Warning! Spoilers for Batman: Urban Legends #11
It has been revealed that Batman has a reason for why Ace the Bat-Hound isn’t called “Bat-Dog.” Fans are right to assume that Bruce Wayne is clever enough to similarly think of a better name than “Bat Car” for the Batmobile, but there’s also a practical purpose for Ace’s alter ego.
The Super Pets of the DC Universe have frequently been overlooked and neglected in favor of their owners on the Justice League. From Superman’s Krypto and Streaky to Ace the Bat-Hound, the World’s Finest have their own impressive animal counterparts. Although some have reflected on the pets’ creation as silly, as they were initially intended to sell more comics to young readers, Krypto and Ace have had modern reinventions that connect with fans. Recently, Ace the Bat-Hound appeared in Batman: Urban Legends #11 which features a story titled “Hounded,” written by Mark Russell with art by Karl Mostert.
When a thug is bitten by Ace the Bat-Hound, he shouts “Bat-Dog,” assuming it to be the name the canine responds to. However, it only makes Ace more aggressive as Batman reveals that he thinks the criminal is calling him “a bad dog.” As the Dark Knight tries to offer a helpful suggestion to the guy crying out in pain from Ace’s bite, he reveals there’s a purpose behind his dog’s name. He could have easily called him Bat-Dog, but knowing that Ace hears “bad dog” instead, he opted for Bat-Hound. “Don’t call him that. He thinks you’re saying ‘bad dog.’"
The redesigned Ace rightly strikes fear in the heart of criminals, as seen in the issue. The German Shepard reveals his fangs, growling with an intense look in his eyes. The man grabs his arm to stop the bleeding, showing the level of pain that Ace can inflict when he isn’t called by his proper name, Bat-Hound. The only thing that would make it better would be for the Dark Knight to reassure Ace that he’s a good dog.
Based on the man’s unawareness of Ace’s name, it seems that Batman has kept his dog a secret from Gotham City. It’s probably for Bat-Hound’s best interest that the Gotham Underworld doesn’t know about the threat he brings. However, if Batman’s fans knew about Ace, he might steal the spotlight from the Dark Knight. Batman: Urban Legends #11 is available for purchase now.