I’m Convinced DC Just Introduced Batman’s True Kryptonite

There aren’t a lot of things in the world that can stop Batman, but DC Comics just revealed the one thing that likely could. While we were all hoping to see Bruce Wayne fight alongside his allies and enemies in the main tournament of DC K.O., he was eliminated early in the competition by the Joker (to the displeasure of many). But as is usually the case, Batman’s never down for good, and thanks to his Apokoliptian armor, he revived himself to continue his journey to recover the Heart of Apokolips and use its power to stop Darkseid’s pending invasion.

But the Heart didn’t like Batman’s cheating, and it got even with him by subjecting Bruce to his own unique challenge. Bruce has been subjected to simulated realities where each of his former Robins has grown up to become Batman, albeit with dark twists. Dick Grayson, for example, gave up his legacy as Nightwing and used the Titans to create an army of Robins to aggressively safeguard every major city. Batman has had no choice but to find other ways out of these simulations. Unfortunately, the final reality may be the one that stops him dead in his tracks.

DC Introduces Alfred Wayne, Batman’s Grandson, as His Ultimate Challenge

In DC K.O.: Knightfight #3 by Joshua Williamson, Dan Mora, Triona Farrell, and Tom Napolitano, Bruce faces off with the Heart’s false Red Hood Batman. The real Batman leans into the laws of this reality, where Batman is actually Clayface, and uses his powers to face off against Jason, who’s convinced that Bruce’s story about the Heart of Apokolips is nothing more than the ramblings of a deranged villain. However, when Bruce saves Jason from falling, Red Hood starts to believe Bruce, angering the Heart, who tears Batman away from this reality and into a void.

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The Heart is tired of Batman’s cheating and demands that he do the challenges correctly, even offering to return Bruce to the tournament if he beats the upcoming tasks. The heart sends Batman to a new reality where Tim Drake is Batman, who has solved every open case in Gotham. Here, Bruce’s consciousness is digitized, and he uses his mind to access Drake’s computer system. Instead of fighting, Bruce helps his former sidekick solve the mystery of who killed this reality’s Batman. Once again, the Heart removes Bruce from this world, enraged that Batman refuses to participate correctly.

The Heart has one final challenge that its positive will break Batman. The Heart sends Bruce to a future Gotham where he’s older, and Gotham is thriving. He meets this reality’s Damian, who has saved Gotham and helped it become virtually crime-free. Damian reveals he’s aware that the reality they’re in is just a simulation, but more surprisingly, Damian agrees to help Bruce escape this reality. However, he asks that Bruce meet someone so that he understands what’s at stake for this version of Damian. Damian brings in a little boy and introduces Batman to his grandson, Alfred.

Family Has Always Been Batman’s Biggest Weakness

Now, we all understand that Alfred seen here isn’t real, but rather a simulation created by the Heart of Apokolips. But that doesn’t mean that this isn’t an incredibly brilliant move on the Heart’s part. Frankly, the previous challenges weren’t effective because they were so over-the-top or not believable. They didn’t carry any real emotional weight for Bruce. But Batman discovering that his son has a child of his own, naming the boy after one of the biggest influences on Bruce’s life? Talk about hitting the Caped Crusader where it hurts.

In Batman’s heart of hearts, he knows he could just walk away, get Damian to help him escape, and head back to the tournament. But all Batman has ever wanted for Damian was to find peace, to become his own person. And giving Batman a doe-eyed grandson? That just makes this situation all the more complicated. Yes, this reality the Heart has manufactured isn’t real. But Alfred is real to Damian. Unlike the previous scenarios, this isn’t a battle based on logic or physical strength. This is an emotional challenge, and there’s nothing Batman cares for more than his family.

Now, I’m not naive enough to think this is it for Batman, obviously. But I think this ending really does hit the core of what Batman’s actual ‘kryptonite’ is. Despite his reputation for being emotionally closed-off, Bruce feels things deeply, and even though this reality’s Damian and Alfred aren’t real, they’re touching Bruce’s heart in ways the previous challenges weren’t. I’m not saying Batman won’t find a way to overcome this challenge. But I do think that, unlike the previous issues of DC K.O.: Knightfight, this is going to be the hardest obstacle for Batman to overcome.

What do you think about the introduction of Alfred Wayne in DC K.O.: Knightfight? Let us know in the comments or share your thoughts on the ComicBook Forum!