DC K.O.: Knightfight #1 started a whole other side tournament from the one taking place to crown the DCU’s King Omega. This tournament is set to feature the Earth-1 Batman we all know and love fighting different versions of the Dark Knight. Not only different versions of Bruce Wayne but also his various proteges who on other Earths took over as Batman. The first issue did a lot to set up this tournament. But maybe the most important thing it did was highlight why Bruce Wayne is Batman. Let’s break it down.
KNIGHTFIGHT SHOWS HOW BATMAN SURVIVED DC K.O. #1
At the end of DC K.O. #1 we saw Bruce Wayne as Batman in statue form along with other heroes and villains. But for some reason Batman’s statue started cracking with a white light pulsating from the cracks. It wasn’t revealed why that happened as it was part of the hook ending for the first issue.
Now with Knightfight #1 we learned exactly why Batman’s statue broke. That is because Bruce created a new Batman suit for the King Omega Tournament. This new suit much more tech and weaponry implemented beyond the usual utility belt. The most important built-in feature for this King Omega Batman suit was having Boom Tube technology integrated into it.
What was important about the Boom Tube tech wasn’t to use it for fights. Bruce reveals the Boom Tube tech would only activate if he lost and his body became inactive for a certain amount of time. Likely due to the Omega energy from Darkseid’s influence it caused the Boom Tube tech to send Bruce to a different Earth. That is something not revealed in Knightfight #1 but is implied to explain why Bruce isn’t in the regular DC Universe.
KNIGHTFIGHT PROVES WHY ONLY BRUCE WAYNE CAN BE BATMAN
Before there is confusion Knightfight #1 made it clear that the Earth Bruce ended up in isn’t a future version of the main DC Universe version. There is specific dialogue from the older Dick Grayson as Batman that explains why this is an Elseworld. That includes this version of Dick Grayson having zero awareness about the DC K.O. event. It was an important point to make as Knightfight is teased to feature Bruce fighting Elseworld versions of all his proteges that assumed the Batman mantle in their respective universes.
This set-up highlighted the biggest reason why no one else can be Batman other than Bruce Wayne. The fact is that the existence of Batman is directly tied to who Bruce is specifically. There is no replicating what made Bruce become Batman and be able to have the identity for so long.
It is nothing against the Robins, Batgirls, or any other protégé that Bruce has taken under his wing. There is an expectation from not just the outside world but the one that wears it to try to do be as close to Bruce’s Batman as possible. That is something that can’t be replicated long-term. We have many examples of why from versions of Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, and Damian Wayne who have picked up the mantle. Knightfight #1 drives that point forward with how the Elseworld Dick Grayson adopted the Batman identity and what it did to him mentally.
THE BATMAN FAMILY WERE NEVER TRAINED TO BECOME BATMAN
At the end of the day, Bruce never trained anyone in the Batman Family to become Batman. Whether intentional or not, Bruce as a mentor has prioritized making sure the Robins, Batgirls, and others don’t follow his path. He has made sure their training made them ready to handle things on their own when they are ready.
Part of being ready is being able to defend Gotham City and the DC Universe without Batman. This has been proven in recent years how Dick Grayson as Nightwing made Bludhaven better and led both the Titans and Justice League successful overcoming multiple crisis events. Barbara Gordon with the Birds of Prey has also created a network to protect Gotham City and beyond. Storylines like Joker War, Fear State, and Shadow of the Bat have shown how when working together the Batman Family can protect and save Gotham City.
All this is to say is that Bruce has done his job in the modern DC Universe to prep Gotham City for a life without Batman. Every member of the Batman Family has the capability of protecting Gotham City in the future. Someone wearing a Batman cape and cowl is not needed. There is more than enough proof that when needed Nightwing, Robin, Oracle, Batgirl, Red Hood, and others can step up with the identities they’ve created thanks to Bruce’s mentorship.
BRUCE WAYNE ALREADY PREPARING FOR BATMAN BEYOND FUTURE
Knightfight ultimately also highlights why Terry McGinnis as Batman Beyond worked so well. Bruce created Batman in response to what happened to his parents and seeing Gotham City needed in a protector. He’s done that as Batman and a mentor to the Batman Family. There are people ready if Batman isn’t around to protect Gotham City.
That is very different from what we saw in the possible future of Batman Beyond. There we had a future 20+ years after an old Bruce Wayne had long since retired. Even before his retirement, because of various events the Batman Family members either left Gotham City to set-up their own roots or retired. That left a huge hole in Gotham City as more technically advanced gangs rose up while there was no protector other than the GCPD for the city.
It is in Neo Gotham’s need for a protector that helped make Terry’s origin as Batman Beyond worked well. It was timed when Terry, taking the Batman mantle was the only option there was. Yes, he needed the training, but Terry had the spark like Bruce and the setting to succeed as Batman. It wasn’t that he was better than Dick, Tim, Damian, or Jason. It’s the situation was a perfect storm for Terry as Batman Beyond to be the permanent answer.
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