BATMAN AND ROBIN #16
What did the
iFanboy
community think?
Pulls
- 0and18
- 3rdRedBird
- 23skidoo
- 32XPlayer
- 70namrepuS
- 158hoff3
- aboris26
- AbrahamSamable
- AbsoluteMark
- abstractgeek
- acamilo
- Achaniel
- adrian
- adrianhosseini
- Aeopile
- aerobill
- Agent005
- agentM
- Aitch2Oh
- ajmortys
- Ajs3000
- AKANightwing
- AL13N4112
- alanfrancis
- AlanMac
- AlanMooresBeard
- AlanRob
- AlexandertheGrape
- alexb
- Alexferrer
- Alfred
- AlphaFlightFan
- AmirCat
- amlah6
- ammcquillen
- AMuldowney
- Andrew
- androidmoser
- andybmcd
- Anome
- anrcampbell
- Anson17
- anthonyrdrum
- Apollo56
- apoptosis81
- Apotheosize
- Aqualeo
- AquaPimp82
- Art1318
- ashkendo
- asholds
- asigchris
- asmith
- atma
- ato220
- AzizBawany
- babaoriley
- baggo
- Bakhox
- Baltika37
- bansidhewail
- Barnabas
- barrow
- barryallen
- bassmarkie
- Bassoonjedi
- Bat4life
- batmanslayer
- battlecreek
- bazhorne
- BCDX97
- BCGuy
- bcmiller189
- beatdisciple
- Ben99
- benisjamino
- Benjerimiah
- bigben2012
- bigsime22
- bird
- birdseye
- bitingthesun
- BizDaddy
- bizreal1015
- bjohnsonmc
- bjvb997
- blaque
- bluedream
- blulew23
- bnicholas1
- Bobofthnder
- Bobtrombones
- BoldCoffee
- boostergold4
- Bootmobile
- BoyBlue
- bozmania69
- Brian
- BritishNightwing
- broderboy
- brooklahn
- Brother129
- BruceLuvsClark
- bryanpittard
- buck2889
- buckeyerdld
- Bucky
- Burgertime
- bursarman
- busboy
- byoung76
- bzzzash
- c0axmf
- cabernetfranc
- cabeto
- cabinboy454
- cactus4million
- CaeuZokul
- cahubble09
- CAM
- Canyonwalker
- capfsu
- captbastrd
- CaptDS9E
- Cartographer
- CaseyJustice
- cav
- ccarney
- Cedric
- CelticHart81
- CGHER
- CGPO
- chad
- chadbowen248
- Chadonis
- CharlesVanMay
- charliebf5
- chazbot
- checkthegate26
- Cheezdog
- chelsea
- CHERP0
- chewie810
- chickenwing
- ChrisB
- chrisequalsgreat
- ChrisG
- ChrisNeseman
- ChrisSnell
- christopheduran
- chrs7637
- Cinderelephant
- citizenmilton
- cjtobias
- ckl
- clay
- claydawg9418
- CleophusWayne
- clintaa
- CloudControl
- cmwnyc
- codymander
- ColdWarKid
- Colinski
- comicBOOKchris
- ComicBookGuy37
- ComicGamer
- comixfan
- Compton
- conanymous
- conor
- conor9935
- Constable
- Cooper
- cornflakes
- CountAbyss
- counterproduct
- CowboyEmpire
- COWoDOOM
- Crin
- Crippler
- Criz
- cromulent
- CronyC
- Cropcirkill
- Croz
- Crucio
- CSFiction
- cubman987
- cupcake
- cutty
- D
- daccampo
- Daflash00
- DamonS23
- Dan
- danderson
- DarkKnightJared
- darkknightwing
- Darksud
- darrenjackson
- DarthDuck
- DashiellPleasantHorse
- davek
- daveofthedead
- Davetron3k
- DaveWielgosz
- DavidCW
- davidd
- DavidMacfarlane
- Dcp
- dcrob
- DDevil1964
- DeadBear
- deadpool
- dedzed
- deezer
- DefConPrime
- defjuan
- Demo916
- DemonBoy
- demonkid725
- DenverDave
- Desaad
- devildog
- Dex
- Dez
- dharmabum
- diebenny
- djd
- djgarciarx
- dkbrain
- dkpwv
- dneufeld
- DocMartens
- DoctorParallax
- doctorsporen
- donny
- doomwad
- dopehat88
- DorianP
- Doski
- downisthenewup
- DP1982
- drakedangerz
- DrColossus
- drdeeeznutz
- dredscott33
- drew724
- DrFleming
- DrJohnZoidberg
- DrJonzo
- droll
- droptop80
- droracle
- Drumanespic
- dryan
- dsaint
- dsfiligoi
- dshramek
