Batman & Son
Encyclopedia
"Batman & Son" is a comic book
story arc
from DC Comics
by Grant Morrison
and Andy Kubert
, featuring Batman
in the monthly title of the same name
. It ran from September (#655) to December (#658) 2006
.
This marked Morrison's debut as the writer of the flagship Batman
title, a post he continued to hold until Batman #683 in 2008
. This marked artist Andy Kubert's first work for DC Comics in nearly 15 years, as he and his brother Adam
had just signed a new exclusive contract for the publisher.
and is crouched over what appears to be a bloody and beaten Batman
. As Joker gloats over his "victory," the beaten Batman pulls out a handgun and manages to shoot the Joker in the face. At that moment, the real Batman appears and captures the Joker, throwing him into a dumpster. After visiting Gordon in the hospital, Batman learns that in his short time back in Gotham
, he has managed to rid the city of supercrime.
In the Batcave
, Alfred
tells Batman that he has been so focused on his war on crime that he has started to lose touch with his Bruce Wayne identity. Robin states that he believes a vacation away from Gotham could be beneficial, so Batman decides to attend a charity event at the London Pop Art museum where he can spend time rejuvenating the playboy Bruce Wayne identity.
Meanwhile, Kirk Langstrom, the former Man-Bat
is shown being told by Talia al Ghul
that if he does not give his "Man-Bat Formula" to the League of Assassins
, she will poison his wife Francine, rendering her blind and crippled. As Bruce arrives in London to attend a gala opening at London's Pop Art museum, Kirk and Francine are thrown out the back of a van by members of the League of Assassins. Alfred asks them what is wrong, and Kirk tells him that Talia now has the Man-Bat serum. Batman faces down a whole army of ninja Man-Bats in an effort to save the attendants of the gala until Batman is rendered unconscious. When he awakens, he finds Talia, who explains to him that he is the father of her son Damian
.
Batman and Damian return to Gotham City
where the Dark Knight introduces his son to the Batcave, Alfred, and Robin. However, Damian's petulant attitude gets him locked up in one of Wayne Manor
's many rooms. Interestingly, Damian manages to break free from that room by analysing Alfred's fingerprints on a keypad - despite the fact that he was wearing gloves.
Meanwhile, Robin is searching for Alfred in the Batcave when he comes across Damian, armed with a sword Batman had taken from him. Suspicious, Tim tries to befriend Damian when the younger child reveals that he went out and beheaded a criminal known as the Spook, and placed a grenade
in his mouth. Shocked, Tim appeals to Damian that killing is not their way. Damian responds by tossing the head in the air, which explodes when it hits the ground. The two spar in the Cave until Tim stops to help Damian off the stuffed Tyrannosaurus jaws when Damian sucker punches Robin, leaves him for dead, and takes Jason Todd
's displayed Robin uniform with him. Later, the Bat-Signal
is lit and Batman finds Damian wearing the Robin suit. Batman asks how he got out of the Batcave without being seen and then asks what he's done with his partner.
Back at the cave, Batman cares for Tim and reluctantly agrees to take Damian to stop Talia and save the British Prime Minister's wife, when Damian reveals he has worked out that Talia wishes to trade her hostage for control over Gibraltar
. Soon, Batman, Damian and Talia are in a confrontation on Gibraltar as Britain's Royal Navy bomb the Peninsula. Talia and Damian vanish in an explosion.
s, DC Comics
supervillain
s and the name of the comics sub-plot in which they appear. These three individuals have appeared during Grant Morrison
's run on Batman
. All three have worn variants of his costume. All three of them have ties to the GCPD, as former policemen. In a strange twist, Batman explains to his butler Alfred Pennyworth, that he saw three similar figures in a past vision, but he believed it was merely a hallucination. As it turns out though, what Batman thought was a hallucination turned out to be a forgotten memory in which three men were chosen from the police force to train with Batman to replace him should anything ever happen to him. During the test, Batman had himself isolated so that a Doctor Simon Hurt could study his moves and what drives him. During his time in the isolation experiment, Batman hallucinated the death of Robin and was driven with guilt. When the three replacement Batmen came in to challenge him, Batman took them down easily. Dr. Hurt decided that the three Batmen needed to be driven by rage and sorrow, so he killed the third man's family, pouring glue in his brother's eyes, and carved up his sister. He also began adding venom and monster serum to the second cop, Bat-Bane, until that cop was driven to kill his own family in rage. Doctor Hurt put hypnotic suggestions into Batman's head to help him forget the whole experience and dismiss it as a bad dream. The three replacement cops were hidden away to await the day they would return.
in Batman #655 (the first part of the "Batman and Son" storyline) who believed he was fighting the real Dark Knight. Using his years of experience of battling the real thing, the Joker nearly killed him.
