Batman by Grant Morrison Omnibus Vol. 2

Background. Having laid the groundwork in the first volume with the introduction of Damian Wayne and the Black Glove, Grant Morrison pulls off his boldest move: (apparently) killing off Bruce Wayne and letting Dick Grayson take up the mantle of the Dark Knight. It marks the turning point of the entire run and is one of the most talked-about editorial decisions in modern Batman.

What’s inside. The complete Batman R.I.P. saga, the events of Final Crisis from Batman’s perspective, the Batman and Robin arc featuring Dick Grayson as Batman and Damian Wayne as Robin, and the transition to Batman Incorporated. Art mainly by Frank Quitely, Morrison’s long-standing collaborator (All-Star Superman, We3).

Why it’s worth reading. The Dick-Damian duo that Morrison builds in this run is one of the best Batman and Robin teams ever written: a fun-loving acrobat with a teenage assassin as his sidekick. Quitely depicts this pair with a unique visual fluidity. It is also the moment when Morrison brings to fruition all the seeds he planted in the first volume: here, the entire master plan becomes clear.

Publication details. 760 pages. Second instalment of the omnibus trilogy. US edition published by DC Comics. ISBN 9781401288839.