Status
Available
Call number
Publication
DC Comics (1994), Edition: 2695th
Description
Tying into his other blockbuster stories of 2008 Final Crisis and Batman, "The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul," the legendary Grant Morrison confronts readers with the unthinkable...the death of The Dark Knight. The troubled life of Bruce Wayne seems to spin out of control when his relationship with the mysterious Jezebel Jet deepens. Soon, Bruce Wayne drops out completely, having seemingly become the victim of mental illness, and abandons his Batman identity for a life on the streets of Gotham City. Capitalizing on the fall of their greatest foe, the Club of Villains begin a crime spree through the streets of Gotham that threatens to bring the city to its knees.
Collection
Original publication date
2008 (Original Run)
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User reviews
LibraryThing member paradoxosalpha
Although published as a fancy "deluxe" hardcover graphic novel, this collection of eight Batman comics is rather dependent on plot elements developed by writer Morrison in earlier numbers. (Notably: Batman's son Damian, a love interest Jezebel Jet, the Black Hand crime sodality, and Dr. Hurt.) Even
Still, there's a lot of worthwhile inventiveness here, as I would expect from Morrison. The third and fourth issues of the sequence were my favorites, with the "hazardous personal odyssey" of Honor Jackson, and the unveiling of the "Batman of Zur-en-arrh." ("Bat-mite?" I thought, "Are you kidding me?" But Morrison pulls it off.)
Tony Daniels gets the lead art credit, and the illustration seems competent on the whole, with panels and pages that communicate the action effectively, and certainly exhibit the dark and gritty mood required. Still, I can't help suspecting that some artistic invention could have helped to solve the basic comprehensibility problems in this book.
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within this sequence, the developments can be very difficult to follow: the story is concerned with attempts to destroy Batman through psychological manipulation, and there are few cues to help the reader distinguish between fantasy sequences, false memories, alternate histories, and the "objective plot." Both actuality and temporality are often displaced, giving the reader perhaps a slightly greater share of Batman's own confusion than would best facilitate the story.Still, there's a lot of worthwhile inventiveness here, as I would expect from Morrison. The third and fourth issues of the sequence were my favorites, with the "hazardous personal odyssey" of Honor Jackson, and the unveiling of the "Batman of Zur-en-arrh." ("Bat-mite?" I thought, "Are you kidding me?" But Morrison pulls it off.)
Tony Daniels gets the lead art credit, and the illustration seems competent on the whole, with panels and pages that communicate the action effectively, and certainly exhibit the dark and gritty mood required. Still, I can't help suspecting that some artistic invention could have helped to solve the basic comprehensibility problems in this book.
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LibraryThing member TurtleKnitta
Although interesting, I found Morrison's plot to be more confusing than anything. The storyline required some level of abstraction, but eventually the extreme confusion got in the way of any enjoyment. After I've read some more backstory, I may go back and try it again.
LibraryThing member burnit99
Let's see... Bruce Wayne has recently recovered from a traumativ mind-bending experience, he has a new girlfriend, Jezebel Jet who is privy to his secret, and he is obsessed with the Black Glove. What follows is a series of psychological attacks upon what drives the Batman, and there is a rather
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complex rogue's gallery of former and present foes and allies, including Bat-Mite (?). There are some pretty powerful scenes here, and some pretty convincing portrayals of Batman's surreal preparedness and resilience. But the storyline itself is too layered and convoluted. Maybe it's worth the effort to puzzle out all the hidden meanings of the plot, but I have my doubts. Show Less
LibraryThing member wethewatched
Morrison continues to alienate by exploring the most obscure aspects of Batman history in "Batman: R.I.P." A major plot point requires knowledge of "The Batman of Zur-En-Arrh," a character that appeared once in a comic from 1958. Bat-Mite, who to my knowledge also hasn't appeared since the '50s,
The book makes even less sense if you haven't read all the Morrison-penned Batman comics preceding this, including "Batman and Son" and "The Black Glove." I read those, and Batman R.I.P. still barely makes sense. Oh, and if you want a real conclusion to this book, you actually also have to read Final Crisis.
The apparent "death" of Batman here is not nearly as satisfying as two previous Batman stories in which a villain manages to break the Dark Knight: Namely, "Batman: Knightfall" and "Batman: The Cult."
Unless you are really into spiritual philosophy and get a kick out references to weird sci-fi comics from the 1950s, skip ahead to Scott Snyder's excellent work on Batman.
