DC K.O.: Knightfight #1 (2025)

In the past, Batman was patrolling the streets of Gotham until he got information of Professor Pyg and the Circus of the Strange attacking civilians on a distant city block. He races to the crime scene, only to find that his sons, the Robins, have already addressed the emergency. Bystanders are safe and the criminals have been detained. Together, the Robins did a much better job together than Batman could have done alone, a fact that makes the Dark Knight proud and a bit melancholic about his own usefulness towards Gotham. With so many heroes protecting the city, is there even a need for Batman? In the present, Batman tries to participate in the King Omega tournament, only to be shot in the back by the Joker. Mortally injured, he falls to the ground and dies on the arms of Superman. He reminds Superman to focus on his own task and disappears in a flash of red light. Much like all the other eliminated contestants, Batman is reduced to a statue in Darkseid's trophy room, but only for a moment. Batman's story does not end there, for Batman always has a plan. A white light emerges from Batman's statue and removes it from the room. It is through the power of a boom tube that Batman has cheated death. Batman is teleported back to Gotham thanks to a boom tube that he had installed in his armor, but there is a problem. Right now, Batman is trapped in a Gotham he does not recognize. Something must have gone wrong with the boom tube He tries to communicate to the Watchtower, only to be ambushed by three young men dressed in the colors of Robin. They call him "the Bat Who Fell", a title Batman does not know. He defends himself from his aggressors and recognizes their fighting style. Someone close to Batman must have trained them well. He has an idea about who their teacher is and lets the fight move to another location. Just when Batman thinks he has put some distance between his attackers and himself, a man dressed in a Batsuit with blue accents joins the fight. It is Dick and he is angry that Bruce returned to Gotham. Bruce has no idea of what Dick is talking about and asks about Darkseid's tournament, but Dick thinks Bruce is trying to deceive him. The former Nightwing reminds Bruce of the history his mentor apparently forgot. Worried about his age, Bruce entered the Lazarus Pit to rejuvenate himself but fell into insanity, much like Ra's al Ghul, his daughter and even Selina. Bruce is shocked to hear Selina's name and Dick traps him with a grappling line so he can tell his story. With Bruce lost to madness, Dick assumed the mantle of Batman and erected the Bat-Tower in the center of Gotham as a way to honor Bruce's legacy. Unlike Bruce, however, Dick would shoulder that burden alone. Instead, he surrounded himself with friends, like the Titans, and formed a network of support that spread beyond Gotham. He even founded Robin, Inc. to help lost children like Bruce had helped him. As Bruce breaks free of his restrains, Dick cannot help but feel some sympathy towards his teacher. He takes off his cowl, lets Bruce see his face and asks him to retire. The career and legacy of Batman can continue with Dick instead of dying with Bruce, who replies that Bruce never wanted Dick to shoulder the burden Bruce willingly took so many years ago. Bruce asks Dick if he would want the Robins Dick trained to follow his path and Dick cannot answer. This is not the world Bruce comes from and he is resolute to find a way to return home, but Dick is not willing to let him escape again. The battle between mentor and student begins anew. Even after all these years, Bruce admires Dick's natural agility and talent for combat. Bruce might hit hard and fast, but Dick moves with grace and fluidity befitting of an acrobat. Even so, Bruce does not want to fight his family and asks Dick to come with him. Together, they can solve the mysteries behind this new world and stop Darkseid together, but Dick has no interest in whatever Bruce has to say, so he removes his cape and fights with even greater ferocity than before. Dick says that he is a better Batman than Bruce ever was because he actually trusts people and does not attempt to control every little thing they do Bruce is not out of the fight just yet. He raises his fists and asks Dick where are his brothers. Dick restrains his mentor's arms and replies that his brothers are dead. Even before entering the Lazarus Pit, Bruce never wanted to share the mantle of Batman with them, so he killed the Robins.