The New, New Batmen!

(Spoiler alert for the new Batman identities)

There is always a new Batman isn't there?  Pictured above is the new Jim Gordon Batman from

Batman #42.  He's the one in the blue armor.

The other "Bat-being" is a street crud manifestation created to combat Gordon by a thug called Gee Gee Heung.  I loved the frame so much I had to include it in this post.

So, you heard that right, Jim Gordon is the new Batman while the old Batman is purportedly dead.

Of course Batman isn't really dead.  As Bruce Wayne, he is volunteering at a center for disadvantaged youth.   And he really doesn't want to be bothered anymore.

(There's a great preview of Batman #43 over at io9 if you want to see how very reluctant Wayne is.)

As for the Gordon Batman, he a sanctioned vigilante working with the Gotham City police force.  Pity that could have never happened with the old Batman.  Too rough for their tastes?  Gordon has trimmed the trademark mustache and cropped the hair to look more battle ready.  He does a team working with him consisting of Alfred the butler's long lost daughter, Julia, and tech guy named Daryl.  The team is pretty new and the are still working out the kinks.

I'll guess we'll have to see how long it will be before the Bruce Wayne Batman will be back.  No doubt it will take some great misfortune to force him back into the cape and cowl.

Our second Batman is Dick Grayson only he is not of this world.

We all know Dick Grayson as the original Robin.  I've always loved the iterations of the Grayson Batman.  He's abley filled the cape and cowl and bemused his allies with a sense of humor the Wayne Batman never had.

This Grayson is the Earth 2 Dick Grayson.  He was married to Barbara Gordon who tragically died when Earth 2 was attacked by Apokolips.  They did have a son however, John.

Grayson was severely injured during the Convergence story line losing the use of his legs.  A being named Telos restored the use of Grayson's legs by covering them with a metallic like film.

Now Grayson patrols the streets of New Gotham City on the newly restored Earth 2.

The costume isn't bad but it isn't as threatening as the Thomas Wayne Batman that preceded Grayson.

Now this guy was a tough SOB.  Sadly he died foiling the Earth 2 Joker's master plan.  I suppose Grayson wanted to look a little less evil than his predecessor.

I saved the best Batman for last.

What, you haven't heard Batman is a God now?

Or should we say "Bat-God."

This is the Justice League of America version of Batman.  He's still the Bruce Wayne Batman.  Apparently the "Darkseid War" story line for the JLA book is happening just outside the narrative that is going on in the Batman issue I started this review with.

That's the comics for you.

Batman made the mistake of touching the chair of Metron (an other worldly being that drifts between New Genesis and Apokolips observing the Universe.)  Now he sits astride the chair in command of great power and knowledge.

What does one do with great knowledge?

Learn the Joker's real name.

I don't know what I am looking forward to in the next edition of JLA, Batman as a God or finding out who the Joker really is!

Batman has gone through a lot of changes through the ages.  He's taken on many roles and many identities.  If there is one constant to the Dark Knight he can never be said to be boring.

Bat -God!

Batman Catches The Red Eye

Is Batman evil?

Or is he just demonic?

If you go by some of the ways he's drawn you'd swear he was from the dark side.  Of course, there have been many iterations of Batman and most of the "evil" or "demonic" Batmen come from Elseworld or Earth 2 versions.  It seems that whenever the artists and writers collaborate on a newer darker Batman (if that is possible) they make sure his eyes are the color red.

Red is a passionate color and is often associated with all things Satanic.  There is no better way to show the evil intensity of a different Batman than to color his eyes red.  He'll simply radiate rage and if the eyes are the window to the soul then perhaps this Batman is without one.

One of the more infamous versions of the "Red-eyed Batman" comes from the Flashpoint series in which Thomas Wayne was the Batman.  This Batman was full of rage and wrath and he was inspired to become the Bat over the loss of his son Bruce.  His intimate relationship with the Joker of that day furthered his decent.  Flashpoint and the Batman spinoff with it's shocking revelation is a series not to be missed.

The Red-eyed Batman has made his return in the pages of "Earth 2" as originated by James Robinson.  We don't know his identity yet although it's been rumored he is another version of Thomas Wayne.  I hope that isn't true as we don't want to go to the same well too often do we? 

This Batman seems to have other worldly powers as he survived a bullet to the head in a recent issue.  But he seems to know Bruce Wayne the original Earth 2 Batman quite closely and to further that point he went out of his way to murder the Joker of that world that was being held in stasis.  It seems this Batman whose costume is tinged with red and whose eyes glow with the same hot coals of the Flashpoint Batman is no less angered and we should learn his identity in the the Earth 2 annual issue.

