The entire landscape of the DC Universe is about to change, with a brand new Batman stepping into the role. But even if the world believes Bruce Wayne is dead, the billionaire hero is continuing his war for Gotham in a brand new role as DC's new Dark Detective.

It takes a special event or twist to truly remove Bruce Wayne from his cape and cowl, and so far the entire DC Future State event seems to fit the bill. Leaping years into the future of the DC Comics universe, new heroes are carrying on the legacies of those who came before, as the most immortal Justice Leaguers find themselves in completely new territory. For Superman, it's a 'Planet Hulk' gladiator adventure. For Bruce Wayne, it's the realization that saving Gotham City requires his own death... so he may be reborn with a new look and mission Future State: Dark Detective.

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The initial announcement for the Future State line-up made little mention of Batman, besides confirming the star of The Next Batman would be a new hero taking the title. However, the artwork and tie-in comics also included an unfamiliar hero--muscular, grizzled, bloodied, ferocious, and wearing a stripped down and spray-painted set of Batsuit armor. No clues were offered to the identity of this mysteriously connected 'Dark Detective,' instead focusing onthe villainous 'Magistrate' that rises to turn Gotham into a police state. But even their attempts to kill Batman fail, according to the new solicitation details for Future State: Dark Detective confirming Bruce is the one in the brand new role. Take a look at the first two covers for the miniseries, as well as the new plot details for Future State: Dark Detective #1#2 below:

Batman Dark Detective Comic Cover 1

FUTURE STATE: DARK DETECTIVE #1

  • “Dark Detective” written by MARIKO TAMAKI
  • “Dark Detective” art by DAN MORA
  • “Grifter” written by MATTHEW ROSENBERG
  • “Grifter” art by CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO
  • cover by DAN MORA
  • card stock variant cover by JOHN PAUL LEON
  • ON SALE 1/12/21
  • $5.99 US | 48 PAGES | 1 OF 4 | FC | DC
  • The world thought Bruce Wayne was dead. They were dead wrong! When the sinister para-military organization known as the Magistrate seizes control of Gotham City, the original Batman went big to put them down...but even the Dark Knight couldn’t predict how far this evil force would go to stop him. Now, Bruce Wayne is on the run! From Eisner Award-winning writer Mariko Tamaki and rising star artist Dan Mora, it’s the story of a Batman pushed to the brink—with nothing left to lose.
  • Also in this issue, Grifter is back! Cole Cash is having a bad day, and that’s not going to improve when the detectives of the GCPD show up! Will a chance meeting with Luke Fox change his luck? Or is his day about to get a lot worse?
Batman Dark Detective Comic Cover 2

FUTURE STATE: DARK DETECTIVE #2

  • “Dark Detective” written by MARIKO TAMAKI
  • “Dark Detective” art by DAN MORA
  • “Red Hood” written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
  • “Red Hood” art by GIANNIS MILONOGIANNIS
  • cover by DAN MORA
  • card stock variant cover by GABRIELLE DELL’OTTO
  • ON SALE 1/26/21
  • $5.99 US | 48 PAGES | 2 OF 4 | FC | DC
  • Bruce Wayne is supposed to be dead...but this Dark Detective is on the run and shining a light on the mystery of his own “murder”: How did the killers know Bruce Wayne was Batman? As the forces of the Magistrate zero in on Bruce’s location, it’s a race against time to unlock the secrets of their surveillance tech and take the fight to the very top! But is the knowledge that Bruce’s own legacy helped to enable the greatest authoritarian force the city of Gotham has ever seen too much to bear?
  • Also in this issue, Jason Todd is a haunted man. He’s working a job he hates on the violent streets of Gotham City as a mask hunter for the Magistrate! He takes contracts to catch villains—or heroes—and brings them in alive—mostly. But when the Red Hood gang reemerges, Jason must solve a mystery that could doom the city.

The confirmation of Bruce Wayne's fall from the title of Batman (permanent or not) isn't the only surprise revealed in DC's solicitations. For weeks now, Batman writer James Tynion has been teasing a big change in the modern era, as the city's residents finally started to see Batman as a threat to Gotham, not its savior. So while the Magistrate's decision to eliminate Batman and claim Gotham makes sense, the question is now just how this group solved one of DC's biggest mysteries: who is the Batman? And the far more believable, yet just as intriguing question: how did Bruce Wayne's love of surveillance lay the groundwork for Gotham's subjugation?

Expect to find out these answers as the Dark Detective, the Red Hood, Grifter and that brand new Batman arrive as part of DC's Future State in the new year. Future State: Dark Detective #1 will be available wherever comic books are sold on January 12th, 2021.

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