Battered and bleeding, this impostor pulled out a handgun and shot the Joker in the face, disfiguring him even further. Later in the issue, Commissioner Gordon explains to Batman that he was an ex-cop who seemingly snapped and decided to "clean up the city" using vigilante methods.
It is revealed in Batman #674, that this officer's name was Josef Muller. He was an ace marksman, but had both his hands broken by Batman while in the isolation chamber.
had been supplying an ex-policeman who lived on an abandoned facility with prostitutes. The women eventually turned up dead. Batman tracked him down and was severely beaten by the man, who was dressed in a mixture of Batman's and Bane
's costumes. Batman suspected the imposter had used Hugo Strange
's Monster Serum and daily venom shots to gain his size and strength.
Batman #674 established that this monster really was force fed the growth-enhancing serum of Hugo Strange and the strength-enhancing super-steroid Venom. This made him strong enough to lift a Batmobile
over his head during his battle with Batman
and Robin
. It is also revealed that he was a family man by the name of Branca, who eventually killed his own family while driven by rage from the drugs that Doctor Hurt had put into him.
: Death's Dark Knight #1. This third Batman appears twice in two different times. First, he appears to Bruce Wayne's son Damian
. Damian has taken the mantle of the Batman some 10 to 20 years in the future. In Batman #666 ("Numbers of the Beast"), an adult Damian has inherited the mantle of the Bat and is seen pursuing this third Batman "ghost" who has been systematically murdering Gotham's ganglords (including Valentin Lazlo aka Professor Pyg
, among others), claiming to be the son of the Antichrist
come to begin the end of days. He is eventually killed by Damian, who throws him out the window of Hotel Bethlehem. This "Batman" uses the basic costume, seemingly upgraded with either Firefly's or Heatwave
's flamethrower. Like the "Bane" ghost, his face is completely hidden by his mask (goggles and a metallic plate conceal his eyes and mouth)
We see this third man again in the "present" storyline in Batman #672. Here, he is referred to as the Third Man and attacks the Gotham City Police Department asking for Commissioner Vane. He then attacks Batman on the roof where he tosses him into the Batsignal. During the battle, Batman has a heart attack and goes into cardiac arrest. The Third Man then takes Batman and revives him with the intent to torture him in a rundown location. While Batman is captured with the Third Man, he has a series of visions that involve his final confrontation with Joe Chill
who killed Bruce Wayne's parents, Thomas
and Martha
, some sort of isolation test Batman did earlier in his life, the death of Robin, the Thögal Ritual he endured in Nanda Parbat, and a visit from Batmite. Batmite seems to encourage Batman to pull answers from the visions. These visions answer the question of where these three Batmen came from. With Batmite's help, Batman remembers the isolation test and the three replacement police officers involved. Batman manages to escape from the Third Man, when the Third Man attempts to cut off Batman's hand. Batman had slid his hand completely out of his glove and while the Third Man is surprised, Batman attacks. Batman knocks a tray of acid onto the Third Man and traps him to the floor. At this point, the Third Man says to Batman, "this... this is your chance... if... if you kill me now, you can stop what's going to happen." Batman does not kill him, so the Third Man continues, "well then, I... I have a side kick too...". At this point, Bat-Bane comes through the wall with a rock. Before he can smash Batman though, he is shot in the head by Officer Farelli. During the confusion, the Third Man escapes and Batman goes after him. Batman catches up to him, but is too tired to follow him over the fence. The Third Man, standing on the opposite side of the fence, tells him that his replacements are circling him like vultures because Batman's luck is about to run out and soon he will be gone. The Third Man then disappears into the mist.
The Third Man later appears piloting the helicopter used by Doctor Hurt in his attempted escape from Arkham Asylum
. The helicopter explodes and crashes into the water.
