Enter the Bat-son

Book: Batman and Son

Pen: Grant Morrison

Pencil: Andy Kubert

How much can one avoid spoilers with a title like that? Batman has a son and the DC Universe will never be the same again. Grant Morrison has a creation that is likely to stand the test of time.

Morrison begins his Bat-saga with a bang indeed. Starting off with the misleadingly-titled Building a Better Batmobile, the book lands you in the middle of a Joker-Batman confrontation. You are lulled into believing the Joker is the main villain and stifling a yawn when things turn drastically. Batman takes a gun and shoots the Joker, exactly when Batman leaps on the former. What? You might ask. Trust me that is a panel that needs careful attention.

Once the Joker is neutralised, as per Alfred's suggestion it's time for Bruce Wayne, billionaire playboy. Attending an exhibition in London, Bruce becomes enamoured with Jezebel Jet, an African supermodel-turned-ruler. However, it cannot last long as the place is attacked by man-bats. Yup, told you Morrison could go all weird. Despite being overpowered, Batman knows that he is being kept alive. And in walks Talia, the daughter of Ra's Al Ghul. And she introduces him to Damian, their offspring.

The dynamics between Batman and the present Robin – Tim Drake – undergoes a big change. The family situation at the Batcave is not very good. Damian turns out to be a terror and Tim is injured. But Batman also learns of Talia's plans. End of the first chapter, so to say.

Next is a long story with a few pictures. It is called The Clown at Midnight and we know that the Joker is not completely going to be away. Morrison shows his prose skills, but the art is not very accessible. We are back to comic format with the Three Ghosts of Batman, one of whom we already met – shooting the Joker. Bruce is reminded of his Black Casebook, where he kept a record of his strangest cases. Rest assured, this is not our Black Casebook graphic novel. The background of the Three Ghosts will come out later. We also see the first appearance of Zur-En-Arrh, in the form of graffiti. The book ends with a story set years in the future with a new Batman.

Damian, of course, is the big standout in this book. Would he be a wish-fulfilment for all the Bat-fans who don't like that Batman does not kill? Would he remain an annoying brat and face an end similar to Jason Todd? Would he end up being out of the canon? Grant Morrison screams a big Yes to all those questions. But we do not know yet what he has up his sleeve.

It is very hard to stop with Batman and Son. The rumblings of an epic may be distant, but it is there. But there is a cracking good story that you want to know more about. Strap on the seat belts. folks. The ride may be bumpy, but you have got to take it.