DC Comics is shaping up to introduce a black Batman according to “prominent sources” in the comic book world. Chief writer and founder of Bleeding Cool, and self-described “comic book clairvoyant” Rich Johnston announced to his fans on Twitter that the new take on the Batman character is expected to be ushered into the world in comic book form in the latter part of next year.
Johnston explained to his followers that this new take on the character, who won’t be Bruce Wayne, is basically all “prominent sources” could speak about at the Comic conventions in the United States over the past week.
If true, this would be by no means the first time people other than Bruce Wayne have worn the iconic Batman suit. After Bruce Wayne’s back was broken by Bane the character of Azrael became Batman, while Nightwing took on the role of Batman when Bruce Wayne was missing presumed dead, when he was sent through time by Darkseid.
It also wouldn’t be the first time a major comic book character has had a black alter ego. Marvel Comics famously introduced Miles Morales as a black/Latino Spider-Man and who has now been popularised in the critically revered, Into The Spider-Verse. Sam Wilson also took on the role of Captain America, as seen in the Avengers: Endgame movie.
The in-comic identity of the character is hard to ascertain at this stage however as Johnston insists that the character Duke Thomas, who has previously been teased as taking on the role is not the answer. Johnston has suggested however that both Black Lightning and Lucius Fox’s son Luke, who is the current Batwing, could both be prime candidates.
Meanwhile cinematically Robert Pattinson has signed on to play Bruce Wayne and Batman in Matt Reeves’ upcoming The Batman, which is due out on June 25, 2021.
Famously comic book writer Mark Millar once pranked Ed Brubaker, who was writing the Batman comic books by pretending to be a journalist and repeatedly asking Brubaker why Batman wasn’t black and why he couldn’t just be black some of the time. Seems Brubaker’s openness to the idea may now be becoming reality.
