Mark D. White

Following the events of Bat-Monday (Dark Monday?)–I've never blogged or tweeted so much in my life–I want to collect my thoughts on the status of the Bat-corner of the new DCU…

1. Of course, I am thrilled that Dick Grayson is returning to Nightwing and that Bruce Wayne will now be the Batman. The Dick-as-Batman experiment did go better than I'd expected, I have to admit, and writers like Scott Snyder and Judd Winick successfully incorporated Dick's past into his role as Batman, and showed him gradually growing into the role. But at the same time Dick realized that he was never Batman, not in the same way Bruce is and will always be. And I don't think Dick ever really wanted to be Batman–he was doing it to continue Bruce's legacy, and after Bruce returned, he was a pale imitation (as was shown in the many scenes in which they teamed up, Dick-Bats still seeming like a Robin next to Bruce).

At least this breaks the astonishing parallel paths that the Batmen/Batmans/Batsman and the Captains America have followed since the "deaths" of the senior partners (and perhaps even further back to the resurrections of Jason Todd and Bucky Barnes). Bucky seems to be gone, but Dick gets a new #1. But what's the DCU without a dead Robin, which leads us to…

2. Tim Drake–where is he? My tweets to Mike Marts and other Bat-editors at DC yesterday went unanswered, and I expressed my concerns over his future yesterday. I admit, with Dick as Nightwing and Damian as Robin, where does Tim fit in? (Unless they're serious about turning back the clock, which doesn't seem to be the case, Tim is past being Robin anyway, and Damian has become a fascinating character in his own right and as Robin.) Maybe Tim could help run Batman Incorporated as a "civilian," or return to his roots and become an uncostumed detective–or, use his computer skills to become the new Oracle.

3. I don't know how I feel about Barbara Gordon as Batgirl–I can completely sympathize with those who saw the wheelchair-bound Babs as an inspiration (for instance, see here). But is it best for the character, and does that deserve consideration alongside the desires of the readers? And which readers are being served by this? Some interesting questions that I may pick up later…

Of course, the fates of Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain are up in the air. Cassie, at least, may be involved in Batman Incorporated when it relaunches in 2012, but until then, I doubt we'll see either of them very much post-Flashpoint. (Unless they're going to join Tim in some Bat-themed verson of the Titans or Young Justice!)

4. Glad to see Catwoman returning to her own title–more Selina is always welcome, though I did enjoy her interactive role in Gotham City Sirens while it lasted. Batwoman is not really a relaunch (ditto for Finch's Batman title). The new Birds of Prey, though, I don't know about. The Birds without Oracle seems even more wrong than it did without Black Canary, but we'll see. And the Red Hood's book–a pleasant surprise, but I don't know how much there is to get worked up about.

5. Batwing looks very promising, but Batman Incorporated? It can stay hidden til 2012, 2013 if they need, no hurry. Take your time, Grant, no hurry at all.