Speculations on the "Big Event" of Batman and Robin 7 (SPOILERS)

[ryerye17]

On the DC Nation Page, Didio wrote that Batman and Robin 7 has to come out AFTER Blackest Night 6. The thing is, Blackest Night 6 is solicited for December 23, the last shipping day of the year, so...no Batman and Robin for December. :mad:

Nevertheless. "issue 7 was so important to events in the DC Universe that it had to come after Blackest Night 6" (Didio, 2009)

I think it can be one of two things:

(A) Bruce is back.
(B) They found the way to destroy Nekron/Black Hand/Black Rings in the pages of Batman and Robin.

[DetectiveDupin]

(C) Bruce is revealed to be alive, as Morrison has said he isn't coming back until issue 10 or after.

[Teatime Brutality]

I remember Didio saying that it'd be in Blackest Night that the Bruce-corpse would get explained, and Morrison and Johns have certainly both talked about how closely they've planned that overlap between their stories.

My suspicion is that this delay might be less about B&R#7 shaking the universe to its foundations, and more about its plot points needing to come after that reveal.

[MTL76]

I didn't think Bruce's return arc would be this soon...

[DarkKnghtJared]

On the DC Nation Page, Didio wrote that Batman and Robin 7 has to come out AFTER Blackest Night 6. The thing is, Blackest Night 6 is solicited for December 23, the last shipping day of the year, so...no Batman and Robin for December. :mad:

Nevertheless. "issue 7 was so important to events in the DC Universe that it had to come after Blackest Night 6" (Didio, 2009)

I think it can be one of two things:

(A) Bruce is back.
(B) They found the way to destroy Nekron/Black Hand/Black Rings in the pages of Batman and Robin.

I do recall in the "coming attractions" for the first issue of B&R having a panel where Dick and Kate are fighting what seems to be a ghostly Batman.

I'm thinking either something is revealed in Blackest Night, or there will be a Black Lantern Batman at that point.

[DetectiveDupin]

I didn't think Bruce's return arc would be this soon...

It's supposed to take place between issues 10-13 of Batman and Robin. Morrison hinted that Bruce will still be out of the cowl for a bit though.

[DarkKnghtJared]

It's supposed to take place between issues 10-13 of Batman and Robin. Morrison hinted that Bruce will still be out of the cowl for a bit though.

Link please? I'd just like to get a little confirm before I do a lil' fanboy squee--as much as I love Bruce, I'm really digging Dick as Batman and hope that continues for a little longer.

[BloodOps]

It's supposed to take place between issues 10-13 of Batman and Robin. Morrison hinted that Bruce will still be out of the cowl for a bit though.

Exactly but I think we will find out why Bruce's skull is being used and/or the characters in the DC Universe will find out that Bruce is actually alive.

[DetectiveDupin]

Link please? I'd just like to get a little confirm before I do a lil' fanboy squee--as much as I love Bruce, I'm really digging Dick as Batman and hope that continues for a little longer.

Unfortunately, I can't find it, but I am not lying. I think it was in an IGN interview. You can go ahead and squee.

[stillanerd]

I have feeling it's going to be revealed that Bruce Wayne's "corpse" is either not actually dead as we know the term (Batman was hit by the Omega Sanction which time displaces a person's soul into various lives each one worse than the last), hence why the Black Hand is using Batman's skull, because Batman is trapped in-between life and death and thus acts as a vessel for the Black Lantern rings. I'm sure Dick, Damien, Tim, and the others are going to try and recuperate Bruce via the Lazarus Pit--since being that he's essentially "alive"--only for him to go temporarily mad (which is the effect the Lazarus Pits do have whenever someone uses them) and tries to kill them, but then eventually regains his senses.

[stillanerd]

It's supposed to take place between issues 10-13 of Batman and Robin. Morrison hinted that Bruce will still be out of the cowl for a bit though.

Interesting. I suppose Bruce will not return to being Batman and letting Dick handle things could be in part because of his experiences with the Omega Sanction have done a number on him psychologically and physically, and thus doesn't feel he's ready to ever take up the mantle again--at least for the time being until, perhaps, Dick gets critically wounded or some such.

