Return of Bruce Wayne

## **Lead-up**

While in communion with the Source, Darkseid is gifted two weapons; the Anti-Life Equation, and the Omega Sanction.

Booster Gold fell through the Sphere of Gods during Zero Hour, and had numerous visions.

Batman is seemingly vaporized by Darkseid during Final Crisis. Superman and Wonder Woman defeat Darkseid.

## **Chapter One - "Life Trap"**

*As Earth falls to the will of Darkseid, one man stands against him. Batman unsheathes Orion's weapon, the final weapon to kill the Devil; Radion. "I made a solemn vow about guns, but for you I'll make an exception", utters the Dark Knight. Darkseid's eyes beam with anger, "But can you outrace the Omega Sanction? The Death that is Life?"*

*"Try me", says the Batman. BANG.*

Bruce Wayne awakens amnesiac in Prehistoric Time. He encounters the Bear tribe, led by Anthro the cave-boy. Their clan is attacked by Vandal Savage's Blood Tribe. Bruce fights Vandal Savage as a caveman. To the sound of **bells**, he is then transported away.

Bruce awakens in a field surrounded by darkness, where he is met by two men named Giovanni Zatara and John Constantine, who are attempting to cage a rogue demon called Etrigan. Bruce helps distract the demon, who sets him ablaze, but he is unharmed. The Demon refers to him as "Barbatos" = the Bat-God. Constantine and Zatara bind the demon, reverting it to human form (Jason Blood). They thank the traveler, **bells ring**, and Bruce vanishes again.

Bruce awakens in the midst of a gunfight between Jonah Hex and a group of ninjas (League of Assassins). Bruce takes a horse and lasso, dispatching the ninjas. Hex recognizes the Caped Crusader, but Bruce has no memory. Once again **bells ring**, and he is then transported again.

Bruce gets a vision where Orion attempts to warn him of the power of the life trap, the omega sanction that has been throwing him through endless lives, forcing him to be reborn eternally for Darkseid's benefit. The **bell rings**, and Bruce vanishes into the Life Trap.

## **Chapter Two - "Detective"**

Bruce awakens in Gotham right before the death of the Waynes. Bruce finds himself in the middle of a gunfight between police officers and mobsters part of Lew Moxon's crew. Bruce dispatches the gunmen, and saves a young officer, known as Jim Gordon. Gordon's backup arrives and opens fire on Bruce, but he escapes into the night.

The Black Glove convenes: members being gangsters Carmine Falcone & Sal Maroni, Senator Rupert Thorne, and Captain Loeb. Hurt promises them great success if they accomplish one task: killing Thomas Wayne. Wayne has been using his wealth and influence to bring Gotham into a better tomorrow, and Hurt is determined to keep their operations a secret.

Bruce has only one word in his mind, "Wayne", which leads him to Wayne Manor. He sees the Glove members entering armed and attacks them, donning Thomas Wayne's Bat-Costume. Batman fights Hurt, where he reveals that he planned to kill the Wayne's that night. As the police arrive, Hurt and Bruce fly through a window where they see that Thomas and Martha were killed anyways, as Gordon and Alfred escort a young Bruce. Hurt vows to kill Batman.

Bruce sees his younger self and his memories are returned; "Mother.... Father."

**Bells ring** and Batman is zapped away by the sanction once more.

## **Chapter Three - "Pearls"**

*Following Blackest Night event, the Seven Leaguers vanish from the aftermath. The heroes appear in the Arizona headquarters of Rip Hunter and are greeted by Booster Gold and Skeets, who reveal that Batman is lost in time, and that Rip Hunter has gone missing. Booster was alerted by a vision of Metron who warned him.*

Booster explains that the Omega Sanction is a weapon that would allow Darkseid to return from death by forcing one inflicted to go through a gauntlet of synthetic lives until they build up enough Omega Energy to recreate him. Darkseid knew that Batman was one of the most dangerous beings in all of the Multiverse, so he preyed on Batman's undying drive to always overcome challenges in order to facilitate his rebirth. He then presents the heroes with the Mobius Chair, claiming that in it is the key to defeat Darkseid and save Bruce. The heroes then visit each location Bruce has been in order to locate traces of Omega Energy to find his next jump.

Bruce sees time flash before his eyes as he is thrown into crime alley. Bruce is given the opportunity to save his parents just before they are gunned down by Joe Chill. However, he realizes that in order to save lives and protect Gotham, he must become Batman. Batman lets his parents die, cementing his one truth: Batman is alone. He then hears **bells**, and a thundering laugh. A weakened Orion lies before him; "What have you done Bruce?" As Joe chill approaches the Waynes, he takes the form of Darkseid, sending two omega beams through the hearts of his parents. The Waynes fall, while Martha's pearls lay in a pool of blood (symbolizing the constellation of Orion). As Orion struggles to stand; "There is no escape."

