Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV throw down the gauntlet in Batman #28 this week.
Do you dare follow them? How could you resist?
Batman #28 looks 6 months into the future of the DC Universe, reveals a shocking new status quo and sets the stage for Batman Eternal – the new weekly series.
In 6 months:
A new kingpin rules Gotham City.
A new sidekick fights with the Dark Knight.
Two fan-favorite characters returns.
A classic rogue gets an major upgrade.
Snyder and Tynion with guest artist Dustin Nguyen create a powerhouse issue revealing the radical new future ahead for Batman, his allies and enemies. Now the real fun begins.
How did these heroes and foes get here? How will these major changes affect other DC books?
Before I continue here’s a SPOILER ALERT!
If you have not read Batman #28 yet stop reading now!
Seriously…
Here it comes…
Fan-favorite heroine Harper Row is back in a brand new role. The girl from the Narrows who saved Batman’s life from the Court of Owls is working with the Dark Knight. What made Bruce take another rookie hero under his cape?
It’s hinted that there’s a strange medical crisis in Gotham City and Harper’s brother is infected. If you’ve seen the sketches you might assume Harper is taking on one of Dick Grayson’s code-names but she goes by Bluebird. Is this an homage to a dead Grayson who once was known as Robin then Nightwing?
DC’s teases suggest Grayson will not survive the events of Forever Evil and his solo book is ending. Having Harper join Bruce’s crusade would be a progression of what Snyder has explored in The Court of Owls and Death of the Family. Robin is dead – will fans accept Bluebird?
The new kingpin of Gotham City is a QUEEN! How and why did Selina Kyle seize control of Gotham’s underworld? Selina claims she’s no longer Catwoman so what does that mean for the Catwoman title? Bruce and Catwoman are working together now in the pages of Forever Evil. What happens to cause the rift between the on-again, off-again but always attracted partners. I suspect Selina’s motives are not just pure criminal. Selina appears to have taken over the city’s underworld to find the secret of the epidemic in the city. How does Selina’s power grab affect the rest of Batman’s rogues and Gotham’s crime families?
The Biggest SPOILER of all!
Stephanie Brown makes her New 52 debut. Selina Kyle reveals to Bruce and Harper that she’s been holding Stephanie Brown for questioning and only she holds the key to the crisis. Selina refers to Brown as the Spoiler and Stephanie is dressed for it. Before the DC Comics reboot Brown has three costumed identities: Spoiler, Robin and for a time Batgirl.
Batman #28 was riveting issue showing major changes ahead for the Dark Knight and Gotham City as the hero celebrates his 75th Anniversary. There are changes behind the scenes, too. Vertigo Comics Editor Mark Doyle replaces Mike Marts (who left for rival, Marvel Comics) takes over the Batman comics group. Doyle worked with Batman writer Scott Snyder on Vertigo titles American Vampire and The Wake.
In Batman #29 Snyder begins the final arc of Zero Year, exploring Bruce Wayne’s first year as the Dark Knight. Harper (aka Bluebird) and Stephanie (aka Spoiler) and Selina Kyle’s stories continue in Batman Eternal #1 coming in April.
By Editor
Nightwing and Stephanie Brown made our 14 characters to watch in 2014. Click here to see the complete list.
Here’s our hope for the future of Nightwing in the DC Universe.
Here’s Harper and Batman from an issue of Detective Comics.
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