The Return of Bruce Wayne in April!

[Allyn Gibson]

Bad Bishop wrote:

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I have not been buying Batman or Detective Comics lately.

If you're not reading 'Tec, you're missing out on some of the best superhero comics ever. J.H. Williams' artwork is sensational; he does things with panels and art styles that will blow your mind.

The story's good, too.

[Christopher]

Here's an idle thought... there's precedent for DC having more than one "legacy hero" with the same name operating at the same time. There are at least four human Green Lanterns, not counting the thousands of others. I've seen stories with three or four Flashes operating side by side, all using the name Flash. There was a time when both Diana and her mother Hippolyta were using the name Wonder Woman, at least intermittently.

So even if Bruce returns as Batman in some form, it doesn't preclude Dick continuing to operate under the Batman name in some form. As suggested above, maybe Bruce could be Batman on a more global or cosmic scale with the JL while Dick remains the Batman of Gotham City. Or Bruce could take over Gotham again and Dick could become the Batman of Bludhaven or something. Having two Batmen could perpetuate the myth of Batman as a supernatural creature, if he's showing up in two places at once.

[Gen. Zod]

I know this will never happen, but I think it would interesting to have Bruce assume a back-seat role; maybe manning the Batcomputer and sending out his soldiers to keep the streets safe. Even if Bruce does not assume the role of Batman, right away, there is no way that he will stay away forever. DC would not let their most recognizable character be changed that drastically, unless it's temporary.

[Bad Bishop]

Allyn Gibson wrote:

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If you're not reading 'Tec, you're missing out on some of the best superhero comics ever. J.H. Williams' artwork is sensational; he does things with panels and art styles that will blow your mind.

The story's good, too.

Lots of folks here seem to agree. I'll consider buying the trade editions next year.

[JoeZhang]

Bad Bishop wrote:

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Lots of folks here seem to agree. I'll consider buying the trade editions next year.

I've found the story to be fairly generic but the artwork makes it a worthwhile purchase, it's fantastic...

[JoeZhang]

Christopher wrote:

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Here's an idle thought... there's precedent for DC having more than one "legacy hero" with the same name operating at the same time. There are at least four human Green Lanterns, not counting the thousands of others. I've seen stories with three or four Flashes operating side by side, all using the name Flash. There was a time when both Diana and her mother Hippolyta were using the name Wonder Woman, at least intermittently.

So even if Bruce returns as Batman in some form, it doesn't preclude Dick continuing to operate under the Batman name in some form. As suggested above, maybe Bruce could be Batman on a more global or cosmic scale with the JL while Dick remains the Batman of Gotham City. Or Bruce could take over Gotham again and Dick could become the Batman of Bludhaven or something. Having two Batmen could perpetuate the myth of Batman as a supernatural creature, if he's showing up in two places at once.

It's a nice idea and on similar lines, you have to wonder how they are going to deal with

the fact that they have two Captain America's running around the Marvel Universe.

[Captain Craig]

JoeZhang wrote:

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It's a nice idea and on similar lines, you have to wonder how they are going to deal with

the fact that they have two Captain America's running around the Marvel Universe.

Meh, they have two already.

He's just called USAgent.

[Admiral_Young]

I just had an interesting though about having multiple Batmen around...you could have two sets of Batman and Robin's...Dick and Damien and Bruce and Tim (still as Red Robin). I am not seeing Bruce demanding to take back his cape and cowl when he returns, at least not right away. This isn't like the Azael situation where he went all bonkers and Bruce had to fight for it back, or Dick being hesitant assuming the mantle of the Bat.

With all of the Kingdom Come stuff starting to creep slowly into DC, Magog now roaming around and leading his own Justice Society team along with Power Girl, another curious theory comes across the board. Also what about Batman #666? I read an article last week analyzing that issue and the author made some very interesting points about it. It is the first time we're introduced to Professor Pyg in the issue and those who've read Batman and Robin know that the first arc deals with him. I'm not saying that this is what morrison is leading up to...but it is interesting.

[Christopher]

Gen. Zod wrote:

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I know this will never happen, but I think it would interesting to have Bruce assume a back-seat role; maybe manning the Batcomputer and sending out his soldiers to keep the streets safe.

Sort of a cross between his Batman Beyond role and Oracle's job. Nice idea. It's where I imagine the DCAU Bruce would've ended up as he got older if he hadn't kept driving partners away -- coordinating the whole "Bat-family" of younger heroes from the Batcave.

