The Return of Bruce Wayne Disucssion (Spoilers)

[Mike Farley]

He lives in a world where dressing in tights and fighting evil is a valid lifestyle choice. Bruce is one of many. He is no more obsessed (in a bad way) than Clark Kent, Barry Allan, or Hal Jordan. Batman is not a victim of psychosis, he's a hero who voluntarily puts his life on the line because it serves the greater good.

[Admiral_Young]

In Batman Beyond it was shown that Bruce was able to carry on his mission in a new way by mentoring and aiding Terry McGuniness when he realized his body wasn't able to continue to cooperate. I think it's possible for Bruce to retire being Batman, he just needs the right excuse to convince him to do so. Also in Kingdom Come he had dBat Knights patrolling Gotham City. Even in Dark Knight Returns he'd been retired for a while before resuming his role.

[Nick Ryder]

Well why can't there be more than one Batman? I mean, Dick really did earn his role as Batman. I know technically Bruce said "Don't be Batman" but c'mon that's kinda lame. Even though I think Tim and Dick need to be Batman and Robin, Tim really grew into the role and I think they even had Dick say "You were a far better Robin than I ever was." but I do like the idea that Tim's even grown up and is taking on a new ID too. Damien is an annoyin' little shit that needs his ass whipped and then realize that's he's full of it. But I can really see like Bruce coming back as Batman, but taking a more mentoring role, maybe even tackling more cosmic matters with the JLA and Dick being the Batman of Gotham, tackling the day to day crimes and issues. I think in many ways Dick as Batman is far closer to early Bruce/Batman. Batman got too... large. I guess you could say large. Early Batman was Gotham and surrounding areas. But then what the fuck is he doing fighting Darkseid?

"You're out of your element Donnie!"

So... if Dick handles Gotham and surrounding areas and Bruce handles the JLA stuff where its more global and galactic threats, that could work out very well. Or have him OWN the name "Dark Knight", maybe wear some more armor or something, be more of a 'knight" than a "detective" that runs around rooftops in tights and drives a Batmobile.

[ClayinCA]

Allyn Gibson wrote:

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What Tim believes in Red Robin is the only crack in that facade, and even then, Tim's belief doesn't make a hell of a lot of sense.

This is my main problem with Red Robin. Tim's always been presented as a master detective, almost as good as Bruce and as good as or better than Dick (I never believed that either, but that's a whole other rant), and for him to be off chasing wild geese on a completely unfounded belief (we know it's unfounded because we know where Bruce is--well, more or less) seriously undermines his character. Unless, of course, we're supposed to believe he's emotionally unbalanced and this is his way of dealing with it--but it's not being portrayed that way at all.

[coolghoul]

^ Didn't he get into a similar obsessive/emotionally unbalanced way of dealing with Conner Kent's death?

I just recently read Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader (gorgeous hardcover edition with awesome Andy Kubert art) and posted about it in the other thread. I really liked the end and so it seems clear to me that Bruce Wayne will resume as Batman.

I know Dick is Batman now and he's coping but he's not the obsessive Batman as Bruce is. And in some ways, Batman in order to be Batman needs the same level of commitment as Bruce has to being Batman. There is no reason why Dick (who wants to fight on the side of good) can't do it as any other super-hero-identity (he's been doing that as Nightwing). However for Bruce Wayne, he can't be any other being except Batman. It's his vow that was made at the time of his parents' death. His decision to be the batman when the bat flew into the window. Dick is filling in, in his absence.

I'd guess that they will show how being Batman will weigh heavier and heavier on Dick. Finally it may prove to be almost too much and then Bruce will become Batman again.

[Allyn Gibson]

coolghoul wrote:

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^ Didn't he get into a similar obsessive/emotionally unbalanced way of dealing with Conner Kent's death?

He did, going so far as trying to clone Conner. But Tim knows that Bruce is dead, yet he's convinced that Bruce is alive. The latest issue of Red Robin explains where some of that might be coming from; Tim reveals to Cass (Wonder Girl) that, during Final Crisis, he was forced to listen to the Anti-Life Equation. Now, that's supposed to drive someone insane.

I just recently read Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader (gorgeous hardcover edition with awesome Andy Kubert art) and posted about it in the other thread. I really liked the end and so it seems clear to me that Bruce Wayne will resume as Batman.

It hasn't been outright stated, but it's possible that "Whatever Happened..." is part of Bruce's experience in the Omega Sanction. If anyone can think himself out of the Omega Sanction, it's going to be Bruce Wayne.