Batman Incorporated # 1 2011 NM

Batman Incorporated #1 is the debut issue of a landmark ongoing series published by DC Comics with a cover date of January 2011 (released in November 2010). Written by legendary mastermind Grant Morrisonwith vibrant artwork by Yanick Paquette, this issue kicked off a massive evolution for the Dark Knight. 

Following the events of Bruce Wayne: The Road Home, Bruce publicly announces that Wayne Enterprises is officially funding Batman Incorporated—a global franchise of international "Batmen".

Core Plot Summary: "Mr. Unknown Is Dead"

The debut issue takes Batman out of Gotham City and sends him straight to Tokyo, Japan, alongside Catwoman (Selina Kyle). Bruce's objective is to recruit Tokyo's localized superhero, Mr. Unknown, to be the official Japanese representative for Batman Inc. 

However, their mission takes a dark turn before it even begins:

• A Grasping Evil: Upon arriving, they discover that Mr. Unknown has been brutally murdered by the bizarre, skull-masked villain Lord Death Man. Lord Death Man is working under orders from a mysterious global terror cell known as Leviathan.
• The New Protege: Batman and Catwoman track down Mr. Unknown's young, grief-stricken sidekick, Jiro Osamu. Jiro tries to stop Lord Death Man himself but quickly finds himself completely outmatched.
• Tentacle Trouble: The issue escalates into trademark Morrison weirdness when Catwoman is forced to battle a giant mutant octopus to rescue Jiro's girlfriend, Misaki, from Lord Death Man's henchmen.
• The Setup: Realizing Jiro has the raw potential, fighting spirit, and dedication required to honor his mentor's memory, Batman rescues him and sets up his eventual transformation into the new Batman of Japan.

Significance and Legacy

This issue marked a dramatic tonal shift from grimy Gotham detective work to sweeping, high-tech international espionage. It separated Bruce Wayne from Dick Grayson (who remained active as Gotham's Batman at the time) and laid the foundation for the ultimate showdown between Batman Inc. and Talia al Ghul's Leviathan syndicate.