The Gotham Knight
The Batman Blog

....what about I read in addition to the following, and in what order?

I already own:
52, volumes 1-4
Final Crisis: Revelations
and Detective Comics #854-up.

What else should I be looking for, guys (and girls)?

Thanks in advance!

~G.

???

IMO at least, it'd have to be Batman Year 100 by Paul Pope.

Forgive me if someone has already suggested a similar theory, but I haven't seen this yet.

Many have argued the body at the end of Final Crisis isn't Bruce's--it's a clone, Earth-2 Batman, something. I agree with this theory. However, after reviewing FC upon closer inspection, a friend and I are convinced we witnessed TWO separate shootings--one of Bruce with Omega beams, one of somebody else with something else (but not omega beams).







Review the attached image which is pulled from FC6. There's been much discussion already about the lack of holes in the cowl in the final panel, but there's a few other important things to note too. First,the beams that are fired at Bruce are purple--until we cut to a new panel and they're suddenly yellow.

Also, notice that when the omega beams can be seen on the same panel as Darkseid, they turn at right angles and run parallel to each other. In the "kill shot" panel, however, the yellow beams are not parallel and move on a curve.

The contact points of the omega beams don't make sense either. The purple beams in the tight shot appear headed for either temple--yet in the shot with the yellow beams, one hits "Bruce" in the temple while the other strikes his body.

The ripped glove seems very intentional, too. When Bruce is arguing with Darkseid he holds up the god gun, and there is clearly NO rip on his glove. Yes, when he's struck with the yellow omega beams--there's a very large, conspicuous rip on his wrist. Now, this rip can't be seen on the final panel with Clark, though his arm is in shadows and perhaps we just can't see it.

So... what's going on here? It appears there were two "shootings." The first was actually Bruce being nailed by Darkseid and the omega beams... the second is clearly a setup with a fake. Who set up the second one? Why? Was it a hero trying to hide Bruce's death? Or (more likely in my opinion), a villain, perhaps Darkseid himself, wanting the heroes to believe Bruce was dead when he was really lost in time.

Thoughts?

I really want to get into Batman, but theres so many batman comics that I don't know what to read, Detective Comics, Batman, Superman/Batman, or Batman & Robin!?!

One of Bruce's abilities is to simply walk in a room and charm pretty much anyone. Throughout history, who (super-hero or villain) has had a crush on Batman/Bruce Wayne?

Ok, I first want to say that I love the current direction of the Bat-Books right now. I think that we are getting some of the best Batman stories we have gotten in years. The "death" of Bruce Wayne has led to so many wonderful new stories not to mention new characters or characters who may not have been allowed to do what they are doing if Bruce was still under the cowl. Stephanie comes to mind with that. If Bruce were still Batman, I doubt he would allow for her to be Batgirl.

Dick Grayson's tenure as Batman thus far has been an amazing run and one that I look forward to seeing more of. With that said, seeing Bruce momentarily rise in BN #5 really made me actually miss Bruce for the first time since RIP ended. Seeing the way Superman, Wonder Woman and Ollie reacted to seeing their fallen comrad really made me feel like they truly miss Bruce. Their reactions let you know just how much they all respected Bruce and how much he means to the DCU.

Anybody else want to share their thoughts after seeing Bruce in BN #5? Weather it made you miss him as well or maybe made you feel happy he is gone. I just thought I would share my thoughts because I have been thinking about it a lot.