warning: contains spoilers for Batman #107
The recent changes in Gotham have forced Batman to adapt and overhaul his approach to crime fighting, and while much has changed for the Dark Knight, the Bat-Signal isn’t going away. One of the most iconic devices in all superhero lore still has a place in the Caped Crusader's operations.
After the events of Joker War, which included Bruce Wayne losing his fortune, all aspects of Batman’s war on crime have been in a state of fluctuation, reassessment, and rebirth. The Batcave has been replaced by mini-caves located around the city. Damian Wayne has resigned as Robin and returned to the League of Shadows, and Barbara Gordon is once again operating primarily as Oracle. The Batmobile has been downgraded to a more low-tech option. Gotham’s police force is now more hostile to the Dark Knight now that Mayor Nakano’s “no vigilante” policy has once again made Batman an outlaw in the eyes of the GCPD. This leaves the Bat-Signal, famously located on the roof of GCPD Headquarters, in need of a new home.
Oracle still needs a way to get in contact with Batman when he’s not on radio and comes up with new protocols for the iconic Bat-Signal. In Batman #107 by James Tynion IV and Jorge Jiménez, Batman learns Barbara Gordon has been working on a new signal and creating plans on how to use it. There would be around a dozen different Bat-Signals on Gotham rooftops, and each signal would be moved after a single use to keep the pattern from being predictable. She states that “A” Gordon will meet Batman, wherever the appropriate signal is to relay the necessary information, insinuating the former Commissioner James Gordon could also still be involved. In addition to making sure the Bat-Signal still functions as an invaluable tool for Batman to defend Gotham, Oracle is fully aware that as a symbol, it strikes fear into criminals and provides hope to those who still see Batman as a champion.
The new Bat-Signals will hopefully prevent police from anticipating Batman’s whereabouts and end the occurrence of villains using the signal for their own purposes. There could even be situations where a Bat-Signal is used to direct the GCPD or criminals away from Batman’s true location, allowing him to retreat or emerge from a hidden mini-cave. Batman and Commissioner Gordon used the Bat-Signal in clever ways in the past. Batman noticing it's tilted at the wrong angle could reveal an imposter using the signal. Even if a signal is discovered on a rooftop, Batman would likely be aware if it’s being used by an enemy before he approached, still having a tactical advantage. In a world full of digital communications, radios, and phones, the Bat-Signal remains an indispensable resource to the Dark Knight.
GCPD’s new commissioner, Renee Montoya, is unlikely to build a similar working relationship James Gordon and Batman had developed, especially while Mayor Nakano’s anti-vigilante policies are in place. Batman has worked without the support of the police before. However, now that Barbara Gordon has resumed duties as Oracle, she’s making sure Batman doesn’t have to work without the support the Bat-Signal provides.