The future of Gotham City is changing in the pages of DC Comics. And if Batman thought the city was already halfway to Hell, its new shocking fate is literally worse than anything Bruce Wayne ever thought possible. Luckily, he won’t live to see it.
In Batman’s New Future, Joker Finally Succeeded in Killing Gotham City
DC K.O. Knightfight #2 by Josh Williamson, Dan Mora, Triona Farrell
The horrible new vision for Batman’s hometown arrives courtesy of DC K.O. Knightfight #2, the brutal curse currently being lived through by Bruce Wayne. After being killed in the DC K.O. tournament, Bruce is facing some punishment for trying to cheat the cosmic game. First, he was sent into a futuristic version of Gotham City to witness Dick Grayson’s victory in the war on crime… after Bruce killed the rest of his sons.
The journey continues in Issue #2 by thrusting Bruce Wayne into a cell within Arkham Asylum, in the midst of an interrogation by Batman. That is, the version of the hero Jason Todd grows up to be. And while Jason Todd’s Batsuit is a genius redesign, Bruce nevertheless attacks his captor to make an escape onto the rooftops of Gotham City. Which reveals the horrifying twist of this new reality.
In a particularly poetic version of history repeating itself, Gotham City now finds itself “under a red hood.” Jason explains that in his past, Gotham fell when Joker unleashed irradiated gas on the entire population. The civilians were evacuated, but the attack killed both Joker and Bruce, and doomed Gotham City to a ghost life beneath a gas-containing dome. And who better to forsake their future and stay behind to guard the walls than Jason Todd, the Red Hood?
Red Hood Transformed Into The Batman, Over 20 Years Alone
In The End, Replacing Bruce Made Jason More Alone Than Ever
This shocking future is only briefly revealed before the issue’s end, saving Bruce’s full showdown against Batman for the coming issue (as the new Clayface. Long story). But no matter what happens, the silence of a Gotham City truly emptied of all its residents, and poisoned to never be occupied again is the darkest turn Bruce Wayne’s mission could possibly take.
For those who love these heroes, it’s already enough to hear Jason claim that he thinks about the family he lost every single day, patrolling Gotham for two decades, all by himself. Creating a new fear for Bruce to exploit, while reminding fans who wished to see Jason rise to the cowl… to be more careful what they wish for.
DC K.O. Knightfight #2 is available now from DC Comics.
- Created By
-
Bob Kane, Bill Finger
- Alias
-
Bruce Wayne
- Alliance
-
Justice League, Outsiders, Batman Family
- Race
-
Human
- Franchise
-
D.C.