Batman (Earth-Two)

Superherobox


caption = "Adventure Comics" #462. Art by Joe Staton.
character_name = Batman
publisher = DC Comics
debut = "Justice League of America" #82 (1970)(retroactively stated to have originally appeared in "Detective Comics" #27, 1939)
creators = Dennis O'Neil and Dick Dillin
Based on Batman, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger
alter_ego = Bruce Wayne
full_name =
species =
homeworld =
alliances=Batman Family Justice Society of America All-Star Squadron Gotham City Police Department
aliases =
supports=
powers = Genius-level intelligence, master detective, peak human physical condition, martial arts master, escapologist, expert ventriloquist, access to high tech equipment.

The Batman of Earth-Two is a parallel version of the fictional DC Comics superhero, who was introduced after DC Comics created Earth-Two, a parallel world that was retroactively established as the home of characters which had been published in the Golden Age of comic books. This allowed creators to publish Batman comic books while being able to disregard Golden Age stories, solving an incongruity, as Batman had been published as a single ongoing incarnation since inception.

The character history of the Earth-Two Batman accordingly adopts all of the earliest stories featuring the character from the 1930s and 1940s, while the adventures of the mainstream Batman and the Silver Age Batman (who lived on "Earth-One") begin later in time and with certain elements of his origin retold. Each were depicted as separate, though parallel, individuals living in their respective universes, with the "older" Earth-Two character eventually reaching his retirement and death.

Fictional character biography

Childhood and early history

Batman's origin and history begins the same as the classic version except the timeframe occurs when the "Detective Comics" #27 was originally printed: 1939. Most of the events surrounding his formative years are the same, but earlier.

*Bruce Wayne was born in Gotham circa 1915-1916. [Comic book reference| Story = Secret Origins Starring the Golden Age Batman| Title = Secret Origins| Volume = 2|Issue = 6| Date = (Sept 1986)| Publisher = DC Comics]
*Bruce's parents were killed when he was eight years old by Joe Chill, in 1924. [Comic book reference| Story = Secret Origins Starring the Golden Age Batman| Title = Secret Origins| Volume = 2|Issue = 6| Date = (Sept 1986)| Publisher = DC Comics] Alfred Pennyworth, a later creation, did not raise him. They met for the first time after Batman had already met Robin (and in fact, this version of Alfred was Alfred Beagle, which was kept for the Earth-Two distinction).
*After a period of training, a young Bruce Wayne becomes Batman. His first printed story is "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate", [Comic book reference| Story = The Case of the Chemical Syndicate| Title = Detective Comics| Issue = 27| Date = (May 1939)| Publisher = DC Comics] although story content implies that this was not his first mission.
*Bruce Wayne meets eight-year-old Dick Grayson, following the murder of his parents. Grayson eventually takes the identity of Robin. [Comic book reference| Story = Robin the Boy Wonder| Title = Detective Comics| Issue = 38| Date = (Apr 1940)| Publisher = DC Comics]
*Superman and Batman become lifelong friends. Unlike the antagonistic friendship of their modern incarnations, they get along right away and have many team ups. Along with Kal-L, Batman participates in the Justice Society and the war-time only All Star Squadron.
*Batman dies in 1979. [Comic book reference| Story = Only Legends Live Forever!| Title = Adventure Comics| Volume = 1| Issue = 462| Date = (Mar 1979)| Publisher = DC Comics]

Divergence with Earth-One

At the dawn of the Silver Age of comics, DC Comics decided to reimagine several of their greatest superheroes. The Flash and Green Lantern were reimagined as Barry Allen [Comic book reference| Story = Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt!| Title = Showcase| Volume = 1| Issue = 4| Date = (Sept/Oct 1956)| Publisher = DC Comics] and Hal Jordan. [Comic book reference| Story = SOS Green Lantern!| Title = Showcase| Volume = 1| Issue = 22| Date = (Sept/Oct 1959)| Publisher = DC Comics] Superman and Batman were different and remained untouched. It was later revealed that the current heroes live on a parallel world to the Golden Age heroes. When Barry Allen met Jay Garrick, [Comic book reference| Story = Flash of Two Worlds!| Title = The Flash| Volume = 1| Issue = 123| Date = (Sept 1961)| Publisher = DC Comics] it meant there were two Flashes, two Green Lanterns, two Supermen, and two Batmen. Since Batman and Superman were the same, the divergence between the characters was their age.

Eventually, Batman ages to the point that he retires. During his post vigilante career, he becomes the police commissioner of Gotham City. The Batman legacy is carried on by an adult Dick Grayson who never becomes Nightwing instead retaining the identity of Robin. Eventually, Wayne would marry Catwoman, Selina Kyle. They have a daughter, Helena Wayne, the Huntress. [First appearance: Comic book reference| Story = Divided We Stand!| Title = All Star Comics| Volume = 1| Issue = 68| Date = (Sept/Oct 1977)| Publisher = DC Comics] Wayne was eventually coaxed out of retirement for one last mission as Batman, where he ultimately perished. [Comic book reference| Story = Only Legends Live Forever!| Title = Adventure Comics| Volume = 1| Issue = 462| Date = (Mar 1979)| Publisher = DC Comics]

In the limited series "Crisis on Infinite Earths", the Anti-Monitor destroys most universes, reducing the universe to the anti-matter universe and a single positive matter universe. Earth-Two "never existed" in this new universe's history, which retroactively removes the Earth-Two Batman from history, blending elements of his past with that the Earth-One Batman's, effectively creating a Batman with a new modern continuity.Comic book reference| Story = Final Crisis| Title = Crisis on Infinite Earths| Issue = 12| Date = (Mar 1986)| Publisher = DC Comics] [Comic book reference| Story = The End of the Beginning| Title = All-Star Squadron| Issue = 60| Date = (Aug 1986)| Publisher = DC Comics]

One Year Later

During "Infinite Crisis", senior members of the Justice Society regain some memories of Earth-Two's previous existence. One year later, when the Gentleman Ghost later attacks the JSA using powers of limited control over the spirits of the dead, Jakeem Thunder and the Thunderbolt are assisted in battle by the spirits of various deceased JSA members and allies, including the Batman of Earth-Two. Although Jakeem is confused by his presence, noting that Batman "isn't" dead, the Thunderbolt tells him not to worry about it. [Comic book reference| Story = ...The Living Must Answer| Title = JSA| Issue = 85| Date = (Jul 2006)| Publisher = DC Comics]

References

ee also

*All-Star Squadron
*"America vs. The Justice Society" -- miniseries in which Batman (through his diary, discovered post-mortem) accuses the JSA of committing treason during World War II
*Golden Age Robin
*Golden Age Catwoman
*Huntress (Helena Wayne)
*Justice Society of America
*Multiverse (DC Comics)
*Superman (Kal-L)