Death of Batman

[yourverysilly]

So, just looking at the Superman forums...I notice a what if about what if they killed off the big 's', how they'd do it, how they'd replace him etc.
It brought up a more worrying question for us Bat fans thats been bugging me for some time...Superman deosn't get old, Batman does. Whats gonna happen to him when he turns 50? 60? 70?
would they renivent him? but that means losing everything good thats happened to him since 'year one'! the killing joke, cataclysm, hush, the long haloween, death in the family everything would be gone!
And as for replacing him? pfft!
And keeping bruce in the background while Dick permananlty takes over as batman? well, I wouldn't like it.
Those are the basic 3 scenarios that I thought could happen...See I love the set up the bat family has now, Bruce, Tim, Dick etc, all in their prime! but eventually its going to HAVE to end isn't it? isn't it????? ARGH! HELP ME!

[shaxper]

Batman will never turn 50, 60, or 70. DC will keep slowing the aging process and (when necessary), rebooting continuity in order to prevent this. Batman should already be over eighty years old.

[zeroEDGE]

The Dark Knight Returns basically shows us what he's up to at an old age. But another scenario I can see happening is something like Batman Beyond.

[rwe1138]

but eventually its going to HAVE to end isn't it? isn't it?????

Nope. Bruce's been around for 65 years and he's aged, what, five years since his debut? Bruce Wayne will outlive all of us.

[Slortex]

I think this should be an elseworlds tale. One that shows Bruce dying and somebody else taking the mantle, be it Tim, Dick, Terry, or whoever. Its certainly something that's an obvious story for Batman. He's the most human hero, so death is something that should be explored.

[Captain Jim]

Essentially, shaxper and rwe1138 are correct.

On the other hand, if you really want to see what would happen if Bruce were taken out of commission, well, we've already seen that too. Anybody remember KnightQuest and Prodigal?

And there was an early speculative take on this question, back in the early 1960's, when Alfred let his imagination go wild and began chronicling the adventures of Batman II (Dick Grayson) and Robin II (Bruce & Kathy's son). Actually, they were pretty entertaining stories.

[Choppa]

It was cool seeing Jean Paul as Batman, especially his encounters with Batman's ususal villians.

[shaxper]

Batman #300 was a "What-If?" story of Batman's final adventure. It was actually a bit disappointing. Not the kind of "end with a bang" moment you'd expect. Still, it was an ending.

[Denny Colt]

Like Captain Jim, I remember those imaginary Alfred stories (although I read them in the 70's in the Batman 30's to the 70's book, when I was a young lad). As I recall Bruce married Kathy Kane (both of them were suitably grey), Dick took over as Batman II and Bruce and Kathy's son took over as Robin II. They were very entertaining, and perhaps the most interesting thing was the fact that B & R II had each had a big roman numeral II on their chests! Ah, the good old days, when things were much simpler.

With respect to Batman 300, I remember saving for this issue. I think it was extra pages and about 75 cents. I think I had to save 3 weeks allowance to get it (times were tough). I remember being fascinated by the fact that the adult Robin was wearing the Earth II Robin's costume.

And one final thing, concerning an aging Batman, it has been done before. In the 1970's the Earth II Batman retired, became police commissioner (replacing a retired -- or deceased, I can't remember -- Jim Gordon), and was later killed. I suspect that some of these stories are in the latest JSA 1970's reprint TPB's. I think that some of the stories can be found in Batman Family Back issues. There was also a great story, done in the 80's I think, which tells how the Earth II Batman & Catwoman got together. If I remember correctly it was a Brave & The Bold story.

All this is to say that if you want a good aging Batman story there are some good ones to be found in back issues!

[shaxper]

Like Captain Jim, I remember those imaginary Alfred stories (although I read them in the 70's in the Batman 30's to the 70's book, when I was a young lad). As I recall Bruce married Kathy Kane (both of them were suitably grey), Dick took over as Batman II and Bruce and Kathy's son took over as Robin II. They were very entertaining, and perhaps the most interesting thing was the fact that B & R II had each had a big roman numeral II on their chests! Ah, the good old days, when things were much simpler.