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also plays a prominent role. It feels as if Morrison is writing for himself and not his readers.The book makes even less sense if you haven't read all the Morrison-penned Batman comics preceding this, including "Batman and Son" and "The Black Glove." I read those, and Batman R.I.P. still barely makes sense. Oh, and if you want a real conclusion to this book, you actually also have to read Final Crisis.
The apparent "death" of Batman here is not nearly as satisfying as two previous Batman stories in which a villain manages to break the Dark Knight: Namely, "Batman: Knightfall" and "Batman: The Cult."
Unless you are really into spiritual philosophy and get a kick out references to weird sci-fi comics from the 1950s, skip ahead to Scott Snyder's excellent work on Batman.
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LibraryThing member rickklaw
Rubbish. Except for the pretty Tony Daniel artwork, this book was a complete waste of time. Nonsensical tale that was ultimately pointless.
LibraryThing member francomega
Disappointing. I expected this to be more of a game-changer, not just another woe-is-me Batman is a tortured soul story. Art is excellent, especially the depiction of the Joker. Guess I'm not a big Grant Morrison fan, at least not his work with this character.
LibraryThing member DavidDunkerton
Batman: R.I.P. is a really complicated story because the bad guys are toying with Batman's mind in an effort to clone him, and at the end it's hard to tell what actually happened and what were implanted memories. From what I can tell, though, Batman is not dead at the end, Thomas Wayne was not a
In addition to keeping you glued to the page, it gives a great summary of all the important parts of the Batman storyline, including Richard Grayson becoming Robin and then Nightwing, Jason Todd becoming Robin and being killed by the Joker, Barbara Gordon being shot and paralyzed, and Tim Drake becoming Robin.
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sinister villain, and Bruce Wayne is still Batman. I may have to read it a few times to really understand what is going on. In addition to keeping you glued to the page, it gives a great summary of all the important parts of the Batman storyline, including Richard Grayson becoming Robin and then Nightwing, Jason Todd becoming Robin and being killed by the Joker, Barbara Gordon being shot and paralyzed, and Tim Drake becoming Robin.
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LibraryThing member MrzDee
Everyone thinks Batman is dead, this organization called Black Glove united together to finish off Batman so crime could continue in Gotham City. Black Glove goes after Batmans beloved family and friends, but Batman in the end goes underground. Nightwing takes his place as Batman in the end the
Grant Morrison best Graphic Novel to date. The illustrations are vintage Batman some of the best work I have seen both in color and illustrations. Batman followers are sure to enjoy.
An activity you could do with your class is Batman trivia. You could write about what they think will happen to Batman.
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future is unknown. Grant Morrison best Graphic Novel to date. The illustrations are vintage Batman some of the best work I have seen both in color and illustrations. Batman followers are sure to enjoy.
An activity you could do with your class is Batman trivia. You could write about what they think will happen to Batman.
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LibraryThing member Girl_Detective
Better for regular readers of the many series rather than intermittent ones, like me.
LibraryThing member ptdilloway
It was a lot less impenetrable than I'd feared it might be. Overall a fun trip that shows just how thorough Batman really is.
LibraryThing member Bradley_Kramer
The Joker joins up with the Black Glove. Batman loses his marbles. Nightwing is captured, but escapes in time to help Batman in the end. Robin summons the club of superheroes (those Batmen of all nations from the previous installments of Grant Morrison's Batman epic). Damian and Talia al Ghul
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return and avenge the attack on Batman, who was last seen jumping onto a helicopter piloted by a man who has been leading the Black Glove and claimed to be Bruce Wayne's father. Dick Grayson is left holding the cowl in the end. The book ends with an epilogue from Alfred's perspective, a review of Bruce Wayne's life as Batman and what could have been had his parents not been murdered. Next is Final Crisis and Time and the Batman. Let's get in the DeLorean and go back in time. Show Less
LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin
In Batman: R.I.P., the Caped Crusader faces off against the mysterious Black Glove group whose members are working in tandem with Batman's arch-nemesis the Joker. As their deadly dance continues, Bruce Wayne/The Batman begins to question his own sanity.
I don't recall any longer what made me want
Some pluses of the book were artwork done well and the fact that it reads quickly, as long as you don't spend too much time puzzling over story arcs that transcend this title.
