This issue gives us a lot more of the story in to the False Batmans. I was beginning to think I missed something. They first showed up back when Batman did this experiment where he was in a sensory deprivation tank for 10 days. That's where we first saw them. But, they were presented as possibly a hallucination. Batman thought they were just possibilities. Possible various outcomes for his actions if he hadn't made some of the decision's he's made. It turns out the guy who was running the operation for his experiment, Doctor Hurt, was also hired by the Government to train a few police officers in the way of the Batman, to take his place, should he ever die. My question is, they know about Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, Batwoman, Oracle, the Birds of Prey, Jason Todd . . . . why would they think there wasn't someone available to assume the position? Well, whatever the reason, they picked three and trained them with various outcomes. Josef Muller was the first. He was an ace marksman but Batman broke his hands. Also he lacked something. A missing edge. So then they turned to Branca. They dosed him with Venom and Monster serum. They didn't realize what it was doing to him until he killed his wife and kids. So they locked him up. Someplace safe that only they knew about. Finally there was Lane. He was a young cop whose family was supposedly murdered by satanists. Doctor Hurt had surmised, "Trauma, shattering trauma, is the driving force behind the enigma of Batman." So when Lane lost his family, Hurt saw it. "There. In his eyes, that moment when he vows revenge. Ah!" Batman ends up getting out of Lane's trap, but he's still after him, and Bruce is badly hurt. The whole thing takes place in the basement of Police Headquarters. Bruce ends up jumping in a dumpster at the end of the issue. Resting, I think, as much as hiding. He calls Alfred, "I need you to call Jet . . but first . . . make . . make sure the press are here . . . I need a media circus to pull this one off. Oh . . and bring band-aids. Band-aids would be good." As he drifts off in to oblivion. Another genius installment of this story by Grant Morrison. Can we keep him on this book forever? Please! And Tony Daniel? What can I say about this guy that hasn't been said a million times? I'll just say, he's very talented . . brilliant . . . and perfect for this book. These guys are creating comic history here. And you were in on it when it came out.
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