- DTBrown72
- dubvader
- DudeZilla2011
- DudleyDoright
- dukealoops
- DunDun
- dustin
- dworden
- dxhc99
- Eadge
- EAGLEBAUER
- earmuff
- EasyReader
- ed209AF
- edward
- eganmcconvey
- Eitanman
- EJ
- Elementaljj
- Elusion
- ElvisPresto
- elwell23m
- EMarq
- emergencyexit
- emissary
- EmptySea25
- Ender35k
- ender1979
- EnFuego
- Eric
- eric501
- EricDee598
- ericducos
- ericwilder
- erikduane
- ERock
- ErronSF
- est1864
- esuarez27
- Euhin
- eureka375
- Evangelion11
- evilerniefiend
- exmachina22
- EzSapien
- fallonk12
- FamousLastWords
- Fanteisimo
- fathead
- FausticCaust
- fearthejake
- Ferrian
- FiascoRodriguez
- Finn007
- firebird
- firstnamenathan
- flaco
- flashfloyd35
- fleaman
- Flounder
- flounder56
- ford
- formerboygenius
- franchise
- Franktiger
- FRCHUD
- freakzilla
- fredsolo
- freemansrus
- Friedmiester
- frodog28
- froggulper
- fudd71
- Fvckstick
- g0ofgnewt
- Gabe
- Gabrielogan
- gaffergamgee
- gamboa1047
- GamiSB
- gandalf25
- Garrett
- Gary4362
- gat0rl1vebeatz
- geekmonkey
- GeminiTwin
- genelaw9
- GENX
- getupreggie22
- Ghazzi
- GiantRaven
- gibbs254
- GigaShrimp
- Gilgamesh417
- Gimpace
- GIrth
- girvan
- Glassford
- GLJoeW
- glunders
- glwarm76
- gnanniv
- Goaler31
- gobo
- gollygosh03
- gorf313
- GorillaTodd
- gothamcentral79
- Grath
- Gray
- Graysonite
- greenbillblue
- greendart32
- greenlantern202
- Grendel1972
- grizly
- GrizzlyAbram
- Gumps
- GungaDin
- GutterIsATool
- gwiz22
- HailScott
- hakaider
- Halothane
- HammHamm81
- HannahClaire
- harlomworld
- Harske
- harwellpkg
- HassanT
- hassler
- HateBearDotGov
- Haupt
- Hazer75
- HBD
- headless
- hellblazer101
- hellboy42
- HermitHomeboy
- Heroville
- HerrStarr
- HeX
- Hexsas
- heylook
- HipHopHead
- hobley
- HolidayHaley
- homeboy2000
- Hoobeiss
- Hoshigaki
- Hourman1941
- HumphreyLee
- husdis
- hydeandgeek
- iamskeptopotamus
- IanF
- IanX
- ibagree
- ichthyophobic
- Idlefritz
- idreaminpixels
- iGotKittyPryde
- Ilash
- ilovehorsies
- immortal
- Impulse
- incredibledave
- indieheeb
- insaneshow
- insight
- intergy
- invincible15
- irock316
- IroncladMerc
- iSteve
- itsHef
- Iwelshfanboy
- izzy88
- izzychokiefeind
- j206
- jabroniunc
- JackAcid
- jacketFace
- jackietam
- JacksonAlexandr
- JAMESDEAN2020
- jamesschneider
- JaqueNargg
- Jarrett
- Jasonmatthew
- JayEll
- JCBlack
- JCFargo
- jcfrk4lfe
- JedeyeSniv
- Jediaxle
- Jedimasterrob2001
- Jeffc
- jefffromWV
- JeffR
- Jesse1125
- JesseG
- JesTr
- JesusChrysler
- JFernandes
- jfgn
- jforeman
- JGG
- JimBilly4
- JimmyD
- JimmyF1982
- jimmyg
- Jimski
- Jinnpo
- jisrael
- jjkish7
- jjoe23j
- JKExar
- jla728
- jlddlj11
- JLupo
- jmack
- JMadrox
- JMann
- JMay
- jmhillyer
- JMS74
- jnagy35
- joawmeens
- jobob247
- JoeFX
- JohhnyNormal
- John42
- john72tex
- JohnCorrigan
- JohnFNSeiler
- JohnNevets
- JohnnyStooge
- johnorlandella
- JohnSparks
- johnthrax
- JohnVFerrigno
- jokele
- jonclifton
- jonloveless
- jono87
- jonwithana
- Joppe
- josh
- joshbiz
- Joshrector
- Journal
- jovianlab
- jpizzy87
- jramsey1
- jrodine
- JRoUKno
- jsbigman
- jsbx
- jtrigg13
- jubal1
- junoro
- Jurassicalien
- justderek
- justincresswell
- JWilliamson
- jwimmer
- jxc
- JZga
- k5blazer
