By Totally Bitchin’ (aka Eric Drumm)
Who is going inherit the Bat mantle?
With Batman RIP heading towards its dramatic (and long awaited for some!) conclusion, Bruce Wayne may be going bye bye. Is he gonna die? Is he gonna retire? Will he descend into madness, never to be heard from again? Grant Morrison knows, but he ain’t telling.
With all controversy going around, aren’t we forgetting one major dilemma? With the Bat mantle vacated, who is going to step up and take control of Gotham?
Following Batman RIP is the much hushed “Battle For the Cowl” arc. The title suggests that there is a slugfest on the horizon between the Bat boys to see who gets the cape. Who can even pretend they are qualified to replace the Dark Knight? A few are real contenders, but there are a few underdogs that could potentially take the title.
Here are a few of the folks we think just might take it. But don’t listen to us! Sound off with your own theories in the comments!
Dick Grayson/Nightwing
The crimefighter and notorious ladies man is the most obvious choice to take up the mantle. Dick Grayson has been knocking out wise guys since he was a pre-teen, taking direction from the Dark Knight himself. Since he traded in the pixie boots for the Nightwing disco collar, Dick has been fighting to make a name for himself outside his Bat-past almost as hard as he fights bad guys. Nearly to the point of having a chip on his shoulder about it, Dick will have words with anyone who doesn’t think that he is his own man. He hates being associated with his “dad,” and this potentially poses a problem. After all this time, why would he go back on everything he has tried to build for himself? It took quite a bit of coaxing to get Dick into the cowl during “Prodigal.” With all the self doubt and whining about the hero life going on in his own title, is Nightwing even stable enough to be Batman? Not to mention that he is currently drooling on himself in a stupor in Arkham, so that doesn’t help much either. However, knowing Dick, his undying sense of responsibility may lure him into the Cave.
Tim Drake/Robin
By far the most capable of all the Robins, Tim “Tim Wayne” Drake has the same problem that his “big brother” Nightwing suffers from — crippling self doubt. Tim figured out who Batman was, went on an international adventure, almost banged Lady Shiva, and fought the Joker all within a few weeks of becoming the third Robin. Not bad for a skinny 14-year-old. Robin isn’t taking this whole Batman RIP thing too well. Forced to protect Gotham on his own, he is in way over his head. As a result, his thinking doesn’t exactly speak “I’m awesome!” In fact, he is lower than he has been in a while. Keep in mind this is the kid who lost his girlfriend, his only parent, and his best friend all at the same time, and still soldiered on. Tim may not think he is ready for it, but even Batman has been quoted that Tim can do just about anything, so he may be able to pull it off. The costume won’t fit, but Alfred can help with that. “Titans Tomorrow” showed us a pistol packing Bat-Tim 10 years in the future, so it’s not impossible.
Jason Todd
Think what you like about ol’ JT, but he’s back. So the rest of us will just have to get used to it. Leaving a mountain of dead criminals in his wake, Jason killed the hell out of lot of dudes as the Red Hood, much to Batman’s dismay. Back from his adventure in the Multiverse (yeah, we know), Jason’s schedule is pretty open these days. He is currently organizing a gang war in the pages of ROBIN, but perhaps his plan is to sit on the underworld throne with a cape on. Despite his fleeting moments of redemption, Jason Todd is a smarmy violent jerk (and this is coming from someone that likes him!). Impulsive, murderous and recklessly irresponsible, Jason seems the least likely to take the title. However, Jason’s lack of morals may be his biggest strength in the battle for the cowl. Dick and Tim have rules they have to follow as do-gooders, Jason doesn’t. He can literally do whatever it takes to be Batman, included dusting anyone that gets in his way. That’s a very scary thought, but its one that could come true. The internet may explode with fan outcry if it comes to pass, but this is also the guy who was voted to die and then miraculously and ridiculously came back. So there ya go.
Tommy Elliot/Hush
This fella HATES Batman. Forget the Joker or Ra’s Al Ghul, Hush hates him with every cell in his body. He has nearly destroyed him a few times, but what if Batman really disappeared? What of Hush then? Would Hush even know what to do with himself if his nemesis suddenly kicked? Becoming what you hate the most and perverting it into something evil sounds like the perfect revenge, don’t it? Hush is more than a little cold blooded, so metaphorically peeing on the Dark Knight’s grave makes a lot of sense. The rest of the Bat family will probably take issue with this, the Bat-boys VS Hush could be the main event of “Battle For the Cowl.”
Damien Wayne
The “son” of the Bat has been a first class a-hole since he showed up. Arrogant, snobbish and most of all murderous, lil’ Bats has already spilled enough blood and insults to wear out his welcome. With his actual parentage still in question, Damien could be just another ruse in a larger scheme to bring down Batman. However, the little bugger has had a few moments where he genuinely seemed like he wanted to follow his father’s path. If the kid can learn to play well with others and quit killing people, he just might make it. One small hurtle, though – he is only 10! BATMAN #666 told us that Damien does in fact take over for Bruce Wayne in the future, but was there an interim Bat?
As “Batman RIP” wraps up, it’s certain that there will be lots of questions. But what happens to the cape and cowl is up in the air. Will the man (or woman, or boy) behind the mask be the best choice are will it be an Azbats level crisis?