Don't forget when they met the Joker's son: Joker II!

[Captain Jim]

Don't forget when they met the Joker's son: Joker II!

Except it tuned out that it wasn't really his son. ;)

[Captain Jim]

In the 1970's the Earth II Batman retired, became police commissioner (replacing a retired -- or deceased, I can't remember -- Jim Gordon), and was later killed. I suspect that some of these stories are in the latest JSA 1970's reprint TPB's. I think that some of the stories can be found in Batman Family Back issues. There was also a great story, done in the 80's I think, which tells how the Earth II Batman & Catwoman got together. If I remember correctly it was a Brave & The Bold story.

And in this context, we should also mention that the Earth II Huntress (Helena Wayne) was the daughter of the Earth II Batman and Catwoman. In fact, she had her own feature in the back of Wonder Woman for awhile. But ultimately she met her end in Crisis on Infinite Earths.

[shaxper]

Except it tuned out that it wasn't really his son. ;)


Is there a statute of limitations for spoiler alerts? ;)

[ZacharyLovesYou]

I just want to see Tim Drake become Batman. There's no way in hell Dick would ever take the mantel, and even though Tim says he doesn't want to be The Batman, I think DC's leaning in that direction.

[shaxper]

I just want to see Tim Drake become Batman. There's no way in hell Dick would ever take the mantel, and even though Tim says he doesn't want to be The Batman, I think DC's leaning in that direction.

I think that's only because Tim has the least distinct identity of the three Robins. Dick is his own man, Jason was his own boy, and Tim pretty much follows Batman loyally. Yes, they've disagreed at times, and yes Tim is secretly trying to clone his best friend back to life like a deranged evil genius but, all this aside, he's pretty much a default Robin. No distinct personality that pushes away from Batman, or at least no such personality that's been consistently shown and has survived a transition between creative teams.

[Captain Jim]

I just want to see Tim Drake become Batman. There's no way in hell Dick would ever take the mantel, and even though Tim says he doesn't want to be The Batman, I think DC's leaning in that direction.

For a long time, Tim was very clear that he didn't want to be Batman. But I think you're right--DC has been pushing him in that direction of late, especially with the death of Spoiler and his dad. Not that I ever expect to see in actually happen in anything but an elsewords type story...

It used to be that Batgirl always said she wanted to be Batman. I guess there's not much chance of that happening anymore.

[OverMaster]

Except it tuned out that it wasn't really his son. ;)

Huh. Did that happen in Pre-Crisis continuity too? I always thought that reveal about Joker II was just something Byrne added to Superman/Batman Generations.

[Captain Jim]

Nope, that happened in the original. Byrne was inspired by those old stories (which really were pretty cool).

[shaxper]

For a long time, Tim was very clear that he didn't want to be Batman. But I think you're right--DC has been pushing him in that direction of late, especially with the death of Spoiler and his dad. Not that I ever expect to see in actually happen in anything but an elsewords type story...

It used to be that Batgirl always said she wanted to be Batman. I guess there's not much chance of that happening anymore.

Are we talking Barbara or Cass?

In some ways, Oracle is very much like Batman - mysterious, always in control, above the law, well-known urban legend, answers to no one. In these ways, Barbara is more like Batman than any other disciple he's ever had.

[jackups]

it'll still be Bruce as Batman when we are all in da grave, damn shame want to see hwat happens ,But with still got decades of story yet:D

[Captain Jim]

Are we talking Barbara or Cass?

Cassandra.

[Rupertmetal]

I agree that Tim would make the best replacement for Batman IF he learns how to fight better. I mean his detective skills are great, but he can't fight haha. Just like Nightwing haha.

Batman, Jason Todd and Batgirl are the best fighters.

Batman and Robin are the best detectives.

Nightwing is just average at everything he does.

So Robin needs to step his fighting game up.