[Broccoli]

Bruce Wayne is coming back?! I am shocked...SHOCKED...by this announcement.

Seriously though, I am surprised they are bringing him back so quickly. I figured they'd keep him gone for at least 2-3 years.

Mr. Laser Beam wrote:

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I thought Batwoman played for the other team, as it were?

The Mystery of the Batwoman has no connection to the comic Batwoman.

Gen. Zod wrote:

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I know this will never happen, but I think it would interesting to have Bruce assume a back-seat role; maybe manning the Batcomputer and sending out his soldiers to keep the streets safe.

Not a bad idea, but I doubt they would do that considering that is the current set-up behind Batgirl. Not that the main Bat books couldn't do it too; I just doubt they'd intentionally be redundant within their own family of books.

[ClayinCA]

Christopher wrote:

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As suggested above, maybe Bruce could be Batman on a more global or cosmic scale with the JL while Dick remains the Batman of Gotham City.

I like this idea, though I think that Dick would be more likely to be "global Batman" or "JLA-Batman," as his former duties (and memberships in the Titans and whatnot) have shown him taking on a more globe-spanning role, while Bruce has maintained for years that things like the League take him away from the time he'd rather be spending in Gotham.

Christopher wrote:

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Having two Batmen could perpetuate the myth of Batman as a supernatural creature, if he's showing up in two places at once.

Yeah, I really like this idea....

(That's why they won't do it...)

[Allyn Gibson]

Christopher wrote:

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Sort of a cross between his Batman Beyond role and Oracle's job.

It's also repetitive of Batgirl right now, which is Batman Beyond with Barbara in the Bruce role and Steph in the Terry role. I love Steph -- she's the DC character I most want to write -- but Batgirl just isn't sitting well with me. Probably because Steph's the character I most want to write.

Having two Batmen could perpetuate the myth of Batman as a supernatural creature, if he's showing up in two places at once.

I really thought Battle for the Cowl was going to end with two Batmen -- Dick and Jason.

Jason is number two on the list of DC characters I most want to write, by the way.

[Christopher]

ClayinCA wrote:

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I like this idea, though I think that Dick would be more likely to be "global Batman" or "JLA-Batman," as his former duties (and memberships in the Titans and whatnot) have shown him taking on a more globe-spanning role, while Bruce has maintained for years that things like the League take him away from the time he'd rather be spending in Gotham.

Good point. I'm not really that familiar with Dick/Nightwing's role in the comics.

It's just that it seems logical for Bruce to be the "senior" Batman. And he has been part of the JLA -- and the Trinity of heroes at its core -- for a very long time. Besides, if Bruce knew that someone he really trusted was bearing the mantle of the Batman, he might conclude that Gotham was in safe enough hands for him to step away from it. Indeed, one could make a case that Dick, being saner and less angsty than Bruce, might even help make Gotham a brighter place than Bruce could as Batman. And hanging around more with Clark and Diana would be good for Bruce's sanity.

[coolghoul]

Christopher wrote:

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Sort of a cross between his Batman Beyond role and Oracle's job. Nice idea. It's where I imagine the DCAU Bruce would've ended up as he got older if he hadn't kept driving partners away -- coordinating the whole "Bat-family" of younger heroes from the Batcave.

I think based on the interview from Grant Morrison that the plan is to rejuvenate Bruce Wayne. As he says - "he needs to stay in his 30s". So, I don't see old Bruce Wayne happening.

I find the idea of 2 batman-n-robins interesting but potentially confusing. I like the idea of Damien-BruceWayne slightly. But it goes against everything we have been told.
The Bruce in his 30s idea goes against him inhabiting Damien's body. (But the idea has appeal. A Robin (DamienBruce) who orders Batman (Dick), Red Robin (TimD), Oracle etc. around!!)

Bruce Wayne's destiny is to be Batman. Grant Morrison says it and Neil Gaiman said it too. He's the human who's at the peak of possible human perfection as far as acting as a non-powered superhero is concerned. Never gives up, always prepared and on and on. Besides being the goddamned Batman, he's also Batgod in human form!

After all that buildup , they can't leave it as Dick still being Batman. It just doesn't ring true.

[Christopher]

Well, I have no doubt that Bruce will be Batman again and always. But it just seems to me that if anyone's really earned the right to be Batman II, it's Dick Grayson. So it wouldn't seem quite fair to strip him of the cowl. Especially since DC's been down that road before with Prodigal, I think it was called.