As dicked as this may sound, I expect that Jason Todd might pick the cowl in a redemption type of way.
Ethier that, or jean Paul valley himself might be coming back. Frankly I put nothing past Morrison.
LOL, no doubt about it dude, its gonna be a very close call!
Jiff
www.anolite.echoz.com
Eerily similar to a Captain America storyline from a year ago. Just sayin’.
Jean Paul Valley, Jean Paul Valley, Jean Paul Valley, Jean Paul Valley, Jean Paul Valley, Jean Paul Valley, Jean Paul Valley, Jean Paul Valley, Jean Paul Valley, Jean Paul Valley, Jean Paul Valley, Jean Paul Valley, Jean Paul Valley, Jean Paul Valley, Jean Paul Valley,
R.I.P. is really awful. i hope the upcoming Kevin Smith arc is a lot more interesting.
I’m putting my bet on Jason Todd as well, I think it will be perfect, I really hate that Azrael stuff.
Of course this will only be temporary anyway. DC wouldn’t let one of the biggest movie franchises in history mess with it’s main man.
I’m going for the wild card. Catwomen’s going to take the cowl.
I’ll take the Mr.Carl.Lee way and go with…
..
.
Bane
What about a Batwoman taking over? Either Cassandra Cain or a very convoluted plot that restores Barbara Gordon’s mobility could happen. What other DC women are qualified to wear the cowl? What about Selina Kyle? She could be Batwoman.
Bats does bite the dust, Kid eternity summoned him once along with several dead heroes and wondered “Whats he doing here? He’s not dead? and Boston Barn said “Well it’s complicated kid.”
I really don’t think there will be a single Batman after this; Dick, Jason and Hush may all put on the cowl, like the recent Batmen story arc. Though a new Batwoman in Selina would be more interesting…
Jason Todd would be excellent
Cassandra Cain will have a sex change operation and become the next Batman!
[...] questions. That will all be touched on over many comics costing me lots of money. Link: ‘Batman: Battle For The Cowl’: Who Will Take Up The Mantle? I’ll say this, Grant Morrison’s run on Batman has been the freshest in a couple of decades and [...]
If you’ve read the last issue to RIP you saw that 1 page spread of Dick Grayson aka Nightwing holding the cape and cowl. This could be a nod to the up coming story arch but at the same time it could just be to throw us all off considering Nightwing is the obvious choice. I think Hush will try to battle for the cowl to order to take down the Batman name like he tried to take down Bruce Wayne’s name in “Heart of Hush” (in detective Comics). But he wont get the Mantel. I believe in order to stop them the “bat boys” will band together (even Todd) to help bring an end to him, and realize that there needs to be a Batman…in which time I believe Nightwing will take the plunge and stand up and take the cowl. If you’ve read “Nightwing” (particulary issue 150) you will see another possible nod to battle for the cowl with Babs Gordon (first Bat-girl and ex girlfriend to nightwing) say “Do you hear yourself? you sound just like HIM (”him” being Bruce). Nightwing clearly is headed down a more Batman like path lately and he doesn’t seem to have much of a “chip” on his shoulder for Bruce anymore….they have a better father-son relationship now. And Jean Paul Valley? please. that’d be a joke to bring him back now.
I believe in Harvey Dent!
[...] That will all be touched on over many comics costing me lots of money. Link: “Batman: Battle For The Cowl”: Who Will Take Up The Mantle? I’ll say this, Grant Morrison’s run on Batman has been the freshest in a couple of decades and [...]
Smells like a Death of Captain America replay to me. In that story line the only way to “save” Bucky from himself was to make him carry the weight of being Captain America. In one of the Under the Hood volumes Batman said something similarly to: “I failed in saving you then, but…I’m trying to save you now.”
I follow you on the bat-fam taking down Hush together, but unless Bruce hand-picked a successor, it’s probably gonna be Dick or Jason, and I still vote Jason.
Maybe they put cute little red outlines around Dick’s speech bubbles and put some bass in his voice, but if it came down to it neither Tim or Dick want to be the batman Bruce was. Jason on the otherhand is more than willing to do whatever it takes and doesn’t feel the need to be accepted; and will do so short of killing them. THAT is his intimidation factor, and it just doesnt seem like either one of them have that…
Okay, I say all batboys will hav a chance to be batman in the future. First Dick, after he gets a little more badass during the whole BATTLE FOR THE COWL, then Jason, maybe he and dick will be bats at the same time and fight. Dick will win(of course). Then ol Timmy’s turn comes up, see during his time with the Titans tim wil probably turn bad(jus like his future self said) and tim drake will forcibly take the bat title from dick. I hate to admit it but tim is way smarter than dick right now, but imagine him in a few years. He’ll own dick grayson in smarts and fighting skill. Then Damian will take out Tim(who he hates) and finally that little bastard will be the bat(So says the ominusly numbered Batman #666.) As a comic writer myself, that’s how i’d do it! Got beef!?
Hmmm with batman dead that really sets him up for being used in the Black Lantern saga doesnt it. As for my thoughts on who it will be most likely Tim drake with Damien the new robin or maybe steph will fill that role again I dunno. I would love to see Dick as the New bats but find him a unlikely choice. Todd is possible but….well It does seem like something they would do but I surely hope not.