Batman Dead But No One Believes It
Give DC Comics credit. In an effort not to be outdone by Marvel Comics recent killing of Captain America, DC Comics has stirred up all sorts of media attention by killing off Batman. Of course, no one on the planet believes Batman is actually dead. After The Dark Knight raked in over half a billion dollars this summer to become the second highest grossing movie of all time, Batman is likely more invulnerable than Superman in the comic book world.
If you haven’t picked up Batman #681 yet or read any of the thousands of media headlines spoiling the ending of the comic, then you might want to stop reading now, because we are about to cover exactly how Batman was supposedly killed. Batman wasn’t shot through the heart or decapitated, but instead he perished in a fiery helicopter crash. You know, one of those fiery helicopter crashes where any bodies recovered will of course be charred beyond recognition.
Everyone in the comic book world knows what is going to happen next. Nightwing, who is really Dick Grayson who was the original Robin, will become the new Batman. This much was already foreshadowed in Batman #681 as Nightwing was shown looking at Batman’s cape and cowl. Before Dick Grayson jumps into the role however, DC Comics will hold a “Battle for the Cowl” storyline to draw things out and sell a lot of comics.
Could it be that DC Comics has really killed off Bruce Wayne, but Dick Grayson will be the Batman going forward? Of course not, Bruce Wayne will always be Batman. Expect Dick Grayson to wear the Batman mask for about a year, which is just about how long comic fans will gobble up every issue before starting to miss the original Batman. Then, Bruce Wayne will re-appear and re-claim the Batman cape and cowl in another media-hyped event.
While there are numerous superheroes where the man behind the mask could easily be replaced, Batman is not one of them. What makes the Batman character great is the psychologically damaged, mentally unbalanced, but extremely driven Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne is the world’s greatest detective, which is something that Dick Grayson will never be.
Another reason that Bruce Wayne will eventually have to become the Batman again is that everyone knows there will be another Batman movie, and Christian Bale is the best actor to ever play Batman. Because to replace Bruce Wayne in the movie franchise would mean replacing Christian Bale, it just isn’t going to happen. And when the third movie comes out, DC Comics will want to make sure the secret identity of Batman in the comics is the same as the one in the movies, so new readers jumping onboard won’t get confused.
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What makes you so sure DC cares about not confusing new readers? Grant Morrisons run that led to this point was as confusing as it gets and Bruce was barely seen all summer during the movie’s run.
Though I agree with the rest of the article.
My brother does not believe he is dead. He said it smells like Azareth all over again.
I’m still saying he’s dead but I live with a house full of cynics
I like how you say “Everyone in the comic book world knows what is going to happen next.” Apparently not. They announced this 2 years ago and have said all along that he wouldn’t die. That something would happen that would cause Bruce to retire, not die. And most importantly, RIP takes place BEFORE Final Crisis and that the Batman in Final Crisis is still Bruce and it will be in THAT book that we see him leave in issue #6. So everybody in the comic book world knows what’s going to happen? Then why are you talking about how Batman was supposed to have perished in a fiery helicopter crash? No, he’s not supposed to have done that. I love how you feel you’re breaking news here but it just seems like you haven’t been paying attention.
…
RIP’s story is about how a group of Evil Nameless Rich and Powerful People go to great lenghts to destroy Batman just to have their plans foiled because Batman Always Has a B Plan, even if it is creating a secret crazy split personality, just in case… But then, you believe he dies in a helicopter crash? I don’t really think the writer expects you to believe that he’s dead. I mean, one of the main scenes of the latest issue is when Batman gets out of his own tomb. The point of the story is really metatextual: “Ha, did you really think we could kill Batman? Yeah, sure”.
Obviously, that doesn’t really stop DC from selling you a lot of pointless, half-baked tie-ins, requiems, battles for the cowl and stuff, that will mean nothing once Morrison comes back, just like he did with Countdown to Final Crisis.
Batman Dead?…
Oh, you have got to be kidding me. The world’s most famous comic book hero has breathed his last Bat breath. Bruce Wayne — who by night is Batman — gets murdered by a man claiming to be the father……
When read in context, there is no pretense that he’s dead…in fact, the story (along with the author, as well as the publisher) makes it quite clear that he survived. But heck, why bother with facts…
Of course no one believes it. And neither DC nor Grant Morrison expect you to believe it. Everyone thinks they’re smart by pointing out he’s going to survive. Well, that’s like saying you outsmarted the writers of the Iron Man movie because you knew no matter how bad things got he wouldn’t die. Congratulations, you’ve figured out the basic superhero narrative: bad guy gets the upperhand, hero someone claws his way back and wins. You’re a genius!
This article is pointless. No one, including DC and Grant Morrison, expect you to think Bruce Wayne won’t be under the cowl when all is said and done. If you just read this arc to see whether or not Batman dies, you may as well have not read it. It’s a foregone conclusion before you even pick up the first issue. If you can’t enjoy it for what it is — yet another superhero story where the odds are stacked against him/her and in the end they rise victories, returning to status quo — then don’t bother.
Here’s how i would end the series….Batman is sentenced to prison for a crime he did’nt commit, then he is randomly shanked by a fellow inmate and utters his final phrase “shanks allot….” THE END
If Bruce Wayne ever died and was officially gone from comics all together a piece of our human spirit would be lost. He’s not the typical hands on the hips with a sparkling white teethy smile super hero. No one is that guy, ever. He’s the brooding soul we all identify with in some part because we all have our demons yet keep carrying on. No spin off or ex-Robin could ever fill his shoes no matter how hard he squeezes into that beloved cowl. DC knows this. We all know this. If Bruce Wayne dies a part of us will all die with him.
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[...] Batman #681, DC Comics apparently killed off the title character in a helicopter crash. The issue gained a [...]