Warning: Contains potential spoilers for Batman and Robin #14!After 85 years, Batman has officially ditched his iconic mask for a new mask unlike anything he’s worn before. This change is not only shockingly different but also surprisingly fitting for the Dark Knight, embodying his “Shadow of Gotham” persona while revealing a long-suspected Bruce Wayne ‘superpower.’
By literally donning the darkness, Bruce undergoes a temporary but epic evolution of his superhero persona.
The fan favorite Batman and Robin Run officially changed hands on October 9, 2024, with Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Javier Fernández taking over from Joshua Williamson and Juan Ferreyra in Batman and Robin #14. Although the issue includes some classic heroics, much of the story unfolds at a charity gala, where Bruce and Damian attend in their civilian personas.
However, conflict quickly stirs in the event, forcing the father-son duo to split up as Bruce investigates Oracle’s reports of gunshots in the basement. With no time to put on his attire – or even his iconic deck –Bruce adopts a different kind of mask: darkness.
Batman’s New Mask Is Darkness (Literally)
“…darkness is all the mask I need.” – Bruce Wayne in Batman and Robin #14
Rushing to the basement, Bruce notices that there is no time to grab his relation – someone may already be bleeding and needs help. He acknowledges that this complicates things, as keeping his secret identity intact is critical. But in true Batman fashion, Bruce quickly solves the problem. Since Batman operates from the shadows, he decides to bring the shadows to him. The plan begins when Bruce, speaking in his WayneTech Bat-Watch, commands, “Blackout sequence Echo-Bravo-Zulu-One. Old Gotham. Sacred Heart. Execute.” This cuts off the electricity in the building.
Now cloaked in darkness, Bruce’s narrative continues: “Gotham needs Batman. And Batman needs his mask. But darkness is all the mask I need.” Fernández’s incredible artwork brings the moment to life, showing Bruce’s face completely shrouded in shadow, so it looks like he’s wearing a full black mask with two glowing eyes. The new “mask” is a perfect fit for Bruce, considering that shadows and darkness are central to Batman’s theme. By literally donning the darkness, Bruce undergoes a temporary but epic evolution of his superhero persona, truly embodying his identity as a creature of shadows.
Batman basically controls Gotham’s ‘darkness’
Batman and Absolute Batman both have solid connections to Gotham’s infrastructure
The scene also reveals that Bruce has complete control over Gotham’s power grid. He explains that the grid, along with almost every backup generator, is built on WayneTech, giving him the ability to plunge the entire city into darkness. This essentially gives Bruce the ‘superpower’ to control Gotham’s shadows, perfectly aligned with his Dark Knight persona. However, instead of a metagen or other extraordinary origin, the power stems from Batman’s long-established – and perhaps a little tongue-in-cheek – superpower: being an extraordinarily rich billionaire.
The revelation that Bruce controls a core aspect of Gotham’s infrastructure aligns with his Absolute Universe counterpart, who is also deeply embedded in the city’s systems, albeit in a different way. Unlike the main DCU Bruce, Absolute Bruce is not a billionaire and does not possess the power grid of Gotham. Instead, he worked in critical areas such as sanitation, the power grid, the water department, city hall, and now as a civil engineer. This gives him valuable knowledge and influence on the city’s operations. therefore, Both versions of Bruce made it a point to get involved in Gotham’s infrastructureUse their knowledge and influence to aid their crime fighting efforts.
Related
Batman and Absolute Batman are low-key corrupt (but it’s for the greater good)
Gotham better hope that Batman never goes evil
Although the levels of influence the two Bruces have over Gotham’s infrastructure differ, both wield significant control over various sectors. This can be seen as corrupt, as they leverage their knowledge and influence for their own benefit. However, because their motives are for the greater good – protecting the city rather than seeking personal gain or harming it – they ultimately apologize. That said, this kind of knowledge and influence is inherently dangerous. If Batman or Absolute Batman were to go rogue, they could easily dismantle Gotham’s most vital infrastructure. This is especially true for the main continuum Batmanwho recently demonstrated his ability to cut the power in the entire city in seconds.
Related
Batman and Robin #14 Available now from DC Comics!
|
Batman and Robin #14 (2024) |
|
|---|---|
|
|
|