Thank you, Grant, for giving us back THE BATMEN OF MANY NATIONS.

This is exactly what comics needed, even if they didn’t know it yet. But now…now they do.

I need this comic to come out now. Actually, yesterday would be better.

So… who can translate the lettering in the background? I’m curious what it says.

Looks like Kato to me.

Morrison continues to impress.

While I like the overall idea of this series, “Criminals are a cowardly and superstitious lot” and that costume hardly evokes fear and intimidation.

I want to see Batman in Scandinavia. Imagine a new Wingman a la Inspector Wallander and a sidekick in full “The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo” mode??

Text on the left: “Batman” http://goo.gl/XdGR
Text on the right: “Unknown/Unidentified” http://goo.gl/OTBj

On the left it says – “Batsutoman” or in other words “Batman”. On the right, I’m not sure, because I’m rather weak with kanji, but the first one means “not yet” and the second one is very similar to kanji meaning “detailed”, but it’s just guessing on my part.

The “new” costume is growing on me with this image. He looks less “naked”. LOL

Left is phonetic rendering of ‘Batman’ in Japanese (‘battoman,’ not ‘batsutoman’); kanji compound at right means ‘unknown’ or ‘unidentified.’

First, big fan of Yanick’s work. As Bill points out, tough, that new character’s costume has some challenges.

In addition to not looking scary, those slippers look like the male equivalent of high heel shoes. Bat’s new boots are kicking and, in comparison, make the new guy’s slippers look really outdated and (borderline offensively) stereotypical. Hopefully, an explanation/justification is provided in the book.

Otherwise, more DCU characters from Asia are a great thing.

Batman is wearing a cup on his groin. Jeez… I do like the details on the gloves and boot. The yellow oval’s return is a welcomed one, and its visually interesting how its now raised and covered by ( clear plastic?). Maybe it lights up? The pouches are nice, but DC should lose the bat logo buckle. This is not Batman Forever. The seams on his chest looks off, like it doesnt fit with the whole costume. DC should lose that too.

As for the whole Batman Inc story line, i frankly think its nonsense. This is not the Green Lantern Corps. How do you franchise the ‘installing fear into the hearts of criminal” gig?

I know, why not let Bruce go ahead with this nonsense for a few issues, and then have it blow up in his face? Then he could turn around and admit it was a mistake, and that he’s actually suffering from post traumatic stress, what with all the stuff he went through these past couple of years.

I just had a thought. The first image form Batman, Inc., presumably # 1, was released a little while back, the image with Batman and Catwoman in movement through the air with a large robotic figure beside them. The text reads “Mr. Unknown is Dead.” The Japanese behind the guy beside Batman on the cover to issue # 2 reads “Unknown.” Is the mystery of the identity of the apparently deceased Mr. Unknown unfolding before us?

Steve Rogers dies and his former sidekick takes over Cap

Bruce Wayne dies and his former sidekick takes over as Batman

Steve Rogers isnt dead but is jumping through time

Bruce Wayne isnt dead but is jumping through time

Steve Rogers returns but lets his former sidekick continue as Cap

Bruce Wayne returns but lets his former sidekick continue as Batman

Steve Rogers gets a costume change.

Bruce Wayne gets a costume change.

And bla bla bla.

DC, please end this TOXIC writing and do something thats worth our money.

Personally I’m not really feeling this whole Bruce goes around to different countries and trains more Batmen. I do hope that somehow Grant Morrison can make me change my mind.

Batman in Sweden would be wicked!!!! I would be over the moon for a teary eyed Wingman and a hacker kid (aka “Swedish Robin”) .

@Zul

You seem to forget that Dick already took over the role as Batman during the KnightsEnd aftermath storyline “Prodigal”. …So, in other words, the Bat did it first.

Also, superheroes change costumes all the time. So that’s no big deal.

The only significant similarity is that they were both lost in time.

I think Zul is having a bit of Hissy-Fit.

Thanks Grant

for giving me more reasons to stay away from Batman.

I’m sure I can find better ways to spend my money.

Batman Inc. ?? really …………..

@Zul In addition to Dick having already been batman before, we knew that Batman was jumping around in time long before they revealed that Cap was doing it. It’s very clear at the end of Final Crisis that Batman is back in time. But regardless, as long as either are entertaining stories, I don’t care who does what first.

I can’t wait for this book. It looks like it is going to be so much fun.

Zul
September 15, 2010 at 2:01 pm

“Steve Rogers dies and his former sidekick takes over Cap

Bruce Wayne dies and his former sidekick takes over as Batman

Steve Rogers isnt dead but is jumping through time

Bruce Wayne isnt dead but is jumping through time

Steve Rogers returns but lets his former sidekick continue as Cap

Bruce Wayne returns but lets his former sidekick continue as Batman

Steve Rogers gets a costume change.

Bruce Wayne gets a costume change.

And bla bla bla.

