Damian, Son of Batman, Reading Order

MINISERIES SUMMARY PAGE: DAMIAN, SON OF BATMAN

What if Things Were Different When Batman Died?

Start: October 2013
End: January 2014

Forget the continuity of Batman Incorporated. Forget Batman #666. Forget Leviathan. Forget that Damian was killed. In this unique 4-issue limited series, you're going to see a different take on Damian Wayne, the true son of Batman, written by Andy Kubert.

Plot: Taking his rightful place as Robin, Damian and his father go out on a mission when the unexpected happens and Batman is killed. Now he is forced to handle the villainous elite on his own terms by donning the mantle of The Dark Knight.

Provided here is a simple Summary Page on the Limited Series Damian, Son of Batman. It will continue the Reading Order - even though unnecessary - and a synopsis of each issue.

Status: Complete

Reading Order
001 Damian, Son of Batman #1
002 Damian, Son of Batman #2
003 Damian, Son of Batman #3
004 Damian, Son of Batman #4



Detailed Summaries

Damian, Son of Batman #1 - Book One: Next of Kin. Begins the Series. On a routine mission, Batman and Robin begin examining a pile of bodies strewn about at the Gotham Docks. They search until Batman comes upon a smiling fish. Suddenly, before Damian can stop his father, it explodes. The Boy Wonder wakes up hours later and finds his father under wreckage. When he digs him out, he realizes that Batman is dead. Weeks later, after attending the funeral, Damian travels to Isle Murjeno, home to his grandfather and The League of Assassins. There, he meets with his mother, Talia, and Ra's al Ghul. He asks them for help, but is denied. Ra's then informed him that his ties to the League is severed and that he should don the cowl of The Dark Knight, becoming the next Batman. Damian returns home and begins seeking revenge. Multiple criminals are claiming they killed Batman, but there is nothing from The Joker. One by one, he begins killing them. Confused about his moral responsibility, he goes to a church and makes confession. He's then faced with the Code of Justice his father upheld, but leaves in anger. Next, in Wayne Manor, Alfred confronts Damian about the criminal killings. This angers him again; he heads down to the Bat-Cave, preparing to leave, when he's suddenly intercepted by...Bruce Wayne!
Damian, Son of Batman #2 - Book Two: Hierarchy. Continues immediately from the previous issue. Outraged, Bruce Wayne barrels down on Damian. We now see that Bruce is much older. (The plot doesn't make it readily available about how much time has passed or if this story started farther in the future). In the struggle, it's clear he doesn't want Damian to don the cowl of Batman, but in the strugged, Damian shoots his father, piercing him through the chest, with his grapple gun. Now Bruce Wayne is barely alive. Damian flees for a bit, and returns with a modified Batman suit, vowing to rethink his ways and honor the legacy. He heads to Arkham Asylum and, after finding some clues in the Joker cell, goes after Professor Pyg. Meanwhile, back at the Manor, it appears one of Pyg's nurses are watching over Bruce. In the last few pages, Damian is facing some Dolltrons and gets thrown out a window.
Damian, Son of Batman #3 - Book Three: If Animals Could Talk. Alfred, still fulfilling his role as a familial protector, fishes Damian out of the river, working on his wounds and keeping him alive.After some surgery, Alfred collapses during dinner and "somehow" assumes the identity of a cat, talking to Damian. They discuss Professor Pyg which gives Damian new energy. He heads out and thwarts the Jackanapes gang, working for Pyg. Afterwards, he goes to confession; now the appearance is that there is something mysterious with the Priest, who disappears after revealing too much information he shouldn't know. Damian heads back to the Manor, talks with the Cat, and later finds that his dad is mission. A Joker card is all that's left behind. He heads back to the place where Batman was killed in issue #1, and finds a new "Joker" with thugs ready to attack and Wayne in his capture.
The Plot Thus Far: In case you think you're insane, you're not. Most people will have great difficulty following this story. The Batman who died in issue #1 was Dick Grayson; this is implied in issue #3. Bruce Wayne gave up his mantle to Grayson by the time of this story.
Damian, Son of Batman #4 - Book Four: Full Circle. Damian attacks and although overwhelmed, manages to slow his anger and fury. He's trying to keep his promise to his dad. He defeats this Joker and leaves with Wayne, but from behind, the True Joker emerges - apparently he's still alive. Things are muddled throughout this story, but eventually, we get the sense that Damian has passed the test; he's now accepted the role as the next Batman as he goes out to face more villains.

Editorial Note: Normally I'd give any story I catalog a fighting chance. I did not not think Damian, Son of Batman was a good series. I do not recommend it. It's clueless and steeped in distraction. There were too many loose ends - It appeared to be put together half-heatedly. The artwork was decent, but the plot seemed shallow.

