Bruce Wayne is back as a stronger Dark Knight.
Is Duke Thomas Batman’s new sidekick?
Just don’t call him Robin…yet….maybe ever.
A new era for the Dark Knight begins with Batman: Rebirth #1 as Scott Snyder passes the torch (or is batarang a better choice?) to Tom King for an adventure that revamps a classic villain and gives fan-favorite Thomas a new role.
Thomas is one of several new characters from fans thought could become the next Robin.
Snyder, King and artist Mikel Janin team up for a one-shot that sets up Batman: Rebirth with an intense story and a less brooding Dark Knight who is thinking forward and changing things up.
Upbeat Batman and…..code-name to be revealed?
Duke Thomas was introduced in Zero Year flashback arc as young boy who helped Bruce Wayne outwit the Riddler. The modern day Duke made his first appearance in Endgame. Duke’s parents were victims of the Joker’s virus leading the young man to join the We Are Robin movement of teen vigilantes. In the Batman and Robin Futures End one-shot, Duke was the new Robin in a possible future.
In Batman #50 Bruce Wayne returned as the Dark Knight to defeat Mister Bloom and made Duke an offer.
The offer is revealed in this week’s one-shot and it’s not what we expected
Before we continue with what this could mean for the Bat-mythology here’s a SPOILER ALERT!
If you have not read Batman: Rebirth #1 stop reading now.
Seriously.
OK.
Here it comes.
Duke’s parents are still infected by the Joker toxin so Bruce offers to let Duke stay at Wayne Manor until his family can be cure. Bruce does not invite him to be trained as a new Robin but he’s offered a new costume and identity…but it’s not Robin.
“I’m trying something new,” says Bruce as he presents Duke with a black and yellow costume with a Bat symbol on its chest.
As the story unfolds Duke was more than a sidekick but an equal in Batman’s fight with the revamped Calendar Man, who kept being creepily reborn and accelerating Gotham’s seasons.
What will Duke’s code-name be?
How big a role will he play in the new series?
King is introduce a super-powered duo (Gotham and Gotham Girl) who will challenge Bruce for the title of hero of Gotham City in the first arc I Am Gotham starting in Batman #1 by King and David Finch.
King teased “the greatest battle in the history of Batman” in a DC All-Access interview following his first year on the book.
Will Duke be fighting at Bruce’s side and what will we call him?
What do you think of Duke getting moved up to being the Dark Knight’s new partner in fighting crime?
By Editor