Warning: contains a preview for Batman #121!
In a new preview for DC Comics' Batman, it's teased that Batman doesn't even trust the team he personally assembled. While the Dark Knight hasn't been very involved with Batman Inc. in recent years, the global network of heroes does still exist. However, it seems as though they've joined forces with the dark foe known as Abyss, agreeing to help him kill Lex Luthor in this upcoming issue. However, it's also teased that the Dark Knight may have contingency plans prepared for Batman Inc. just like he does with the Justice League.
In previous issues of Batman, the Dark Knight discovered that several members of Batman Inc. had been arrested for the murder of Abyss in the country of Badhnisia. Not only that, Lex Luthor was revealed to be their new financial backer after Batman left the team and lost his wealth as Bruce Wayne during The Joker War. However, Abyss' murder was all a setup. The real Abyss was revealed to still be alive, with Batman Inc. being in league with the new foe, having all agreed to end Luthor once and for all.
Naturally, Batman is standing in his old team's way in the new preview for Batman #121 from Joshua Williamson, Jorge Molina, and Mikel Janín. After fighting his former allies in the previous issue, it certainly looks as though there won't be any room for negotiation. However, Batman does give out a voice command at the preview's end, suggesting that he may have a contingency plan to take Batman Inc. down. If so, he must have put it in place back when he was leading the team of heroes he brought together, proving that his distrust and paranoia know no bounds. Enjoy the previews pages and synopsis for the upcoming issue:
THE ABYSS, FINALE / THEY MAKE GREAT PETS, PART 3 - The deadly conclusion to the "Abyss" arc as Lex Luthor's dangerous master plan for Batman Inc. is revealed. And an old ally returns to pull the lost Batman out of Abyss's darkness and a new member of Batman Inc. rises! In the final chapter of "They Make Great Pets," Maps finds the missing piece to the shocking and deadly mystery...with a little help from Batman!
While there's currently no telling what sort of response Batman's "Club of Heroes" code will illicit or activate, it would be fairly outrageous if Batman Inc. somehow becomes incapacitated as a result. Batman is undoubtedly a mistrusting person who has plans to take out every member of the Justice League should they turn evil or be controlled by some sinister force. While it makes a certain degree of sense based on his character, the Dark Knight would certainly reach new levels of paranoia if it's revealed that he also has contingencies prepared to take down Batman Inc. They're a group of heroes who Batman recruited, vetted, trained, and led himself, so why wouldn't he trust them back when they first started?
Despite their belief that he abandoned and ignored them in the present, perhaps Batman has a hero on the inside who's been keeping tabs on Batman Inc. Maybe he went the Suicide Squad route and secretly implanted chips in their bodies which he's now activating to take them down. While either would be pretty bleak and dark, the possibility does exist that Batman Inc. has simply been playing the long game and are still heroes, waiting on Bruce command to take down Abyss. Fans will know soon enough when the full Batman #121 releases on March 1.