The Requiem of Damian Wayne

MINOR CROSSOVER: REQUIEM

The Fall of the Next Robin

Damian Wayne, son of Talia al Ghul and Bruce Wayne, and wearer of the "Robin" mantle, died in Batman Incorporated #8 (2013). It was not entirely a spoiler since DC Comics began revealing the information in a press release and on their website beforehand. Afterwards, it's been a little divided; fans mourn the loss of another sidekick, and most expect he'll return in some form or another.

Left: The cover of Batman Incorporated #8 (2013), featuring Damian Wayne and "RIP".

What occurs after Damian's death, though, is the focus of this Summary Page. Known as "Robin's Requiem" or plainly, Requiem, we're going to go over the issues that are paying homage to the now deceased heir of The Dark Knight.

The Rundown: In Batman Incorporated #8, Gotham City has now been overrun by Leviathan, a villainous organization where Talia al Ghul, Damian's mother, sits at the center and a mysterious figure known as The Heretic, acts as one of its leading agents. Ironically, he is a clone of Damian with an altered physiology that aged him to adulthood. At the time of the issue, Batman has already been captured and tortured by Talia, with Red Robin, Nightwing, and Commissioner Gordon in the field fighting for Gotham's survival.

Damian, ignoring orders to stay out of the battle, armors up and flies into fight, eventually pairing up with Nightwing in a battle against The Heretic. It is a gruesome encounter; Leviathan converts are shooting arrows as they square off. Nightwing is knocked out of commission and it's ultimately up to Damian. Unfortunately, it doesn't go well. Damian even breaks his oath not to kill, shooting an arrow into Heretic's back. But it is no good. Eventually Heretic gets a handhold on him, breaks his back and runs him through with a sword. In the final scene, we see Batman kneeling on the ground with his son in his arms.



The comprised list is not meant to be a Reading Order. Although being called a mini-crossover, they are organized to tie the Requiem story together.

Last Update:  03/27/2013

The Reading List

Batman Incorporated #9<--Released: 03/27/2013
Teen Titans #18<--Released: 03/27/2013
Batgirl #18
Batman and Robin #18
Batman #18
World's Finest #10
Red Hood and The Outlaws #18
Nightwing #18
Catwoman #18

Summaries
Including Spoilers

Batman Incorporated #9 (This is the best issue to start the Reading Order based on the relationship it has to Damian's death. Starting out with Bruce Wayne and the rest of the Robins at Damian's funeral, the story then goes into past and present shots of Batman's fight against The Heretic. The issue also cover's Knight's death and the new team of Ranger and Squire, (where Ranger becomes the new Knight) as well as the Incorporated's move to hide underground while Leviathan controls the city.)

Teen Titans #18 (Tim Drake starts out the story arriving in Batman's Cave in a black suit, so he probably is going to Damian's funeral. He has some words with Alfred and then the story cuts to the Teen Titans story arc. Tim then tricks his team into invading Belle Reeve where he sets up a deal with Amanda Waller. They fight the Suicide Squad briefly, until Waller and Tim reveal their agreement. At the end of the issue, though, is the surprise, and that's when Trigon appears over the skies.)

Batgirl #18 (Barbara Gordon's story barely intertwines with the Requiem, except that she's been notified. In The Mask of Ashes, her brother James is playing a cat-and-mouse game; he's psychotic and even attempted to deal with The Joker in the past. After surviving a fiery building collapse, Barbara is notified by her father that Robin has died. She calls Dick Grayson, but he tells her that now is not the time and he'll call her back. Afterwards, she continues on the hunt for her brother, who leads her to an abandoned house where he plants a cell phone. When she opens the door to see it, there is also a bloody bat nailed to the wall and a message "Hello Barbara, Nice Try". James is actually in a house on the other side of the street. He calls their mother and threatens to kill Batgirl if she doesn't meet with him.)

Batman and Robin #18 (A powerful issue, the entire comic book is printed without words or dialogue. Bruce Wayne starts off brooding over the loss of his son, wandering through the house. He finally decides to patrol as Batman, all the while having images of Robin next to him. He goes on rampage of sorts, even accidentally wrecking a light post with the Batmobile, and finally returns home to find a message in his son's locker. On it, Damian tells his father how he helped him live a better life. This causes Bruce to scream out in rage. He lashes out as Robin's clothing and effects are scattered throughout the cave.)

