, so rather than pick it up in trade or jump on late, they mask their regret by complaining about people who actually understand Morrison in an effort to compensate for their inability to comprehend his formula.

    Rinse and repeat.

  10. Avatar photo Slockhart says:
    April 25, 2011 at 3:40 pm

    Wow, that’s a really high horse.

  11. Avatar photo WheelHands says:
    April 25, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    @Slockhart: Haha! You all look like insects from upon my horse.

    Look, the last thing I wanna do is fuel the opinion that Morrison fans are elitist.  My bad.  And I’m not calling anyone out here.  But the debate always seems to end up going in the direction I mentioned, and it can be frustrating for someone who enjoys the patience and commitment required to get the most out of Morrison’s stuff.  

    When you start to hear complaints about one of his runs, it’s rarely (there are level-headed exceptions) “This just isn’t for me”.  More often than not, it’s “This doesn’t make any sense.”, or “Morrison’s a drug feind.”, or “This is too cerebral” (whatever the fuck that means).   “This isn’t for me” is a mature, reasonable response for someone who simply isn’t enjoying what they’re reading and is contemplating dropping the book.  Those people should drop the book.  Vote with your wallet.  Read what you like.  It’s the numbskulls who either jump off before the ball gets rolling (as I mentioned above) or legitimately hate what they’re buying each month, but continue to buy it because it’s “relevant” or they need something to complain about.  It’s much easier for someone to point at people for being elitist than to actually make an effort to understand something that may be a bit out of the box.

  12. Avatar photo PhantomPhrenemy says:
    April 25, 2011 at 4:55 pm

    I go back and forth with Morrison.  I’m still trying to figure out what happened in Final Crisis, all I know is I haven’t seen the New Gods much, and that sucks.  But I’ve been very pleased with what he’s done for the Batman franchise.  Morrison is a genious, but he must be very hard to work with considering almost all of his books have delays.  Still, talent is talent, and sometimes you have to put up with the annoying in order to get to the dark genious. 

  13. Avatar photo midwinter says:
    April 25, 2011 at 5:24 pm

    This has a much different tone than Batman and Robin and is a great deal of fun. Morrison is constantly inventive which means the odd misfire but overall is a great read. I nearly didn’t pick this title up but it’s well worth it. Last issue was great.

  14. Avatar photo JimBilly4 says:
    April 25, 2011 at 5:54 pm

    I like that most Morrison issues need re-reading to get it all straight. That’s why I read Morrison. If all my comics were like that I would put a bullet in my head (no I wouldn’t I would stop reading comics), but I love having a range of comics that stretch me in different directions, have different feels, some fast and fun, some slow burns.

  15. Avatar photo wallythegreenmonster says:
    April 25, 2011 at 6:28 pm

    @WheelHands  –can’t think of any other contemporary writer that creates this Jocks vs Nerds kinda fight among comics fans. There is definitely a secret handshake club for people who’ve put in the work to understand Morrison fully. I am not in that club. 

    I do wonder if secretly, Morrison wishes he could be the Joyce or Nabokov of comics. 

  16. Avatar photo WheelHands says:
    April 25, 2011 at 6:48 pm

    @wallythegreenmonster: Wed don’t have a handshake. We just sneer knowingly at each other. I too wonder what GMo thinks of this polarizing effect he has on the community. But then I think that those are small thoughts for him to have, and he’s probably too busy with big thoughts.  

  17. Avatar photo markish says:
    April 25, 2011 at 7:05 pm

    He’s too busy rearranging the fabric of the Universe to deal with small thoughts.

    Or just writing really good comics. Either way.

  18. edward says:
    April 25, 2011 at 7:08 pm

    @TheNextChampion  look at all that attention you received by complaining! It works!

    @WheelHnads  I totally agree. It happened on his Batman run, it happened on his Batman & Robin run. he almost always pays off for me if i stick with his series.

  19. Avatar photo RolandofGilead says:
    April 25, 2011 at 7:26 pm

    When I talk to my non-comicbook reading friends about this book, they totally buy into the Batman incorporating his brand worldwide. The quality is still high for me. Can’t understand why anyone would want off. Plus, Chris is coming back later.

  20. Avatar photo Funcrusher says:
    April 26, 2011 at 4:19 pm

    @WheelHands  Here here!

    Can that cover be any more awesome? Highly doubtful. What a week….

  21. Avatar photo robbydzwonar says:
    April 26, 2011 at 7:49 pm

    @PhantomPhenery:  I still don’t know what happened in FC either.

  22. Avatar photo Avistann says:
    April 27, 2011 at 12:14 am

    That cover is flat out awesome

  23. Avatar photo dpedal1 says:
    April 27, 2011 at 8:26 am

    @TexasZombie99  I agree I love Paquette as well. 

    Looking forward to this issue, even with the delays it’s to early for me to make any judgement calls concerning this title.

