Rebuilding the Bat

What Happened After Bane Broke Batman’s Back in DC Comics?

The iconic story arc: A weary Batman is systematically torn down, broken, and thrown away. The entire saga is told in Batman: Knighfall, a trilogy that ran from 1993 to 1994 and is known as Knightfall, Knightquest, and KnightsEnd.

In the weeks and months after breaking the bat, both DC Comics and Bruce Wayne went through rehabilitation or rebranding. Bruce Wayne, left paraplegic after the defeat at the hands of Bane, enlists Dr. Shondra Kinsolving to help with his recovery while asking the vigilante Azrael to wear the mantle of the bat. Meanwhile, DC Comics was determined to use this opportunity to demonstrate that the traditional Batman was a better hero than the modern-day anti-hero variant, which relied heavily on violence. Characters like Wolverine and the Punisher began gaining popularity on the caped crusader in the late 80’s and early 90’s. The writers of Batman: Knightfall considered this lull in Batman’s popularity could perhaps be because of the ethical stances the character continued to make throughout the decades.

From here, the monthly Batman comics were split into two storylines. One follows Bruce Wayne embarking on a journey of re-discovery outside the country. The second storyline features Jean-Paul Valley, formerly the vigilante Azrael, becoming Batman. We learn in later issues that Bruce Wayne chose Jean-Paul over Dick Grayson (the former first Robin and current Nightwing) to become Batman. Bruce feared Bane would kill Dick Grayson. Bruce gives Jean-Paul strict orders never to engage Bane, and when Jean- Paul does confront Bane, he is indeed nearly killed.

Over the next few months, Jean-Paul gradually gains confidence in becoming the new Batman. Unfortunately, John-Paul becomes increasingly violent in contending with Gotham’s criminals. Unbeknownst to Valley, a psychological conditioning program known as the “System” had been implanted throughout his life by a secret religious cult known as “The Sacred Order of Saint Dumas.” At the behest of “The System,” Valley builds a reimagined bat suit with lethal weapons such as razor-sharp batarangs and a flamethrower in Batman #500.

Throughout the series, the intense psychological conditioning compels Jean- Paul’s actions, culminating in a state of insanity. The villainy of Jean-Paul’s Batman comes full circle when he allows the serial killer Abattoir, who holds a hostage at a secret location, to die, which condemns the innocent hostage as well.

Knights End sees Bruce Wayne training with the assassin Lady Shiva to regain his combat prowess before finally returning to the Batcave as Batman to confront Jean- Paul. After a giant battle ensues at the Gotham Narrows Bridge, Bruce Wayne and Jean-Paul finally confront each other in the caverns surrounding the Batcave. Bruce continues to crawl into tighter and tighter passages. Jean-Paul must shred his mechanical suit of tropes to follow Bruce. The act of removing the suit and seeing the true Batman standing before him forces Jean-Paul to cry out, “You are the Batman.”

Bruce Wayne's return as Batman after Bane's attack was a multifaceted process involving physical, mental, and strategic steps. Following his debilitating injury, Bruce underwent intensive physical rehabilitation and therapy to heal and regain his strength. He also focused on mental preparation, addressing his fears and doubts while reaffirming his commitment to his mission. Bruce sought additional training from experts,

including the League of Assassins, to enhance his skills further. A pivotal moment in his comeback was confronting Jean-Paul Valley (Azrael), who had taken on the mantle of Batman. Their battle was a physical struggle and a symbolic reclaiming of Bruce's identity. After defeating Azrael and retaking the Bat-suit, Bruce resumed his role as Gotham's protector, solidifying his place as the true Batman and continuing his fight against crime with renewed purpose and resilience.