Random story: my training at the station involves me working on the Rush Limbaugh show. Our station airs his show live via satellite and during his commercials I turn the volume down on the satellite playing his ads and play our local ads. Rush is a big blubbering idiot who regularly runs past his alloted speaking time, so I've basically learned to tune his show out until they play the "ding" that signals that it's time for a commercial. Anyway, the past week, Rush has been complaining saying that the villain of the upcoming Batman flick The Dark Knight Rises, Bane, is a "liberal attack on Mitt Romney." I don't discuss politics, but how can you NOT think that's one of the stupidest things ever said?
That was a cool story, bro, I know, and I'll tell it again sometime but I thought it fit in here since I discuss comic books and Bane is a comic villain.
Now, let's review some random comics!
Batman Incorporated #1 (purchased May 23, 2012)
This was a "NEW!" New 52 comic, coming out well after the original 52 New 52 comics. The reason? Some of the other New 52s sucked and weren't generating sales, so MOAR BATMAN. I've already dropped multiple Batman titles, will this be one? So anyway, this issue begins with Bruce Wayne and Alfred standing in a graveyard while Bruce tells Alfred that Batman is through. Then cops come to arrest him. Welp. We go back a month to see Batman and Robin chase a guy wearing a goat mask through a slaughterhouse. Then other slaughterhouse, err, slaughterers reveal their own bovine masks. So Batman and Robin beat all of them up until a sniper kills one of them, though he was gunning for Robin. We then see Batman and Robin give chase to other thugs interluded with a weird villain called "Leviathan," a dude who is basically Skeltor in dull capes with Man-Bat servants, who eats meat with people and forces them to "all be one." What is he going to turn them into a Human Centipede or something? Also, we learn that the sniper dude calls himself Goatboy, his wife has died from breat cancer, and he's looking to assassinate Robin to obtain a huge bounty that would have him and his son living peacefully forever without childcare agencies breathing down their necks. So he tracks Batman and Robin as they beat up some random thugs, but Batman gets the one-up on him. However, Goatboy shoots Batman in the head (he's alright due to a protective mask) and then gets Robin as his protective hood is down. The issue ends with Batman holding Robin, who appears to be dead. Meanwhile, a bunch of dudes who Leviathan assumes are dead are actually not dead, and they meet in the basement of a sex shop in San Francisco in a completely random segment. The stuff with Batman and Robin and Goatboy were fine, but everything else was really freaking stupid. Skeletors and Man Bats? Meh. Let's see if the next issue picks up... RIGHT NOW!
Batman Incorporated #2 (purchased June 27, 2012)
Yep, it picks up, although I could see how people think this issue might be boring. This issue basically is a backstory for Talia Al Ghul, daughter of Ras Al Ghul, and their relationship. Talia was the mysterious person who placed the half billion dollar bounty on Robin that Goatboy took. We are basically told that Talia wanted to have a nice, functional family with Bruce and their son, Damian (Robin), but Bruce declined, so Talia is out for revenge. We see her growing up, being trained in lethal Martial Arts and seeing Ras Al Ghul use the Lazarus pits for the first time. She encounters her mother, thought to be dead, for the first time, and despite constantly harassing her father over her mother's information and whereabouts, Ras remains silent. He gives her everything she wants, except information on her mother. One day in college, Talia allows herself to be abducted by some guy who hates her father, but she's rescued by Batman, and we get a glimpse of Ras training Batman to be the next heir of his empire. Talia sees through the rouse and basically uses Batman to bear her child Damian. We get back to the present day where Talia goes to Ras' lair and reveals her plan to her father. Her father seems impressed, giving her his full attention for the first time ever. Things seem to be getting worse for Batman. This issue was a lot better than ytthe first, although I only say that because I hated the Leviathan stuff. I LOVED the Goatboy story and his assassination of Robin, and this backstory of Talia tied in with all of that. Though I must admit I would have liked to see more of Batman and the aftermath of Robin's supposed death in this issue, but I guess they're saving that for the next issue.
Overall, this series is off to a hot start, and hopefully it can maintain its momentum as Scott Snyder's Batman has. I'd rather not have to waste time reviewing another Detective Comics or Dark Knight New 52.
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