Batman's Origin Gets A Major Addition
Batman's origin story is one of the most reinterpreted stories in comics. Be that as it may, the [...]
Batman's origin story is one of the most reinterpreted stories in comics. Be that as it may, the details don't often change too much from their previous foundation, which puts a young Bruce Wayne at the scene of his Father and Mother's murder. Changes are typically of the surface variety, like the name of the gunman, or if Wayne's father fought back, things like that.
In Batman #12, that policy changes.
Spoilers from here on out, so you've been warned.
In the current I Am Suicide arc from writer Tom King, Batman finds himself alone and betrayed by Selina Kyle, part of the impromptu team he put together to extract the Psycho-Pirate from Bane's headquarters. The last issue dealt with the inner thoughts of Catwoman, and this issue puts Batman in her place, as he narrates the hard-fought path to Bane's location.
Multiple things come to light during his journey, like how his father and mother were "classically dignified and classically kind" but were also prone to a good hard laugh when spotting something incredibly ridiculous. Dressing up as a Bat and fighting crime? Yeah, that might qualify. Bruce recognizes how odd the whole thing is, especially when the world is being saved by a scarred child with a mask.
"No. Way up there. Looking over us. Trying to save us. That's that kid. That's that little rich kid whose mommy and daddy got shot. And instead of mourning them properly, he got on his knees and made a vow."
Bruce continues to recall his past, and then about midway through reveals this bombshell.
"I was ten. I got one of my father's razor blades and I got down on my knees. I put the metal on my wrist. The edge scratching cold. The blood on my hand. And I looked up. To Mother and Father. I told them I was sorry. I was so sorry."
There's more to the story, but the fact that "I Am Suicide" refers to the point at which Bruce became Batman is a big revelation. That moment was the catalyst for the death of Bruce Wayne, not the moment of his parent's death, which was assumed all these years.
It comes at a time of reflection for Bruce, and it makes a great deal of sense that he would have at least thought about it at the time. His world crashed around him in one moment, and he was powerless to stop it. Millions of people deal with thoughts of suicide or are impacted by it, and having someone like Batman reveal this quite personal side to them might endear him to people who recognize that struggle. It's a fascinating angle to take on the character, and King handled its delivery impeccably.
The whole issue is well worth a read, but you can view a few highlighted images in the gallery. Batman #12 is in comic shops now.
MORE DC: 5 Reasons To Be Reading Aquaman / First Post Rebirth Appearance Of Joker / Arrow Showrunner Reveals Major Season 5 Finale Plot Point / Picking The WWE Green Lantern Corps
0comments