Batman #18 (Centering on a girl named "Harper", the daughter of a thug Batman put away. She's been tracking The Dark Knight attempting to fit herself into his lifestyle, much in the way of earlier Robins. After visiting her dad with her brother, she goes out on the hunt and realizes that something is eating away at Batman; he hasn't slept in days and he's getting sloppy. Finally after one encounter with Venom-infused dogs, she intervenes and helps put them down. Batman, though, doesn't take it kindly, lashes out at her, and leaves. The next day, she heads to Wayne Enterprises and leaves a message for Bruce Wayne, telling him she fears that Batman may need help. Later, Batman finds Harper and gives her his version of an apology. He tells her he's going to take care of himself. On the last page, we learn the message is "Resolve".)

Detective Comics #18 (Batman, having survived the Death of The Family event, faces threats in the form of The Penguin and Victor Zsasz. He stops briefly during the issue at his son's grave. The rest of the issue deals with him attempting to find a way to incarcerate Penguin. For the most part, Oswald Cobblepot is untouchable, but Batman manages to acquire surveillance video showing Osward breaking into a secreted weapon's cache. Normally Oswald would have lawyers to get him out of this mess, but Zsasz has murdered them at the behest of Oswald's former assistant, Ogilvy, now calling himself the Emporer Penguin. He's betrayed Cobblepot and take over all his assets.)



World's Finest #10 (While Kara is causing what appears to be "natural" disasters to Holt Industries resources, Helena is attempting to break into Holt's computer network.  During the issue, though, Kara tells her that Damian didn't make one of their rendezvous checks and she learns that he has died and is buried on the Wayne Manor grounds. She almost encounters Batman, but is not ready; Kara flies her off before the unfortunate meeting can occur. The story then resumes and someone, clearly an imposter, posing a Holt appears and tells officials that everything is fine, even though his labs are getting destroyed. By the end of the issue, though, Helena reveals what she's learned: Power Girl was having an affair with Michael Holt.)

Nightwing #18 (Dick Grayson starts this issue at Damian's grave, reminiscing his affection for the young Robin. After leaving, he meets with Sonia to help cool his demeanor. It doesn't help much, and he later runs into Batman, who is waiting for him. The Dark Knight tells Dick to suit up and leads him to a location where "The Dealer", an auctioneer of illegal superhero merchandize, is selling his dad's Flying Grayson outfit. Dick breaks into the event and disrupts it, causing a fire. The Dealer escapes, but no one is harmed. Later, Dick returns to Damian's grave and leaves a special token - a video game - by the tombstone. He resumes meeting Sonia again, and suddenly learns that Tony Zucco, his family's murderer, is still alive.)

Red Hood and The Outlaws #18 (Jason Todd's story really has little to do with the Requiem, and more to do with the after events of The Death of The Family. Nursing him back to health from an acid wound left by The Joker, Alfred Pennyworth and Bruce Wayne wait by bedside as Jason works with his All-Caste teacher "Ducra", fighting against the visages of his coma. At the end, Jason wakes up and it is believed he may be changed person inside.)

Catwoman #18 (While driving through Gotham, Batman catches up to Selena and threatens her to return paintings she stole from the Gotham Museum. She says it's a done deal, but is surprised when Batman starts forcibly breaking her motorcycle helmet. She doesn't know the reasons, but can sense that he's upset about something. They briefly talk, but eventually he pushes her away and leaves. Meanwhile, the story then goes into Selena checking up on her friend. She disguises herself and gets into the Gotham Police Department as a mug victim. While there, she places a bug on Detective Alvarez's desk.) 

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Batman's Next Plan...Stinks!

SUPERFUNNIES

But It Could Be Worse

~Excerpt from Superman #16 (2013)

One thing you have to know about Batman; he's always assessing and reassessing the situation. This also means he's evaluating and reevaluating what you're capable of doing...or not doing.

This week's submission comes from the H'el On Earth event. The Justice League is assisting Superman and Superboy in an assault on The Fortress of Solitude, controlled by H'el. And yes, they're following Batman's plan.

Are heroes and villains smart? Naw. #SuperFunnies updates every week (usually Fridays) on The Superheroes List. Here are the bloopers, flip-flops, and all-together moments of levity during exchanges of humor and snapshots of utterly ridiculous decisions in comic books.

The Joker and His Blood-Spattered Platter

VILLAINOUS MOMENTS

Batman's Nemesis Has Cooked Up Something Vile

~Excerpt from Nightwing #16 (2013)

It's The Joker. Again! And he's not without his disgusting and morbid props.

This week's submission comes from Nightwing #16, part of the Death of The Family event, which has been ruling the comic book kingdom for the last few weeks.

Red Robin, Red Hood, Robin, and Batgirl have been captured and Joker has been showing off this gruesome platter for the last few weeks. What's in it? The answer will be revealed in Batman #17, concluding the event.

