BATMAN #670

Lazarus Rising

December 2007

Written by Grant Morrison

Pencils by Tony Daniel

Inks by Jonathan Galpion

Cover by Tony Daniel

Synopsis

In Hong Kong, the League of Assassins attempt to find the road to Nanda Parbat by attacking I Ching.  But Batman stops him, but is curious why Talia al Ghul is interested in Nanda Parbat.   Elsewhere, Sensei senses a war is coming.  Meanwhile, Talia hires Dragon Fly, Tiger Moth, and Silken Spider to create a diversion to attract Batman.  The Dark Knight takes them down, but not before Silken Spider tells him that the Demon’s head has returned from the grave.  Wrapped in bandages, Ra’s al Ghul has found his daughter Tali and his grandson Damian.  Ra’s al Ghul wants his son’s body for his soul.  Damian declines the offer and runs away.  [To be continued in Robin, issue #168]

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

The cover proclaims this is a prelude and it sure feels like it.  Well, except for the fact that the recent Batman Annual is also a prelude.  And the fact that the mummy claims to be Ra’s al Ghul, who seems to be resurrected before the prelude began.  I don’t know.  I would expect, in a prelude to someone’s resurrection, we would not actually see the resurrected individual.  I was not expecting to see Ra’s al Ghul in any form this soon in the story.  And it doesn’t really happen in a big build-up or tense moments.  He just kinda appears on the page.  Rather anti-climatic.  And, yet, it makes sense in a strange way.  There is no surprise to what is going to happen.  Hell, the title proclaims “Resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul.”  There doesn’t seem to be a reason to draw out his resurrection.  But it feels incredibly odd to see Ra’s in a prelude to his resurrection. 

The rest of the issue feels like a prelude, with various characters dipping in and out of the narrative, each sensing that something is happening, but not quite sure what.  In that regard, the issue works very well, setting up what is about to happen in future issues.  As usual, Morrison introduces characters without regard for exposition, which can be a problem when one of the character’s name is also the title of a position (Sensei).  Otherwise, it works well, because this is a prelude and we can expect that I Ching or Sensei will return and whoever they are will become known as the story progresses. 

Even the scene at the end with Damian sets up future issues nicely as he now becomes caught in the middle between his grandfather and father, two mortal enemies who also happen to be family.  You know, thinking about it that way, the entire saga of the Batman versus Ra’s al Ghul takes on an almost epic quality, with respect and honor and villain and heroism and characters conflicted with their emotions, much like Talia and her love for Batman or Damian’s current dilemma.  I think Morrison understands that. 

Morrison has been leading up to this storyline for awhile, with his focus on Talia and Damian in his earlier issues and judging by what happens in this issue, Talia and Damian will stay the focus on the story.  Ra’s al Ghul is perhaps one the most fascinating villains amongst the Batman villainy.  I think that has less to do with his villainous plans and more to do with the relationships among Ra’s, Talia, and Batman.  Morrison, I think understands this, and has added a new dynamic with Damian.  I am still not comfortable with the fact that Batman has yet to do a DNA test to confirm that Damian is his son, but I am willing to accept that Damian believes it, so it should provide some interesting dynamics as the story unfolds. 

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