The Best Batman Era Is One You'd Never Suspect

1. How Batman's Greatest Era Ended With A Whimper

Sadly, for all that Batman Reborn and Batman Incorporated heralded a fresh and exciting direction for the Dark Knight, it just wasn't to be. DC announced in 2011 that they were would be rebooting their entire continuity at the end of the year, and that Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo would preside over the main Batman title. Inc. was suffering from delays, and it seemed as though this new continuity just wouldn't have any space for it, even if Morrison would be given the chance to finish his story.

It might be slightly pedantic to dwell on how Morrison's Batman came to a close, but it seems pertinent. Although they managed to wrap up Inc in 2013 - and with it their seven year association with Batman - it felt almost inconsequential. It went unacknowledged by the other Bat-books, which had long since restored the traditional Bat-family to the forefront. The decision to take away the Inc. suit's yellow symbol - introduced in the book as a metaphor for the Dark Knight coming out of the shadows - seemed to intimate a general indifference from DC in regards to what Morrison was trying to accomplish.

Just this year, Tom King has found himself in a similar position. Like Morrison, he's found himself pushing Batman in a new direction, but it seems as though it was a direction DC were uncomfortable with, hence why he's now been tasked with finishing his story on a separate maxi-series next year - again, just like Morrison.

It's only natural that publishers will feel a glint of anxiety when a major character is faced with the prospect of genuine change, but it shouldn't stifle progression the way it's done with Batman. Reborn and Inc., for all that they managed to invoke change on a major scale, and made major contributions to the Dark Knight's development, were both ultimately neglected in the midst of a vacuous reboot.

It was a sad end for what was, frankly, Batman's best period. Be that as it may, it's important not to dwell, and instead focus on what Reborn gave Bat-fans during its brief existence. It might not've been the Dark Knight as you've come to know him, but for the past six years, I find myself thinking about Morrison's experiment, and how thankful I am I got to see it from start to finish.