Who would be the Anti-Batman? Would it be the Joker? Batman is methodical and calculated, predictable even. He has a Bat-cave, drives the Bat-mobile, and throws Batarangs. On the flip side Joker is wild and crazy, unpredictable, but still has Joker gas and likes to make people “smile”. But what if there was an Anti-Batman? One more like the character in Nemesis by Mark Millar? Could Batman #38 be leading up to this? Most certainly there is a new character introduced in Batman #38. But will this lead up to a new villain?
Read on for spoilers. There are no pictures and the text is not redacted. Read on only if you don’t mind spoilers.
Batman #38 has a FOC date of today. (It has a regular cover and a Olivier Coipel B cover, that is pretty incredible.) This means this is the last chance for retailers to adjust their orders before the order window closes. After that, they will have to compete with other retailers to grab copies on Advance Reorder. This could lead to allocations meaning some stores will not get as many as they would like from Advance Reorder. Tom King tweeted out back on November 21st that this is his first new character and will build to something bigger, so one of our questions have been answered. Yes, this is the first appearance of a character who will be a major villain.
So let’s get on with the spoilers.
First and foremost, the story is called the Origin of Bruce Wayne. We know the origin of Bruce Wayne as he has been around for a couple of years now, give it take a few reboots, deaths, resurrections, and broken backs. The character that they are revealing the origin of is a young rich boy named Matthew. We meet him and his butler Taylor, who calls Matthew “Master Bruce” oddly enough.
Bruce Wayne is meeting with Matthew, because like Bruce, Matthew’s parents have been murdered. Bruce gives his normal pep talk and then moves on to his alter ego to investigate the death. First it looks like Zzasz is to blame, then moves on to other suspects.
Other killings happen and they also mimic other villains of Batman. Batman seems to be one step behind whomever is doing the killings.
Finally, while in bed with Catwoman, Bruce figures it out. He goes to confront the killer, Matthew, and gets an explanation. Seems that Matthew really wants to be Bruce Wayne, in all aspects. He had his butler, Taylor, help him. Taylor was in it to assume control of the family fortune.
The creepy twist ending is Matthew is carted off in a straight jacket to a cell. He is told he is just a sick kid with dead parents. Matthew retorts, “Yes, but what else is Bruce Wayne?”
So there we have it. Batman #38 sets up a major new villain, one as smart and with the resources of Batman. So, will he be the anti-Batman? We will need to wait and see him in costume though.
25 thoughts on “Spoilers: Is Batman #38 Leading Up To an Anti-Batman?”
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As long as we don’t call him “Anti-Batman”.. could be sort of cool new villain.
So no costume for the new villian in this issue?
Whether or not its still a solid first appearance.
It is a solid first appearance. He appears on multiple pages. We need to see who he turns into.
Nope.
I was just thinking that we needed another Batman. Haha
Always be yourself. If you cannot be yourself be Batman. (Or something like that)
Which is the better cover to buy?
Getting both, then I won’t have to decide. Maybe buy an extra Coipel for PC!
Both.
Buy both, but Cover A will always be long term winner if and when books heat up.
Thanks everyone.
I’ll probably pick up a couple of each cover, just to be safe.
Thanks for the heads up on this.. by the way the Olivier Coipel you have linked above is a broken link
Hmm will check it.
Yeah, I couldn’t HREF today. It is fixed now.
May be sold out on TFAW.
Books that were pre-ordered will show up as “Sold Out” but they’re not theoretically sold out yet, just ordering has been cut off. Midtown does the same thing for previews orders after they can no longer place such orders.
he needs a better name then the anti batman. however this is #awesomesauce and can everyone in this heating up family do me a favor. please donate $1-5 to this familya nd this brave young girl? they need help prayers and positive vibes
blind adam the comicpimp out
https://www.gofundme.com/6ssjvf-gretchens-medical-fund?utm_content=buffer02419&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
That’s what I have been calling him.
How is he going to be a costumed villain for Batman if he’s just a kid? a Robin villain sure but an Anti-Batman kinda has to be something of an equal to Batman. Deathstroke, Bane, Wrath, Prometheus, Owlman are all in their own different ways Batman’s equals. He cant be a dark twin if he’s just a child and besides he seems more of an Anti Bruce Wayne like Hush, Penguin or Black Mask than an Anti-Batman.
Anti-Batman in the way he has a similar back story that took him down a very different path.
Cover A sold out at midtown,
Who is that little kid on cover A ? lol
Tommy, the boy who will be the Anti-Batman most likely.