Spotlight On: Batman Incorporated

 Note to the Reader: I just finished Grant Morrison's Batman Inc., Final Crisis, and The Return of Bruce Wayne. I personally love the concept of the Batman Inc. Organization and hope some brave writer will pick it up and run with it now that Morrison's done. Here I've made a guide to the members of Batman Inc, since they mostly just drop these characters in your lap with no backstory whatsoever. That said, this was still a great story that I highly recommend. Remember to leave comments and feel free to request articles or character summaries. Thanks for reading!


Knight and Squire

Cyril Sheldrake and Beryl Hutchinson. After Cyril's father, the original Knight was killed by Spring Heeled Jack, became depressed and squandered his fortune, ending up in the gutter until taken in by Beryl and her mother. After getting back on the right track, Cyril appointed Beryl as his new Squire. During the final showdown between Batman Incorporated and the organization Leviathan, Talia al Ghul's right hand man The Heretic breaks Cyril's neck. Although the Prime Minister mentioned the prospect of resurrecting him, Beryl has taken up the mantle for the time being.

Beryl Hutchinson as the Knight

Man of Bats and Raven Red
a.k.a Dr. Bill Great Eagle and Charlie Great Eagle

Like Knight and Squire, Man of Bats, and his son were originally members of the International Club of Heroes, and later became part of Batman Inc. They serve as the agents of Batman inc on a Native American Reserve in South Dakota, mostly doing good deeds for the locals

Man Of Bats and Raven Red

and investigating crimes while trying to keep gang activity in check. Man of Bats works during the day as a Doctor. They drive an old model truck with a Bat Symbol painted on the side and their garage serves as their base of operations. In Grant Morrison's The Return of Bruce Wayne it is revealed that Bruce himself was the first man known as Man of Bats when Darkseid's Omega Sanction sent him back to prehistoric times. Anthro the first Boy rescued him form Vandal Savage's tribe of Cavemen dressed in trappings similar to those of Raven Red's costume.





Batwing

The Batman of The Republic of Congo, David Zavimbe serves on the police force in the city of Tinasha.

David Zavimbe as Batwing

He was provided by Batman with an armored powersuit that allows him to fly. The original design of his costume is based on a
fictional character appearing in the story The Batman Nobody Knows, in which an
African-American boy tells his friends how he imagines Batman to be, calling him
"Batwings".

"Batwings" Character as seen in Batman #250

Zavimbe later gave up the mantle whereupon Bruce had Lucius Fox design a new suit which Bruce gave to Lucius' son Luke Fox, a talented MMA fighter. Luke has mostly served Gotham so far, precariously balancing his role as a son with his responsibilities as Batwing.

Luke Fox as Batwing fighting the Marabunta Ants

El Gaucho
Another member who previously served in the Club of Heroes, el Gaucho, also known as wealthy horse-breeder Santiago Vargas, originally spent time as an agent of the U.N.
agency Spyral where he worked with Kathy Kane, the first Batwoman, and Dr. Dedalus. He has become a well respected superhero in Argentina. His trademark weapon is a Bola.









Dark Ranger


 A representative from Australia, Dark Ranger wears a jetpack and wields a pulse gun. On the Island of Mister Mayhew he was killed by fellow Club of Heroes member Wingman, who then assumed his identity to get closer to the remaining members present. His former sidekick, an aboriginial named Johnny Riley is later seen being sworn in as Batman of Australia.

The Original Dark Ranger

Johnny Riley Being Sworn In

Blackbat

After a stint as Batgirl, Cassandra Cain went off the radar for a time, fighting crime anonymously in Hong Kong. After Batman's return, and the formation of Batman inc. Tim Drake goes to Hong Kong to invite Cassandra to come back to Gotham. She refuses, saying that Stephanie Brown (the current Batgirl at the time) needed the role more than she did. Tim then offers her a copy of her original Batgirl costume saying that if she was going to fight crime, he hoped she would do it wearing a Bat Symbol. She serves as the Batman inc. Representative in Hong Kong, although she hasn't been seen since the reboot.

Nightrunner

Bilal Asselah is a French-Algerian who was caught between the protests of his people and the
violence of the police force in France. After his friend is killed while trying to burn
down a police station Bilal analyzes the situation and decides to take inspiration from the Batman and become a symbol, devoid of racial or religious bias, and fight for what's right and just. He is the Batman Inc. representative in France.







The Hood

Dressed in a Templar Cross costume, George Cross, ex-vigilante, superspy and member of British Intelligence Agency T.H.E.Y. was tasked with infiltrating Batman Inc. He did so by aiding Batwoman, Batman and El Gaucho. He later reveals that his true loyalties lie with the organization Spyral.

The Hood's First Meeting with Batwoman

Mr. Unknown

After the original Mr. Unknown grew too old to fight crime, he hired a body double to do

Batman and Mr. Unknown

the footwork, while he himself handled the detective work. After Lord Death Man killed Mr. Unknown, his body double, Jiro Osamu, took up the mantle, working alongside Batman to stop Lord Death Man. Afterwards, Batman helps him fake his death so that he can cut his ties.

Calvin Rose

Calvin Rose

Former Talon of the Court of Owls, Calvin Rose turned against his masters and began a
one man war against the Court. After being nearly killed in battle, he is shown being
drafted into Batman Incorporated, now an underground operation since the organization's
fall from grace during the final showdown between Batman Inc. and Leviathan. Could this
mean a return for Batman Incorporated? Lets hope.