Batman (or, more specifically, Bruce Wayne) has been, and always will be, my favourite superhero. His story is dark, complex and extremely interesting from a psychological standpoint. The fact that he’s not even a proper superhero only enhances this view. Now he’s dead, and his stead we have former Nightwing, Dick Grayson, assuming the mantle of the Dark Knight, and micro-retcon, Damian Wayne assuming the guise of Robin the Boy Wonder.

Now, this new series by Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly crops up, and I find myself torn between loving it, because it’s Morrison and Quietly, and hating it because it’s solid evidence that Bruce Wayne is dead, and that now the world will move on. I was intrigued, however, by the concept of a jokey Batman partnered with a darker Robin. And, upon finishing this book, I was so glad that I had put my faith in the team and the potential behind the idea.

Right from the off, we are thrust into an interesting, dynamic story involving new villains and some sort of conspiracy regarding a circus. We have conflict between our Batman and Robin, but at the same time we have a clear level of respect between them; we have Alfred doing what Alfred does best (stand on the sidelines and give advice that makes perfect sense); and we have a genuinely awesome new Batman.

In retrospect, I know I shouldn’t have been irritated by Dick Grayson’s elevation to the mantle of Batman. It makes perfect sense. He’s one of the first five DC superheroes, and as of yet he’s been shown almost no respect in any incarnation, be it Robin or Nightwing. Now he’s been allowed to fill his father’s shoes and come into his own as a far more interesting and conflicted character. It’s pure gold.

And, in keeping with this idea of turning things on their heads, Morrison introduces us to a new villain, who I hope will be the Joker to Dick’s Batman. In recent memory, I cannot remember a more brutal introduction to a villain in a comic book. It’s horrific, and at the same time, one of the most brilliantly written and paced scenes in the book.

The art, meanwhile, is pure Quietly. The man can do no wrong. I wasn’t a big fan of Morrison’s run on New X-Men, but the issues drawn by Quietly were terrific; and All Star Superman stands tall as one of my favourite books of all time. In this issue, the drawings are incredible, particularly a truly epic sequence involving the new Dynamic Duo gliding through the Gotham skyline, the Batsignal shining behind them. That’s an epic moment, and Quietly makes it happen.

Overall, this was one of the best Batman books I’ve read in a while. I’m slightly worried about what’s to come, but with that worry comes genuine excitement.