Villainous Moments is a column from of The Superheroes List, updated weekly. What are the bad guys doing this week? Macabre and unthinkable, grotesque and unbearable; here's your answer! Look for #VillainousMoments on Twitter.

Commissioner Gordon, Target of The Joker!

VILLAINOUS MOMENTS

Batman Watches His Friend Fall

~Commissioner Gordon falls, excerpt from Batman #14 (2013).

Having escaped from Ace Chemicals, Batman learns that Bruce Wayne's Butler, Alfred Pennyworth, has been taken hostage. He immediately rendezvouses with Jim Gordon, who turns out to be the next target.

The Joker is now on the rampage in The Death of The Family event, involving Nightwing, Red Robin, and the entire cast of Bat-supporting heroes. The event started in October 2012 and features Batman's greatest nemesis.

And now he seems to know all their secret identities. With a purely psychotic intentions beyond repair, The Joker is now taking out key figures close to Caped Crusader as his insane plot unfolds.

Villainous Moments is a column from of The Superheroes List, updated weekly (usually Tuesday). What are the bad guys doing this week? Macabre and unthinkable, grotesque and unbearable; here's your answer! Look for #VillainousMoments on Twitter.

The Joker Gets His Face Back!

VILLAINOUS MOMENTS

Death of The Family Begins

~Batman #13 (2012)

The Joker is back. But he's not the same. Evil and twisted thoughts are now pale before this malevolent creature, killing his way through Gotham City and now at the doorstep of Alfred Pennyworth!

In the amazing Batman event Death of The Family, The Joker has returned after a year of uncertainty and grotesque mutilation. He was last seen in Detective Comics #1 (2012) when he was captured while on a rampage. After being dropped at Arkham Asylum, our last picture of the super-villain was a wall displaying his surgically-removed face!

Death of The Family is expected to run from October 2012 to February 2013 and will affect the entire Batman Crime-Fighting Family. You can follow the Reading Order and clues by clicking on the link.

Villainous Moments is a column from of The Superheroes List, updated weekly (usually Tuesday). What are the bad guys doing this week? Macabre and unthinkable, grotesque and unbearable; here's your answer! Look for #VillainousMoments on Twitter.

The Black Mask is Free

VILLAINOUS MOMENTS

Gotham City Braces for Attack!

~Detective Comics Annual #1 (2012)

During the Night of The Owls, Roman Sionis, The Black Mask, apparently escaped Arkham Asylum. Gotham PD suspects he is about to engage in a rampage vendetta against the city.

This news comes straight out of Detective Comics #1 (2012). Batman has noticed a disturbance in the super-villain community, including some in the act of strange crimes. In the meantime, Commissioner Gordon is interviewing Arkham's "Finest" - the incarcerated who may have a lead to the Black Mask's whereabouts - after learning that Dr. Arkham was under a hypnotic induction.

Villainous Moments is a column from of The Superheroes List, updated weekly (usually Tuesday). What are the bad guys doing this week? Macabre and unthinkable, grotesque and unbearable; here's your answer! Look for #VillainousMoments on Twitter.

Superhero Inventor #6: Bruce Wayne

THE TOP 10 GREATEST SUPERHERO INVENTORS

CEO - Elitest - Inventor - Dark Knight

There's one faction of society, the truly determined and most gifted of us all, that has no desire to wait for the casual radioactive explosion or Ring of Green Energy. They need super powers now! And because of that intense necessity, there's only one choice: inherit it from your mother and father!

Well, that's at least how it started out for Bruce Wayne, one of the country's wealthiest executives and CEO of Wayne Industries. When his parents were murdered during his youth, he became the Boy-Prince of Gotham City who eventually rose to take over his father's holdings. The thing about Bruce, though, is that he was never in it for the money.

Bruce Wayne is Batman; you should know that unless you're living in a cave, but more importantly, he's one of the world's leading innovators and inventors. Most of it is in secret - which he uses to augment his "Bat" toys; you'll often see the Batwing, Batmobile, and Batsub throughout his adventures - but he is still a force in the private market with everything from transportation to free energy to military contracts.

It's an inventor's dream come true if you're rich and a superhero, but that's nothing; with his advanced researching in chemistry and forensics, he's also created inoculations against The Joker's venom and The Scarecrow's Fear toxin. In every battle, he's typically designing up a special device or suit modification that will give him the added advantage.

The Top 10 Greatest Superhero Inventors is a Countdown sponsored by The Superheroes List, giving you a look at some of the most brilliant minds, working their way with gadgets and innovations. It's also a tribute to the 2012 coming of Labor Day. If you like this kind of thing, head on over and check it out! 

