Batman #657 DC comics

Well, we finally have it, the thing that was hinted at in Kingdom come, and was speculated at by fans for years, Ibn al Xu'ffasch the Son of the Bat, of course he is named Damien here… how appropriate is that? Talia has finally revealed Batman’s son to him, a rather precocious little fella who was raised by the league of assassins. This issue is sort of an introduction to the bat family for the little tyke. When Batman arrives at the cave with Damien the boy is less than impressed, more interested in how he deals with the methane the bats produce. “I’ve lived in caves before.” After a little scuffle Robin arrives and is introduced to the precious little scamp. Batmen, tells Alfred to take the boy to his temporary quarters in the mansion, the boy tells Alfred “@#$@# you.” This apparently takes Alfred back down memory lane… Some kid slouching up those stairs in a mood must seem like old hat for him.

Robin and Batman have a brief conversation on where the boy came from, and if batman thinks its possible, which he does. Then something interesting happens, Bruce tells Tim that it won’t change anything between them, and if the boy is his son he deserves some love and respect… Tim doesn’t react well to that at all. He tells Batman that he should earn it like the rest of them have had to do. Hmm, I see some juicy conflict there. It’s a good way to introduce some bat type family conflict into the book while agreeing with the post year later status quo of the bat family. Robin tells Batman that the Spook is held up in Blackgate prison with the mayor as a hostage, and that he can handle it himself. Then he storms off…

Next we have Damien in his very very well appointed room complaining about not having a laptop or his sword. Bruce tells him that until they can trust him, he isn’t getting them. He then throws a tantrum over the food splattering it all over the walls. Batman quells this looming over him in a rather menacing pose telling him that he is a disgrace to his sensei, and that his rage is born of fear and is unbefitting a student of the martial arts, and he will be given opportunities to prove himself. This knocks the boy back into line and he bows and acquiesces saying “yes father”

Then we cut to the sewers under Blackgate. The spook, a rather generic villain wearing green robes and flying around going ooooaaauuuu! Lol, kind of funny stupid villain, but a generic staple of the batman rogues gallery, but he isn’t the focus. The focus is on the discussion between two fo the Spooks underlings. Both carrying big guns, and wearing sheets with holes for eyes, very Casper. The taller one is asking the smaller one about his previous “novelty” acts. Wondering who else he’s worked for and so on, they talk a bit about how the spook isn’t actually a ghost and uses tricks and illusions to pull of his ghostly theme. Realizing the guy doesn’t talk like a villain this tips the short one off that this isn’t actually a bad guy, but an undercover cop. Calling for help from Gordon Batman shows up and saves the day. They find the hostages, and the Spook.. Who apparently has lost his head in the confusion, literally.

Back at the batcave Robin finds Damien playing with his sword in the batcave. He asks Damien how he got out and Damien tells him how he cracked his room lock, then he mimics Robin’s voice perfectly. Damien is quite interested in how to get into the more secure parts of the bat cave. Then he does something rather disturbing. He tells Robin that Batman challenged him, challenged him to prove himself and fight crime. And apparently Crime lost, pulling out a severed head, with a grenade in the mouth. He throws the head in the air and it explodes, starting a battle between him and Robin. They race up the top of the dinobot that Batman has had in his cave for like ever and apparently it still works, as it tries to eat Damien! On top of the dino Robin asks Damien why he is being such a jerk, he replies that it’s because Robin doesn’t deserve any of this and is adopted, but when robin is gone he will inherit everything as Batman’s son, he strikes Robin who falls off of the dino. Then we cut back to Batman who is swinging through Gotham. He finds a hooded figure in the shadow and asks him how he got out. He tells Batman that he wants to help him, and that he is the only one who can help him stand against his mother. He tells him that he already has a partner, and where is Robin, what has Damian done with Robin. Damian pulls the robes back to reveal that he is wearing the robin tunic and mask, and that there is a new Robin now. The next scene shows Robin (Tim) unconscious lying in the shattered glass of Jason’s Robin costume.

Well.. This was interesting and fun read. I liked the introduction of the son of the bat, and hope its not a fake out. We have Helena over in Catwoman, and now we have the son of the bat in Batman. Very very good. I like it.

Oh btw, over here at absorbascon there is an fascinating dissection of the trophies mentioned in this issue.