Batman is Officially Becoming a Grandfather, But It’s Absolutely Heartbreaking

DC Comics is taking a major step with Batman and giving him something no one saw coming: a grandchild. Over the decades, comic book readers have seen the Bat-Family grow. What started as a one-man war on crime eventually blossomed into an incredibly close team and found family. And while the Bat-Family has fought once or twice (or several times), Bruce’s allies are the most important thing in the world to him. Unfortunately, that’s something the DC Universe knows as well, and it’s weaponizing that love during the latest major event.

As seen in DC K.O. #1, Batman was one of the first people eliminated from the tournament (by the Joker of all people). But a good hero is never down for long, as Batman wore an Apokoliptian armor intended to transport him away if he was immobilized for too long. However, the Heart of Apokolips running the tournament didn’t like that and sent Bruce on a wild journey to keep him occupied. As detailed in DC K.O. Knightfight, Batman is traveling to alternate worlds, where all his Robins have grown up to become Batmen themselves.

Damian Wayne Becomes Batman and a Father in One Future

The first issue, naturally, detailed Dick Grayson and what he’d be like as the Dark Knight. While the rest of the issues haven’t been released, solicited material has revealed that other issues will show Bruce traveling to other timelines, where Gotham is protected by other grown-up Robins. And as seen in the recently released solicitation for DC K.O. Knightfight #4, the miniseries comes to an emotional conclusion when Bruce sees a world where Damian has taken his father’s mantle. But unlike previous stories that have explored similar concepts, this issue reveals that Damian has actually had a child.

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In Damian’s world, he’s achieved the unthinkable. As Batman, he’s made Gotham so safe that it no longer needs a Batman. And as revealed on Dan Mora’s cover for DC K.O. Knightfight #4, Damian has brought a son into the world. Bruce can be seen on the touching cover, playing with his grandson, who really seems to favor his grandfather. It’s the first main cover of the miniseries where Bruce isn’t fighting, but rather, taking a moment to just be in the moment. Unfortunately, this is all part of the Heart of Apokolips’ cruel plan to stop Batman.

The solicitation for this issue mentions that Batman is going to have to face a choice: Preserving the peace that Damian has created and keeping everything, including Bruce’s grandson, intact. Or give it all up to make it out of the Heart of Apokolips’ test and rejoin the K.O. tournament. And sadly, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out how this is going to go. Batman knows that he has to press on and that the Heart is doing everything it can to manipulate him. But that doesn’t make this scenario any less heart-wrenching.

Batman Has to Give Up His Grandchild to Save the DC Universe

If you read DC K.O. Knightfight #1, you know that the Heart of Apokolips is trying to hit Bruce where it hurts to keep him away from the tournament. It’s already shown him a dark future with Dick; now Jason and Tim are next. But a dark future can only dissuade Batman so much (if anything, it strengthens his resolve). A far more effective, and tragic, method is showing Bruce an ideal world where he gets exactly what he wants: A peaceful Gotham and for his family to grow.

It honestly reminds me a lot of the “For the Man Who Has Everything” story by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, where Superman was trapped in an ‘ideal’ world and even had a son. Batman knows what he’s seeing isn’t reality, but that doesn’t make it any less real to him. Seeing Damian find balance as Batman in a way Bruce never could? That’s Bruce’s dream. But he can’t stay in a dream forever, and as much as he might love the idea of being a grandfather, Batman has to give it all up.

And we know he will, because that’s what Batman does. He pushes on and does what’s best for everyone, putting his own happiness below the needs of the many. But it won’t make seeing Bruce give up the fantasy world cooked up by the Heart of Apokolips any less painful. Being a grandfather might age him a bit, but it’s a nice thing to see Bruce happy and bonding with a new addition to the family. But with the universe at stake, this nice dream is going to have to stay a dream for Batman.

Do you like the idea of Batman as a grandfather? Let us know in the comments or on the ComicBook Forum!