In recent events, Michael Washington Lane became the new Azrael
, the agent of the Order of Purity, a splinter group of the Order of Saint Dumas, as of Azrael: Death's Dark Knight #1; in keeping with his imitation of Batman, he wears the "Suit of Sorrows" given to Bruce Wayne by Talia al Ghul
during Batman: The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul
. Lane accepts the Order's offer to become Azrael as a way of atoning for his perceived role in the demise of Batman. As Azrael, his mission is to spread 'God's Justice' through Gotham City in the chaos resulting from the absence of Bruce Wayne as Batman.
in both hardcover and softcover formats. This volume includes the "Three Ghosts of Batman" arc. It covers issues 655-658 and 663-666 of the Batman comic.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
story arc
Story arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
from DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
by Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
and Andy Kubert
Andy Kubert
Andrew "Andy" Kubert is an American comic book artist, son of Joe Kubert, and brother of Adam Kubert, both of whom are also artists...
, featuring Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
in the monthly title of the same name
Batman (comic book)
Batman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27, published in May 1939. Batman proved to be so popular that a self-titled ongoing comic book series began publication in the spring of 1940...
. It ran from September (#655) to December (#658) 2006
2006 in comics
-January:*January 1, 2006: Newsweek offer a look back at 2005 through editorial cartoons. *January 2, 2006: The Cincinnati Enquirer cartoonist Jim Borgman starts a blog to detail his creative process...
.
This marked Morrison's debut as the writer of the flagship Batman
Batman (comic book)
Batman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27, published in May 1939. Batman proved to be so popular that a self-titled ongoing comic book series began publication in the spring of 1940...
title, a post he continued to hold until Batman #683 in 2008
2008 in comics
-January:*January 9: Teen Titans: The Lost Annual, delayed since 2003, is published.*January 23: Hellblazer #240, marking the 20th anniversary of the series, is released.-February:...
. This marked artist Andy Kubert's first work for DC Comics in nearly 15 years, as he and his brother Adam
Adam Kubert
Adam Kubert is an American comic book artist known for his work for publishers such as Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and DC Comics, including work on Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Fantastic Four, Incredible Hulk, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Superman and Ghost Rider.Kubert has established himself as one...
had just signed a new exclusive contract for the publisher.
Plot
The Joker has managed to poison Commissioner GordonJames Gordon (comics)
James Worthington Gordon, Sr. is a fictional character, an ally of Batman that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane...
and is crouched over what appears to be a bloody and beaten Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
. As Joker gloats over his "victory," the beaten Batman pulls out a handgun and manages to shoot the Joker in the face. At that moment, the real Batman appears and captures the Joker, throwing him into a dumpster. After visiting Gordon in the hospital, Batman learns that in his short time back in Gotham
One Year Later
"One Year Later" was a 2006 storyline event running through the DC Universe. As the title suggests, it involves a narrative jump exactly one year into the future of the DC Comics Universe following the events of the Infinite Crisis event, to explore major changes within the continuities of the many...
, he has managed to rid the city of supercrime.
In the Batcave
Batcave
The Batcave is the secret headquarters of fictional DC Comics superhero Batman, the alternate identity of playboy Bruce Wayne, consisting of a series of subterranean caves beneath his residence, Wayne Manor.-Publication history:...
, Alfred
Alfred Pennyworth
Alfred Pennyworth is a fictional character that appears throughout the DC Comics franchise. The character first appears in Batman #16 , and was created by writer Bob Kane and artist Jerry Robinson. Alfred serves as Batman’s tireless butler, assistant, confidant, and surrogate father figure...
tells Batman that he has been so focused on his war on crime that he has started to lose touch with his Bruce Wayne identity. Robin states that he believes a vacation away from Gotham could be beneficial, so Batman decides to attend a charity event at the London Pop Art museum where he can spend time rejuvenating the playboy Bruce Wayne identity.
Meanwhile, Kirk Langstrom, the former Man-Bat
Man-Bat
Man-Bat is a fictional comic book character appearing in books published by DC Comics, usually as a supervillain and adversary of Batman, though occasionally depicted as a heroic character. He first appeared in Detective Comics #400 and was created by Frank Robbins and Neal Adams...
is shown being told by Talia al Ghul
Talia al Ghul
Talia al Ghul is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe, the now-estranged daughter of the supervillain Ra's al Ghul, a love interest of Batman, and the mother of his son Damian Wayne, the fifth Robin...
that if he does not give his "Man-Bat Formula" to the League of Assassins
League of Assassins
The League of Assassins is a group of fictional comic book villains, an organization of killers formerly led by Ra's al Ghul, an enemy of Batman in the DC Comics Universe.-Doctor Ebeneezer Darrk:...
