Just read Batman and Son/Black Glove

[NickFury90]

Holy crap that was super awesome. I'm not going to pretend like I understood everything(crazy hallucinations, some of that 666 issue, Batmite), but it was so interesting and exciting to read.

So, where do I go from here? Go straight to Batman RIP or Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul(even though I hear a bunch of mixed things about it, and I know the real conclusion of RIP is in Final Crisis)?

[T Hedge Coke]

I'm not as down on the Resurrection of You-Know-Ghul, but it isn't necessary to the story Morrison's laying out. I'd say jump right to RIP if you're buying, if you're using a library, read the other there and then RIP.

The real conclusion to RIP is in RIP. Things continue to happen to Batman/Bruce after that. But it's like saying the "real conclusion" to the Dark Phoenix Saga is X-Factor #42. RIP isn't, by any means, the last we (will) see of Bruce Wayne.

The two issues following RIP do take place during Final Crisis, but they aren't impenetrable/nonsensical as a story without the broader perspective that FC would give you.

[NickFury90]

Just finished RIP. Didn't enjoy quite as much as the first two volumes, but it was very interesting, and I actually wasn't bothered by the fact that I didn't quite understand everything that was going on(which was quite the opposite on his New X-men run, with all its zany ideas, odd characterizations, and inconsistent artwork). Also, I'm pretty sure Dr.Hurt was the Devil, but whatever. I valued the journey over the actual the destination.

I greatly look forward to All-Star Bat--oops I mean Batman and Robin

[nepenthes]

I just found out there's a Black Casebook tpb being released in June - a collection of the Silver Age stories Morrison drew on for his run. Should be a good companion

Discover the stories that inspired recent events in the Batman universe with this new collection! Featuring stories from BATMAN #65, 86, 112, 113, 134, 156 and 162, DETECTIVE COMICS #215, 235, 247 and 267, and WORLD'S FINEST COMICS #89. With an intro by Grant Morrison.

[Captain Jim]

The real conclusion to RIP is in RIP. Things continue to happen to Batman/Bruce after that.

Agreed. Didio's earlier statements to that effect are extremely misleading. Morrison has confirmed that RIP ended exactly as he intended. Bruce's "death" in FC was Didio's idea. Chronologically, FC falls between RIP and B&R, but it is not an essential bridge between the two. (Actually, I'd argue that BFTC is a more important link, even though Morrison isn't involved with it.)

[NickFury90]

Either way he's "dead", and it left Nightwing holding that cape at the end for a cool bit of foreshadowing.

[Christopher Cross Is God]

Avoid "Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul" like the plague, and go straight to RIP.