#Batman: Earth One

[tuxxydo]

Escaped the hell of Suicide Squad (2016) and read Batman: Earth One. Seeing good and genuine characterization for Waylon brings me joy. i can breathe again.

[kettlefire]

Prepare for the unexpected. (DPxDC)

Everyone knew about the reign of Pariah Dark. Even those who did not dabble in those realms have heard the tale of the tyrant. A power-hungry man who ruled over the dead with an iron fist.

Following the rise of Pariah Dark, his realm had been effectively cut off from communication. Many mystics and magic users knew better than to open the door of nightmares that could arise if Pariah Dark's reach went further than his own realm.

Except, the universe had plans to bring the realm of the dead back into the cards.

A new opponent, one that had all of Earth's heroes scrambling for options. A being with powers of a god over weather, destruction was on the horizon. A world ending threat.

It's the only reason the Justice League was doing this. In a deep bunker, far from close civilization as a precaution, the heroes looked on with grim expressions.

The world was already being threatened. It would be destroyed regardless of what the league did. So it only made sense to make the last ditch effort. To summon someone strong enough to defeat the threat.

No one wanted to do it. No one wanted to be the one to pull the realm of the dead back to the living. The consequences were untold if this succeeded. If Pariah Dark was freed and defeated the threat, whose to say he won't want control?

That was a problem for later. For the aftermath. For now, the league could only watch on with bated breath as Constantine completely the summon ritual.

They watched on as the shadows in the room seemed to darken and grow. As the sigil sputtered to life with a glow that was growing increasingly brighter. A sudden gust of wind rushed through the room, the temperature began to drop with eaching ticking second.

And then it was all gone.

The room stood perfectly still. Just as it had been moments before. Nothing changed. No giant king standing before them, no sign that the ritual worked.

The room stood deadly still for another beat before the murmurs started. The team trying to make sense of the situation, figure out what went wrong.

Constantine swore up and down that this was the correct ritual, taking offense that they would even think the problem was on his end. It only made it better when it finally happened.

A loud sound ripped through the room, pulling everyone's attention back to the summoning circle. Just in time to see a tear appear in the space above the circle.

A thin tear that ran the length of eight feet. The fabric of the dimension seems to curl at the edges, pulling back to reveal a deep glowing swirl of greens. A dark gloved hand reached through, fingers curling around the edge of the tear, stretching it even further.

A portal. The ritual had worked, but there had been a delay. A delay that had every hero nerves on edge. Each team member tensed, weapons at the ready as they watched the being stretch the portal to the right size.

Then, a foot stepped out with a heavy thud. A dark boot that looked otherworldly despite its similarity to mortal clothing. A deep black that seemed never-ending. A second foot quickly followed before a full body emerged from the portal.

Not many people in the room have ever seen Pariah Dark, let alone know what to expect. Based on what Constantine and Zatara had said, this wasn't Pariah Dark.

A man had stepped out of the portal, standing at almost seven feet tall, and built like a brick house. One glance at the glowing white hair, deadly red eyes, and shard teeth was enough to know this being was not to be messed with.

But there was no giant show of armor or royal garbs. There is no large crown at the top of his head or jewelry from the infinite realms laced around his neck.

Instead, the man stood before them in combat boots, worn-in ripped jeans, a graphic t-shirt, and a spiked leather jacket. Despite his almost normal clothing choice, the man's jacket seemed to be a never-ending depth of the dark night sky. If one was to look closely enough, the cosmos could almost be made out in the sea of darkness.

None of that would have prepared them for when the man spoke. His tone sounded more bored than anything as he took a step forward.

"Oh, so now you need the help of the dead." The man had spoken, running a hand through his hair. When Batman took a step forward to speak, the man raised a hand. Immediately commanding silence in the single gesture. "I'm on babysitting duty and have yet to have a cup of coffee. I'll be right back."

Just like that, both the man and portal vanished into thin air. Leaving behind a group of stunned heroes. Not only was the man not Pariah Dark, but he was also supposedly babysitting.

"Did that just-"

The Flash had been the first voice to speak up, his eyes trained on where the man had once stood. Except he had barely made it through the first few words before the man was suddenly back.

The man that now had a child hanging off his shoulders and another teen being held up by his scruff. Unlike the man, these kids looked human.

Too human for Bruce's liking. The dark black hair and bright blue eyes had every heroes eyes flickering to Batman for just the briefest moment.