, she will poison his wife Francine, rendering her blind and crippled. As Bruce arrives in London to attend a gala opening at London's Pop Art museum, Kirk and Francine are thrown out the back of a van by members of the League of Assassins. Alfred asks them what is wrong, and Kirk tells him that Talia now has the Man-Bat serum. Batman faces down a whole army of ninja Man-Bats in an effort to save the attendants of the gala until Batman is rendered unconscious. When he awakens, he finds Talia, who explains to him that he is the father of her son Damian
Damian Wayne
Damian Wayne is a fictional character in the . Damian is the child of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul, and thus the grandson of Batman villain Ra's al Ghul....
.
Batman and Damian return to Gotham City
Gotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
where the Dark Knight introduces his son to the Batcave, Alfred, and Robin. However, Damian's petulant attitude gets him locked up in one of Wayne Manor
Wayne Manor
In DC Comics, Wayne Manor is a fictional setting, the personal residence of Bruce Wayne, who is also Batman. The residence is typically depicted as a huge stately mansion on grounds outside Gotham City, maintained by the Wayne family's servant, Alfred Pennyworth...
's many rooms. Interestingly, Damian manages to break free from that room by analysing Alfred's fingerprints on a keypad - despite the fact that he was wearing gloves.
Meanwhile, Robin is searching for Alfred in the Batcave when he comes across Damian, armed with a sword Batman had taken from him. Suspicious, Tim tries to befriend Damian when the younger child reveals that he went out and beheaded a criminal known as the Spook, and placed a grenade
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
in his mouth. Shocked, Tim appeals to Damian that killing is not their way. Damian responds by tossing the head in the air, which explodes when it hits the ground. The two spar in the Cave until Tim stops to help Damian off the stuffed Tyrannosaurus jaws when Damian sucker punches Robin, leaves him for dead, and takes Jason Todd
Jason Todd
Jason Peter Todd is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Jason first appeared in Batman #357 and became the second Robin, sidekick to the superhero Batman, when the previous Robin went on to star in The New Teen Titans under the moniker of Nightwing.Though...
's displayed Robin uniform with him. Later, the Bat-Signal
Bat-Signal
The Bat-Signal is a distress signal device appearing in the various interpretations of the Batman mythos. It is a specially modified Klieg searchlight with a stylized symbol of a bat attached to the light so that it projects a large Bat emblem on the sky or buildings of Gotham City...
is lit and Batman finds Damian wearing the Robin suit. Batman asks how he got out of the Batcave without being seen and then asks what he's done with his partner.
Back at the cave, Batman cares for Tim and reluctantly agrees to take Damian to stop Talia and save the British Prime Minister's wife, when Damian reveals he has worked out that Talia wishes to trade her hostage for control over Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
. Soon, Batman, Damian and Talia are in a confrontation on Gibraltar as Britain's Royal Navy bomb the Peninsula. Talia and Damian vanish in an explosion.
Three Ghosts of Batman
The "Three Ghosts of Batman" is the fan-given name of a group of fictional characterFictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
s, DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
s and the name of the comics sub-plot in which they appear. These three individuals have appeared during Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
's run on Batman
Batman (comic book)
Batman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27, published in May 1939. Batman proved to be so popular that a self-titled ongoing comic book series began publication in the spring of 1940...
. All three have worn variants of his costume. All three of them have ties to the GCPD, as former policemen. In a strange twist, Batman explains to his butler Alfred Pennyworth, that he saw three similar figures in a past vision, but he believed it was merely a hallucination. As it turns out though, what Batman thought was a hallucination turned out to be a forgotten memory in which three men were chosen from the police force to train with Batman to replace him should anything ever happen to him. During the test, Batman had himself isolated so that a Doctor Simon Hurt could study his moves and what drives him. During his time in the isolation experiment, Batman hallucinated the death of Robin and was driven with guilt. When the three replacement Batmen came in to challenge him, Batman took them down easily. Dr. Hurt decided that the three Batmen needed to be driven by rage and sorrow, so he killed the third man's family, pouring glue in his brother's eyes, and carved up his sister. He also began adding venom and monster serum to the second cop, Bat-Bane, until that cop was driven to kill his own family in rage. Doctor Hurt put hypnotic suggestions into Batman's head to help him forget the whole experience and dismiss it as a bad dream. The three replacement cops were hidden away to await the day they would return.