  24. Avatar photo suffkillz says:
    April 27, 2011 at 12:25 pm

    This could be my last issue if this doesn’t start to pick up faster.

  25. Elementaljj says:
    April 27, 2011 at 10:58 pm

    This was an insanley good issue.  Bruce Wayne is a true champ in these books.  The inclusion of Batwoman along with the other Inc. members has made me quiet happy.  If people got off this book before reading this issue they need to hop back on.

  26. Avatar photo WheelHands says:
    April 27, 2011 at 11:09 pm

    This was tons of fun.  The Hood is an instant favorite for me.  The banter between he and Kate was so entertaining.  I love that it’s become a regular gag for guys to fall for her instantly, completely oblivious to the fact that she’s gay.  Good stuff.

    The curveball thrown in this issue was the real payoff of this first arc.  The fact that this wasn’t the real Otto Netz, but an old lackey driven mad is awesome.  I thought Bruce and co. were closing in a little too quickly.  I’m really digging the roster so far, and it looks like it’s about to get even more eclectic next issue with this African (?) Batman.  Morrison’s designs for the new characters are also pretty imaginative.  African Bats appears silly at first, but honestly his mask and crazy wings grew on me in the two pages that featured him. 

    I really enjoyed Burnham’s work on #4, and I’m certainly looking forward to his return, but I have absolutely no problem with Yanick Paquette.  His faces are expressive, his action is dynamic, and his layouts fall right in line with the rest of Morrison’s artist thus far.  He’s the new Kevin Nowlan.  Fairbairn also might be on my Top 5 list of colorists.  It’s nice and moody, but damn near vibrant in parts.  I especially love his reds and greens.  

    Bring on #6. 

  27. Avatar photo Urthona says:
    April 29, 2011 at 6:41 pm

    I love the characters (Gaucho, Batwoman, Hood) but man, this plot has me clueless.

  28. Avatar photo mikeandzod21 says:
    April 30, 2011 at 1:52 am

    …what the hell was the story? Who are all these characters? What is happening in this? And after all the death and time travel stuff I’d actually like to see some more
    Bruce Wayne/ Batman action.

  29. Avatar photo wallythegreenmonster says:
    April 30, 2011 at 2:55 am

    had a hard time following this as well, but that may have been due to a lack of energy after a long day and week.  Might have to reread last issue as well to follow this guacho storyline.

    I think if after a re-read i’m not totally excited for it, that will be it.  

  30. Avatar photo CrimsonBlur says:
    April 30, 2011 at 1:00 pm

    I dont mind the delays, this is a really great run they got going. Its kind of like the flash right now, comes out a little late every now and then BUT its one of the better stories youve read in awile. Not to mention the great artwork. I dont think Batman Inc. will last all but so long though, they have been saying Dick is going to stop being batman soon… leaveing us to think INC. would stop or have someone like Batwoman or one of the new Batmen (or Batwomen) as the main char, and Bruce going back to the main Bat title.

  31. Avatar photo JaqueNargg says:
    April 30, 2011 at 1:06 pm

    @CrimsonBlur Where did you hear that Dick won’t be Batman much longer?

  32. Avatar photo CrimsonBlur says:
    April 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm

    @JaqueNargg  It was mentioned in one of the letters page of a batman comic (cant remember which one exactly) but they also hinted dick wasnt going to be returning as Nightwing ether but another past Identity .. they might have posted something on the site for DC for it to awile back aswell.

  33. Avatar photo CrimsonBlur says:
    April 30, 2011 at 1:27 pm

    @JaqueNargg  coarse “not to long” to dc editors could mean a year or two lol, who knows. Thats IF they still decide to do it.

  34. matthewAskirble says:
    April 30, 2011 at 11:02 pm

    JUs to stay i am a Grant Morrison Fanboy!!! but this no where close to his run in Batman & Robin but i think it will eventully get turned aroud every comic boo kwriter i think writes a few boring and non entertaining issues but for the most part i enjoy this book love all the covers some of my favorite covers all year.

  35. Avatar photo WheelHands says:
    May 1, 2011 at 10:44 am

    @ those of you who actually care: “Leviathan” seems to be a recurring idea in Morrison’s DC work.  I just noticed while re-reading 7 Soldiers that it’s the name he gives to the crazy subway children in Klarion.  Might not mean anything, but thought it was worth a mention. 

  36. Avatar photo WheelHands says:
    May 1, 2011 at 10:46 am

    @mikeandzod21: You’re in luck!  Bruce Wayne/Batman just so happens to be the main character of this very story!  Keep reading!  

  37. Avatar photo Franktiger says:
    May 8, 2011 at 5:44 pm

    Why would I even tell you unless it was far too late about Morrison’s esoterism and stream of consciousness writing?

    Paquette’s art is brilliant, especially his Batwoman.

    So The Hood isn’t Azrael?  I’m confused.

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