"This isn't fair! I'm not even the king. Why do I have to be here!" The teenager had been complaining the moment the man had reappeared. Arms crossed tight over his chest and seemingly used to being held dangling. "Besides, who brings kids to a show down! Wait til I tell mom about this."

"Aw, come on, Danny. This is gonna be fun!!" The younger girl seemed in much better spirits than the teen, Danny. She had climbed up the large man, sitting on his shoulders and resting her arms on the mess of glowing hair. "It's like take your kids to work day! Ooo, Dan! Can we fight too!?"

Unlike the two kids, the man looked purely exhausted and annoyed. The man, Dan, dropped Danny like a sack of potatoes as he took a long drink from the travel cup in his hand.

It didn't take a genius to recognize the look of an exhausted parent in Dan's expression. A look many of the league members were well acquainted to. A look that even had Batman grimacing with sympathy.

"Can it, little shits. You two were grounded, remember." Dan had growled at the kids before shifting his focus back on the team of heroes before them. His glowing eyes set in a deadly glare. "Pariah Dark isn't coming, and he never will. He's been dethroned and banished. We're the best you've got."

A summoning that started with a group of on edge and scared heroes looking for the ghost king, ended in a way no one expected.

No one was even sure if it made any sense. They weren't sure if they should feel hopeful or in despair.

Because truly, what was a ghostly man with two seemingly human children against a godlike foe with the control over the weather?

The unspoken question of power and ability seemed to vanish following Dan downing the metal travel cup of coffee, and crushing it in his fist.

He tossed it to the side, straighting up his posture as he looked over the heroes. Dan might not be a hero, but he's been playing family for too long.

An almost feral, bloodhungry grin spread across the man's face, sharp fangs on full display. The look made the man suddenly look even less human. He looked closer to a demon from the pits of hell rather than the exhausted parent he looked just a few seconds ago.

"Point me in the direction of this bastard. It's been too long since I let loose and had some fun."

[phantoms-world-and-more]

Danny declared war

Its been years since danny took the throne and he's had enough

It started small like the GIW started shooting at the less aggressive ghosts, then it escalated to attacking non-fighting ghosts

6 months ago they started to focus more on capturing the ghosts then getting them away

3 months ago he discovered they were hunting for natural portals to the ghost zone

1 month ago he was able to locate the ghosts that were taken and being held

1 week ago he and other ghost made a rescue mission

And less than an hour ago danny watched what those...MONSTERS...they called HUMAN did to them...to HIS people

Theres alot he could do in this situation, he could call all the ghosts back, close all the portals, cut connections to the mortal world...

But he won't

His people never did anything wrong, and this is the last straw

.

.

.

The JL were in a panic

Things that looked like Lazarus pits started showing up all around the world, and creatures came out, they attacked government buildings and made as much damage they could

Then they took positions

Some were going back into the Lazarus pits carrying things and others stayed at the buildings

Others took off in different direction with no connection, they went to a place, sat down and appeared to be waiting

They sent members to deal with them, some to talk, some to fight and some to capture

All of them havent been heard off since

They were about to make a public statement when the biggest Lazarus pit so far appeared where all the press were waiting

It was covered in black armour with a glowing blade, and was followed by someone smaller than him, he had a green crown of flames, white hair and looked deathly pale

He called himself phantom,

Thats when everyone got an explanation

Phantom broadcasted footage of similar lookign creatures being vivisected, shot, burned, tourchered, and...people were doing it

It let everyone hear how the people though it was FUNNY, their pain their screams...everything

It lasted for 30 minutes of eveyone watching different videos of people expermenting and tourchering them

Then phantom spoke

Spoke of how his people have been hurt and hunted too long, told them the facility's have been distroyed, gesturing to the frozen and distroyed buildings, and how the GIW was a government founded division designed to hunt and experment on his kind

And he's had enough

He said he took the experimentation and capture of his people was a declaration of war between them

.

.

.

Batman was of the opinion that earth was fucked

They were now in a war THEY initiated with beings thay have no solid or reliable information of

Oh and over half the league that was dispatched is still missing

[bruciemilf]

People don’t understand the potential of Thomas Wayne Junior and Mario Falcone. BUT they have to be portrayed like this specifically

Also they should have a “childhood friends to pining idiots to exes who never dated to enemies to friends again to married couple who’s not married to lovers” dynamic.

