Ghost-Maker has lost control of Batman Incorporated! In spite of his rededication to Batman's values, Ghost-Maker doesn't have what it takes lead them against the Joker. As the Joker's plan comes together, Batman Inc. must determine once and for all who lives or dies!

Over My Dead Body

During the hostage crisis in China, Bat-Man decides to challenge Ghost-Maker's kill order given last issue. As a reminder, Joker orders his gang to hold thousands of innocent people hostage around the world. So long as a member of Joker Inc. lives beyond a time limit, every one of those hostages will die. However, apart from the total disregard of Batman's values, Bat-Man outright refuses to kill his own sister. Before long, the two heroes violently debate the limited options available. Regardless of Dai Laffyn's help, Batman Inc. is unable to find satisfying alternative solutions.

To make matters worse, Joker raises the stakes by cutting the time limit in half and activating all the Jokers at once. Curiously, none of the Jokers are aware of the change besides Dai Laffyn. Despite Ghost-Maker's inability to see another way, Bat-Man and El Gaucho insist that the team try anything they can but kill. To compromise, Nightrunner suggests isolating the Jokers away from places they could harm others. Ironically, the Dark Ranger seemingly employs this tactic against Corvus Cawl in Batman Incorporated #10. El Gaucho, on the other hand, steps up and attempts to make a deal with Joker Inc.

Joker Incorporated Must Die!

Meanwhile, Raven Red finally catches up with Dusty Bronco in Nevada. This gives Dusty Bronco a chance to relay his sob story about being a rodeo clown looking for drugs to deal with his injuries. Apparently, Bronco turned to a life of crime after Man-Of-Bats beats him in a drug bust. After "one bad day" ends his career, he claims the Joker gave him the motivation to get his revenge. Honestly, it is a pretty terrible backstory and doesn't justify his heel turn whatsoever. Nonetheless, Bronco suggests that he and Raven Red have an old fashioned duel with pistols. Although Raven Red refuses to shoot him, he happily looks forward to strangling him to death.

As the story nears its climax, the book begins to embrace more and more zany action sequences. The figures squash and stretch in unnatural ways giving the book an animated tone. Even so, John Timms makes a few questionable choices in his illustrations. For one, Joker controls the lives of every member of Joker Inc. with a single cartoonish red button. Secondly, a lot of the illustrations are unclear. I'm not quite sure if Alpaca's weapon is an acidic water pistol or a laser gun. Furthermore, the random way Dusty Bronco shoots is ridiculous even for a clown. Not to mention, the gun Raven Red throws on the ground accidentally going off feels unnecessary. As a result, his incompetence with firearm safety makes him look incompetent for no reason.

Recommended If...

• Picking up every issue in this run of Batman Incorporated.
• You're curious about Joker's new crop of allies.
• You're rooting for Batman Inc. as a team.

Overall

Batman Inc. is on the brink of fracture. While I love how much more the team has to do this arc, Ghost-Maker's actions prove that he should not be leading the team. As a matter of fact, Brisson has effectively buried Ghost-Maker as a reliable leader twice in a row. Consequently, his static development and inability to grow might destroy the team and the book itself. Not only is the concept of the Joker Inc. team shaky to begin with, but Brisson introduces and abandons ideas left and right. This includes the ill-conceived roulette, Dai Laffyn's gift, backstories, and whatever the Joker wants to accomplish in the first place. Overall, win or lose, Batman Inc. isn't going to last long.

Score: 4.5/10

DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman-News with a copy of this comic for the purposes of this review.