Promoting its upcoming Earth 2 series in May, DC has provided everyone with a look at the character design for the Batman of that world along with some comments from editor Pat McCallum that should give fans plenty to speculate over. More Earth 2 designs are promised to come throughout the week.
One thing that is made clear is this is not the same Earth 2 that DC fans are familiar with. Perhaps even moreso than the main Earth, Earth 2 looks to have been heavily reimagined. We will see for sure in May when Earth 2 releases courtesy of writer James Robinson and artist Nicola Scott.
“Who will Batman kill to save his own daughter?”
“Right out of the gate that should tell you we’re dealing with a different kind of Dark Knight here. More ruthless, dangerous…the costume is familiar and yeah, there is a Wayne under the mask, but we’re looking at a man desperate to save the only family he has left. EARTH 2 is about to become a very bad place to be a bad guy.”
McCallum seems to have chosen his words explicitly to get people speculating. By Batman's daughter, we no doubt assume Helena Wayne, the future co-star of Worlds' Finest. But then, why does McCallum specifically avoid saying that this Batman is Bruce Wayne? A Wayne? Along with that, the design for Earth 2's Batman strongly resembles like what you would design as a Batman costume for Dick Grayson with the sticks and the Nightwing-esque bat insignia.
Maybe McCallum is just having some fun with us. Or maybe Earth 2 is home to one Richard Wayne, last man standing of the Bat-family and desperate father of an endangered daughter.
I am still not convinced that bringing Earth 2 back is a good idea that fits in well with DC's stated goals of the New 52. But I do have to admit the potential of this other Batman has me more intrigued that I was before. If the other characters DC previews this week show the same potential, I may get more optimistic about DC's decision here.
