(CU Independent Photo Illustration/Amy Moore-Shipley)
Warning: Spoilers ahead…
Welcome Back, Bruce Wayne!
The DC Universe is ready to welcome home one of its iconic heroes, Bruce Wayne, also known as Batman, who has spent the past two years or so stuck in time. However, by the end of Grant Morrison’s Batman: Return of Bruce Wayne mini-series in October, there will be two batmen.
Dick Grayson, the original Robin, took over his mentor’s cowl when Wayne disappeared in the time stream. The original Caped Crusader will star in two new books in November: Batman Inc. written by Morrison with art by Yanick Paquette and Batman:The Dark Knight, written and drawn by David Finch. Grayson will keep starring in the three flagship titles: Batman, Batman & Robin and Detective Comics.
When 28-year-old senior Japanese and film major Andrew Gilbert heard that there will be two Caped Crusaders running around the DC Universe, his jaw dropped.
“What makes Batman so special is that he is the only man capable of pulling it off,” Gilbert said. “If you add a second Batman, it proves that anyone can be Batman; he loses his superheroness.”
Even with two batmen running around, writers will hopefully have answers to the following questions:
With two batmen, who will be where?
How will both of Batman’s love interests, Catwoman and Talia al Ghul, react to his return?
Will Wayne see the growth of his son, Daimian?
What about his foes? In earlier issues of Batman comics, both Two-Face and the Joker stated that Grayson wasn’t their Batman, what will Gotham City have to fear now that they will know that their true arch-foe is home?
Or other members of his rogues’ gallery that know his secret identity; Hush spent most of last year portraying Wayne, now with his old childhood friend back will the jig be up? Or what about Ra’s Al Ghul, what dastardly plan has he cooked up?
Brightest Day: Are They Really Alive?
Earlier this year in the aftermath of the company-wide mini-series Blackest Night, 12 of DC’s greatest heroes and villains found themselves resurrected.
Throughout Brightest Day, the company-wide maxi-series, Aquaman, Captain Boomerang, Deadman, Firestorm, Hawk, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Jade, Maxwell Lord, Martian Manhunter, Orisis and Professor Zoom have been given missions so that they can fully live again.
However, if they did not complete their missions, some of them may again be pushing up daisies. While Gilbert said he thinks that DC Comics should pick their strongest resurrected characters, he still wants them to give the other characters a chance.
“It would surprise me if they didn’t remain alive,” Gilbert said. “If you’ve grown up with a superhero, you don’t want to see them go away.”
To find out if your favorites will stay resurrected, check out “Brightest Day” by writers Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi and drawn by many of DC’s finest artists.
Across the DCU…
Here’s a quick hit list to see what’s coming up for the DCU in the fall…
T.V. producer J. Michael Straczynski has currently taken over the writing duties of both Superman and Wonder Woman with art by Eddy Barrows and Don Kramer, respectfully. Straczynski will take the Man of Steel on a trip across America, while he will try to help the Amazon Princess solve the mystery of who destroyed her home Paradise Island.
Geoff Johns puts both The Flash and Green Lantern through the ringer, as Barry Allen takes on his arch foes: the Rogues and the Renegades, 25th Century cops with powers similar to the Rogues. Meanwhile, Hal Jordan and the other Guardians of Light must find out who’s stealing their corps’ entites.
While the Man of Steel is away, Lex Luthor will play as the Bald One will tackle DC’s greatest villains in Action Comics written by Paul Cornell and art by Pete Woods
Two major high notes for both the Justice League and Society of America will come in October, as Justice League of America’s fiftieth issue will be published, while Justice Society of America welcomes their new creative team: T.V. writer Marc Guggenheim and artist Scott Kolins.
For more information on everything DC Comics, visit their website.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Jacob Elyachar at Jacob.elyachar@colorado.edu.