Bruce 100% based Matches on Mario. I like to imagine he was the tiny weird kid on the block and Mario’s brotherly instincts wouldn’t let Alberto’s ONE friend get pushed around.

Thomas Wayne to Alfred: I like that boy, good fitness

Alfred who saw him climb up TJ’s window at least four times this week: You couldn’t be more right, sir

[jayzelnut]

Commission for @this-was-a-terrible-idea

Women :))

[puppetmaster13u]

Prompt 299

Hear me out- Ghosts have wings. They have wings, which are affected by their cores, and can make them disappear from sight if they want or need to. You got that? Good. 

Ecto-contaminated people? Don’t have wings. Liminals and Halfas, who have developed cores? Do have wings, and they can’t hide said wings, because unlike ghosts? Their bodies are physical living flesh. 

Now Gotham? Ecto-contaminated, there’s no doubt about it. The amount of portals that have been opened there and death pits and death cults… yeah it’d be surprising if it wasn’t. But again, no one really notices, because at most? Most just get a bit of eyeshine. 

The Bats however? Oh man are they freaking out when they wake up with aches in their back and feathers starting to poke through their skin. Curse? Nope! Welcome to Liminality, enjoy the second puberty of wings, emotion-sharing, fangs, claws, and whatever else you might develop- also enjoy the whole eating fear thing. (Wait, the what-)

[neptunezo]

I have never seen so much fanfic premise in one movie (this is a lie but let me make my point)

I was watching Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths — Part One. and OH MY GOSH

Further down is spoilers btw

BUT SERIOUSLY?!?!? YOU WANT TO TELL ME HOW BATMAN AND SUPERMAN WERE JUST CASUALLY LIVING OUT SO MANY FANFIC PLOTS?!?!

Superman gets hurt and the only thing he can think of before potentially DYING is giving Barry and Ollie, Bruce’s address. THEN JUST PASSING OUT?!?!?

And Bruce is super skeptical at first but then see’s Clark passed out and demands they bring him in.

and Barry is like “he asked see you, so thanks for not being mad about this.” to which Bruce responds “who say I’m not mad?” Oh you’re mad alright, but not because your identity was discovered but because your boyfriend is about to die and he wasn’t careful!!!

and then Alfred just KNOWS what tea Clark likes??? Why do you, as a butler, know what type of tea another man likes???? If not for the fact that the man you work for is dating the tea man????

There were so many other small scenes just between the two that were so superbat coded im not entirely convinced that it’s not real

[bamboozled-distress]

obsessed with the tomorrowverse superbat because we’re seeing them in the eyes of the rest of the JL because why is the one person Superman thinks about when hes about to die that creepy looking cryptic, batman??? how and why do they know each others identity???? HOW are they this close??? why do they listen to each other so easily??? why is bruce getting princess treatment in warworld???

[redhoodinternaldialectical]

"Murder is Werewolves" - Batman

I don't got the SPOONS to do this thought train justice, I have seriously been trying to write this thing for MONTHS so just, idk, have this half baked skeletal outline of the essay I guess:

I don't believe that Batman's no-kill rule is primarily about rehabilitation or second chances.

His refusal to believe that Cassandra could have killed someone when she was eight years old because "how could a killer understand my commitment not to kill" is absolute fucking MOON LOGIC from a rehabilitationist standpoint. No jury on the planet would think for even a second that she could reasonably be held accountable for her actions in that situation! Her past cannot condemn her to being incapable of valuing human life under a rehabilitation centering framework. However, Batman's reasoning makes perfect sense if he believes that killing is a spiritually/morally corrupting act which permanently and fundamentally changes a person, and that corruption can never be fully undone.

Dick Grayson killing the Joker is treated both narratively and by Batman as an unequivocally WIN for the Joker. The Joker won by turning Nightwing into a killer. Note that this is during a comic in which the Joker transforming people was a major theme! Batman didn't revive the Joker because the Joker deserved to live; he revived the Joker to lift the burden on Dick.

His appeal to Stephanie when she tried to kill her dad is that she shouldn't ruin her own life. He gives no defense of Cluemaster's actual life. Granted this is a rhetorical strategy moment and should be taken with a generous pinch of salt, but it fits in the pattern.

