PREVIEW: Batman, Incorporated #7

[SicSexSix]

I think Kathy will come down on the side of the angels. What did Retro say, Red hood, red dress, red shoes, red herring? She's smarter, older, and richer then Bruce. So it makes sense to me that her Spyral would be something like Batwoman Inc. Though it's sad DC's editors have robbed of us of any possibility of seeing all the Bat-ladies drop in together.

Y'know, if you're right, we very well COULD see something to that effect, it'd be one HELL of a way to reintroduce Steph (and explain where she's been) if Kathy drops in with a group of Bat-ladies to save the day.

[darkseidpwns]

I think Kathy will come down on the side of the angels. What did Retro say, Red hood, red dress, red shoes, red herring? She's smarter, older, and richer then Bruce. So it makes sense to me that her Spyral would be something like Batwoman Inc. Though it's sad DC's editors have robbed of us of any possibility of seeing all the Bat-ladies drop in together.

Smarter and richer than Bruce? um when did that happen?

[Kiryu]

Smarter and richer than Bruce? um when did that happen?

It was a quote from the Kathy Kane issue of Inc volume 1, not me making an actual claim.

[Kiryu]

Y'know, if you're right, we very well COULD see something to that effect, it'd be one HELL of a way to reintroduce Steph (and explain where she's been) if Kathy drops in with a group of Bat-ladies to save the day.

They really should let Steph and Cass be in Inc before the end. It's just petty Didio nonsense that they aren't a part of this story.

[Judo Grip Batman]

I think Kathy will come down on the side of the angels. What did Retro say, Red hood, red dress, red shoes, red herring? She's smarter, older, and richer then Bruce. So it makes sense to me that her Spyral would be something like Batwoman Inc. Though it's sad DC's editors have robbed of us of any possibility of seeing all the Bat-ladies drop in together.

Oh man! You've made me so excited for this possibility I will be apocalyptically disappointed if it doesn't happen :(

Also...what do you guys think of the possibility that Ellie (she who escaped the Leviathan-brainwashed security guard) will play a small, but crucial role in disrupting Talia's plans and helping Bruce save the day after all? She seems to be the one factor Talia's detailed plan hasn't accounted for, and it'd be kind of cool after Batman got her off the streets in the first part of Morrison's run in the first place. What did Alfred say in Batman Inc. # 0? "It all comes around in the end."

[Kiryu]

Oh man! You've made me so excited for this possibility I will be apocalyptically disappointed if it doesn't happen :(

Also...what do you guys think of the possibility that Ellie (she who escaped the Leviathan-brainwashed security guard) will play a small, but crucial role in disrupting Talia's plans and helping Bruce save the day after all? She seems to be the one factor Talia's detailed plan hasn't accounted for, and it'd be kind of cool after Batman got her off the streets in the first part of Morrison's run in the first place. What did Alfred say in Batman Inc. # 0? "It all comes around in the end."

I think it's a certainty. She's going to have something to do before it's all said and done.

[Judo Grip Batman]

I think it's a certainty. She's going to have something to do before it's all said and done.

Ellie...the recently introduced spunky young female character that fans actually care about!

[Kiryu]

Ellie...the recently introduced spunky young female character that fans actually care about!

Hah, half a decade is recent now?! She's certainly made it through the reboot with the fewest changes out of all the Bat-characters though!

[Retro315]

I think Kathy will come down on the side of the angels. What did Retro say, Red hood, red dress, red shoes, red herring? She's smarter, older, and richer then Bruce. So it makes sense to me that her Spyral would be something like Batwoman Inc. Though it's sad DC's editors have robbed of us of any possibility of seeing all the Bat-ladies drop in together.

Pfft, I think if Morrison really wanted to do that, go all out campy-awesome on the whole Batwoman, Inc. parallel and have this hardcore cavalry of Kathy, Kate, Babs, Steph, Cass, and screw it, why not, Bette save the day, he'd do it, continuity-be-damned. There's already like nine examples in Inc. Volume 2 of him just ignoring New 52 continuity. Metamorpho's history with the JLA, the hijinx of Leviathan Strikes where Stephanie Brown had to be included, as Batgirl, despite the New 52 having already happened, Damian's very existence, Talia's entire backstory issue that was soaked all the way through in continuity.

