Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne (Issue 1) (DC)

Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne (Issue 1)

DC

(Written by Grant Morrison; Pencils by Chris Sprouse; Inks by Karl Story)

May 17, 2010 Web Exclusive By Jeremy Nisen

At the end of DC's big event book from a few years ago, Final Crisis, Batman was presumed to have been killed at the hands of Darkseid's Omega Sanction. In fact, that most evil of New Gods banished Bruce Wayne to a journey through time. Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne seems that it will resolve that yet-untold journey.

But, really, all you need to know is Bruce Wayne is in prehistoric times, kicking ass. And that at one point he wears the hide of a giant cave-bat to simulate his traditional cowl and cape. And Chris Sprouse and Karl Story draw the shit out of it. (Plus he's fighting longtime DC immortal villain Vandal Savage. It's like crack for geeks.)

One of the nice things about this book is that writer Grant Morrison (Final Crisis) dials back the wordiness and really lets these artists tell the story. This book is fun, and the reveals that a team of heroes is actively looking for Wayne, was a nice tidbit of things to come. This is but a first step in a six-issue series, and this issue is not a story unto itself. Holding onto my hope that the sum will ultimately amount to more than the very good (thus far) parts. (www.dccomics.com)

Author rating: 7/10

Rate this comic book
Average reader rating: 5/10