[DetectiveDupin]

I have feeling it's going to be revealed that Bruce Wayne's "corpse" is either not actually dead as we know the term (Batman was hit by the Omega Sanction which time displaces a person's soul into various lives each one worse than the last) or that it's not the Bruce from the current DC Earth but rather a parallel one. In either case, I'm sure Dick, Damien, Tim, and the others are going to try and recuperate Bruce via the Lazarus Pit, only to find out it doesn't have a soul to speak of, or that it's an "evil" Batman from an alternate reality.

Well we saw what appears to be Bruce at the end of Final Crisis. In any case, I have full faith in Morrison and will see this story till the end.

[DetectiveDupin]

Interesting. I suppose Bruce will not return to being Batman and letting Dick handle things could be in part because of his experiences with the Omega Sanction have done a number on him psychologically and physically, and thus doesn't feel he's ready to ever take up the mantle again--at least for the time being until, perhaps, Dick gets critically wounded or some such.

Among the many flawed criticisms of R.I.P. is that it finished with loose ends- they will be addressed, I am sure. Dr. Hurt is supposed to make an appearance in issue 9 I think- so it's clear that this story isn't finished.

[Samuraixsithlord]

I think it'll be more along the lines of everyone noticing that there was no Black Lantern Bruce Wayne, so they come to the conclusion that he's still alive.

[froinlaven]

Among the many flawed criticisms of R.I.P. is that it finished with loose ends- they will be addressed, I am sure. Dr. Hurt is supposed to make an appearance in issue 9 I think- so it's clear that this story isn't finished.

I don't see how that is a flawed criticism. It pretty valid, among others.

[olympichero62]

It will just be a huge tease or clue as to where Batman is, then DC will launch a big Batman event this summer for his return.

[CMBMOOL]

I have no faith in Morrison or his works on Batman, but I hope that this brings Tim back to the Bat-family so that he can say "I told you so." :tongue:

[Green Griffin]

Phantom Stranger is really Batman, He is outside of both living and dead. Hey, you never know. Or Bruce is going to be the Host body for Nekron.

[mofo]

just wait for the solicits...

[Mundungus]

Batman and Robin #7 is the start of the Cameron Stewart arc, right? It also involves Squire from the International Club of Heroes, right?

[SpideyZERO]

And apparently takes place in England.

[Teatime Brutality]

I think it'll be more along the lines of everyone noticing that there was no Black Lantern Bruce Wayne, so they come to the conclusion that he's still alive.

Looking at the raggedy, spectral Batman in that preview image from B&R#1...I wonder if what happens is that someone tries to make a necro-Bruce, either by Black Lantern or Lazurus Pit means, and its somewhat partial results leads people around to the view that Bruce is Somewhere Else.

Did you all notice the hint in the 'weather report'? (Although I was more excited about the Doom Patrol tease there!)

[jacob_b]

So, before this issue comes out, it would be best to read the Blackest Night series, right?

[paulski]

I'm just so excited by most of what's happening in the DCU right now that I just don't care. Whatever it is, I'll wait and enjoy it then. :smile:

[Retro315]

Exactly but I think we will find out why Bruce's skull is being used and/or the characters in the DC Universe will find out that Bruce is actually alive.

I thought that much was obvious, actually, although we definitely don't have the details.

Bruce Wayne has possibly the biggest emotional connection to 99% of the DC heroes (it's usually Batman who gets the team-ups). He knows everybody, and everybody has an opinion about him, so his skull is like a magnet for emotions to create power rings with. Maybe.

But like I said, we have no details just yet. I'm sure the deal with Blackest Night # 6 is the truth about Bruce's skull.

My guess? Hal Jordan will kick Black Hand's ass, and in doing so will scan Bruce's skull and his ring will do radioactive carbon dating and will tell him that Bruce Wayne has been dead for 10,000 years, at which point, Green Lantern and whoever is with him will be like "WTF? 10,000 years ... he must be trapped 10,000 years ago!"

[samSAM]

Spoilers aren't really spoilers if ur expecting it

[AJM]

I'm not too excited by yet another crossover event that ties into Bruce's story. This seems more like a business decision than an artistic one, just like RIP and Final Crisis. Hmmf.

[Lorendiac]

Among the many flawed criticisms of R.I.P. is that it finished with loose ends- they will be addressed, I am sure. Dr. Hurt is supposed to make an appearance in issue 9 I think- so it's clear that this story isn't finished.

