And in more comic book news that has dead characters rising from their (not so) old and moldy graves...
In September, DC Comics' solicitations made a point of not spoiling the finale of the publisher's long-running "Robin Rises" storyline, with the copy for December's "Batman and Robin" #37 and "Robin Rises: Alpha" both concealing the identity of the Caped Crusader's new kid sidekick.
This month, it appears the publisher (or at least the book's writer) has done a 180 from that raison d'etre. "Batman and Robin" series writer Peter J. Tomasi tweeted Monday that the solicitations would include "some big info" regarding the Boy Wonder, and that he wanted to break the news before DC did. Afterwards, the scribe shared Patrick Gleason's cover to "Batman and Robin #38," which appears to show Damian Wayne, who was slain by The Heretic in 2013's "Batman Incorporated #8," not only alive, but back in the Robin role...and stealing a page or two from ol' Neo's book, it seems. Here's the actual tweet from Tomasi's account:
Here it as promised, our upcoming cover for #BatmanandRobin 38! #RobinRises @patrick_gleason pic.twitter.com/O1V8iH1xrV
— Peter J. Tomasi (@PeterJTomasi) October 20, 2014
For those not in the know, Damian Wayne is the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul, which was revealed in the 2006 "Batman and Son" storyline, and then slickly adapted in the 2014 DC animated film, "Son of Batman."
Barring any further narrative twists and turns, this seems to divulge the outcome of the current "Robin Rises" story arc, which has seen Batman endeavor to reclaim his son's body, first from Ra's al Ghul and later from Glorious Godfrey, who took Damian's body to Apokolips.
The official summary from the DC solicitation is below. Thanks to iDigital Times for the tip.
"BATMAN AND ROBIN #38
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
THE FLASH 75 Variant cover by DAVE BULLOCK
On sale JANUARY 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
The team of Batman and Robin are together again! But what is the new dynamic for this crimefighting duo now that Damian has super powers of his own?"