When Jason becomes a willful killer, he essentially disowns him, never treats him with full trust ever again, and... Well, we can stop here for Bruce's sake. Bottom line is that his actions towards Jason do not lead me to believe that he thinks Jason can become a better person without having his autonomy taken from him, either partially or fully.

The Joker is, for better or worse, the ultimate symbol and vessel of pure, irredeemable evil in DC comics now. He hasn't been just another crook in a long time. He will never get better, he will only get worse. If you take it to be true that the Joker will not or can not rehabilitate, then there's no rehabilitationist argument against killing him.

Batman does not seem to consider it a possibly that he'll rehabilitate. Batman at several points seems to think that the Joker dying in a manner no one could have prevented would be good. Yet Batman fully believes that if he killed the Joker, he himself would become irredeemable.

Batman's own form of justice (putting people into the hospital and then prison) is fucking brutal and clearly not rehabilitative. He disrespects the most basic human rights of all criminals on a regular basis. It is genuinely really, really weird from a rehabilitationist standpoint that his only uncrossable line is killing... But it makes perfect sense if he cares more about not corrupting himself with the act of killing than the actual ethical results of any individual decision to kill or not kill.

In the real world cops are all bastards because they are too violent to criminals, even when that violence doesn't lead to death. Prison is a wildly evil thing to do to another human being, and you don't use it to steal away massive portions of a person's life if your goal is to rehabilitate them. In the comic world, Batman is said to be necessary because the corrupt cops are too nice to criminals and keep letting them out of jail. I don't know how to write a connector sentence there so like I hope you can see why this bothers me so damn much! That's just not forgiveness vibes there Batman!!

I want to make special note here of the transformative aspect. You don't simply commit a single act when you kill, no, you become a killer, like you might become a werewolf.

The narrative supports this a lot!

Why did Supes go evil during Injustice? He killed the Joker. Why did Bruce become the Batman Who Laughs? Bruce killed the Joker. Why was Jason Todd close to becoming a new Joker during Three Jokers? Because he killed people, to include the Joker.

Even if these notions of redemption being impossible aren't the whole of his reasoning (people never have only one reason for doing what they do) it is a distinct through-line pattern in his actions and reasoning, and it is directly at odds with notions of rehabilitation, redemption, and second chances.

So why does he give so many killers second chances?

Firstly because this doesn't apply to all versions of Batman. Some writers explicitly incorporate rehabilitation and forgiveness into his actions. You will be able to provide me with examples of this other through-line pattern if you go looking for them. The nature of comics is to be inconsistent.

Secondly the existence of that other pattern does not negate the existence of this one. People and characters are complex, and perfectly capable of holding two patterns of belief within themselves, even when they conflict to this degree. You can absolutely synthesize these two ideas into a single messy Batman philosophical vibescape.

Finally and most importantly to this essay: he has mercy on killers the same way that werewolf hunters sometimes have mercy on someone who is clearly struggling against their monsterous nature, especially if they were turned in exceptional circumstances or against their will. They understand that they are sick, damned beasts, cursed to always be fighting against themselves and the evil they harbor within. It is vitally kind to help them fight themselves by curtailing their autonomy in helpful ways and providing them with chances to do some good to make up for their eternal moral deficiency.

I think in many comics Batman views killers as lost souls. Battered and tormented monsters who must be pitied and given mercy wherever possible. (The connections to mental health, addiction, and rampant, horrifying ableism towards people struggling with both is unavoidable, but addressing it is sadly outside of the scope of this essay.)

Above all, the greatest care possible must be taken to never, ever let yourself become one of them, because once you have transformed the beast will forever be within you growing stronger.

To Batman, it is the most noble burden, the highest mercy, the most important commandment: Thou shalt suffer the monsters to live.

[robingivesmemagic]

showing off his teef hes proud none of em got knocked out this time lol

red mask alt cuz i think its a rlly cute idea but idk if it fits here... maybe it would help if i shaded my stuff more often >_<

[flashfuture]

Jason Todd as Robin ... the first time

[I previously addressed how before the original Crisis Jason Todd was introduced to the world.] The world being Earth One and this Jason Todd is much different to the Jason of New Earth who smacked Batman with a tire iron. He has red hair

But this is the tale of how Jason was awarded the title of Robin the first time around.

It begins with Dick Grayson. Wally West has just quit the Titans because he's losing his powers. And Dick has an announcement of his own.

