A sort of zombie-movie riff is introduced into the world of the Batman, and it's kind of interesting that such an unnatural event would be connected to a villain whose primary goal is to protect the nature of things. The story is intriguing, but ultimately, Grayson doesn't deliver what the title of this limited series promises. Also frustrating is the fact that the novelty of the premise of the plot -- which doesn't fully reveal itself until the issue's climax -- is spoiled by the text on the back cover. Gulacy and Palmiotti deliver some great visuals, though, capturing everything from horrific elements to exotic ones.
It's been a little while since Ra's Al Ghul died and was buried, so it's cause for concern when a letter, penned by the Demon's Head before his demise, arrives on Bruce Wayne's doorstep. Written in case the Batman got the best of him by destroying his Lazarus Pits, Ra's Al Ghul reflects back on a time centuries earlier when he encountered another rutheless soul who tapped into the power of immortality.. and he warns his arch-enemy of a dangerous side effect of destroying the Lazarus Pits.
I didn't care for the Gulacy/Palmiotti art when the pair teamed on Catwoman a while back, as I found Gulacy's line art focused far too much on the title character's sexuality. I also found faces were rendered inconsistently on that title, so I wasn't looking forward to their efforts here. My trepidation was needless, though, as the artists offer much stronger work on this new assignment. They capture the gruesome effects of violence, fire and the unimaginable pain that serves as the premise without getting too graphic. But what I really appreciated is how they convey the exotic and intimate, natural qualities of a private garden centuries in the past. The line-art approaches and the intensity of the coloring shifts to instill a mythic, historical look to the flashbacks.
The foundation of the plot -- the tragic and cataclysmic notion of immortality for all -- is one that allows the writer to point out that survival in the face of critical injury or disease is not necessarily a positive goal. Grayson subtly and indirectly makes a strong case for mercy killings here, and it's a philosophy that really resonates despite being touched upon only briefly.
I don't get the title. This isn't about Batman and Ra's Al Ghul's first encounter. It's not about Al Ghul's origin. The narration -- in the form of Ra's posthumous letter to the Batman -- provides exposition as to his motives, but in the context of a letter of someone who knows him so well, the explanations made no sense. Furthermore, I kept wishing Grayson's script would enlighten me as to how Al Ghul's death actually came to pass. 6/10
