Grant Morrison's run on Batman saw the reinvention of many old and obscure parts of the Batman mythos, like Batman's child from Mike Barr and Jerry Bingham's Batman: Son of the Demon being reintroduced as Damian Wayne. One of Morrison's deepest cuts was in the Batmen of All Nations -- an "International Club of Heroes" all inspired by Batman to become heroes in their home countries. These Batmen would turn into one of the biggest parts of Morrison's Batman run -- Batman Incorporated.
The idea for Batman Inc. came during The Return of Bruce Wayne by Morrison along with Chris Sprouse, Frazer Irving, Yanick Paquette, Georges Jeanty, Ryan Sook and Lee Garbett. While traveling throughout time on his way back to the present, Bruce saw the impact Batman had all throughout history and realized he was never alone -- he always had allies.
When Batman returned home, he announced (as Bruce Wayne) the formation of Batman Incorporated, an organization that would recruit Batmen throughout the world. The first of these Batmen was Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne's Batman and Robin duo, who Bruce saw worked well together. This also gave Bruce the opportunity to devote his time to travel across the world recruiting more members to Batman Incorporated.
The first volume of the Batman Incorporated series by Morrison, Yanick Paquette and Michel Lacombe saw Batman recruiting all these Batmen, starting with the Batman of Japan -- Mr Unknown. As the series progressed, the ranks of Batman Inc. grew to include heroes such as El Gaucho, Nightrunner, Man-of-Bats, Knight and Squire as well as Gotham heroes Batwoman, Batgirl, Red Robin, Huntress and Batwing, in his first appearance. The team wasn't without its problems though, with English hero the Hood and the Australian Batman Wingman being revealed as traitors working for rival factions.
The main foe of Batman Incorporated however was Leviathan. In Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes by Morrison, Chris Burnham and Cameron Stewart it was revealed that the leader of the organization was Batman's former lover and Damian Wayne's mother, Talia Al Ghul. As the series relaunched as part of the New 52, Batman Inc.'s efforts were no longer centered on global recruitment, but on taking down Talia's international empire.
The relaunched series, by Morrison and Burnham, saw the end to Morrison's Batman run and the death of Damian Wayne's Robin at the hands of his clone, Heretic. The final issue of the series, Batman Incorporated #13, saw many of the threads Morrison had laid out over the years being brought to a close, but what happened to Batman Incorporated after that?
The final issue opens with Bruce Wayne being investigated by the GCPD for the role he played in the destruction Leviathan caused across Gotham. Mourning his son, he states that Batman may well be dead with Bruce seeming to regret his efforts to expand Batman's reach. After Damien and Talia's bodies are stolen, he takes up the cape and cowl once again but Morrison and Burnham imply that Bruce no longer believes in Batman Incorporated and therefore shut the organization down.
The final pages of Doomsday Clock #5 by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank may confirm this. Showcasing profiles on heroes all across the world, the entry for the UK, "Knights Inc." shows what appears to be the UK's answer to Batman Incorporated. The fact that former Batman Incorporated member Knight is at Knights Inc.'s head and not part of Batman Incorporated seems to confirm the Dark Knight's decision to disband the group.
However, there is one future in which Batman Incorporated still operates. Batwing: Futures End #1 by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, Eduardo Pansic and Julio Ferreira shows Luke Fox's Batwing leading the team in what is described as the "Biggest sting operation in the history of Batman Incorporated". While it may seem Batwing is the group's leader, the issue end's with Batman congratulating Batman Inc. via hologram. Batman Inc. may be seemingly disbanded now but there could still be hope for a future return.
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