One of the most iconic parts of Batman Lore was destroyed by the Dark Knight’s own hand. Bruce Wayne has been through a lot in the last few months and now that he has stopped a monster of his own creation, he is turning his attention to a terrifying new threat.
Amidst all the upheaval in Batman’s life, the immortal villain Vandal Savage came to Gotham and was appointed the city’s new police commissioner. Now he’s out to make a crooked deal with the Caped Crusader, but Batman’s response hints at what’s ahead for Bruce and every other hero in Gotham.
Batman is officially done working with Gotham PD
in Batman #149 By Chip Zdarsky, Steve Lieber, Michele Bandini, Nick Filardi and Clayton Cowles, Batman has finally defeated his twisted doppelganger, Zur-En-Arrh. But the backup personality left a wake of destruction that Bruce is forced to clean up, starting with Zur-En-Arrh’s Robin, a clone of Bruce who was abandoned. Batman takes the boy in, only to discover that Zur-en-Arrah is accelerating his Robin’s aging.But did not have anything in place to stop it. Batman resolves to find a way to help his clone.
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Batman searches high and low for a way to save the clone Bruce’s life. Thankfully, the original Bruce gets a windfall of money left behind in one of Zur-en-Arrah’s secret bank accounts. Bruce spends weeks trying to find a way to save his clone’s life, even consulting with Mister Terrific. But once it is clear that there is no saving clone Bruce, Batman takes him to Wayne Manor, the current home of Vandal Savage. Thankfully, Savage isn’t home, allowing the elderly clone a moment of peace before he dies.
A week later, Savage calls Batman with the bat-signal and offers Batman a deal. The new commissioner will allow the Bat-Family to work and Savage will even give Bruce his cave and manor back. In exchange, Savage wants Batman to ‘handle’ any situation Savage requires. Batman responds to Savage’s offer by destroying the bat-signal and punching Savage in his shattered remains. Batman leaves the new Commissioner on the roof and swears that he will take Savage down Soon and that Savage can stop Wayne Manor.
How Vandal Savage became one of Gotham’s most powerful figures
Batman was forced to leave Wayne Manor back when the Joker stole Bruce’s fortune. The ancestor of the Dark Knight was captured and he was forced to find a new residence in Gotham City. Batman kept an eye on Wayne Manor to ensure it would never fall into the wrong hands. Unfortunately, the intense pressure of his battle against Catwoman in “Gotham War” causes him to overlook his home that has been purchased from under him. To make matters worse, It was purchased by Justice League villain Vandal Savage.
Wilde came to Gotham for one reason: his immortality was waning and he needed to fix it immediately. Wilde manipulated events so that he could summon a meteor similar to the one that gave him his immortality in the first place. Savage’s plan worked, however, Savage got a little more than he expected with this new meteor. He is still immortal, but only within Gotham’s borders. If he leaves, Savage grows weaker and weaker. With no other option, Wilde stayed in Gotham and decided to become its ruler.
Vandal Savage’s journey to become police commissioner begins in “The Savage Garden of Gotham” in Batman #139 (2023)
Savage’s iron fist and conquering attitude attracted the attention of several movers and shakers in Gotham, who informed him that the Police Commissioner role was an appointed one. But before Savage could accept the position, he was arrested by Zur-an-Arah and thrown into blackness. Wilde manages to escape by following Batman as he breaks out. Despite Zur-en-Arh’s best efforts, Wilde became the new commissioner. Wilde wasted no time in his powers as commissioner to try to remove Zur-en-Arr.Even calling Amanda Waller and the United States military for help.
Which destroys the bat-signal device for batman
Unfortunately, Savage’s ascension to one of Gotham’s most powerful positions is completely overlooked by Batman. Bruce was far too busy dealing with Zur-en-Arrah to even consider how damaging it could be to have Savage in charge of Gotham’s police force. But now, Zur-en-Arrah is gone, and aside from what Batman is going through in absolute power, he has nothing distracting him from putting his attention solely on Savage. Bruce knows how brutal a schemer vandal is And that having Savage as Gotham’s police commissioner endangers everyone in Gotham.
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The bat-signal is a powerful symbol in Gotham. It not only acts as a warning light for criminals, but it also represents the cooperation between Gotham’s police and Batman. But times have changed and as long as Savage is in charge, Bruce doesn’t want people to even associate his old self with a monster like Savage. But now that Bruce has challenged Wilde by turning down his offer and destroying the bat-signal, Vandal could use all the powers at his disposal to make Batman’s life a living hell.
Gotham already has a mayor who isn’t too fond of vigilantes, now the city’s police commissioner has a serious bone to pick with Batman. Not to mention Savage is cozying up to Amanda Waller, who really upped her game when taking on superheroes. If Savage wanted to, he could easily call in some favors that could impale Bruce and the rest of the Bat-Family. Plus, Savage already knows Batman’s true identity, so much more until he issues an arrest warrant based on Evidence wildly found in Wayne Manor and the Batcave?
Batman v Vandal Savage is the next big Gotham story
Batman has a lot on his plate at the moment, but the Vandal Wilde situation arguably demands Bruce’s focus right now. Wilde is in a position where he can destroy everything the Bat-Family has if the Caped Crusader doesn’t take him soon. It’s hard to imagine how Batman can dismiss Vandal (especially since he can’t run him out of Gotham). The destruction of the bat-signal is just the opening shot of a war between Batman And Vandal Savage that could have serious ramifications for the Dark Knight.
Batman #149 is available now from DC Comics.