Wednesday is Comic Day!

Writer: Neil Gaiman Penciler: Andy Kubert Inker: Scott Williams

After the confusing mess that Batman has been, for the last year, this is a most refreshing breath of fresh air. Beautifully written by Neil Gaiman and gorgeously drawn by Andy Kubert, this is kind of an analog to Alan Moore's "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" Superman story. It is a what if final Batman story. I don't want to give too much away, but the general idea is that Batman has passed and both heroes and villains have gathered for a funeral. Key characters are giving eulogies describing how they "killed" Batman. Each story is an homage to past takes on the character. And the ideas those stories put forth are so much more clever and "Wow!" inducing than anything Morrison tried in the long buildup to Batman R.I.P..

Examine every panel, because there are interesting details subtly placed, everywhere. I most liked the clever way in which Neil and Andy ensure that Bill Finger gets the most prominent credit in the book.

If you ever enjoyed a Batman book, you should get this one (and its conclusion in next month's Detective Comics #853.