Warning! Contains spoilers for Batman/Spawn #1!It looks like Batman has seriously acknowledged the fact that his work as Gotham's number one vigilante might just be a fruitless endeavor. In Batman/Spawn #1, Bruce faces off against the Court of Owls and reveals why they, and he, will never change Gotham.
After losing his parents at a young age, Bruce Wayne made a vow to become the hero his city desperately needed and keep it safe from criminal elements like the kind that killed the Waynes. Bruce traveled the world and amassed a set of skills that turned him into one of the best fighters in the DC Universe. He brought those skills, along with the best weaponry he could fashion, and became a figure that could combat the darkness that prevailed in Gotham. However, the longer Batman fought, the more his city was plagued by newer and deadlier enemies that never seemed to stop challenging him.
And one recent admission from Gotham's beloved protector makes it seem like he knows deep down he'll never be able to save his city. In Batman/Spawn #1 by Todd McFarlane and Greg Capullo, the titular heroes have formed a tentative partnership in order to take down the nefarious Court of Owls. After gathering the necessary information, the two head to Arkham Asylum where a Talon waits for the duo. Spawn engages with the assassin, and while he does a great job of keeping him at bay, the Talon manages to overwhelm the vigilante and threatens to kill him. In response, Batman arm a trigger to release the cells of the Asylum and every killer rogue contained within. Batman tells the assassin that he and the Court of Owls will never win because the villains will always stand in their way.
Batman is Admitting The Villains Have Already Won?
It’s a pretty candid admission to hear Batman say his villains have such a control over Gotham. But it’s also not the most surprising thing to hear. After all, no matter how much time and effort Bruce has spent trying to clean up Gotham, the antagonists never seem to stop. From recurring threats like the Joker or Riddler to newbie bad guys, Batman has his hands full just trying to keep Gotham stable. He may be devoted to his mission, but it looks like Bruce is well aware he’s fighting a losing battle.
No one knows how troubled Gotham is the way that Bruce does. In his war on crime, Batman has realized that his city is practically cursed by the numerous threats it has encountered over the years. But if that’s the case, why go on fighting? Because he made a solemn vow to fight against the darkness and keep the tragedies that happened to him from happening to anyone else. It’s a noble cause, but one that even Batman knows in his heart of hearts may ultimately be an exercise in futility.