- kahones
- kalel2783
- kaonohi
- Katharsis
- Kehinde
- kennyg
- KevinAB
- kevinscomics
- KGBrAm
- KidJayson
- kidsodapop
- KillTheG1mp
- kingpinII
- KingTorg
- kingyouth412
- kirkjt
- KISSlover101
- kndoubleu
- knight
- Kodaiji
- Konchuka
- kortum22
- Koumori
- krad00
- krypto
- kryptogrowl
- KRYPTOTIM
- ksamara
- Kubric
- kwilli
- LadyTartan
- Lando
- lantern4life
- Lantern1025
- laridkelly
- LastDays
- Lawless
- Legamorph
- leigh
- Lelandp13
- Leprechaun
- levitakis
- LEXPRIME
- lifesend
- lilmikeegee
- liquidfiction
- LiquidSnake
- lmiller31
- lmontes
- LorryDrivingeek
- Loshem
- lostxii
- lowkeylos
- lucero
- LueZuve
- lukerpher
- Luthor
- MacAoidh
- macdad34
- madderhorn
- MadMartigan
- Magnificent
- magnum240
- MailOrderHero
- malakilii
- malpractice
- Manos210
- Marbles
- marc0403
- MarcSpector
- marcushill73
- MarkBiz
- markish
- Mart
- martinNL
- MasterXell
- matt
- mattfox7669
- mattgarcxc9
- matthaber
- MattJ1991
- MattKelly
- mattstev2000
- MayorMitch100
- MBurnsOH
- mc9457
- mccann26
- Meanmrmustid
- MeanOldPig
- medz
- MegaPhilip
- melike
- melwig
- Mi7eM
- micahmyers
- Michael1025
- michaelscott75
- midnight138
- midwinter
- mikeandzod21
- MikefromGotham
- mikegraham6
- MikeHaseloff
- mikel411
- MikePositive
- milez42
- misacke
- MisterBlank
- misterckent
- MisterJ
- MisterShaw
- Mitchll
- mlilien
- MoniBolis
- monkeeeboy
- MoodSmoothie
- moose1134
- Mordecai
- MrBeebs37
- MrGlass
- mrlogical
- mrmccoy81
- mrmister
- MrNoahBdy
- mrowland90
- MrPhases
- mrtonk
- msnerd
- msryke
- muddi900
- mulletpeep
- Murakami
- musicologist86
- Mustbedamned
- mxc
- Mxyzptlk
- Mykey
- MysteriousIcon
- mzzr
- nabus19
- Nate
- nathanhicks
- NawfalQ
- NawidA
- nblumeng
- Neb
- neerdowell
- neftones
- nehrujack
- newtype1089
- nick0606
- Nix
- NJBaritone
- nmoline
- NoahPlaysNintendo
- NoFX4021
- noni
- Nonraw
- notadultyet
- Notahiro
- Noto
- nstorts
- ntn1015
- Ntpmcrtp
- nuages
- nuckolhead
- nukethewhalesagain
- Number8crunchy
- nwrage
- nyrock
- oaktoad
- obiwanpomaybo
- OccultPanda
- odare77
- odino1
- okc
- oldmanlogan88
- OliverTwist
- olliejudge
- olliequeen
- OnASunday
- Ongakuhenjin
- Onic
- OniDante
- Onlyjosh
- optra08
- Orykayd
- oscarsouth
- Osyris
- overcommitter
- paeryn
- paorear
- Paradiddle
- pariahguy
- Parker
- pat44844
- patch11001
- Patman
- Patman2
- Patriotsun
- PatShatner
- paulieP
- PaulMontgomery
- pdxcomicgeek
- petevaldez
- petropeterson
- petrorabbit
- PhantomPhrenemy
- phess1
- philipgraves068
- PimpToxie
- pirateheist
- piscespaul
- Pompster
- Poopmonster
- popgunpulp
- PostMan87
- pppiquer
- PraxJarvin
- PrimaVista
- ProfessorVonBismarck
- ProjectX2
- PTAhole
- pumaman
- purplehulk
- PV
- PymSlap
- Pyrem
- Quad
- Quasar
- quickdraw19
- Quinn
- RABinRVA
- RadConsv
- Ragnarokker
- Ragtime
- Ragu73
- RahUniQue
- Ramulux
- RandyFlagg
- Ratenef
- RavagerWolf
- rayclark
- Rebis02
- ReddRobin
- redhood22
- redlibertyx
- RedMoses
- Reform
- reg5000
- ResurrectionFlan
- Reverend13
- reversematt
- RevolutionarySounds
- rgrudinski
- Rhymer
- RickyStardust
- rivendell3
- rix0r
- rjl
- rjw3
- RKB
- roadcrew1
- robbydzwonar
- RobCarmack
- RobFather
- RoboJonze
