Summary
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Batman reveals why Bat-Mite was left behind: The DC Universe changed too much for the imp to keep up.
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Bat-Mite's hero worship of Batman led to chaotic situations, causing Batman to fire him to keep everyone safe.
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Despite his dedication, Bat-Mite respects Batman's decision and leaves to ensure the safety of innocent lives.
Warning! Spoilers ahead for Batman/Superman: Earth's Finest #28!Years after a powerful member of the Bat-Family was abandoned, Batman finally explain why. Bat-Mite, the Dark Knight's biggest fan and all-powerful got the chance of a lifetime: A chance to work with his all-time favorite hero again.
Bat-Mite, and Superman's great-grandson Mr. Mxyzptlk, they have come to the Third Dimension to avoid the attack of Doom-Mite, an intelligent Sixth Dimension who wants to challenge the world's greatest hero. But before Batman can go after Doom-Mite, the Caped Crusader has a heart-to-heart and reveals why Bat-Mite was left on the path of history.
Batman Admits The DC Universe Has Changed Too Much For The Bat-Mite
In Batman/Superman: World's Finest #28 by Mark Waid, Dan Mora, Travis Mercer, Tamra Bonvillain, and Steve Wands, Doom-Mite announced Jimmy Olsen as the world's greatest superhero. Thankfully, Mr. Mxyzptlk enters with the save and transfers his Fifth-Dimensional magic to Olsen, giving him all the imp's powers. Unfortunately, even with the Fifth-Dimensional magic at his disposal, Doom-Mite is too powerful to defeat alone. Too bad, Batman and Superman cannot help as they are still stuck in the Sixth Dimension with Bat-Mite.
Batman tells the imp that the world just changed too much for someone as colorful and stupid as Bat-Mite…
Bat-Mite is the duo's only way out of this strange place and is too busy watching the temporal echoes, showing him glimpses of Batman's life and Superman's future. Batman's patience is running out and he demands that Bat-Mite take them back to the Third Dimension. Bat-Mite begins to travel through the dimensional planes down to Bat-Mite's home, the Fifth Dimension and then down into the Fourth Dimension: Time. The three go to the Third Dimension, but they can't stop their descent, so Bat-Mite, Batman, and Superman all reach the lowest level, the First Dimension.
Batman is furious with Bat-Mite, who apologizes for whispering. The Dark Knight softens and finally talks to Bat-Mite, sympathizes with him, and reveals the adventures he used to have with Batman and Robin. Batman tells the Imp that the world has changed too much for someone as colorful and stupid as Bat-Mite and insists that for his sake and for the sake of innocent lives, Batman can no longer indulge in Bat-Mite's games. However, Batman confirms that he needs Bat-Mite's help one last time to defeat Doom-Mite.
Batman's Current Adventure with the Bat-Mite Was the Last Straw
Once upon a time, Batman and Robin were often visited by Bat-Mite an imp who liked to come in and praise the World's Greatest Detective the way Mxyzptlk liked to torment Superman. He was an annoying person who often got on Batman's bad side due to his strong nature and omnipotence. But while the Bat-Mite was a common sight during the Silver Age of Comic Books, he was largely dismissed during the Bronze Age. before he was partially removed from DC's Post-Crisis continuity.
Bat-Mite's first appearance was way back then Detective Comics #267 (1959)!
World's Best Batman/Superman it is a book set in an unknown place in the past, but probably somewhere between the Silver and Bronze Ages. So, the Bat-Mite is still a common problem for Batman. However, his recent visit to the Third Dimension was not all fun and games. The Fifth Dimension was invaded by an unknown entity, later revealed to be the Doom-Mite, who attacked Bat-Mite and friends of Mr. Mxyzptlk before heading to Earth to challenge the heroes of Earth with an army of villainous imps.
Bat-Mite and Mxyzptlk enlisted the help of Batman and Superman. But while Mxyzptlk was more concerned with stopping Doom-Mite, Bat-Mite had turned a deaf ear to singing Batman's praises to anyone who would listen. Things got worse as the heroes tried to stop the attack and Bat-Mite couldn't focus long enough to help. His only real success was helping Batman and Superman reach Doom-Mite's home, the Sixth Dimension, and that was because. Bat-Mite failed to rescue the duo from the Second Dimension, further angering Batman..
Batman Had To Send The Bat-Mite Away To Keep Everyone Safe
This arc doesn't subtly address how Batman feels about Bat-Mite. At best Bruce thinks the imp is annoying enough that he can't pay attention long enough to help. At worst, you see him as a legitimate danger to the safety and well-being of others. Given how much chaos he tends to cause, Batman isn't good. But this conversation is still interesting because it takes place in the past before Bat-Mite was eliminated, which means the reason Bat-Mite left is because Batman asked him to.
Batman means the world to Bat-Mite and there's nothing he wouldn't do for his hero.
Batman makes a point of saying how the world was changing, as anyone familiar with the transition to the Bronze Age knows, it was absolutely true. Sure, Bat-Mite was always ready to help, but not only was the world getting darker, Batman was getting darker too. He knew that Bat-Mite was a huge Batman fan, but Bruce didn't want or need fans at that point in his life. He needed to make sure, above all else, that people were safe, even Bat-Mite.
Batman means the world to Bat-Mite and there's nothing he wouldn't do for his hero. Was it a strong dose of Bat-Mite reality? Undoubtedly. But Bat-Mite knows that in order to be the best hero Batman can be, he has to make some tough decisions, even if it means firing his biggest and most powerful fan. Superman unfortunately cannot keep Mxyzptlk away no matter what. But to be an honest conversation about what the world of Batman needs reached Bat-Mite and assured the imp that it went well.
Bat-Mite Still Honors Batman's Desire
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Sure, Bat-Mite makes the occasional cameo here and there in the Modern Era. But he's pretty much removed from the Bat-Family these days. It just goes to show that when it comes to guys' dedication, no one takes their commitment as seriously as Bat-Mite. Of course it means you won't see Bat-Mite anymore. But nothing in the world can make him break his promise to her Batman.
Batman/Superman: World's Finest #28 is available now from DC Comics.
Batman/Superman: Earth's Finest #28 (2024) |
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