**Bells ring.**<FLASH>

Bruce arrives at the end of time with his memory fully restored, finding the Vanishing Point destroyed. Pulsing with omega energy, he is confronted by Simon Hurt alongside Damian Wayne, and a tied up Rip Hunter.

## **Chapter Four - "Black Mass"**

At the Vanishing Point, Thomas Hurt formally introduces Damian to Bruce, finally revealing who he is and how he came to be:

*In the 1700's, a group of devil worshippers convene in Gotham. Led by Simon Hurt, they enact a "Black Mass" to summon the Horned Devil (Barbatos). The ritual ensues, but they instead conjured Darkseid's astral form after he fell through time. Darkseid awakens, confused, and kills all of the worshippers but spares Hurt, as he holds the casket to contain Darkseid in the trap. They make a bargain: Immortality and control of Gotham, for Darkseid's escape and Hurt's eventual service. Darkseid imprints a part of his soul onto hurt, granting him immortality.*

*Doctor Hurt becomes a powerful and omnipotent figure in Gotham's history, founding an organization known as the Black Glove to control Gotham and exert his influence and power to corrupt the city from inside. Every generation, Hurt would select four individuals to stand alongside him to act as the Glove (five fingers in total).*

*In the future, Gotham is in ruins. The Bat-Family has been shattered in the war against the Black Glove, with Jim Gordon, Barbara, and Kate Kane numbering in the casualties. Hurt holds a dying Dick Grayson at gunpoint, claiming that this time; "Batman dies at dawn". Just as he pulls the trigger, a batarang knocks the weapon out of his hand, and Damian kills Hurts guards. Hurt makes a deal with Damian, proposing immortality and control of Gotham (the terms Darkseid presented to Hurt) in return for his escape and eventual service. A broken Damian, devastated with the loss of Grayson, accepts.*

Bruce attempts to move, but is bound by Hurt's Fatherbox. Hurt enacts another Black Mass, one to rebirth Darkseid. Hurt explains that he has tired of living, and that he wishes for his final act to be releasing doom upon the universe. Bruce pleads to Damian, hoping to reach out to his son, but Damian is lost, only a soulless vessel. Damian shoots Bruce with Joe Chill's gun, bearing a Radion Bullet. The element mortally wounds Orion's soul inside batman, while Hurt uses the father box to bind the energy. A reaction occurs, striking Hurt and Bruce, where Darkseid's soul takes control. **Bells ring** for the final time. Hurt kneels calling him "Barbatos", and Bruce rises a new God.

## **Chapter Five - "New God"**

*Bruce chases a rabbit as a child as his parents and Alfred cheer him on. He is so focused on the creature's white fur that he doesn't see the well in front of him. Bruce falls into the well, screaming for his parents. As he falls, charcoal eyelids open, blazing inferno. Darkseid awakens, and smiles.*

 Inside Booster Gold's timesphere, Superman drops to his knees, overcome with pain and fear. As the League comforts him, he trembles and knows in his heart that Bruce is gone and he has returned: Darkseid has returned. Skeets detects a surge of omega energy located at the only moment in time where the entropy clouds were powerful enough to mask his return: the Vanishing Point.

Hurt, relieved of his immortality, begins to age rapidly. He smiles, *"A deal's a deal destroyer, a soul for a soul."* Darkseid thanks him for his service, *"As you have brought upon my rebirth, I grant you the final gift Doctor, oblivion."* Hurt is vaporized. Damian falls to his knees in shock, after Hurt's control over him is negated, *"Father"*. Darkseid gazes into the void of creation undoing the universe as Hypertime unravels before them.

Just as Barbatos prepares to enter the Overvoid, the Timesphere appears in front of him. The Justice League emerges, and Superman stares down his greatest adversary. *"Release him Darkseid."*

Darkseid laughs, *"Don't you understand Kal-El? Bruce Wayne is gone. He died like a runt, crying out to his fallen parents as I crushed his spirit. He was infinitesimal in the face of my power, as are you Kal-El. I will end this universe and start anew, one under my vision. With the power of creation at my fingertips, I will kill all your loved ones, your friends, your allies, every living being drawing breath will submit to the will of Darkseid. The multiverse will run red with the blood of endless universes as you watch, paralyzed, unable to look away. Only then, after your last pitiful hope is extinguished, will I end your life. Let's go."*

The League charges at the dark god, ready for the final battle against the ultimate evil. They are fearless, embracing death's call with one intention in mind: save their friend, save Bruce Wayne. Superman hits Darkseid with the power of a thousand suns. Darkseid blasts Superman with the Omega Beams, but the hero ignores the pain, filled only with the fury of krypton. The Leaguers restrain Darkseid's arms, while Martian Manhunter places his hands on Darkseid's head, using his telepathy to reach out to Bruce inside. As the League holds him, Booster Gold unveils the refashioned Mobius Chair: known now as the "Orphan Box", a weapon to bind Darkseid's soul and remove it from Batman. Superman channels his energy and wields the weapon against Darkseid. Weakened, Darkseid falls to his knees, attempting to resist.