- RocketRacoon
- rockgod27
- roejamsey
- Rofo
- RogueWarrior76
- RoiVampire
- Roken
- RolandofGilead
- Roly
- Rooney
- rottenjorge
- Rtousi
- rubra
- RudeBoy5
- rudeboy134
- runawayjim
- Ruo21
- rwpos
- RyanHoyt
- ryanorr
- ryn2o01
- sahdmasood
- Saltyoldnavy
- sambonie
- SamIAm
- SamMorgan
- Sammy
- Sasquattch
- saturnmda
- Sauceda
- SBomb232
- scallionsncreme
- scansvc
- schark
- ScottB
- ScottH
- ScottR33
- Scotty
- Scrawl
- seanpatrickcasey
- SeanStockton
- Seba
- seirules
- Selfstyler
- seNoj1
- serge
- Sergiot0831
- sethkushner
- Shannon
- shaunbat
- shenanigans
- silentbum
- SilentRob
- Simps
- siratomofbones
- SirCut
- sithden81
- skeets
- skestra
- SkinnyStompin
- Skyfire124
- slippyfist
- Slockhart
- smeeeeee
- smoggy
- SmokMnky
- snappants
- SnrFrijole
- sodapopNinja
- Soma
- SomeCreepyDude
- somethingblue13
- sonicattack
- sonnysumo
- sonofrich
- SonorousStar
- soulgiver
- spacegrass
- SPB
- speaknspell
- speedboy
- SpideynSpace
- SplifEOC
- spndx
- spongebat
- Spoons
- srh1son
- stasisbal
- stuclach
- StupendousMan
- stustap
- sunhero
- Supascoopa
- superchuck
- SuperGregM
- superkal1978
- supermanfan
- supersnac90
- supertrackmonkey
- Swifty
- SykoZombie
- synapse
- TaBfan19
- Tamaran
- taozen
- tdkelly
- teewillis1981
- televisionsavant
- telltarget2
- Templar
- tenblack
- TexasZombie99
- the8thsign
- TheAbominableDan
- TheApeThatEscaped
- TheAskanison
- thebarron
- thebear
- TheBlot
- THEBRODYMAN
- thecannibalisticvagrant
- Thechangingman
- TheChosen
- TheCrazy88
- TheDespicableGent
- TheDetective
- TheDoctorGeek
- theegreatone
- thefreakytiki
- thegardner
- TheGrunger
- TheGunny
- THEHOCHE
- theIDENTITY
- TheKZA
- thelonelight
- themanagement
- TheNextChampion
- thepowerout
- therealsuperjosh
- thescimitar
- theshadetool
- theswordisdrawn
- TheTaken
- TheYanni
- thinwhiteduke
- thisisegan
- ThomasKaters
- thompsonlive
- Thursday
- THX7168
- TimmyWood
- Tiocore
- Titan72
- tjerrod
- tjnewton
- toegristle
- Tom1994
- tomistommy
- TommyC
- TomO
- tomobrien20
- topkat74
- topljo
- torgelfi
- torippu
- trobinson79
- trugamer510
- Truthseeker
- tschafer
- Tsifox
- tuborg99
- turaho
- twopossums
- TylerDurden
- tylerferrara
- typecast84
- ungaro
- union20
- Urthona
- usagi
- UselessHero
- uuuhyeah
- vadamowens
- VegasK
- viceversa
- VichusSmith
- victorbarriga
- viewaskew117
- Viewt
- vinh
- voodoomama
- vorlon44
- VoxWah
- WadebeforeSlade
- WadeWilson
- Waka
- wallythegreenmonster
- WaltKellysGhost
- wangman31888
- wanner16
- warlock
- warrenj23
- wartsandall
- watchthesparks
- WeaklyRoll
- Webhead
- WeRideToFight
- Wetbrains84
- WetWork
- WheelHands
- wheezerhc
- whirlwindx
- whyda
- WildSeven
- willcrimson
- willelmagnifico
- WilliamKScurryJr
- wilson6923
- wingsfan757
- WinTheWonderboy
- WonderAli
- woodmania
- wrater
- Wrkn4life
- wulfstone
- x2cwaldr
- xebix
- Xeno
- xiseerht
- Xomneon
- XsandOhs
- xZAOx
- YaknSnak82
- yappy13
- yetihands
- youngday
- youngneil
- ytsan
- zach
- zacharyxbinks
- zak7khan
- Zak71296
- Zalkoran
- Zeppo
- zerodni
- znatit
- zombox
- ZookZoltn
- Zyhailo1
Art by CAMERON STEWART, CHRIS BURNHAM & FRAZER IRVING
Color by ALEX SINCLAIR & FRAZER IRVING