A Memorial and The Dark Knight Rises

THE WEEK IN COMICS

In Memoriam

Normally a strong movie week begins with opening night; that's when the premieres and fan excitement build into a frenzy and the viral atmosphere begins to ignite.

Last Friday, though, the entire comic book industry - and the country - had to take a pause. It happened that morning, 39 minutes after midnight, when a true-to-life madman, fully armed, committed a tragedy upon 70 or more of Aurora, Colorado's citizens.

It was surreal, out of the pages of a comic book, ironically. But in the end, many of our friends - Batman fans just like you and me - faced a true villain.

Without going into the grim details (and out of respect for the families and their loved ones), The Dark Knight Rises remains open in theaters. It's still doing great at the box office, but there is a dark pall, a shadowy overdraft, in the atmosphere right now.

As you go out, please keep those people in your prayers.

If you did see the movie, be sure to vote. Your opinion is important.

The Week In Comics is a new series of articles that will update on Monday on the Superheroes List Blog, and The Superheroes List website. It will cover all the major events and story lines of recent in the superhero and villain world. If you're interested in today's super-news, keep your eyes open and Check out the List! #TWIC

Batman Tragedy #1: Final Crisis

THE 10 MOST DEADLY MOMENTS OF BATMAN

The Bat vs. Darkseid

 ~Final Crisis #7 (2009)

If you want to follow an event of epic proportions, culminating in the death of The Caped Crusader as well as other icons of the DC Universe, then you've encountered it right here in DC's Final Crisis. Like many of the other "Crisis", this is a word in their franchise that guarantees change once all of reality settles. But not for everyone; unfortunately for our beloved Bruce Wayne, he was erased. Gone.

Okay. Originally, Batman was thought dead. In a final act of sacrifice, he fired the one thing that could kill Darkseid, the main villain of the story: a Radion Bullet. Unfortunately, there were other complications and the Lord of Apocalypse was heavily wounded but not dead. Simultaneously, he fired his Omega Beams - twin rays of power from his eyes - that continued arcing until they hit the target. The Dark Knight had no chance and was fried into a burning husk.

As far as deadly moments go, Batman was no more a part of the DC Universe. To the world, he was dead; they raised a statue in his name and performed a funeral. However, the last pages of Final Crisis #7 told us that he was...somewhere. Alive. Somehow. And we knew, even though Bruce Wayne was lost to the world, he would eventually return.

Final Crisis put a lot of people at odds. Not only did Batman take a bow, but the Martian Manhunter and others were terminated. The entire event lasted over a year; stands were taken, and once the chips fell, the fans still weren't sure what was going to happen.

The 10 Most Deadly Moments of Batman is a countdown provided by The Superheroes List preparing fans for the upcoming movie The Dark Knight Rises, with Christian Bale. If you want to get hyped up on Caped Crusader information, come on over and Check out the List!

Damian Wayne Takes The Wheel

SUPER-FUNNIES

"I Got This", Says Robin

~Batman and Robin #11 (2012)

How old is he? Twelve?

Commissioner Gordon and Batman are attempting to solve a series of crimes where people are branded. It's happening all across Gotham in Batman and Robin #11; the markings are in the style of Batman's crest. Still on the edge of danger, Damian Wayne, the latest Robin, remains oblivious that adults perceive him as a child. 

SuperFunnies updates every week (usually Thursday) on The Superheroes List.These are the moments of levity and humor, sometimes utterly ridiculous. You can also look for #SuperFunnies on Twitter.

SuperBabe #7: Catwoman

There are few women with the luxurious and sultry appearance that can easily be garbed in tight-fitting leather, uttering the occasional "meow". Few less that carry a whip. So far, Gotham City has only one...and that's Selina Kyle, Catwoman. Let's be honest: she makes it look good. Making a strong case for her fans, DC Comics agreed, and gave Miss Kyle her own title series in 2011.

One of the few solo-female names to go out on her own, Catwoman is still going strong; besides her her anti-hero, vigilante style theme, she's also using disguise and her sensual skills to gaining readers. But that's not what made the news; early in its run, she - once again - seduced The Dark Knight.

As it turns out, it's also a purrr-fect< season - and week, no less - for Catwoman to show up on this list; it's also not a coincidence. Co-starring with Christian Bale in The Dark Knight Rises, Anne Hathaway will portray the seductive feline-style thief on the screens July 20, 2012.

Coinciding with this seasons' events in the comic book world, The Top 10 Super Babes of Summer 2012 is a countdown from The Superheroes List, updating on Wednesdays, for simple entertainment as well as informative purposes. If you want to know how some of the female characters are evolving during the hot months, Read the List.

