Batman #671 Review

The Revolution has been a bit disappointed with this return of Ra’s al Ghul story arc. It isn’t the case of this being a bad read. It is just the fact that this story arc has lacked that little something special that makes a “big event” story arc so much fun. The past two installments of this story arc have been somewhat flat and it seems that this story has had trouble building up much intensity. Hopefully, Morrison can get this story arc going in the right direction. Let’s go ahead and do this review for Batman #671.

Creative Team
Writer: Grant Morrison
Pencils: Tony Daniel
Inks: Jonathon Glapion

Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10

Synopsis: We begin with the Sensei in Nanda Parbat with his assassins having lined up some monks to question. Sensei demands the key to unlock the door to the Temple of Rama Kushna. The monks refuse. Sensei has one of his warriors kill one of the monks. The Sensei then once again asks for the key from the remaining monks.

We cut to Ra’s al Ghul telling Batman to choose which body Ra’s shall take as his new body: either Robin’s body or Damian’s body. Batman says there is a third option: the Fountain of Life in Nanda Parbat. Batman says he will take Ra’s to it.

We shift to Batman and Ra’s climbing up a mountain heading toward Nanda Parbat. They arrive outside Nanda Parbat and Batman notices that the Sensei’s men have already gotten there.

Batman and Ra’s al Ghul attack. Batman just rips his way through Sensei’s “Men of Death” in a matter of seconds. Batman comments how he knows he is good, but he isn’t that good. One of the monks answers that Rama Kushna guided Batman’s arm and weakened his enemies.

The Monks then tell Batman and Ra’s that Sensei is already at the Fountain of Life. Batman and Ra’s then enter the Temple and come face to face with the Sensei next to the Fountain of Life. There we learn that Ra’s al Ghul is the Sensei’s son. That the Sensei is disappointed in Ra’s and how the Assassin’s League is broken and in disarray. That someone must restore order and pride. That Ra’s does not deserve another chance.

Sensei then guts Ra’s with his pole. Batman and Sensei then lock horns. Sensei kicks ass on Batman. Sensei comments that he is very old and his stamina is not what it was. That he can keep this up for less than two minutes. That fortunately, he only needs one minute to break Batman.

Sensei proceeds to kick ass on Batman and then impales Batman with his walking stick. Batman pulls the walking stick out of his torso and nails Sensei with it. Sensei is stunned and asks what Batman thinks he is doing. Batman responds that he is lasting more than a minute.

Sensei and Batman brawl and their fight leads both of them to fall into the Fountain of Life. The Fountain of Life burns the Sensei in blue flames. One of the monks touches Ra’s body and says that it appears that he is dead. Suddenly, the monk appears to be possessed and then stands up and walks away whistling.

We then see Batman stand up and walk out of the Fountain of Life. Batman yells out “RA’S!!!!” End of issue.

Comments
The Good: Batman #671 was a fun read. Morrison whipped up an issue that treats the reader to a nice blend of action and drama. Batman #671 was a well paced issue. Morrison moves the story along at a fast pace thanks to all the fighting, but at no point does the reader feel rushed.

Morrison smartly kicked this story arc up a few notches with this issue. The past two installments have floundered about a bit. Not anymore. Morrison quickly picks the pacing back up by giving us plenty of plot progression in Batman #671. This story arc certainly gets new life breathed into it as we finally got the Sensei, Ra’s and Batman to Nanda Parbat and also finally got to see the big showdown between the three men. The nice amount of plot progression that we got in this issue re-ignited by flagging interest in this story arc.

What made Batman #671 such an entertaining read was all of the excellent kick-ass action. I loved seeing Batman rip his way through the Sensei’s Men of Death. And I liked the little twist on that scene with the monks claiming that Rama Kushna helped guide Batman’s hand and weakened the hand of his enemies. It isn’t all that often that Batman gets the help from a higher power when he is fighting bad guys.

Morrison did a good job having Batman come up with a viable third option other than having to pick one of his sons to be sacrificed. This makes Batman appear ever calculating no matter the situation. Also, it shows that Batman is a man of honor and principle as he keeps his word even to an arch nemesis like Ra’s al Ghul.

Morrison also drops a pretty big bomb on the reader with the revelation that Sensei is Ra’s al Ghul’s father. That was a pretty cool plot twist. It was also delightfully strange and unusual to see Ra’s as the angry and rebellious child in his scene with the Sensei. Ra’s is always portrayed as the ultimate authority figure having to lay down the law with his own child in Talia. It was neat seeing Ra’s play the role usually reserved for Talia as the Sensei laid down the law on Ra’s.

I loved the ending that Morrison serves up in this issue. The fight between Sensei and Batman was just sick. It was a brutal brawl and Batman comes off looking just about as bad-assed as he has ever looked. There is no quit in Batman. I loved seeing him push himself beyond incredible physical injuries and pain to keep fighting. Morrison makes Batman seem more like a pit-bull than a man in this scene.

We then see the Sensei consumed in flames once he and Batman fall into the Fountain of Life. Then we see Ra’s possessing the monk who touches Ra’s dying body. And, lastly, a rejuvenated Batman stepping out of the Fountain of Life clearly looking to settle things with Ra’s once and for all. That was a highly energetic and action packed ending that certainly hooks the reader into coming back for more.

Tony Daniel and Jonathon Glapion combine for some great looking artwork on Batman #671. I have always been a fan of Daniel and he continues to impress me with his strong work on Batman. Daniel certainly can draw a wicked looking Batman. Daniel is able to deliver some rather dynamic fight scenes that help bring to life Morrison’s story. And best of all, Daniel is professional enough to be able to actually meet a monthly deadline.

The Bad: I have no complaints with this issue.

Overall: Batman #671 was a good read that certainly picks up the intensity of the return of Ra’s al Ghul story arc. Morrison and Daniel make an impressive team. Batman is certainly a title that is well rounded and offers the reader a quality combination of strong dialogue, good character development, hard hitting action and good looking artwork.