Muller/"Bat-Cop"
Battled the JokerJoker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
in Batman #655 (the first part of the "Batman and Son" storyline) who believed he was fighting the real Dark Knight. Using his years of experience of battling the real thing, the Joker nearly killed him.
Battered and bleeding, this impostor pulled out a handgun and shot the Joker in the face, disfiguring him even further. Later in the issue, Commissioner Gordon explains to Batman that he was an ex-cop who seemingly snapped and decided to "clean up the city" using vigilante methods.
It is revealed in Batman #674, that this officer's name was Josef Muller. He was an ace marksman, but had both his hands broken by Batman while in the isolation chamber.
Branca/"Bat-Bane"
In Grant Morrison's Batman #664, Batman discovered that a pimpPimp
A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
had been supplying an ex-policeman who lived on an abandoned facility with prostitutes. The women eventually turned up dead. Batman tracked him down and was severely beaten by the man, who was dressed in a mixture of Batman's and Bane
Bane (comics)
Bane is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1 , and was created by Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench, and Graham Nolan. Bane has been one of Batman's more physically and intellectually powerful foes...
's costumes. Batman suspected the imposter had used Hugo Strange
Hugo Strange
Professor Hugo Strange is a fictional comic book supervillain appearing in books published by DC Comics, as an adversary of Batman. He first appeared in Detective Comics #36 , and is one of Batman's first recurring villains, preceding the Joker and Catwoman by several months...
's Monster Serum and daily venom shots to gain his size and strength.
Batman #674 established that this monster really was force fed the growth-enhancing serum of Hugo Strange and the strength-enhancing super-steroid Venom. This made him strong enough to lift a Batmobile
Batmobile
The Batmobile is the automobile of DC Comics superhero Batman. The car has evolved along with the character from comic books to television and films. Kept in the Batcave, which it accesses through a hidden entrance, the Batmobile is a gadget-laden vehicle used by Batman in his crime-fighting...
over his head during his battle with Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
and Robin
Robin (comics)
Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman...
. It is also revealed that he was a family man by the name of Branca, who eventually killed his own family while driven by rage from the drugs that Doctor Hurt had put into him.
Lane/"Bat-Devil"
Batman #674 revealed that the third man's name is Lane. It is later revealed that his full name is Michael Washington Lane in AzraelAzrael (comics)
Azrael is the name of several fictional characters in the DC Comics universe. They are a group of assassins who were created by The Order of St. Dumas to "enforce god's will"...
: Death's Dark Knight #1. This third Batman appears twice in two different times. First, he appears to Bruce Wayne's son Damian
Damian Wayne
Damian Wayne is a fictional character in the . Damian is the child of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul, and thus the grandson of Batman villain Ra's al Ghul....
. Damian has taken the mantle of the Batman some 10 to 20 years in the future. In Batman #666 ("Numbers of the Beast"), an adult Damian has inherited the mantle of the Bat and is seen pursuing this third Batman "ghost" who has been systematically murdering Gotham's ganglords (including Valentin Lazlo aka Professor Pyg
Professor Pyg
Professor Pyg is a fictional character in DC Comics and an enemy of Batman and Robin. He was created by Grant Morrison and first appeared in a cameo in Batman #666 . He is a regular character in the Batman and Robin series...
, among others), claiming to be the son of the Antichrist
Antichrist
The term or title antichrist, in Christian theology, refers to a leader who fulfills Biblical prophecies concerning an adversary of Christ, while resembling him in a deceptive manner...
come to begin the end of days. He is eventually killed by Damian, who throws him out the window of Hotel Bethlehem. This "Batman" uses the basic costume, seemingly upgraded with either Firefly's or Heatwave
Heat Wave (comics)
Heat Wave is a fictional villain in the DC Universe and a primary foe of the Flash.-Fictional character biography:Born on a farm outside Central City, Mick Rory became fascinated with fire, as a child. This fascination turned into an obsession and one night, he set his family's home ablaze...
