Cracking The Code - Batman's History In The New 52

Cracking The Code - Batman's History In The New 52

The New 52 DCnU history is screwed up, but nothing is more screwed up than Batman's history. How can you try and fit all that into 5 years? I try to find out.

Editorial Opinion
By Asterisk - Feb 26, 2013 12:02 AM EST
Filed Under: DC Comics

DC has tried to explain that much of Batman’s previous Post-Crisis history exists still in the New 52. But how? Obviously things have to be changed to fit in, but how would it work? It causes constant complaints...and I’m going to solve it. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride so hold on.




Pre-Batman

______________________


Bruce’s parents are killed when he is nine. Same as before.

Four years prior to Year One, Bruce trains with Ra’s and Talia Al Ghul overseas. Ra’s picks Bruce as a suitable mate for Talia and the two have a short lived fling, but Bruce realizes Ra’s and Talia’s evil nature and parts ways with them. Unknowing to Bruce, however, he has impregnated Talia with the Son of the Demon...Damien.

Year One

______________________


Batman’s first year is a solo one. Year One, The Long Halloween, The Man Who Laughs still happen, Bruce’s tale about the Joker in ‘Death of the Family’ happens in this time period. Pretty much the same as before. This is also the year where Bruce meets Superman and the Justice League and fights Darkseid.

Year Two

______________________


This is the year where Bruce meets Dick Grayson, probably a few months in. Dick Grayson, judging by his current state in the DCnU, was probably a lot older than usually depicted, possibly in his late-late teens. The duo have many adventures as Batman and Robin and Bruce finally makes a friend. Barbara, earlier in the year, becomes Batgirl and tries to help Batman and Robin, but ends up quitting after several months.

Year Three

______________________


Grayson departs the Robin mantle during the middle of the year, making his time as Robin a year and a half. He departs right after Barbara is crippled due to the Joker, making the Killing Joke happen in this year as well. One month after two events, Batman runs into Jason Todd trying to steal a tire off the Batmobile. Jason is also in his late-late teens and is trained in some martial arts, but needs financial support. He becomes the new Robin until...

Year Four

______________________


At the beginning of the year, Jason is killed by the Joker, making his total time as Robin 6 months. Batman decides to have no more Robins after this point, but literally days after, a smart teenager named Tim Drake determines Batman’s identity as Bruce Wayne and approaches him about becoming the new Robin. Batman humors him and trains him throughout the year since, unlike Dick and Jason. During the course of this year, many things happen, including the events of Knightfall (3 months), No Man’s Land (4 months), Hush(1 month), and Under The Red Hood (1 month). At the end of the year, Bruce finally meets Damien, his son.

Year Five

______________________


Tim branches off to be his own vigilante, Red Robin, at the beginning of the year. Around this time, Bruce is sent back in time by Darkseid in a fight with the Justice League (since Final Crisis didn’t happen in the DCnU) and Dick Grayson has to become Batman with Damien being the new Robin. (6 months). Bruce fights his way back and becomes Batman once again, filling the role alongside his son as Robin, and forms Batman Incorporated. Batman fights Joker once more, this time causing him to go into seclusion for one year. Batman finds the secret of Gotham and fights the Court of Owls and his possible brother at the end of the year.

Current Year Six

______________________


The Joker disappeared for a year, but now he returns to wreak havoc on the Bat-Family.

This causes so many continuity problems it is not even funny, and there is still so many questions to be answered, but this is this only way I can think of it explained. Add any comments you want below, any questions. I understand if you hate it, I can take criticism. But don’t blame me, blame Dan DiDio.
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Happy11
Happy11 - 2/26/2013, 2:27 AM
I've been collecting Batman comics since 88-89 when I was 9 there is so much history missing but I understand why DC have done this so they can keep Batman fresh and new without aging him to much but a lot of excellent stories have just been tossed aside.
Happy11
Happy11 - 2/26/2013, 2:33 AM
What about his FBI training which he done for a year to lea forensics and detective skills. His training with Henri Ducard or even the excellent Blind Justice story which is in my top ten batman stories I think it was written by Sam Hamm or Daniel Waters(can't remember which one) who wrote the story for Batman89 and Batman Returns.
Asterisk
Asterisk - 2/26/2013, 5:47 AM
@Lev

I'm thinking a retcon that Damian was conceived before Bruce came back to Gotham and became Batman. It's not that hard to imagine.
Asterisk
Asterisk - 2/26/2013, 6:20 AM
@Lev

You know, I completely forgot about that. Maybe its symbolic...?

Nah, its just retarded. They screwed up royal.
DukeAcureds
DukeAcureds - 2/26/2013, 12:44 PM
They did screw up. But I think they're explaining it by saying that he's been grown by some mad genetic science and has aged really fast.
I am hoping that the whole training with Ra's and impregnating Talia thing happens in other versions as it makes so much more sense, mythologically. Maybe Geoff Johns might have the foresight to have Bruce train with Ra's in Batman Earth One Volume 2 (and to make sure we know that Bruce is still very young in that series, maybe even a teenager).
Who knows, perhaps the backstory for Beware the Batman is something similar. Ra's is supposed to be a big villian in that series and it does jump forward about 5 years into Batman's career. Perhaps, we'll be seeing Damien show up, towards the end of the first season.
Happy11@ It was Sam Hamm.
BarnaclePete
BarnaclePete - 2/26/2013, 4:50 PM
Justice League #1 takes place 5 years ago. Batman along with the rest of em are already in their roles. Logic tells you that they all were in business before ths issue takes place. Green Lantern and Flash already had a previous relationship. Batman has been around for over 5 years. DC even said last year that Batman was an urban legend before any of the other heroes came around.
Aside from all that aside, it really doesn't matter.
BatsFan
BatsFan - 2/27/2013, 9:57 AM
Detective Comic#0 takes place 7 year ago, so Bruce has been Batman for 2 year before Justice League #1
DJRock93
DJRock93 - 2/27/2013, 6:10 PM
In Batgirl 15 she says she's thought about killing joker for four years, putting killing joke in year 2 unless she is rounding up
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