I don't see how that is a flawed criticism. It pretty valid, among others.

I was wondering about that point myself. Is it fundamentally flawed for a critic to read a much-ballyhooed story arc with the expectation that it will have "clear resolution" to various confusing plot points by the time it is over? (I have been known to complain about the original "Hush" story arc on much the same basis!)

[DetectiveDupin]

I don't see how that is a flawed criticism. It pretty valid, among others.

That's an argument for another time.

[Choppa]

I agree with the skull proving that Bruce is alive, but probably not for the same reasons posited. Didio did say that the skeleton isn't Bruces, so I don't think it will be something like carbon dating saying he died in the stone age.

Tim already found the etching he made in Red Robin #4 so that's probably how they will determine he is in the past (kind of like Back to the Future 3).

Lastly, in FC#7 it's strongly implied that that's Bruce at the end, but we don't actually see his face. I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't more to that.

[AJM]

I hope there's not some daft connection between the Black Hand and the Black Glove...

[Mat001]

I hope there's not some daft connection between the Black Hand and the Black Glove...

Don't see how. Black Hand is a Green Lantern foe and a servent of Nekron. The Black Glove is a group of sadistic, well to do people who get off on watching public figures be broken and humiliated.

[AJM]

Don't see how. Black Hand is a Green Lantern foe and a servent of Nekron. The Black Glove is a group of sadistic, well to do people who get off on watching public figures be broken and humiliated.

Anything's possible in the DCU these days.

[hunter_peterson]

Wasn't the Black Glove responsible for what happened to Britney Spears?

Ha. It's fun to be silly.

[DetectiveDupin]

I agree with the skull proving that Bruce is alive, but probably not for the same reasons posited. Didio did say that the skeleton isn't Bruces, so I don't think it will be something like carbon dating saying he died in the stone age.

Tim already found the etching he made in Red Robin #4 so that's probably how they will determine he is in the past (kind of like Back to the Future 3).

Lastly, in FC#7 it's strongly implied that that's Bruce at the end, but we don't actually see his face. I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't more to that.

Morrison has been quoted as saying that was Bruce at the end of Final Crisis.

[shinjiro15]

Morrison has been quoted as saying that was Bruce at the end of Final Crisis.

really? i remeber GM only saying that if it is bruce the clues are in the cowl in the last image (of the corpse). IE that bruce was shot by the omega beams but the corpse may not be his; bruce's cowl was ripped in a few palces

http://media.popculturewilleatitself.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/batman-dead.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rLV-ZuNPwJ4/SXZZiyG2yzI/AAAAAAAADUA/zcYv3JBSDTI/s400/FC6BatmanGun.jpg

[Choppa]

Morrison has been quoted as saying that was Bruce at the end of Final Crisis.

You got the quote? I don't remember that, only what Didio said.

[Quinnhop]

I don't buy that it has anything to do with Blackest Night.

Morrison is trying to make this run much tighter and new-reader friendly than his last. He's not going to bag it down with any Green Lantern mess.

[AJM]

I don't buy that it has anything to do with Blackest Night.

Morrison is trying to make this run much tighter and new-reader friendly than his last. He's not going to bag it down with any Green Lantern mess.

IGN Comics: Fans will be looking at your first Batman and Robin cover as they read this – is there anything you can tell them about your arc on the book? You're on board for three issues, correct?

Stewart: Yes, issues #7 through 9. I don't want to say too much about it other than my first issue is set in England and has some fairly significant ties to the current Blackest Night storyline.

From this interview (http://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/102/1023827p1.html).

I didn't want to believe it either.

[Quinnhop]

EWWWWWWWWW.

AJiMmy, make it go away.

[ffaristocrat]

Someone noted that the teaser at the end of B&R #5 seemed to include a Red Lantern.

Red Lantern Jason Todd?

re the Omega Sanction - I thought Morrison had said the Omega Sanction used on Batman was the original Kirby version that simply sends you into the past and not the endless succession of lives version from Seven Soldiers.

My guess is that in BN #6, Black Hand faces down the heroes and decides to deploy Black Lantern Batman as a trump card... only to discover the body is actually one of Darkseid's failed Bat-clones.

