Let Bruce Wayne Die
I have always loved comic books. I read the big names, of course, but I also dig the weird, off-brand indie titles. I'm not an aficionado, just a fan. Shortly after I started my first professional job as a radio news journalist (because 2010 was famously a booming era for small-market radio), DC Comics launched "The New 52." They had just scorched the earth with the Blackest Night saga and decided to hit the reset button, dragging every hero back to their original storylines.
My best friend and I maintained a "pull box" at the local shop. Every Wednesday, our reserved titles would be waiting. At the height of my addiction, I was hauling home ten books a week—frankly, it was out of control.
My favorite draw in the DC Universe has always been the sidekicks. There is something fascinating about a world where "child soldier for justice" is an acceptable career path. I only read Batman for Robin. I read Green Arrow for Speedy. And Superman? Well, I don't like Superman. Full stop.
The reboot handed me the origin stories of the old guard all over again. But who cares about the legends of Gods when you have already watched the demigods grow up? Why would I want to regress to a young Dick Grayson when I have a fully developed Jason Todd? Speedy overcame a heroin addiction, and you want me to care that Oliver Queen just got back to his mansion and his fortune?
I know the argument in DC's defense: they want a younger audience to relate to a younger Batman. But I contend that we need the youth to grow into the cowl, not just look in a mirror. Why did we need to revisit that same well-trodden origin story? Couldn't we instead just say: "This is Batman; he begat Robin, who became Nightwing, who begat Red Hood..." and so on? Can't we trust that some legends can survive wearing a different mask?
I think the real struggle is the fear of losing the thread. They don't trust that Damian Wayne is developed enough for Bruce to actually die—for good. So instead of taking the risk, they just restart the clock.
It has been a few years since I bought a graphic novel, and I admit I have a bad case of "Marvel fatigue." I hope the publishers have finally explored those avenues of growth. But truthfully, I know I should, too. I often restart the clock on my own life rather than trusting that the groundwork I’ve laid will support the legacy—even without me there.
Word Count: ~415 words
Approximate Read Time: 2 minutes