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Is That You, Bruce? The Other Secret Identities of Batman
D.C. comics loves a good alternate universe! But what it loves even more is messing with the timeline of an alternate universe to create new continuity and/or fix previous continuity. The ongoing “Convergence” crossover event has featured puddle-jumping between various D.C. “worlds,” and the latest jumper is a new twist on Batman. Since images of a new cybor-mecha Batsuit appeared online a few weeks ago, comic readers have been wondering who is inside. The answer to that question has leaked out and might blow your mind! (SPOILER ALERT! Don’t click if you don’t want to know…) Needless to say, it ain’t Bruce Wayne. But this is hardly the first time someone else has slapped on that famous cowl. Here are but eight examples of the Mantle of the Bat being taken up by someone else.
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Dick Grayson
In early parts of the Knightfall storyline, Dick Grayson (Robin) took over for Batman when Bruce was laid out by Bane. Then in Grant Morrison’s series Batman and Robin: Batman Reborn, Dick Grayson became Batman and Damien Wayne (Bruce’s son) become Robin. Of course, in-between his time as Robin and Batman, Dick Grayson is most often known as Nightwing.
Terry McGinnis
In the cartoon show Batman Beyond, Terry McGinnis was a young teenager unwittingly recruited by an elderly Bruce Wayne to become Batman in a futuristic 21st century world. This version of Bats rarely wears a cape, but he does have rocket boots. Terry has subsequently been incorporated into the wider D.C. Comics continuity, specifically in Justice League: Beyond.
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Jean Paul Valley
Probably the most infamous alternate Batman, Jean Paul Valley was hanging out and training with Dick and Bruce around the time Bane broke Batman’s back. When Jean Paul decided to start acting as Batman, he made a lot of modifications to the Batsuit…and turned into a full-on psycho killer. Robin tried to put a stop to it, but in Knightsend, Bruce Wayne himself had to return to take on the new, way more hardcore (and murderous) Batman.
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Thomas Wayne
In the lead-up to the launch of The New 52 back in 2011, the Flashpoint storyline found the Flash hanging out in an alternate dimension, one in which Bruce Wayne’s father—Thomas Wayne— was not murdered, but his son was. Thomas Wayne’s Batman is a killer who runs casinos. Basically, imagine Biff from Back to the Future became Batman.
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Damien Wayne
Bruce Wayne’s son (sired with Talia al Ghul) was briefly depicted as a future version of Batman in Batman #666. In this future, Batman is kind of a jerk, and wears a popped collar. Should Batman ever have a popped collar? [Editor’s note: No. No he should not.]
Alfred Pennyworth
In the 1960’s TV show Alfred would sometimes dress up as Batman when Bruce Wayne needed to be in the same place as the Caped Crusader. Because the 1960’s show takes place in a universe where everyone is a total and complete moron, no one noticed Batman’s sudden acquisition of both an English accent and mustache.
Jason Todd
Initially, Jason Todd was the Robin who replaced Dick Grayson when Dick Grayson decided he wanted to grow up into Nightwing. In the legendary storyline Death in the Family, the Joker killed Todd, the one superhero death that was really-for-serious supposed to stick. Of course, it eventually turned out he didn’t die. Todd returned as The Red Hood in various D.C. universes. In 2013’s Batman R.I.P. and Battle for the Cowl, he emerged as a gun-happy faux-Batman.
Future Batman Who Lives On Pluto
It’s the 853rd Century and Batman is still around, part of Justice League Alpha (sometimes known as Justice League One Million.) He lives on Pluto, the penal colony where all the major bad guys are locked up—think Arkham Asylum in space. We never learn who this Batman is, but he’s pretty much like regular Batman, only telepathic. It doesn’t count as a superpower, as it’s implied everyone in the 853rd century is kind of telepathic.
And now? We’ll not spoil it here, but if the rumors are to be believed, on Free Comic Book Day this year (May 2nd), the name of a well established character will be added to this list. One hint: it’s not the Joker.
Who is your favorite non-Bruce Batman?