The Night of The Owls Has Ended

Meet the brother of Bruce Wayne.

~Batman #11 (2012)

Having faced down a series of Talons on a night of extra-ordinary killers, Batman finally confronts the mastermind in a showdown to the death. In a brilliant plot twist, the villains claims to be his brother.

Batman #11 is the finale of Night of The Owls, resolving the last few months of the event in a one-on-one, big-boss battle. The Caped Crusader, Nightwing, and the remainder of the Batman crew have quelled the threats in Gotham City, but not before the main bad guy makes his appearance.

This event, a very well-written piece written by Scott Snyder and penciled by Greg Capullo, ends one week before The Dark Knight Rises; a fitting story that will bring fans to the box office for the summer.


Villainous Moments is a column from of The Superheroes List, updated weekly (usually Tuesday). What are the bad guys doing this week? Macabre and unthinkable, grotesque and unbearable; here's your answer! Look for #VillainousMoments on Twitter.

Batman Tragedy #2: KnightFall

~ Detective Comics #664 (1993)

There is one encounter, an incident which in fact took Batman out of play, that every fan remembers. And if you haven't heard of it, just ask around. Elements of it are now the plot for The Dark Knight Rises Movie.

Remember the previous Venom tragedy? Where Batman began taking drugs to augment his strength? Well, that episode of his life returned to haunt him. The only difference now was that it took the form of a huge, brilliant, and psychotic fighter named Bane. The story? KnightFall: the tale where a super-villain beat The Dark Knight and broke his back!

KnightSaga is the actual epic story; it started with Batman #489 (1993), has 3 parts, and is comprised of KnightFall, Knightquest, KnightsEnd. Throughout the first event, though, Batman becomes a broken shell. He realizes Bane is on his trail, but is unable to confront or locate the vigilante until finally falling into a trap. From that battle, his nemesis, a cruel venom-enhanced, super-soldier, beats him to a bloody pulp.

For a long time, there was no recovery from KnightFall. Wayne, although alive, put his Batman identity in jeopardy by allowing an "apprentice" named Jean-Paul Valley to adopt the suit and fight in his name. The results didn't go so well; Valley was aggressive and violent, and this put another stain on the Dark Knight legacy, creating a rift with the law.

Batman did eventually recover and this showed us that no one could take Bruce Wayne's place. But KnightFall gave us a glimpse of what would happen without him.

The 10 Most Deadly Moments of Batman is a countdown provided by The Superheroes List preparing fans for the upcoming movie The Dark Knight Rises, with Christian Bale. If you want to get hyped up on Caped Crusader information, come on over and Check out the List!

Batman Tragedy #3: R.I.P.

~Batman R.I.P., excerpt from Batman #677 (2008)

There are many ways to skin a bat, but there is only one Batman. In this consequential story, called Batman R.I.P., we learn what happens when you destroy the mind of the hero. Truly his greatest asset, The Dark Knight is systematically taken down by an opponent who carefully dismantles him on the psychological level. For once, we're uncertain he can survive. He's a ragged shadow of his former self...and the predators have only started their hunt.

Starting with Batman #676 (2008), Bruce Wayne is flanked by his girlfriend, Jezebel Jet. (The name alone should have tipped him off, don't you think?) After revealing his secret and letting her deeper into his life, a combination of events, prodded by her and The Black Glove, push him into a state of insanity; that's when she leads him into a psychological trigger while he's looking at a flashing screen with subliminal messaging. Quickly after, they invade the Batcave and discard a mind-numbed and confused Wayne onto the streets of Gotham. Their plan is almost finished; now they are having a party to hunt Batman down and kill him.

There was only one thing they didn't prepare for: Zur-En-Arrh. Having nearly died months before, Wayne studied special meditation technique in Nanda Parbat that allowed him to create a mental backup personality in case his primary one failed. Called The Batman of Zur-En-Arrh, he donned purple, red, and yellow rags and tracked his detractors with a miniature radio he called a "Bat-Media" device.

Batman R.I.P. may be the most twisted and deadliest tale ever for the Caped Crusader. Besides nearly dying, Alfred, Robin, and others are almost killed and his family's history is almost corrupted to make them look like thugs. But, once again, we're given hope; somehow there's something beyond human with Bruce Wayne. And it's all in his head.

The 10 Most Deadly Moments of Batman is a countdown provided by The Superheroes List preparing fans for the upcoming movie The Dark Knight Rises, with Christian Bale. If you want to get hyped up on Caped Crusader information, come on over and Check out the List!

Scared Yet?

~The Dark Knight #10 (2012)

The Scarecrow has finally surfaced and Commissioner Gordon is under the effects of his fear-inducing gas.