DC, please end this TOXIC writing and do something thats worth our money.”

Bruce’s adventures have been MUCH more interesting, daring, and entertaining imo. I like the parallel. Makes Marvel and DC seem like alternate worlds. Batman, Inc.!!!!!!

@Zul

Why would DC “end this toxic writing” when Batman by Morrison is one of their sales juggernauts. Also the reviews have been more positive than negative. If anything, DC is just letting the good times roll.

Yes, Morrison sells. But, at some point, when he leaves the Bat-titles DC will be left with a flagship character that’s a shadow of what he once was. All this Silver Age-Redux crap is destroying the character. YMMV of course.

At least having Morrison on Batman is saving me money, and that’s good.

@Zul

But Bruce is also still Batman. Now if you said, partner came back from the dead, and Jason Todd was the one in Dick’s place, I’d agree. This story has just been much better. I liked Bucky as Cap, but it got boring fast, and I hate his robot arm. And Reborn was just a mess. Batman and Robin and Return of Bruce Wayne have been amazing.

It could be argued that Bucky (the boy sidekick) is just a copy of Robin (the boy sidekick), anyway. So this whole X copied Y is pretty lame.

New guy looks a lot like Midnight from the original run of Master of Kung Fu. A whole lot.

Sweet googily moogily, that’s a nice cover.

You people make bold statements like “Morrison is destroying the character” but have NOTHING to back it up. Prove it!

honestly, all I think is, “meh”. I think this will be a classice bit of Morrison’s work. He’ll through tons of ideas agianst the wall, some of which will be great, some of which will be crap, and some will seem interesting and then fall flat. He’ll run off on tangents, leave massive plots dangling, and then finish the series with a story that doesn;t make much sense and doesn’t resolve much of anything.

Morrison is a writer that needs a smaller canvas to force him to contain himself. His limited series can be absolute genius. He hasn’t had a run on an ongoing series that didn’t disappoint me sense Animal Man.

New guy looks a lot like Midnight from the original run of Master of Kung Fu. A whole lot.

___________________________________

Holy crap, you’re right, he does look like Midnight Sun. The only difference between the 2 characters appearance is that Midnight Sun has a full face mask and full body suit. The only other physical differences between the 2 characters is that MS is a disfigured and is black (of African descent0, while this new Batman character is Asian.

Bruce Wayne is supposed to have limitless resources and access to the latest technology. So why cant he get his new recruit something proper to wear for crime fighting. That guy on the cover is from Japan right? Why cant he have a Power Rangers or Kamen Rider inspired Batsuit? Not looking like Kato in a cape and slippers. Or maybe thats his costume before being recruited by Bruce.

And yes, you all make fine arguments on the storyline. Kudos

As always, there’s a slight tinge of xenophobia whenever a story strays in this direction. Not saying that anyone posting here, just saying that detractors of international adventures need to be more accepting of the possibilities with Batman Inc.

Although I do understand the feelings of dilution with even more Batmen running around.

It won’t take long before some of these Bat-clones go off the reservation and turn into criminals themselves, count on it. Then you’ll have a whole War of the Batmen or World War Batmen arc.

Tales of the Batmen Corps

I fail to see why this is a good idea.

Grant Morrison does seem to have a gift for polarising the room.

That said, the man’s writing gives me a migraine.

Final Crisi was pure dren.

He wants to take stories from the “zany” fifties & give them new life.

Please don’t.

Let the character evolve naturally.

Come up with NEW ideas.

Scratch that. I just remembered “The Brotherhood of Dada”

Just leave the Batman alone.

Please.

I just can’t help but wondering if some of you fear changing clothes as much as within comics?

Because…well, I just hope that’s not the case, I guess. Wow.

But, I guess if FanPersons didn’t piss and moan about things that haven’t happened yet, something would REALLY be wrong and I’d fear for the end of the world. Alas…

Japanese Batman? Why the hell not? As long as they get the cultural references right and don’t just throw a layer of generic kung fu (which isn’t Japanese) tropes on top.

Grant will create a slew of characters that will eventually be slaughtered in an event after his interest wanes or the sales begin to drop. Just like the cumbersome ‘Rainbow Corps” will. You can’t keep diluting your core concept will slight variation after variation forever. The stories get boring and the fans migrate to a less bloated title with something actually going on. This isn’t the first time its been done. Wont be the last. At some point, Batman will ‘get back to basics’ and ‘The Batman of Eastern DirkaDirkastan’ will be another silly ‘Who’s Who’ entry.

Instead of a fried Batman dipped in one after another dipping sauce from another country, how about some original characters based on the country’s unique mythology, culture, etc? I love Japanese culture. I’d love to read something with more depth than ‘Bat-man-san’ or ‘Gh’un Btu the living totem of the bat god’ I love vanilla ice cream too but I lose interest after the third scoop, no matter what toppings you dump on it. There’s a saturation point.