I don't recall any longer what made me want
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to read this book other than general buzz surrounding it. I've heard good things about Grant Morrison in general (and enjoyed his joint venture 52) and this book was purportedly a new and inventive take on the Batman series. What I found was a very convoluted story that's entirely tied up with other books in the series. It frequently occurs in these big franchises that story arcs beginning in one book crop up again in another and I don't mind being a tiny bit confused or missing some Easter eggs. But with this book, it's rather difficult to figure out what's going on without knowledge of other Batman titles written by Morrison. I found myself rather befuddled throughout the book and had to look up the book's synopsis online after reading it to actually understand various plot points and characters. Due to the story's nature of playing on the theme of Batman's relative sanity / insanity after years of wearing a disguise and chasing down twisted villains, it's at times difficult to know what is reality and what is illusion or hallucination in this book, especially within its epilogue. All and all, it makes for a reading experience that is less than pleasant and not something I wanted out this book. Other people may enjoy it if they go in with different expectations and more knowledge of the Batman universe, especially as conceived by Morrison.Some pluses of the book were artwork done well and the fact that it reads quickly, as long as you don't spend too much time puzzling over story arcs that transcend this title.
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LibraryThing member SESchend
Batman RIP: WTH?
Morrison's capable of doing incredible things (Doom Patrol, Invisibles), but his Batman work is a bit off the rails from the get-go. Not recommended.
Morrison's capable of doing incredible things (Doom Patrol, Invisibles), but his Batman work is a bit off the rails from the get-go. Not recommended.
LibraryThing member hskey
I'm sort of conflicted on this one, though part of that is due to the fact that I've read 16 or 17 Batman Graphic Novels in a row and I might just be Batman'd out.
On the one hand, the art style is outstanding - some of the full spread images I had to just pause and admire the lining, the colors
On the other hand, I find the images don't tell the story very well, if that makes sense. I was frequently confused about who was talking, or what the context of the images were showing. I suppose that sort of goes in line with Bruce Wayne's journey in this one, but I don't think it meshed as well as I'd liked.
I also feel like I've sort of read/seen this version of Batman story before...because I probably sort of have? Not really this specific book's fault. Still, Batman is still Batman and it's going to have to really crap the bed in order for it not to be entertaining and this was pretty entertaining.
On the one hand, the art style is outstanding - some of the full spread images I had to just pause and admire the lining, the colors
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and the shadows. Gotham in particular looks great here. Some of the Joker imagery is stellar, as well. On the other hand, I find the images don't tell the story very well, if that makes sense. I was frequently confused about who was talking, or what the context of the images were showing. I suppose that sort of goes in line with Bruce Wayne's journey in this one, but I don't think it meshed as well as I'd liked.
I also feel like I've sort of read/seen this version of Batman story before...because I probably sort of have? Not really this specific book's fault. Still, Batman is still Batman and it's going to have to really crap the bed in order for it not to be entertaining and this was pretty entertaining.
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LibraryThing member ennuiprayer
Batman R.I.P. is one of those collections that had me flipping backward through the panels, inspecting each panel for something that will lead me to understand its conclusion before I get to it. Much like Watchmen - and at the same time, very much unlike it - Batman R.I.P. allots you a lot of
The superb writing is greatly complimented by the awesome artwork. The sinister Joker's qualities are intensified within these pages, reminiscent of something diabolical - at times, I swear I could picture Marilyn Manson's face (even though, he's probably the least diabolical singer in the "industry"). The torn identities carried by Bruce Wayne/Batman, the loyalties between family and friends - they all play the part of who we are and who we want to be and what we use in order to stay sane.
Batman R.I.P. won't find it hard to garner a place within the Gotham mythos and the canon of comic book fans everywhere. It should be read by anyone wanting to know how to write a story, be it prose, script or a graphic novel.
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important information in small doses.The superb writing is greatly complimented by the awesome artwork. The sinister Joker's qualities are intensified within these pages, reminiscent of something diabolical - at times, I swear I could picture Marilyn Manson's face (even though, he's probably the least diabolical singer in the "industry"). The torn identities carried by Bruce Wayne/Batman, the loyalties between family and friends - they all play the part of who we are and who we want to be and what we use in order to stay sane.
Batman R.I.P. won't find it hard to garner a place within the Gotham mythos and the canon of comic book fans everywhere. It should be read by anyone wanting to know how to write a story, be it prose, script or a graphic novel.
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Call number
IBF