The New Batman

As many people know, DC Comics has recently killed Bruce Wayne in much the same way as I put my dog outside: sure, he's outside right now but everyone knows when the neighbors complain I'll bring him back in. I'm not 100% sure that sentence works but I'm going with it because my backspace key is sticking today. Basically, Bruce Wayne will be back soon. Everyone who has ever read a comic, seen a comic book movie or taken a breath knows that they won't keep the real Batman dead forever. In the mean time, however, this gives the artists at DC a chance to tell a new story, a story that could never be told with Bruce around. That story is Dick Grayson as Batman.

I've always liked the character of Dick Grayson. As a kid, its easy to like Batman's wisecracking sidekick, mostly because at that age it would be more believable that I could be Robin rather than Batman. The thing I liked about Dick as I grew up was that he had faced most of the same horrors as Bruce but he'd come out of it with a bit of what I'm going to call sunshine for lack of a better term. His costume was brighter. He cracked jokes at inappropriate times. He just seemed happier.

The one thing I always hated in the comics was the modern trend of putting Bruce and Dick at odds. It must have seemed edgy when they first put friction between the most famous crime fighting duo this side of Holmes and Watson. Now, though, its just a tired cliche and yet DC sticks with it. These guys are in their universe literally the most successful crime fighting duo ever. And yet they can't seem to stand each other. I liken it to the Beatles: sure, they fought and broke up after being the greatest band of all time but its not like they hated each other, at least not for long. The same thing applies to Bruce and Dick. I can see them fighting as Dick grows up and becomes his own man (much like a father and son would in real life) but eventually they would come to see that the other had a point and come back together. Originally in the comics Bruce was proud when Robin become Nightwing after retiring as Robin. However, that's been retconned out in favor of Bruce firing Dick as Robin because he's saving other parts of the world. Because Bruce never helped the Justice League, the Outsiders, or any of the other superhero groups he's been a part of in his time.

Damn, that was a long preamble to saying that I'm excited about the new era of Dick Grayson as Batman. I think he deserves it. He's been the loyal helper for so long, he deserves a shot at the top spot. Unfortunately, I'll have to wait for the comics he's in right now to hit tradepaper back because there are two comic book stores near my house: one is in a demilitarized zone I wouldn't go into without Batman backing me up and the other closes at 7 every night, even Saturdays. You know, some comic book fans do have jobs. That's how we keep you guys in business. I'm just saying.