Batman R.I.P.

Wow!

Part two of Batman R.I.P. came out today and things are definitely getting interesting. The Black Glove have made their strike against Batman and it was a truly crippling strike. Here's our analyze

Pages 1- 3
Batman is in the sewers taking out a henchmen of the Black Glove. Commissioner Gordon tries to reach out and help Batman.

Pages 4 - 5
In the Batcave we see Batman starting to put some pieces together to solve the riddle of the Black Glove. When Batman comments that his parents have a tie to the Black Glove, it almost seems like Alfred is trying to change the subject.

Pages 6 - 7
The Black Glove have shown up in Gotham and are ready to strike. Dr.Hurt pledges to do what the Joker and Two-Face could never do, kill Batman. We even see as members of the Black Glove are going over blue prints to Wayne Manor.

Pages 8 - 9
Bruce Wayne brings his new gal Jezebel Jet to the Batcave. Never a good idea. Batman tries to explain to her why he does what he does. It still seems clear that she's part of the Black Glove.

Pages 10 - 11
The best scene in the book. A newspaper is ready to run with a story that would ruin the image of the Wayne family. Commissioner Gordon is trying to get the story killed, but the editor has too much evidence that the story is legit. There's some crazy claims going around. Thomas Wayne was a drunk drug addict that beat his wife. Martha Wayne was taking hard drugs via needles. Martha Wayne and Aflred may have had an affair. Bruce Wayne might actually be the son of Alfred. And then there's the big one, Thomas Wayne may still be alive. Amazing.

Pages 12- 20
During these pages we see Batman start to fall apart mentally. Jezebel is pushing all the right buttons and even implies that Bruce is running the Black Hand so that he can find a way to stop being Batman. The scene builds and builds until the trigger words are said, "Zur-Rn-Arrh" and Batman hits the ground.

Pages 21 - 22
Alfred gets his ass kicked.

Overall this was a great book and I loved every page of it. The tease at the end said that the first Batman was going to return. Keep in mind that in the history of Batman there's a story where his father Thomas Wayne originally dressed as Batman during a Halloween party and foiled a robbery that night. One could say that Thomas Wayne was the first Batman, and that first costume was seen in the Batcave during Batman's mental breakdown.

I can't wait to see what happens next. Any theories? Please share them.