One of the most iconic pieces of Batman lore is destroyed by the Dark Knight’s own hand. Bruce Wayne has been through a lot in the past few months and now that he’s stopped a monster of his own creation, he’s turning his attention to a dire new threat.
Amid all the upheaval in Batman’s life, the immortal villain Vandal Savage came to Gotham and was appointed the city’s new Police Commissioner. Now he’s out to strike a crooked deal with the Caped Crusader, but Batman’s response hints at what lies ahead for Bruce and every other hero in Gotham.
Batman is Officially Done Working with Gotham PD
In Batman #149 by Chip Zdarsky, Steve Lieber, Michele Bandini, Nick Filardi, and Clayton Cowles, Batman has finally defeated his twisted doppelganger, Zur-En-Arrh. But the backup personality left a wake of destruction that Bruce is forced to clean up, starting with Zur-En-Arrh’s Robin, a clone of Bruce who has been abandoned. Batman takes the boy in, only to discover that Zur-En-Arrh accelerated his Robin’s aging, but didn’t have anything in place to stop it. Batman resolves to find a way to help his clone.
Batman searches high and low for a way to save the clone Bruce’s life. Thankfully, the original Bruce gets a windfall of cash left behind in one of Zur-En-Arrh’s secret bank accounts. Bruce spends weeks trying to figure out a way to save his clone’s life, even consulting with Mister Terrific. But once it’s clear that there’s no saving clone Bruce, Batman takes him to Wayne Manor, the current home of Vandal Savage. Thankfully, Savage isn’t at home, allowing the elderly clone a moment of peace before he dies.
A week later, Savage summons Batman with the Bat-Signal and offers Batman a deal. The new commissioner will allow the Bat-Family to operate and Savage will even give Bruce his cave and manor back. In exchange, Savage wants Batman to ‘handle’ any situation that Savage requires. Batman responds to Savage’s offer by destroying the Bat-Signal and punching Savage into its shattered remains. Batman leaves the new Commissioner on the roof and swears that he’s going to take Savage down soon and that Savage can keep Wayne Manor.
How Vandal Savage Became One of Gotham’s Most Powerful Figures
Batman was forced to leave Wayne Manor back when the Joker stole Bruce’s fortune. The Dark Knight’s ancestral home was seized and he was forced to find a new residence within Gotham City. Batman kept an eye on Wayne Manor to ensure it would never fall into the wrong hands. Unfortunately, the intense stress of his battle against Catwoman in “Gotham War” caused him to overlook his home being purchased right out from under him. To make matters worse, it was bought by Justice League villain Vandal Savage.
Savage had come to Gotham for one reason: His immortality was waning and he needed to fix it immediately. Savage manipulated events so that he could summon a meteor similar to the one that gave him his immortality in the first place. Savage’s plan worked, however, Savage got a little bit more than he expected with this new meteor. He’s still immortal, but only within Gotham’s borders. If he leaves, Savage grows weaker and more frail. With no other option, Savage stayed in Gotham and resolved to become its ruler.
Vandal Savage’s journey to becoming Police Commissioner begins in “The Savage Garden of Gotham” in
Batman #139 (2023)
Savage’s iron fist and conqueror attitude drew the attention of a few movers and shakers in Gotham, who informed him that the Police Commissioner role was an appointed one. But before Savage could take the position, he was arrested by Zur-En-Arrh and thrown into Blackgate. Savage managed to escape by following Batman when he broke out. Despite Zur-En-Arrh’s best efforts, Savage became the new commissioner. Savage wasted no time enacting his powers as Commissioner to try and take down Zur-En-Arrh, even calling on Amanda Waller and the United States Military for help.
What Destroying the Bat-Signal Means for Batman
Unfortunately, Savage’s ascent to one of Gotham’s most powerful positions was completely overlooked by Batman. Bruce was way too preoccupied with dealing with Zur-En-Arrh to even consider how damaging it could be having Savage in charge of Gotham’s police force. But now, Zur-En-Arrh is gone, and aside from what Batman’s going through in Absolute Power, he’s got nothing distracting him from putting his attention solely on Savage. Bruce knows how brutal a schemer Vandal is and that having Savage as Gotham’s Police Commissioner endangers everyone in Gotham.
The Bat-Signal is a powerful symbol in Gotham. Not only does it act as a warning light to criminals, but it also represents the cooperation between Gotham’s police and Batman. But times have changed and as long as Savage is in charge, Bruce doesn’t want people to even associate his alter ego with a monster like Savage. But now that Bruce has challenged Savage by turning down his offer and destroying the Bat-Signal, Vandal could use all the powers at his disposal to make Batman’s life a living hell.
Gotham already has a mayor who’s not too keen on vigilantes, now the city’s Police Commissioner has a serious bone to pick with Batman. Not to mention Savage is cozy with Amanda Waller, who’s really upped her game when taking on superheroes. If Savage wanted, he could easily call in several favors that could imperil Bruce and the rest of the Bat-Family. Plus, Savage already knows Batman’s true identity, so how much longer until he issues an arrest warrant based on evidence Savage found in Wayne Manor and the Batcave?
Batman vs. Vandal Savage is the Next Big Gotham Story
Batman has a lot on his plate at the moment, but the Vandal Savage situation arguably demands Bruce’s focus right now. Savage is in a position where he could destroy everything the Bat-Family has if the Caped Crusader doesn’t take care of him soon. It’s hard to imagine how Batman can depose Vandal (especially since he can’t run him out of Gotham). The destruction of the Bat-Signal is just the opening shot of a war between Batman and Vandal Savage that could have serious ramifications for the Dark Knight.
Batman #149 is available now from DC Comics.
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.