Letterers by PATRICK BROSSEAU
Cover by FRANK QUITELY
Variant cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
Size: 40 pages
Price: 3.99
This review contains spoilers, click here to read
Oh where to start with this issue? I seriously can't phantom why this had to come out first. This issue was clearly ment to transition from one Morrison Bat-book to the next. But that's not what we're gonna get here. Bruce Wayne has returned in full glory (apparently) and is ready to kick some ass. With the help of three, count'em three, artists to help Morrison out for his final issue. So once again, where to start?
Let's start off with the good. I was waiting for Bruce too come back and try and get up to speed with what has happened. Him, Dick, and Damian talking while fighting the 99 Fiends was pretty fun. Bruce finding everything going on bizarre and the line 'Joker is on our side....kinda." line was pretty funny. Then you have the art, which I will go more in depth in a second.....What is here is pretty good for the most part. Cameron Stewart's section (did he do the Barbatos section cause I honestly can't tell?) with the huge fight sequence was done pretty well. He's no Frank Quitely in terms of pacing it but it is impressive to see so many panels in two pages.
Then we have the art to talk about in terms of the negatives. When Chris Burnham's sections come into play, it totally destroys anything that came before it. He is not even close to Stewart's style and Bruce looks like he's from Frank Miller's 'Dark Knight Returns' rather then being in the present. Then when you transfer to Irving, it gets even really messy here. Frazier Irving has done a fantastic job with the previous arc, no doubt about it. There are shades of brilliance here (like the doll gang advancing on Pyg) but there are some really weak pages here. The ending sequence that Irving does is just so cringe worthy to look at. Look at those faces! Not even close to what Irviing was delivering early on in the issue.
With the story, I am just disappointed overall with it. Especially with the end. With all of these fantastic ideas Morrison has done for the character, the best thing he could do is pull an Iron Man on us? What purpose does it serve to have Bruce say he is the financial benifactor for Batman? Why does he have to tell people this? Couldn't the expansion of Batman be kept a secret? Totally feels out of character for Bruce and the premise for INC now looks a bit wonky after reading this
So in recap: The Good would be Stewart's fight sequence, Bruce commenting on the strangeness of the whole situation. The Bad? Everything else. The mix of three completely artists hurt the flow of the comic and even some of the pages look pretty rushed (especially Irving's). The story is pretty incomprehensible and the fate of Dr. Hurt is pretty disappointing as well. The icing on the (crappy) cake would be the weak premise that Morrison gives to his new series Batman INC in the end of this issue. Whether it be lateness or not; the overall end of this issue is a huge disappointing to such an amazing run on Batman so far for Morrison.
