The opening scene of the book certainly teases us with where the story will be going in the following issues. I also like the developing relationship between Dick Grayson and Damian. As annoying as Damian can be, Dick's tutelage, plus his own adjustment to assuming the role of Batman makes for an interesting story.

As to the cover, Dick Grayson as the smirking Batman might have been more interesting, but much less menacing than the scowling version.

Yeah, he lost me with the Batman of Zan Un Rah. Plus all the stuff about Bruce Wayne's parents being really alive... I don't think any of that was cleared up properly... and the ending seemed really rushed. All that build up and then boom! It was like, oh, is that the time? I have to wrap this up and move on.

on a separate note great issue, yet an utterly horrendous cover.

I think the reason you (and many others) found Batman RIP confusing is the fact Morrison has been obsessed lately with trying to tie up the entire history of the comic (which he did again later on in Final Crisis). Which is an aspect I greatly enjoyed, esp with Batman of Zan Un Rah. I don't think it was confusing at all tho. That scene with Bat-Mite is perfect; when batman says he can hear the city speaking to him (or something to that extent) Gotham -built- Batman, and Dr. Hurt is the devil, the dragon at the end of days attempting to corrupt the bat, The representation of darkness that is in reality the brightest light. The motifs Morrison played with were amazingly subtle. And honestly, the fact Batman prepared an alternate persona in case his bruce wayne identity was maniplualted...freaking epic. I love that about Morrison's Batman, his intelligence and capabilities are second to none, something present from the first time Morrison handled in his JLA run. Remember when the alien leader was saying: he's just one man! and then the panel closed up to superman smiling? one of my fav comic book moments ever.

it happens too often to be the artists fault already. and maybe if the payoff was even worth it, and boy that'd have to be a great payoff lemme tell you.

yeah, some of it was his fault, tho' some of it was the artist... lot of times some of the scenes were poorly composed and you couldn't follow the action in any way that made sense. I wasn't happy with that arc at all.

sometimes morrison's harder to follow than chinese hieroglyphics

I dunno... I didn't like Morrison's R.I.P. (found it too confusing), but now that this story's going, it seems like it could be a fun ride. Besides, they never actually found a body for Bruce Wayne. If it doesn't work, they can always bring him back.

cap, batman, who's next? why dont we just make flash thompson spiderman while we're at it.