This collection of shorter arcs from the Denny O'Neill run on Batman introduces us to the Demon Head, his daughter Talia and his mysterious Lazarus Pits.
We join Batman mid investigation into Dr. Darrk and the League of Assassins - having not read the stories which precede this one in O'Neill's run I can only assume that this was an ongoing investigation for a few months. When Batman corners a lead, two assassins strike, killing the man Batman was pursuing. An attempt is made to silence Batman as well, but to no avail, as both assassins are swiftly dispatched. With his final breath, the man Batman had followed whispers the words 'Soom Express' and the investigation is alive once more.
Denny O'Neill is renowned for his depiction of the Batman as an international crime fighter, closer to spies such as James Bond than the dark and brooding vigilante he has been in the past. We see him globe trotting, seducing the beautiful daughter of the man who quickly becomes his nemesis and donning costumes or using gadgetry to defeat and thwart the villains. Several of the scenes in the opening chapters here are replicated in Grant Morrison's run, where Batman once again becomes the 'super spy' during. Batman Inc.
R'as is presented as Batman's intellectual equal, easily deducing the secret identity of the Bat by analysing what equipment the Dark Knight used and investigating who had the means to make such purchases. We see this initial confrontation early on, and so Al Ghul is immediately presented as a threat to be taken seriously. Adding to the menace created by his intellect is his hulking bodyguard Ubu, the first of several loyal followers who handle the physical confrontations with the Detective.
Over the course of several shorter arcs, Batman learns that R'as is testing him, to try and judge his suitability as a partner for his daughter, Talia. In these arcs Batman and R'as are enemies and unwilling allies, most notably in the battle against the Sensei.
One standout sequence is the battle between Batman and Al Ghul in the desert, where the Demon's Head is proven to be just as worthy a physical opponent as he is a mental one. Batman appears defeated, through a stroke of poor luck, but it is Talia who eventually helps him to win the encounter.
The daughter of the Demon's Head is shown to be just as competent in combat, although she is much more shrouded in mystery than her father and we can never be truly sure whose side she is on. She is often portrayed - falsely - as the damsel in distress, but this is more often than not a ploy to get Batman involved in one of the schemes of her father.
The introduction of the Lazarus Pit is well handled too, with us seeing the madness that takes its hold on Al Ghul after he is reborn. There is just enough mystery left surrounding the Demon's Head and his resurrections to allow scope for later storylines to expand on his history. We get a sense here that he has been around for a very long time though, honing his skills in order to bring about the 'improvement' of the Earth.
We get a brief cameo from Robin, who seems to be away at University, and we also see the persona of Matches Malone again. Several other people come to Batman's aid in the course of these stories, which shows that he is still in the relative infancy of his career.
The artwork and writing are both exemplary - several iconic scenes are drawn here by Neal Adams. The writing of Denny O'Neill is strikingly noir, but without going over the top as some writers often have the tendency to do. O'Neill, for me, is one of the greatest writers to take on the character of Batman. Even if this had been his only contribution to the Batman mythology, that would hold true. How many other creators can boast that they have created a villain as iconic and dangerous as R'as Al Ghul?
Next up - Batman: Faces
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