Art: 2 - Average
so here’s your critique: The continuity was messed up
i cannot phantom your issues
"The story is pretty incomprehensible"
C’mon, dude. You read and seemingly obsessed (at least a bit) over Morrison’s whole run. You should be able to understand MOST of what happened. You were never one of those "Morrison’s incomprehensible" complainists. Maybe in the last few months you’ve became so focused on publishing and lateness that you got distracted from focusing on the story. I guess DC does bear some blame, but when it comes to actually reading the comics, it’s on you if at that point you’re still too distracted by side-matters to really evaluate what you’ve got in your hands. If at this point you thought B&R 16 was "incomprehensible", that then right there proves that you were too distracted by lateness and it hurt your ability to understand and enjoy the comics. I’m just sayin’.’
"and the fate of Dr. Hurt is pretty disappointing as well."
The Joker buries him in a casket, which links up metaphorically to how Hurt buried Bruce in R.I.P. and to how the Joker buried the real Oberon Sexton (shown in B&R 13). It’s real poetic justice.
Actually all the parallels about coffins/boxes really reverberated in this issue. The isolation chamber being like a coffin. And the Joker’s comment in R.I.P. about Batman always "building a bigger box" seems more important now.
*EDIT: We don’t know for sure what Joker did with the casket he put Hurt in. I’m just assuming he buried it. The important thing is that the Joker put Hurt in a box and wisked the box away (isolated it).
I had a hard time making out some parts of this issue too. The art was all over the place. I had to go online and ask people what the hell happened in some parts. Like why would Pyg’s Dollotrons attack him after he’d been in control of them ALL THAT TIME?! So confusing. And is Hurt Thomas Wayne or NOT?! When are they gonna tell us? Why do they keep stalling if this whole segment is over and we’re supposed to be moving on into INC like Amazing Spidey is moving into Big Time?
Hopefully reading ROBW #6 will clear up a few things because I really want to like the end of this story that I’ve been SO INTO since I started reading the Batman & Son TPB.
And this was definitely Irving’s WORST stuff I’ve seen him do on Batman. I wish Stewart had time to do the whole issue. Stuff would’ve been so much easier to make out.
@robbydzwonar Dr.Hurt is not Thomas Wayne, not only was it shown in this issue, but in Return of Bruce Wayne #5
Fair enough that you don’t like the changes in art throughout that book, to each his own, but in terms of story you only seem to have reviewed the fight scene (which you liked) and the ending (which you hated) while ignorinbg everything else.
The story just ISN’T ‘incomprehensible’. I’m sorry, but there is nothing in this issue that doesn’t make sense. THIS is the issue everyone had been waiting for where we find everything out (well, apart from exactly how Bruce dealt with not destroying the world, but that’s a different story for next week) that people have complained about not knowing. We now know EXACTLY who Simon Hurt is and exactly how he came to be! We now know how everything from Batman & Son up until this point unfolded!
I have no problem with you not liking the issue or the direction for Inc., to each their own, but to say the issue is incomprehensible is just… Well, inaccurate…
"I seriously can’t phantom why this came out first."
Heh heh. Thinking of another word?
Maybe you should switch to reading trades if your gonna have such a bug up your but about delays
I’ll probably make the reading experience more enjoyable for you
Totally with you saying this issue was incomprehensible, but I’m surprised you say that as a negative. This is pretty much how all G-Mo’s Batman stuff has been since R.I.P. (disjointed, pretentious shite) & you have always liked it. I remember you saying you enjoyed being confused & lost by his stuff & liked it, even when you didn’t understand it — why was this issue any different?
@TNC I find your honest opinion refreshing. Before I sit down and read this issue, I plan to read from #13 on to see how it comes together.I’m not reading ROBW or any of the one-shots and I wonder if morrison made any attempt to include the readers that are just picking up Batman and Robin in explaining Bruce’s return.how’d it happen? How did Dick &DAmian find out about it?
Jesse1125: Batman and Robin tells one complete story and Return Of Bruce Wayne tells another. Have you read Age Of Apocalypse? It’s kind of like that…stories being intertwined with each other that reference each other, but stand up completely on their own. The books can be read in any sequential order you like, as long as you finish with Batman: The Return.
By saying he has been financing Batman all this time, I think Bruce used it as a preface to his Batman Inc., because he plans on funding it publicly this time. Since he’s gonna be transparent with Batman Inc. now, it is like an explanation for his plan, that he is merely being consistent with his past actions, but this time it will be out in the open, so to me it does serve a purpose.