So, Batman Is Dead

It’s no surprise to hard core readers. Infact, we’ve expected this moment for almost a year now, but what surprises me the most is that DC Comics haven’t made the most of this event with the press like they have with recent “events” such as the unveiling of a new lesbian Batwoman or introducing racial diversity to their characters, such as an Asian Atom, African American Firestorm and Mexican Blue Beetle. DC’s main competitor Marvel Comics, has made an art form of handling the press with headline grabbers such as Spider-Man’s divorce and Captain America’s death. Most recently, it’s been putting Barack Obama in Amazing Spider-Man #583, and experiencing huge queues at comic shops across the US as the mainstream press lapped it up. Obama is a popular draw card these days, with the President Elect also appearing in Image’s Savage Dragon recently, and an upcoming issue of Rob Liefeld’s new Youngblood series. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Obama is a mad Spidey fan either.

So, back to Batman. How exactly did the Dark Knight die? Let’s just say, it’s complicated. Scottish writer Grant Morrison has been deconstructing the hero in his lengthy Batman: R.I.P arc that has divided fans with its convoluted plots and fractured gaze at Batman’s various incarnations over the decades. Now that it’s finished, it’s obvious that it was a grand idea, poorly executed. However, this week’s Final Crisis #6, part of a multi-character end of the world epic that has everyone squaring off against Darkseid, Batman makes the ultimate sacrifice and reminds everyone one last time why he should be feared, by taking out Darkseid for good-hopefully. The best is yet to come for Bats though. There is now a fight on for who shall be the new Batman. Will it be Damian, Batman’s young son, any three of the Robins (Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake), bad guy Hush, or who knows? I will say that the last page of Final Crisis #6 is simply awesome. As every fanboy knows – superheroes die. All the time. And they generally come back. With a fired up Superman tearing up all he sees and showing up with Bat’s corpse in his arms, it’s definitely a WOW moment. But I think, once Battle for the Cowl begins in March, written and illustrated by Tony Daniel, there will be more WOWs to come. Batman’s not really gone I’d say. Just consider it a see you later, even though when Bruce Wayne returns it will probably not be under the familiar dark garb. For a preview of Final Crisis #6, click below.