(New Teen Titans vol 1 #39)

Dick has been Robin since he was 8 years old but he can't be Batman's kid partner forever. "Costume, you and I have gone through a Lot together. Sure hope your new wearer doesn't abuse you as much as I did." He already has a successor picked out of course

But Bruce is maybe not so on board not at first.

(Batman #363)

Jason is rather peeved he isn't allowed to do anything in this new place he's been put and reminds Alfred he can just go back to the circus

(Batman #363)

Still Jason sneaks out to assist Bruce with his Batmaning which is Not appreciated. Bruce realizing that maybe the orphan he took in at eight shouldn't have been fighting crime and trying to stop his new child actually makes So So much more sense than fired an adult Dick Grayson to protect him and then hired a twelve year old to replace him

(Batman #363)

Anyways Jason is pissed and makes a break for it back to the circus. "... Not every conversation with a clown in funny." hilarious narration and excellent unintentional foreshadowing

(Detective Comics #530)

Bruce realizes Jason ran away and is like 'Let's go get him back before the police realize we are almost kind of holding a child hostage. And by we I mean you Alfred okay bye.'

(Detective Comics #531)

Then after a fight that was with some lions and other evil villains this circus has a rough time. Bruce agrees Jason can have a chance at being his partner.

(Batman #366)

Jason is bored waiting around for Batman partner training and goes and fucks around in Dick's room.

(Batman #366)

What he found was evidently one of Dick's costumes and hair dye? So to note Jason dyed his own hair black just to prove himself nobody made him.

(Batman #366)

Anyways SUPER important because I'm so Mad they changed this and the fandom gets in a tizzy about it to this day. But Bruce was pissed Jason dressed up as Robin. "But at the very first opportunity, you will remove that costume. You had no right to wear it in the first place. Becoming my new parter is one thing...stealing someone else's very identity is another-- and one I won't allow." Bruce was incredibly protective of Dick's claim to Robin.

(Batman #367)

Just want to say Jason's first suggestion of an alternative sidekick name was "Ishmael"

(Batman #368)

Jason is listing out other names he could be called and Bruce doesn't like any of them.

(Batman #368)

But here comes Dick Grayson and he comes bearing gifts.

(Batman #368)

He has a suit and a name for Jason Todd to use happy to give permission while also pleased with Bruce's protectiveness.

(Batman #368)

Like this meant a whole lot to Bruce and Dick as well as Jason. Dick was nearly crying from Bruce's sincerity and gratefulness.

(Batman #368)

And now it's time for Dick Grayson to take his leave.

"So long, Robin. Be great."

[morninkim]

some goth dude in his 50s

capeless version under cut

[morgangalaxy43]

I want the Wayne be morally grey and have good intentions but do them through questionable or even illegal ways

I want Thomas and Martha to be fighters when it comes to their family or other people in Gotham being oppressed or treated unfairly by other rich people, I want Thomas to have ties to crime despite being a doctor and I want Martha to have more experience with having bad mental health and either she or Thomas try to hide it

This is why I love stuff like Telltale Batman, The Batman, Flashpoint and Batman Earth One because they make Bruce’s parents are people with struggles and dark pasts instead of them either being portrayed as saints or revealed to be monsters that Bruce has to fix later on

[vertigoartgore]

2003's Planetary/Batman: Night on Earth cover by John Cassaday and David Baron.

[mikakuna]

the transition from being an avid manga reader where there's only one author for the entire series to becoming a comic reader where there's a billion different universes, writers, and characterizations for a single character is!!!!! not for the weak (me)

[chernobog13]

Five versions of Supergirl head to aid their cousin (or in Cir-El's case, father), Superman, in Superman/Batman (vol. 1) #25 (May, 2006). Written by Jeeps Loeb. Art by Ed McGuinness and Dexter Vines. Color by Dave McCaig. Lettering by Richard Starkings.

I miss the Linda Danvers and Cir-El versions of Supergirl. Even though Cir-El eventually turned out to not be Superman's and Lois' daughter from the future, she was a fun character to have around. And there's always a chance a real Cir-El could be seen in the future (Clark and Lois had many servings of beef bourguinon after he returned from Warworld).

That said, I also miss Power Girl as she was depicted back then. Her personality now, as seen in One-Star Squadron and her current series, has made her into a whiney milquetoast, not the strong, confident woman she's been known as.