As the Martian peers into his mind, he is shocked by the immense forever pit in Bruce's subconscious. Darkseid reaches out to catatonic Damian, and takes control of his mind. Damian stands, unsheathing a kryptonite batarang. Booster and Rip try to stop him, but Damian throws the batarang at Superman. Superman falls, disabling the Orphan Box. Darkseid is freed and shakes off the Leaguers, throwing them aside.

Reality crumbles as the surface they stand dissipates. Darkseid enters the Overvoid; but the heroes refuse to give up. Superman and Wonder woman race in after him.

The universe ends.

## **Chapter Six - "Fallen Son"**

*Bruce sits in his father's study as he bleeds out. A **bell** lies in his hand; if rung, Alfred will come and stop the bleeding. Bruce looks at a bust of his Father. "Father, I'm afraid I have to die tonight. What do I do? I can't wait any longer, I can't save Gotham. I am alone."*

 The Vanishing Point disintegrates and the heroes run to the Time Sphere, barely outrunning the walls of oblivion. Damian remains behind, for his purpose has been fulfilled. Booster urges him to come, but Damian knows that he's been debased by the work of Hurt, and believes that the heroes will prevent him from ever becoming evil. He knows Batman will come and save him at the crossroads. His father will save him. Damian is erased, and the Timesphere escapes.

At the dawn of time, Volthoom uses the White Lantern to bestow light upon the void. He is then hit from behind by Omega Beams as darkness taints the newly christened void. Darkseid walks towards the being, every step sending echoes across the plains of absolution. He picks up the Lantern, corrupting the immaculate slate of the virgin universe in his image. *Hatred, guilt, alienation, judgement, greed, anger, loneliness.* A reaction occurs, sending Darkseid back. Creation has been poisoned, and this poison will come to be known as Mandrakk.

*Inside Bruce's soul, Darkseid tortures Bruce as Orion bleeds out from Radion poisoning. Bruce falls into the endless abyss, the Forever Pit that is Darkseid, and screams for his parents. He is put through his worst memories, Fear gas, Dent, Killing Joke, Bane's attack, death of Jason, Crisis, Doomsday, Hush, Leviathan, Darkseid. Bruce falls.*

Superman and Wonder Woman arrive at the scene, finding a weakened Darkseid. Diana binds Darkseid with her lasso, and Superman wields the Lantern himself. He imprints his essence on the universe. *Truth, love, compassion, honesty, trust, justice, hope.* A beam of light emerges from the Lantern into Darkseid as he screams.

"Bruce Wayne...", the Lantern recites, **"LIVE"**.

The beacon of light reaches the void, meeting Bruce's gaze. He receives the signal, and remembers. **Bells ring.**

*As Bruce lays bleeding out in his chair, a bat crashes through the window. Without warning it comes. The bat lands on Thomas Wayne's bust, staring into Bruce's eyes. He smiles, "Yes Father, I shall become a Bat." Bruce **rings** **the** **bell** to summon Alfred. The first truth of Batman, the saving grace: Batman was never alone. He thinks of Alfred, Selina, Jim Gordon, Dick, Jason, Barbara, Tim, John Paul Valley, Clark, Diana. Thomas and Martha. As he falls into the well as a child, Thomas Wayne saves him and the two rise. He was never alone. Bruce emerges from the abyss.*

Darkseid attempts to knock Bruce down, plastering him with a barrage of Omega Beams. Orion jumps in the path of the beams, shielding Bruce. With his dying breath, Orion gives him the Radion, the ultimate weapon. *"Finish it, Dark Knight."* Bruce faces the god of evil once again, taking the Radion in the form of a Batarang. Beams race towards Bruce as he throws the Batarang.

The Radion strikes Darkseid through the heart, and for a second, reality shudders.

Bruce's eyes open, and he looks at Clark and Diana. They embrace their friend. A time sphere opens in front of the three and the rest of the heroes emerge. Booster tells Bruce that Gotham is in trouble, and that he's the only one who can save it. The heroes present Batman's cape and cowl and Bruce smiles.

*The fallen son rises, unsullied, reborn. Bruce Wayne has returned. Batman has returned.*

## **Chapter Seven - "Batman Returns"**

Batman fights doctor hurt and the joker, preventing the Fall of Gotham from happening.

## Timeline

* This event is part of the **New Age of Heroes**
* It is preceded by the **Blackest Night**
* It occurs simultaneously with **The Black Glove**
* It is followed by the **Brightest Day**

## Links

* **Full Reading Order**
* **Justice League Reading Order**
* **Superman Reading Order**
* **Batman Reading Order**