DC Just Made Batman Face his Harshest Truth in 80 Years

There’s a common statement that Batman cannot be happy. The idea insists that if Bruce were to ever let go of his pain and allow himself to enjoy the life he lives, then he would cease to be Batman. While this is hotly debated to this day, the question has been asked of Batman directly numerous times in comics, being the driving question behind Tom King’s controversial run. Regardless of whether it is true or not, Bruce seems to have accepted this as fact. However, there’s another side to this argument that is often overlooked. If being Batman means being unhappy, what does that mean for those who pick up his legacy?

Modern depictions of Bruce have repeatedly said that he never wants anyone else to be Batman. Not because he thinks nobody else can do it, but because he sees the identity as a cruel necessity that he hopes will die with him. Now, Batman is forced to confront the idea that his legacy has doomed his children to a life of pain and torment, a life of being Batman. DC K.O.: Knightfight has forced Bruce to battle his own sons as inheritors to the Batman mantle, and see how it ruined their lives. This question reached its crescendo in issue #3, where Batman confronted a Damian who saved Gotham and had a son of his own, Alfred.

The Happiest Batman Will Ever Be

To punish Batman for cheating its rigged tournament, the Heart of Apokalips tortured Batman by sending him through constructed realities where his sons took up the Batman mantle. The Heart wanted Bruce to fight and kill his own children, but Bruce figured out its game and refused to play, instead trying to help them overcome the loneliness they surrounded themselves in. After helping the alternate Tim overcome his fear of letting Bruce go after his death, the Heart realized it couldn’t hurt Batman by forcing him to be cruel, as Batman would always find a way to help. It threatened to have him fight other members of the Batman Family, but decided to torture Batman with the one thing he always wanted.

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Bruce woke up in an apartment beside Crime Alley, much older than he should be. Except, this Gotham City was different. It was lively and bright, with bustling streets and no darkness. An adult Damian entered and recounted that he had saved the city by becoming Batman before embracing his own path. Gotham had been redeemed, freed of the evil that had long been its base. Still, Damian knew that all of this was an illusion created by the Heart, but wanted Bruce to see the truth of this world before he decided to leave or not. Damian introduced Bruce to his own son, Alfred, and showed that he had done the impossible; Damian became Batman and was happy, and it shattered Bruce’s world.

A Happy Batman Can Exist, But Not For Bruce

To Bruce, being Batman and being happy are incompatible. It’s why he has been so adamant that nobody follow in his footsteps. Bruce wants his children to chart their own destiny, and hopes that by being Batman and bearing the suffering himself, they can grow past their pain like he never has. The Heart chose to exploit this fear of his children ending up just like him to torture Bruce, but eventually realized that all it was presenting Batman with was people in need, and Batman helped people. That’s what makes this new reality so dangerous. It goes against everything Bruce believes to be true.

Bruce does not believe his children can inherit his mantle and live better lives, which makes a reality where Damian has done both so tempting. This is a two-pronged attack. Either Bruce has to overcome one of his most deeply-held beliefs, or he has to destroy what he may believe is the only happy future for his son. After seeing all of the pain his legacy may cause his children, can Bruce let hope into his heart and accept that the real Damian living this kind of life is possible, or will he resign himself that it could never happen. If he doesn’t believe in a better tomorrow, then he might not have the will to save the day in the right way.

The Heart of Apokalips meant this to be the ultimate trial for Batman. Can Bruce realize that his mantle can be positive by overcoming his tightly-held darkness, or will he torture himself when he leaves this reality, thinking that it’s something that could never be, inadvertently making that statement true? Bruce has to realize that being Batman doesn’t have to mean being unhappy. It only means that if he lets it. This is the final test for Batman, and it’s one that he has to pass not just for the tournament, but for the sake of his legacy.

DC K.O.: Knightfight #3 is on sale now!

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