's flamethrower. Like the "Bane" ghost, his face is completely hidden by his mask (goggles and a metallic plate conceal his eyes and mouth)
We see this third man again in the "present" storyline in Batman #672. Here, he is referred to as the Third Man and attacks the Gotham City Police Department asking for Commissioner Vane. He then attacks Batman on the roof where he tosses him into the Batsignal. During the battle, Batman has a heart attack and goes into cardiac arrest. The Third Man then takes Batman and revives him with the intent to torture him in a rundown location. While Batman is captured with the Third Man, he has a series of visions that involve his final confrontation with Joe Chill
Joe Chill
Joe Chill is a fictional character in the DC Comics Batman series. He is best known for murdering young Bruce Wayne's parents , thus making him indirectly responsible for Batman's existence....
who killed Bruce Wayne's parents, Thomas
Thomas Wayne
Thomas Wayne is a fictional character in the Batman series of comic books. Dr. Thomas Wayne was the father of Bruce Wayne, and husband of Martha Wayne, as well as a gifted surgeon and philanthropist...
and Martha
Martha Wayne
Martha Wayne is a fictional character of the Batman series of comic books, published by DC Comics. She is Dr. Thomas Wayne's wife and mother of Bruce Wayne. When she and her husband are murdered during a holdup, young Bruce swears to avenge their deaths by fighting crime...
, some sort of isolation test Batman did earlier in his life, the death of Robin, the Thögal Ritual he endured in Nanda Parbat, and a visit from Batmite. Batmite seems to encourage Batman to pull answers from the visions. These visions answer the question of where these three Batmen came from. With Batmite's help, Batman remembers the isolation test and the three replacement police officers involved. Batman manages to escape from the Third Man, when the Third Man attempts to cut off Batman's hand. Batman had slid his hand completely out of his glove and while the Third Man is surprised, Batman attacks. Batman knocks a tray of acid onto the Third Man and traps him to the floor. At this point, the Third Man says to Batman, "this... this is your chance... if... if you kill me now, you can stop what's going to happen." Batman does not kill him, so the Third Man continues, "well then, I... I have a side kick too...". At this point, Bat-Bane comes through the wall with a rock. Before he can smash Batman though, he is shot in the head by Officer Farelli. During the confusion, the Third Man escapes and Batman goes after him. Batman catches up to him, but is too tired to follow him over the fence. The Third Man, standing on the opposite side of the fence, tells him that his replacements are circling him like vultures because Batman's luck is about to run out and soon he will be gone. The Third Man then disappears into the mist.
The Third Man later appears piloting the helicopter used by Doctor Hurt in his attempted escape from Arkham Asylum
Arkham Asylum
The Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane, commonly referred to simply as Arkham Asylum, is a fictional psychiatric hospital in the DC Comics Universe, usually appearing in stories featuring Batman...
. The helicopter explodes and crashes into the water.
In recent events, Michael Washington Lane became the new Azrael
Azrael (comics)
Azrael is the name of several fictional characters in the DC Comics universe. They are a group of assassins who were created by The Order of St. Dumas to "enforce god's will"...
, the agent of the Order of Purity, a splinter group of the Order of Saint Dumas, as of Azrael: Death's Dark Knight #1; in keeping with his imitation of Batman, he wears the "Suit of Sorrows" given to Bruce Wayne by Talia al Ghul
Talia al Ghul
Talia al Ghul is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe, the now-estranged daughter of the supervillain Ra's al Ghul, a love interest of Batman, and the mother of his son Damian Wayne, the fifth Robin...
during Batman: The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul
Batman: The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul
"The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul" is the name of an eight issue comic book crossover story arc published by DC Comics in 2007 and 2008. It involves the return of notable Batman villain Ra's al Ghul, and is his first appearance since his apparent death in Batman: Death and the Maidens in 2003...
. Lane accepts the Order's offer to become Azrael as a way of atoning for his perceived role in the demise of Batman. As Azrael, his mission is to spread 'God's Justice' through Gotham City in the chaos resulting from the absence of Bruce Wayne as Batman.
Collected editions
The story has been collected into a single volumeTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
in both hardcover and softcover formats. This volume includes the "Three Ghosts of Batman" arc. It covers issues 655-658 and 663-666 of the Batman comic.
- Batman & Son (200 pages, hardcover, August 2007, ISBN 1-4012-1240-9, softcover, July 2008, ISBN 1-4012-1241-7)