In this latest issue of The Dark Knight, Batman is on the trail of someone deeply disturbed. Still unknown to him, the perpetrator has been kidnapping young children and performing experiments on them. After traumatizing them, they are randomly dropped off in the streets of Gotham City. The latest victim has now been cornered in his own home: Jim Gordon of Gotham City PD.

In the last few pages of the issue, the madman's identity is revealed: The Scarecrow, who hasn't been seen since The New 52. Blood and gore, archaic and archetypical; the mind-twisted horror of a villain and his plot of psychotic fear has now begun.

Villainous Moments is a column from of The Superheroes List, updated weekly (usually Tuesday). What are the bad guys doing this week? Macabre and unthinkable, grotesque and unbearable; here's your answer! Look for #VillainousMoments on Twitter.

Batman Tragedy #4: Night of The Owls

~Excerpt from Batman #6 (2012), prelude to The Night of The Owls

The premiere event for 2012, DC Comics pushed The Dark Knight to his limits in a nest of pervading and inevitable doom with Night of The Owls. Starting with Batman #1 (2012) and stretching to encompass Nightwing, Catwoman, and nearly all the other members of the Bat Franchise, this story nearly clawed the Wayne family name and resources from history.

With a backdrop of over two hundred years of legend, the demonstrative and far-reaching power of Night of The Owls culminates in a single evening of mass assassinations; powerful beings called Talons, with heightened strengths and regenerative abilities, have been unleashed to remove elite figures from Gotham City's hierarchy. Bruce Wayne is one of the earliest targets; it turns out that a "Court of Owls" has been operating under his nose, secretly residing within Wayne buildings and using Wayne assets for years.

As each chapter unfolds, the immensity of danger grows to include relatives of his past and even his former sidekick, Dick Grayson, who was intended to serve as one of their killers. The sickening truth is that The Court has been waging a silent war with Batman for years, meticulously plotting to undermine and ultimately destroy him. And at the single moment of unveiling, when The World's Greatest Detective learns of their existence, it's too late. (Or is it? You'll have to read it to find out.)

Why does Night of The Owls resonate so strongly? Because when Batman beats a foe, it's not due to super powers. It's not because he's lucky.  The truth is, it's hard to take him by surprise; his mental and preparedness keep him one step ahead of danger. And if, by some chance, he gets into a jam, he can call upon wealth or technological resources for any particular situation. But that all goes away in this tale; now, he is at a complete disadvantage with everything at stake.

The 10 Most Deadly Moments of Batman is a countdown provided by The Superheroes List preparing fans for the upcoming movie The Dark Knight Rises, with Christian Bale. If you want to get hyped up on Caped Crusader information, come on over and Check out the List!

Batman Tragedy #5: The Death of Robin

~Excerpt from Batman #428 (1989)

When the Joker shot Barbara Gordon in the stomach, we thought he had reached the pinnacle of villainy: ending the career of a superhero. But we were wrong. Way wrong. Less than a year after that ill-fated crime, Joker returned to raise the bar, add one more notch to his insane list of accomplishments. And it was all thanks to you, the readers, because that's when he killed Robin. (Not my fault, really.)

Depicted in the story arc A Death in the Family, from 1988 to 1989 with Batman #426-429, this event takes place far away from Gotham; Bruce Wayne is now training a new sidekick, Jason Todd, with great skill, but easily angered. Sensing the potential for problems, Batman takes him out of action. At the same time, Jason has none of it and abandons the Batcave. The story then takes a turn where he searches for his real mother; the dynamic duo work out their differences, but end up in the Middle East where Joker is dealing out his latest scheme.

If you want to talk about a tragic ending, look no further: Todd finally finds his mother, but she's a twisted, tormented soul and leads him into Joker's trap. She literally takes advantage of his last shred of innocence and trust and turns him over to the madman. Pages later, Batman's greatest villain beats Robin to death with a crowbar.

How did it happen? Why, it was all thanks to a poll. DC held a hotline where readers could vote at a cost of 50 cents per call. (Multiple calls? No problem!) The result was 5,343 to 5,271: Robin would die. Humanity exposed its cruel fangs and took Jason Todd out. And certainly, this time, Joker had the last laugh.

The 10 Most Deadly Moments of Batman is a countdown provided by The Superheroes List preparing fans for the upcoming movie The Dark Knight Rises, with Christian Bale. If you want to get hyped up on Caped Crusader information, come on over and Check out the List!

