A few months ago, Bruce Wayne died—and Jim Gordon took on the heavily armored Batman-mantle. But, this is comics: a magical, wonderful land where Death is more a temporary check-in at a fancy hotel than a permanent rest. As we’ve known for a while, Bruce Wayne is very much alive, but the kicker? He’s done being Batman.*
Comic Vine have unveiled a new preview of Batman #43, out next week, which picks up the trail of Jim Gordon, trying to stop a mysterious new villain in Gotham called Mr. Bloom, as he hunts down rumors of a very-much-alive Bruce Wayne (something readers themselves knew was the case in Batman #42. That’s right, Bruce Wayne’s death lasted a grand total of 1 issue, which may just be a record for least-permanent major comic death).
But despite being surprisingly upright and functional for a dead man, Bruce Wayne hasn’t strode back into Gotham City and demanded that Jim Gordon hand over his Batsuit (and grow out his beloved moustache again). In fact, Bruce has decided to spent time at the Youth Centre, helping Gotham’s disenfranchised kids—and when Jim comes to him for help in Batman #43, he unequivocally tells him that he’s done being the Batman, no matter how much Jim wants him to return:
I mean, at least it’s a twist on the usual recently-resurrected hero who usually just waltzes back into their old identity, but it looks like Jim’s going to be staying as Batman for much longer, even with Bruce Wayne kicking it around helping out the kids of Gotham.
But it’s not just Jim longing for Bruce’s return to the cowl, apparently:
Yeah, now even Superman is hanging around pining for the old Bruce Wayne to come back. Are we just going to see a queue of DC’s finest hang out outside this Youth Center, all-puppy-dog eyes before Bruce Wayne goes “fine, fine god dammit somebody get me a batsuit”? Actually, I kind of hope so. That would be great.
Batman #43 will be out next week—head on over to Comic Vine at the link below to see a few more preview pages.
*Until he’s not, because yo, there’s a certain movie out and everything.
[Via Comic Vine]