Summary
Warning! Contains Spoilers For Batman #148!
For decades,Batmanhas been struggling to get Gotham City under control – but his crusade against crime has always had its limits. The criminal element has always been something Batman has just barely been able to hold back, but now,the Zur-En-Arrh variant of Batman seems to have a plan that will change the criminals of Gotham City forever.
Previews forBatman#148 – by Chip Zdarsky and Jorge Jimenez – make it clear that as Zur continues to cement his control over Gotham City, the only thing left is to make sure the criminals currently locked up don’t simply break out and continue causing destruction. It seems that Zur and Capito have come up with a solution.
Dr. Capito enters the room and let Zur know that, ominously, “the machine is ready.” It’s unclear exactly what this machine is, but there are a few educated guesses that can be made by astute readers.
Batman has invented some pretty absurd things in his long comic book history, but the most dangerous device he has ever is a machine that allows him to edit an individual’s personality.
I Can’t Believe How Terrifying Batman’s Dark Counterpart Looks in This MAJOR Confrontation
Zur-En-Arrh has truly taken over the body of Failsafe, transforming him into a truly terrifying version of Batman who towers over criminals.
DC Reveals Zur-En-Arrh Plan To Fix Crime In Gotham Forever
Batman #138by Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jimenez, Tomeu Morey, and Clayton Cowles
According to the most likely theory about the “machine,” it may very well turn out to be that this device the same one thatBatman used to rewire Red Hood’s brain.If Zur and Capito use this on Batman’s criminals, crime in Gotham City would be solved overnight. As Zur says, “lets cure Gotham.” Batman has invented some pretty absurd things in his long comic book history, but the most dangerous device he has ever is a machine that allows him to edit an individual’s personality.
The machine constituted a nefarious step over the line for Bruce Wayne, and was part of his trek down the path that led to Zur-En-Arrh. He tried to use this to force Jason to give up being a vigilante inBatman#138. The machine hasn’t made an appearance since, but considering Zur was the one who influenced Batman to build it,there’s no reason to assume that Zur isn’t either currently in possession of it, or simply recreated a new one.Zur will likely use this machine to remove criminals' ability to commit crimes.
Zur-En-Arrh Batman Has Gotham At His Mercy, Heroes & Villains Alike
His “Cure” Could Kill The City
It’s unlikely that Zur would stop at just Gotham’s villains. After all, the first victim of this machine was Jason Todd.
While this would certainly fix crime in Gotham City, it’d also be a gross overstep on Zur’s part. Removing ones free will is never an acceptable way to deal with villains; the Justice League even went through a similar crisis during the events ofIdentity Crisis. In that story, Dr. Light proved to be too dangerous a to lock up, so the League agreed to wipe his memory and edit his personality. This very nearlyled to the death of the Justice League; the parallel toBatman’scurrent story suggests just how far Zur may be willing to go for control.
It’s unlikely that Zur would stop at just Gotham’s villains. After all, the first victim of this machine was Jason Todd. Regardless of how Batman feels about Jason and his methods, there’s no denying that he is firmly a hero. If Zur was willing to strip away Jason’s identity, there’s no reason to assume he wouldn’t be willing to do the same to Nightwing, or any other member of the Bat-Family who gets in his way. As scary as it might seem, it appears that Zur finally has a way to solve Gotham’s crime problem, at a priceBatmanwould never pay.
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.
