DC Comics Relaunch: The Return Of Stephanie Brown?

News

Alright, so Batman Incorporated wound up having a missing issue due to delays. Old news. There was an issue that was set up and even referenced in the pages of Batgirl where Bruce teamed up with (then) Batgirl, Stephanie Brown. There was cover art and a solicit and everything. It was due in July!

 

 BATMAN INCORPORATED #9
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art and cover by CAMERON STEWART
1:25 Variant cover by CAMERON STEWART
Is an exclusive girls’ finishing school a secret training ground for teenaged assassins? Find out the truth as Batgirl undertakes her most dangerous
mission yet at the request of Batman.
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale JULY 20
32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
RATED T

See, bam, there’s proof. The missing issue of Batman Inc, the fabled lost issue of Stephanie Brown’s run as Batgirl. Something that has been promised to us despite the relaunch bringing the title to a temporary close. However, in December we’re getting an oversized one shot that was solicited yesterday.

 

BATMAN INCORPORATED: LEVIATHAN STRIKES #1
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art by CHRIS BURNHAM and CAMERON STEWART
Cover by CHRIS BURNHAM
One-Shot • On sale DECEMBER 21 • 80 pg, FC, $6.99 US • RATED T
In this sensational, giant-sized one-shot spinning out of BATMAN INCORPORATED, Batman realizes to his horror that he’s been outwitted as the true identity of Leviathan continues to elude him. Is his deadly adversary an old foe with a grudge to settle, a new face of evil…or something completely different? Only one thing is certain: You won’t soon forget the shocking ending!

However, on DC’s The Source blog, Grant Morrison had a bit more to say.

“The long-awaited conclusion to season 1 of BATMAN INCORPORATED is here at last!” said Morrison. “For months, Batman and his allies have fought a shadow campaign against the deadly legions of the mysterious Leviathan, but now it’s time for all-out war – a war which Batman may not be able to win. Schoolgirl assassins! Bat-robots! Nazi masterminds with Alzheimer’s! Guest stars galore! Batman and Spoiler team to face the School of Night while Batman Incorporated travels to a sinister Cold War interrogation facility to face the mind-bending menace of Doctor Dedalus for the last time while the true identity of Leviathan is finally revealed, with shocking consequences for the Dark Knight. With incredible artwork from Cameron Stewart (BATMAN AND ROBIN MUST DIE) and Chris Burnham (BATMAN INC.), LEVIATHAN STRIKES! rounds out season 1 and is also the prologue to 2012’s BATMAN: LEVIATHAN – the epic, tragic, final act of a story six years long.”

 

Sound familiar? Schoolgirl assassins? How about the fact that he’s teaming up with Spoiler?

Steph is back in December, but she’s back to her old hood and cape. It’s a shame we couldn’t get her as Batgirl just one more time.

A lifelong reader and self proclaimed continuity guru, Grey is the Editor in Chief of Comics Nexus. Known for his love of Booster Gold, Spider-Girl (the real one), Stephanie Brown, and The Boys. Don't miss The Gold Standard.