The 40 Years of Comics Project - Day 454: Batman #676, June 2008

In many ways, this opening chapter to "R.I.P." is a transitional one. We can tell how grand and devastating the coming tale will be by how relatively mundane its beginning is. Batman appears to have recovered from his near-death ordeal. Bruce and Jezebel are happy, the new Batmobile, literally one of the first elements introduced in Morrison's tale, is finished - Tim's a little concerned about his new brother, but that'll happen when you're related to a member of the League of Assassins. What I'd never really put my finger on was the first page, a shadowed image of Batman and Robin accompanied by the declaration "You're wrong! Batman and Robin will never die!" - a scene six months into the future of our story. And, I think, that might just be our first glimpse of the Dick and Damian team. I'll have to keep my eyes open for the scene that is the echo (or is that the other way around?) of this one later on.

We also finally meet Dr. Hurt, convener of the Black Glove. And, looking far less ridiculous than their heroic counterparts, the International Club of Villains. So let's review. We have a (finally) happy Bruce Wayne, enamoured of a woman who knows and accepts his secret. We have a finished Batmobile, perhaps the most iconic of Batman's gadgets. We have the (re)introduction of the International Heroes, by way of their villains, callbacks to the very first story and Damian's parentage. We even have Alfred making reference to stage make-up, hearkening to Bruce's mention of Alfred's time as an actor. Add to this the final sequence of the Joker, a sequence in which neither he, nor we the readers, can tell what's real and what's not (much like the last few issues and the Batman) - perhaps further consideration shows this issue not so much to be a transitional one, but a revelation that the fuse is already burning, the explosion is imminent, and we just didn't necessarily put all the pieces together until just now.

Months from this issue, in the first issue of Batman and Robin, Frank Quitely illustrates what is, in my considered opinion, the greatest use of an onomatopoeic sound effect ever. It, retrospectively, encapsulates what we might hear just as we turn the final page of this issue.

Boom.

Onward.