There are many reasons why Batman is still widely regarded as one of the greatest superheroes of all time. Bill Finger and Bob Kane’s signature creation struck a chord with readers that continues to resonate to this day. Unfortunately, Batman doesn’t really exist and he can’t save us from the very real threats of our world. But what if he could? This fall, DC is exploring the implications of a real world Dark Knight in Batman: Creature of the Night, a new four-issue miniseries by writer Kurt Busiek and artist John Paul Leon.
Via DC, Creature of the Night is the spiritual sequel of Superman: Secret Identity, a 2004 miniseries written by Busiek that also dealt with an iconic comic book hero in a more realistic setting. However, this story will apparently take a much darker turn, as a young Batman fan named Bruce Wainwright will experience the shattering loss of his parents in a robbery gone wrong. That’s the thing about Batman; his story always begins with a tragedy.
Leon’s art style seems to be particularly well-suited for this story, which is set in 1968. If this world is anything like our world, it’s still within the grasp of Batmania from the Batman TV series starring Adam West. That’s probably why young Bruce Wainwright has so much Bat-merchandise in this preview.
So far, DC is being coy about whether the star of this story will actually become a costumed vigilante, or if the emergence of “a familiar-looking crimefighter” in the streets of Boston is simply something that Bruce imagines as a byproduct of his grief and rage. Who’s to say at this stage? Even the original comic book Bruce Wayne doesn’t exactly scream “mental health” by dressing up as a Batman and beating up criminals. Somehow, we don’t think that things will be any easier on Bruce Wainwright as he tries to impose a comic book mentality on a world that already rejects it.
Batman: Creature of the Night #1 will be released on Wednesday, November 29.
Images: DC Comics
For more Batman, check out what Joss Whedon is doing with the Justice League movie.