Batman Tragedy #6: The Killing Joke

~Excerpt from The Killing Joke (1988)

There can be no tragic list of events without paying homage to Batman's greatest nemesis: The Joker. Almost everyone knows of this villain, but few - except for the Dark Knight scholars among us - understand the depth of the relationship between this pale, ghostly-skinned, laughing psychopath and the Bat. Batman strives to prove justice must prevail; he will not kill. The Joker is spurred by the need to show humanity's insane cruelty; for him to succeed, good men like Batman must be driven to madness before they can die. The irony - and dare we say punchline - is the numerous fatalities and shattered lives resulting as a consequence of their philosophies.

This, in turn, represents two very terrible moments. The first, in this submission, comes from The Killing Joke. Written in 1988 by Alan Moore, this highly-acclaimed Batman-Joker story is where Joker came to Barbara Gordon's place and brutally shot her in the stomach. Almost killing her, it took a sharp turn in the Dark Knight franchise and history for decades.

From The Killing Joke, Batman and Joker have never been the same. Neither has Batgirl (Barbara's original identity). In all liklihood there would have never been an Oracle (Barbara's next crime-fighting incarnation) or a Birds of Prey (The female supergroup led by Oracle). And the real joke? The worst was yet to come...

The 10 Most Deadly Moments of Batman is a countdown provided by The Superheroes List preparing fans for the upcoming movie The Dark Knight Rises, with Christian Bale. If you want to get hyped up on Caped Crusader information, come on over and Check out the List!

DC Announces Gay Hero; It's Probably Wonder Woman

 ~Wonder Woman #9 (2012), Hades using her own Lasso of Truth against her.

DC Comics recently announced that one of their primary (Read: main) characters will be coming out of the closet; in an interview with Co-Publisher Dan DiDio, he stated that although this person was originally considered straight, the announcement would immediately make this superhero "one of our most prominent gay superheroes".

Perhaps it shouldn't come at a surprise. Both Marvel and DC have been introducing superheroes with gay backgrounds for a few years now. (For example, Northstar of Marvel Comics is leading an openly gay life in Canada, while Batwoman of DC is pursuing a similar lifestyle.) What's culminating from these stories appears to be a contest of upstaging; recently Marvel announced Northstar would enter a gay marriage and this may be DC's chance to outdo their comic book rivals.

Additionally, this could also be a quirky timing gimmick since President Obama decided to announce he supports gay marriage; this also wouldn't be the first time politics have lurked in comic books. So if you're wondering "why" a formerly straight superhero will be announcing this revelation, join the club. Let's be honest, hopefully most of the stories will be about fighting and action.

Pictured Right: Excerpt from Wonder Woman #220 (2005)

If "prominent" is the keyword, this could limit our choices to Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Wonder Woman, and possibly, Aquaman. Among DC's biggest draws, they represent their major product lines and would seriously shake things up. Any other character coming out of the closet would lack the same level of significance. So who will it be:

Superman has been suggested, but should be discounted. We also know that it would really hurt him if his Lois Lane/Clark Kent, strangely-promoted affair disappeared.

Batman has also been speculated, which better be inaccurate. Perhaps people are forgetting Bruce Wayne has had some suspicious "Robin" debates over the years; it would destroy The Dark Knight. Basically it would mean illegality and surely DC doesn't want to fight that war.

The Flash and Aquaman are married. To women. (Or,  at least, they were; since the DC New 52, Barry dates a girl named Patty Spivot, while Iris has a romantic attraction to him.) Hal Jordan, The Green Lantern, is a swinging single; it could be him, but unlikely. His character has always been tied to Carol Ferris aka Star Sapphire.

And so we're left with Wonder Woman. Intentionally. If DC Comics is going to out one of their major characters, Wonder Woman is the most likely, and best, choice:

She originates from the island of Themyscira, home of The Amazons, where only women are allowed to live; this gives her a perfect background, one of unfamiliarity with men and comfort-ability with her own gender. It would, therefore, be no surprise to see her spending time with other women; this is or was her natural setting.

Picture: Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor Breaking Up. No One Knows Why. ~Justice League #9 (2012)

Take also into consideration the comic book readers: mostly men. Comic book demographics have aged over the years, but clearly if there is a sense of appeal, a lesbian would be preferred by them over a gay male.

Lastly, most of us who know the Wonder Woman history, remember Colonel Steve Trevor; he's always been the major love-interest for Diana Prince, from back when he first appeared in All-Star Comics #8 (1941). Although Steve has been through a lot, lately there's a storyline that the Amazonian isn't reciprocating his feelings.

Take this prediction as you will; it's not set in stone. But remember this as you go through the list - DC isn't in the business of losing money. It's all about what sells. And anytime you shuck a "major" change on a "primary" character, you have to assume they don't want to diminish their own paychecks. (Heck, it was rough enough back when Superman was switching his red tights.)