The Red-eyed Batman reappears in the pages of Batman-Superman number six as written by Greg Pak and illustrated by Brett Booth.  This Batman is caught up in a living organic video game and he has already died and made his resurrection.  In the above frame Batman has been reborn as some sort of automaton and he is stunned to find he doesn't have any lungs.  His rage is fueled by the combined hate of millions of gamers and he soon finds himself the equal of Superman and their fear and anger set him against the Man of Steel.  Pak hasn't been afraid of taking liberties with his story telling so we should expect to more craziness from the Red-eyed Batman.

Justice League 3000 made it's debut this past December and it seems the efforts of Giffen, Dematteis and Porter cannot do without a Red-eyed Batman.  I can't say I've read this issue but I do intend on catching up with it.

This particular Batman also sports the red bat on his chest and naturally his eyes glow with the same menace that runs straight from the depths of Hell.  Is he man or is he demon?  Is he consumed with anger?  I'm tempted to guess the eerie glow that comes from this Batman eyes probably comes from having to step between the ever lustful Superman and Wonder Woman.  No wonder he seems filled with rage.  Those two can't keep their hands off each other even a thousand years from now.

Poor Red-eyed Batman!

The New Earth 2 Batman Is In The House!

And he knows how to make a grand entrance!

The new Earth 2 Batman made his appearance in the recent Earth 2 annual and if there are any comic detectives out there they have figured out who he is.

But not me.

Not to sell myself short but all I can think of is the Thomas Wayne Batman from the incredible "Flashpoint" series. 

There are similarities, particularly the glowing red eyes and propensity for meting out justice with "extreme prejudice".  (That's an Apocalypse Now reference people.)  The Bat logo is different on the chest but both utility belts are tinged in red.

The Flashpoint Batman lost his son in Crime Alley and took up the mantle of the Bat so who is to say that the Earth 2 Thomas Wayne, upon learning of his son's demise, didn't do the same thing?  I know what you're thinking, "Too easy".  You may be right.  It does seem a little too easy but it would be a wonderful way to revisit the character and take a new spin on his vicious application for crime fighting.  It would be difficult to top the twist of the Joker reveal in that series but I am game if they are.

Any other candidates?  (Apparently, we still don't know who E2 Batman is after the publication of Earth 2 #13 although he does make a cameo.)

I had a theory that it would be Jason Todd after the tease came out in the form of the cover of "Red Hood and the Outlaws" #17.  I figured Jason Todd would die in one universe and be "resurrected" in Earth 2.  There was poetry in that.

But Jason Todd didn't die in "Earth 1".

That doesn't mean he can't be the Earth 2 Batman it only means that the poetic symmetry is lost.  I can live with that.

The new Earth 2 Batman seems to be incredibly fit and obviously fearless.  He even has the ability to travel the world at will, has the best tech and knows all about the new Earth 2 heroes.

That's not something you pick up overnight.  You need some serious cash to pull that off.  So is it Thomas Wayne?  He should've been able to access his son's fortune.  (Did his son have a fortune?)  If the original E2 Batman was a billionaire wouldn't it be easy for his heir to inherit that fortune.  Does Earth 2 have a Dick Grayson?  How about this, Damien Wayne dies in the original universe and his doppelganger takes up the reins in the E2 universe.

Now that makes sense.  Damien was no stranger to violence and was trained in a world of assassins.  He was even a killer.  We witnessed that when he took out the character of "Nobody".

 

So, the poetic justice I wished upon Jason Todd may come true in the form of Damien Wayne.  At one time Damien Wayne was seen as the future Batman as depicted in this image taken from Batman #666.

 This future version of Batman was a ruthless killer and he even used Gotham City as weapon rigging all the buildings with explosives.  We don't know the E2 Batman very well but it doesn't seem as though he is willing to let Gotham burn, let alone the world, to see an end to his means.  Still, if we were to transfer these attributes to the Earth 2 Batman then we may have deduced his identity as Damien Wayne.  

Something is holding me back on this.  The maturity of this E2 Batman for one.  The Damien Wayne we knew was a child of ten years this new Batman is obviously way beyond that.  Anything is possible in the comics yes but something just doesn't feel right.  I can't put my finger on it but I'm going to lean towards Thomas Wayne or Jason Todd as the new E2 Batman.

Or it's their Azrael.

No, wait, it's Alfred.