WARNING: Contains potential spoilers for BATMAN AND ROBIN #14!After 85 years, Batman has officially traded in his iconic hood 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, incorporating 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.
Fan favorite Batman and Robin the race officially changed hands on October 9, 2024, with Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Javier Fernández replacing 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, problems quickly arise at the event, forcing the father-son duo to split up while Bruce investigates Oracle’s reports of gunshots in the basement. No time to don your Batsuit – or even your iconic cowl –Bruce adopts a different kind of mask: darkness.
Batman’s new mask is darkness (literally)
“…Darkness is all the mask I need.—Bruce Wayne on Batman and Robin #14
Rushing to the basement, Bruce notes that there is no time to get his Batsuit – someone might already be bleeding and need help. He recognizes that this complicates things, as keeping his secret identity intact is crucial. But in true Batman fashion, Bruce solves problems quickly. Since Batman operates in the shadows, he decides to bring the shadows to him. This plan begins to unfold when Bruce, speaking into his WayneTech Bat-Watch, commands, “Echo-bravo-zulu-one blackout sequence. Old Gotham. Sacred Heart. To execute.” As a result, the building’s electricity is cut off.
Now shrouded in darkness, Bruce’s narration continues: “Gotham needs Batman. And Batman needs his mask. But the darkness is all the mask I need.” Fernández’s incredible art brings this moment to life, showing Bruce’s face completely shrouded in shadow, making it look like he’s wearing an all-black mask with two glowing eyes. This new ‘mask’ suits Bruce perfectly, considering 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 the shadows.
Batman Basically Controls Gotham’s ‘Darkness’
Batman and Absolute Batman have solid connections to Gotham’s infrastructure
This scene also reveals that Bruce has complete control over Gotham’s electrical grid. He explains that the grid, along with almost all backup generators, is built at WayneTech, giving him the ability to plunge the entire city into darkness at will. This essentially gives Bruce the “superpower” to control Gotham’s shadows, perfectly aligning with his Dark Knight persona. However, rather than a metagene or other extraordinary origin, this power derives from Batman’s long-standing – and perhaps slightly ironic – superpower: being an extraordinarily wealthy billionaire.
The revelation that Bruce controls a central aspect of Gotham’s infrastructure aligns with his Absolute Universe counterpart, who is also deeply rooted in the city’s systems, albeit in a different way. Unlike the main DCU Bruce, Absolute Bruce is not a billionaire and does not own Gotham’s power grid. Instead, he worked in critical areas such as sanitation, electrical grid, water department, city hall and now as a civil engineer. This gives you valuable knowledge and influence over city operations. That’s why, Both versions of Bruce made a point of getting involved in Gotham’s infrastructureusing their knowledge and influence to aid in their crime-fighting efforts.
Batman and Absolute Batman are discreetly corrupt (but it’s for the greater good)
Gotham better hope Batman never turns evil
Although the levels of influence that the two Bruces have over Gotham’s infrastructure differ, they both exert significant control over several 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 are ultimately excused. That said, this type of knowledge and influence is inherently dangerous. If Batman or Absolute Batman went rogue, they could easily dismantle Gotham’s most vital infrastructure. This is especially true for the main continuity Batmanwhich recently demonstrated its ability to cut power to an entire city in seconds.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #14 is now available from DC Comics!
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BATMAN AND ROBIN #14 (2024) |
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