[Teatime Brutality]

re the Omega Sanction - I thought Morrison had said the Omega Sanction used on Batman was the original Kirby version that simply sends you into the past and not the endless succession of lives version from Seven Soldiers.

He's been vauge. He's also said that Gaiman's Whatever Happened To... could be read as a glimpse of a 7S-ish Omega Sanction if fans so wished (while noting that that wasn't the intent).

I suspect that when Bruce returns then the specifics as to how it fits in with the Fourth World/Seven Soldiers jiggery-pokery won't be terribly important one way or another and that quite a bit of space for reader-interpretation will remain.

[Sn4tcH]

He's been vauge. He's also said that Gaiman's Whatever Happened To... could be read as a glimpse of a 7S-ish Omega Sanction if fans so wished (while noting that that wasn't the intent).

I suspect that when Bruce returns then the specifics as to how it fits in with the Fourth World/Seven Soldiers jiggery-pokery won't be terribly important one way or another and that quite a bit of space for reader-interpretation will remain.

I don't really consider Whatever Happened To... to be cannon. I think it's an EXCELLENT story, and a great look at Batman's legendary status, but I don't think it's meant to actually happen.

[Teatime Brutality]

I don't really consider Whatever Happened To... to be cannon. I think it's an EXCELLENT story, and a great look at Batman's legendary status, but I don't think it's meant to actually happen.

No, certainly it isn't. And certainly it is (With both those 'certainly's being applied in such a way as to agree with everything you've said).

But the fact that regardless of what's 'meant', Morrison considers readers free to interpret 'Whatever Happened...' as a glimpse of the Omega Sanction suggests that he at least isn't too fussy about the details.

That's all I'm saying here...that Mozza isn't fussed if we read the Omega Sanction in a Seven Soldiers way or a Forever People #7 way...so long as it ends with Bruce in a cave.

[AJM]

EWWWWWWWWW.

AJiMmy, make it go away.

I know, sorry.

[DetectiveDupin]

If Jason turns into a Red Lantern why couldn't that have happened in the Blackest Night tie-in?

[Munkiman]

That wasn't a Red Lantern in the teaser. I thought it might be the headlight on a motorcycle, maybe Flamingo's, but in any case it's clearly a white light surrounded by a red casing, so it can't be a Red Lantern.

[DarkKnghtJared]

Someone noted that the teaser at the end of B&R #5 seemed to include a Red Lantern.

Red Lantern Jason Todd?

re the Omega Sanction - I thought Morrison had said the Omega Sanction used on Batman was the original Kirby version that simply sends you into the past and not the endless succession of lives version from Seven Soldiers.

My guess is that in BN #6, Black Hand faces down the heroes and decides to deploy Black Lantern Batman as a trump card... only to discover the body is actually one of Darkseid's failed Bat-clones.

I don't remember any Red Lanterns on that page--just the Flamingo on the motorcycle and red & black panels.

[IvCNuB4]

Yeah, in another thread someone pointed out that it looks more like the barrel of one of Jason's guns aimed at the reader ....

[Scott Taylor]

I'm thinking Dick will make a major discovery about Blackest Night. He's not a bad detective, you know.

[Choppa]

I'm thinking Dick will make a major discovery about Blackest Night. He's not a bad detective, you know.

Hopefully he will discover the point of that tie-in :biggrin:

[Kiryu]

That wasn't a Red Lantern in the teaser. I thought it might be the headlight on a motorcycle, maybe Flamingo's, but in any case it's clearly a white light surrounded by a red casing, so it can't be a Red Lantern.

Or the barrel of his gun. Which is Red. That's what I'm pretty sure it was.

[mosdef]

Yeah, it looks like Jason's red gun, maybe with a bullet coming out.

http://i38.tinypic.com/2ms4gme.jpg

[DetectiveDupin]

Yeah, it looks like Jason's red gun, maybe with a bullet coming out.

http://i38.tinypic.com/2ms4gme.jpg

It's a gun.

[Lemurion]

Phantom Stranger is really Batman, He is outside of both living and dead. Hey, you never know. Or Bruce is going to be the Host body for Nekron.

I like the Phantom Stranger theory - they even look alike - at least when drawn by the late great Jim Aparo.