WARNING: Contains potential spoilers for BATMAN AND ROBIN #16!Nightwing and Superman both intervened to fill from Batman paper on several occasions. However, neither Bruce's son nor his best friend were able to truly replace the Dark Knight during his time in the cowl. While there are many reasons for this, DC has now revealed the definitive explanation for why no character in the DC Universe can fully replace Bruce Wayne as Batman.
…the Bat-Family, and even Bruce himself, would be better off acknowledging the end of the original Batman rather than trying to fool the world by replacing him.
Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Miguel Mendonça, Marcelo Maiolo and Steve Wands Batman and Robin #16 begins with a gruesome crime scene in the ruins of Arkham Asylum and the introduction of the Dynamic Duo's newest ally, Lieutenant Katherine Lautrec.
Although Batman and Lautrec seem uncomfortable working together to investigate the murders committed by the villain Memento, they set aside their territorial instincts. Batman instructs Lautrec to meet him at Arkham Tower at 9pm to follow up on a possible lead. Later, As Lautrec navigates security at Arkham Tower, fans learn – albeit indirectly – why no one can truly replace the Dark Knight.
Batman is impossible to impersonate for a reason
“When you’re looking at Batman… you know it’s him.” – Batman and Robin #16 (2024)
As Lieutenant Lautrec endures the extremely thorough and mandatory security measures at Arkham Tower, she becomes increasingly irritated by the seemingly over-the-top process. Frustrated, she asks if Batman himself will have to go through the same procedures. When one of the guards reveals that Batman is exempt from security checks Lautrec asks how they can be sure it's really him and not someone pretending to be him. Her question makes one of the guards laugh, prompting her to ask what's so funny. He admits the question was a bit amusing, as the other guard explains: “When you look at Batman… you know it’s him.”
This statement highlights a fundamental truth: Batman's presence is unmistakable and impossible to replicate. The fact that this observation comes from a civilian – not someone personally familiar with Batman, such as the Bat-Family, the Justice League, or other heroes and villains – says a lot about how unique and imposing Bruce Wayne's presence is as the Dark Knight. It's clear that Bruce is irreplaceable in his role; not even his son and protégé, Dick Grayson, can fully take his place, as the weight of Bruce's presence is something that cannot be copied.
“Nobody believes I’m Batman!”: Not even Dick Grayson has an impression of Ironclad Batman
Dick Grayson as Batman: panel comes from Batman and Robin #2 (2009)
The idea that even Nightwing could not fully replace or convincingly impersonate Batman is reinforced in Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's book. Batman and Robin #2 (2009). In this series, Dick is forced to take up the mantle of Batman after Bruce's apparent death. However, in issue #2, Dick confides in Alfred Pennyworth that he will never be able to take Bruce's place as the Dark Knight, as no one believes he is the real Batman. Dick laments, “It’s not even Damian, it’s Gordon… those cops. Nobody believes I'm Batman! …They're looking at me like I'm just another psychopathic Batman impersonator. This whole idea of replacing Bruce was crazy.”
Despite having access to everything needed to become Batman, Dick still can't convince even random police officers that he is the real Dark Knight. While this issue confirms that Nightwing couldn't perfectly take on Bruce's role, it doesn't explicitly explain why. However, Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Carmine Di Giandomenico Batman and Robin #16 seems to offer an answer: Bruce Wayne as Batman has a presence that cannot be replicatedmaking it immediately obvious when someone is just pretending to be him. Hence, offering the answer as to why Dick failed to be a convincing Batman.
Batman may not be replaceable, but Bruce Wayne is (at least when Superman is involved)
Clark Kent being mistaken for Bruce Wayne: panel comes from Superman: American Alien #3 (2016)
While Johnson and Morrison Batman and Robin races have proven that even the Dark Knight's closest allies can't truly replace him, the opposite is true when it comes to his Brucie Wayne persona – at least when Superman is involved. Superman has had his fair share of attempts to replace Batman, consistently failing to fully embody the Dark Knight. However, Max Landis and Mark Buckingham Superman: American Alien demonstrated that the Man of Steel is exceptionally adept at taking on the role of Brucie Wayneto the point where he can openly admit he's not Bruce Wayne and people still believe he is.
This exact scenario occurs in Superman: American Alien #3, where Clark Kent lands on a yacht hosting Bruce Wayne's birthday party. With the birthday boy absent, Clark is easily confused with Bruce. The implication here is that Clark and Bruce bear such a strong resemblance to each other that one of them could pass for the other. Furthermore, the 'Brucie Wayne' personality – a slightly hard-headed, party-loving facade – lacks the overpowering presence of the real Bruce Wayne, making it much easier to fool people. Unlike impersonating Batman, which requires an unmistakable and unique presence, impersonating Brucie Wayne is entirely possible – especially when Clark and his uncanny resemblance to Bruce are involved.
There's no replacing Bruce Wayne as Batman (and the Bat-Family needs to accept that)
Cover D 1:25 Card Stock Variant by Carmine Di Giandomenico for Batman and Robin #16 (2024)
The bottom line is that when Batman retires, dies, or faces another incapacitating incident, there won't be an easy transition – Bruce Wayne is simply irreplaceable as the Dark Knight. Time and again, DC has emphasized that while other heroes have strived to don the iconic cape and cowl, they have consistently failed to truly embody Batman. Even civilians who only knew the Dark Knight in passing could sense that whoever was posing as Bruce was not the real Caped Crusader. So, when the time comes for the mantle to pass, the Justice Leaguethe Bat-Family and even Bruce himself would be better off acknowledging the end of the original Batman instead of trying to fool the world by replacing it.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #16 is now available from DC Comics!