That's not to say he will, just to say that it's a totally cool idea and if he wanted to, he would. I recall the interview where he mentioned that he had Cass/Steph plans for this volume and that Editorial didn't want him to use them - but after the online nonsense between hardcore fans and DC Editorial, the fact that it was Grant who brought back Cass in the first place, as Black Bat, etc ... them seeing the error of their ways (or just being big teases) wouldn't surprise me. Plus, nothing says he can't still use Babs but she's conspicuously missing from action lately.

As for Bronze Tiger, he wasn't "truly" an Assassin. He was brainwashed by Sensei because he's DC's premiere martial artist, and wouldn't have fond memories of the League. Still, Talia did make a point of mentioning him recently ("Faster than Bronze Tiger or Merlyn?") so I do feel like if he's going to show up, it'll definitely be when Kathy reveals herself. As for Bronze Tiger himself, what's his last appearance? That amazing Ostrander/Simone Secret Six/Suicide Squad crossover, right? Bronze Tiger vs. Catman. God I miss Catman.

[ispacehead]

Yup, only one panel, in shadow. She was looking over Steph's file, and her hair was black, so we know it wasn't Talia.

As I recall she was sitting behind a desk in deep shadow and her hair color was not discernable. She did appear to be wearing glasses I think, and seemed to have her hair back.

I'll have to look again.

Kathy, seen later in Leviathan Strikes has her hair flowing back untied.

[Retro315]

Ellie...the recently introduced spunky young female character that fans actually care about!

I think it's a safe bet. Ellie is a primo example of the "Gandalf Method" of heroism that Batman often utilizes - the small, kind acts that result in some kind of unforeseen turning point in a war.

[DrSimonHurt]

I'm glad there's been no real contradiction to Steph as Batgirl in volume 1. In my mind, she was at least put in the costume temporarily by Bruce for that specific mission, even if her own book and stint aren't in continuity anymore.

[Cooped]

It seems to me that there is a panel/page 'missing'..on the page with Gordon saying 'We can't shoot kids..' The new guy is blatantly about to attack Dick. Next we see Dick, he's on the floor and Gordon is shooting the new guy ..I guess as readers we
Can infer that happened off panel, but it seems strange that it wasn't shown 'on screen' the new guy revealing his loyalty to Leviathan..


Anyone think Man-of-Bats or Batman of Japan will show up?
I doubt it, but hope so..

I agree with the Ellie thing, she will serve some small, helpful function.

[ViewtifulJC]

There are some typically clever Morrisonian phrases and economical storytelling, but overall, this issue simply gets all his dominoes lined up. It’s not bad, but you can definitely see the strings are being pulled for the climax. The Ellie scene, although I'm happy to see her, was kinda stupid. Not just because once again some more bad fill-in art, but she gets away because...the bad guys are incompetent? Uh...ok then

It's an issue that'll read better in trades, I think.

[Filip]

Beside all the wonderful comebacks (Spidra, Traktir, Ellie!:), this issue surprised me how it was just straight action jam.
Loved red and black tiles and surprise, surprise callback to R.I.P., but this time, instead of burying him, Talia "offs" him Houdini style.
Damian was puttin' me to nap with his "let's explain the reader what Mama did, why I'm gonna save you all and what Robin really means" so bad I wanted to lie down with his animals and say "Go outside already, but get home before 10." Shocked that he was pretty predictable and weak element of the issue.
With all this talk about Dami's head is on the chopping block and Heretic quick origin, I can't shake the feeling that Heretic might be Batman666. It would serve nicely as one of Grant's lovely ideas about bad to good evolution.
Talia marching in Wayne's "capitalist pride and sex power" building was a definite highlight for me.

Morrison's whole run has a subtext of dangers to children inherent in the whole Bat-Club, but "Leviathan", and Incorporated even at its most 1960s Pop Spy phase, is a story about mothers, same way the R.I.P. era was about fathers, and the Batman and Robin era was about brothers. The dark father was put to rest. The dark brother was brought back into the fold. We've already seen that women are capable of getting the better of Bruce - Kathy Webb - and the potential for equivalence from Kate Kane. Not to mention that Bruce is actually less protective of his female allies, and trusts them with broader missions.

Very illuminating. You made me realize how Kathy and Talia are alike in one instance> their villain fathers and coming to terms with their legacy.

But the vast majority of his female allies are conspicuously missing now, as his greatest female enemy, jealous of all women who come near him, comes for his head?

That hurts a little in this nu52 landscape. Okay, not little, a lot.