Batman (Earth-Two)

Batman
Adventure Comics #462. Art by Joe Staton.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Historical: Detective Comics #27 (1938) Divergence: Justice League of America #82 (1970)
Created by	Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Dennis O'Neil, Dick Dillin
In-story information
Alter ego	Bruce Wayne
Team affiliations	Batman Family Justice Society of America All Star Squadron Gotham City Police Department
Abilities	Genius-level intelligence, master detective, peak human physical condition, martial arts master, escapologist, expert ventriloquist, access to high tech equipment.

The Batman of Earth-Two is a parallel version of the fictional DC Comics superhero, who was introduced after DC Comics created Earth-Two, a parallel world that was retroactively established as the home of characters which had been published in the Golden Age of comic books. This allowed creators to publish Batman comic books while being able to disregard Golden Age stories, solving an incongruity, as Batman had been published as a single ongoing incarnation since inception.

The character history of the Earth-Two Batman accordingly adopts all of the earliest stories featuring the character from the 1930s and 1940s, while the adventures of the mainstream Batman (who lived on "Earth-One") begin later in time and with certain elements of his origin retold. Both were depicted as separate, though parallel, individuals living in their respective universes, with the "older" Earth-Two character eventually reaching his retirement and death.

Fictional character biography

Childhood and early history

Main article: Batman

Batman's origin and history begins the same as the classic version except the timeframe occurs when the Detective Comics #27 was originally printed: 1939. Most of the events surrounding his formative years are the same, but earlier.

• Bruce Wayne was born during the outbreak of World War One, being in his mid twenties in his first story in 1939.
• Bruce's parents were killed by Joe Chill. Alfred Pennyworth, a later creation, did not raise him. They met for the first time after Batman had already met Robin (and in fact, this version of Alfred was Alfred Beagle, which was kept for the Earth-Two distinction).
• After a period of training, a young Bruce Wayne becomes Batman. His first printed story is "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate", although it is implied in this story that this was not his first mission.
• Bruce Wayne meets eight-year-old Dick Grayson, following the murder of his parents. Grayson eventually takes the identity of Robin.
• Superman and Batman become lifelong friends. Unlike the antagonistic relationship of their modern incarnations, they get along right away and have many team ups. Along with Kal-L, Batman participates in the Justice Society and the war-time only All Star Squadron.

Divergence with Earth-One

At the dawn of the Silver Age of comics, DC Comics decided to reimagine several of their greatest superheroes. The Flash and Green Lantern were reimagined as Barry Allen and Hal Jordan. Superman and Batman were different and remained untouched. It was later revealed that the current heroes live on a parallel world to the Golden Age heroes. When Barry Allen met Jay Garrick, it meant there were two Flashes, two Green Lanterns, two Supermen, and two Batmen. Since Batman and Superman were the same, the divergence between the characters was their age.

Eventually, Batman ages to the point that he retires. During his post vigilante career, he becomes the police comissioner of Gotham City. The Batman legacy is carried on by an adult Dick Grayson who never becomes Nightwing. Eventually, Wayne would marry Catwoman, Selina Kyle. They have a daughter, Helena Wayne, the Huntress. Wayne was eventually coaxed out of retirement for one last mission as Batman, where he ultimately perished.

In the limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths, the multiverse as we know it is destroyed. Among the lost worlds is Earth-Two. Following this crisis, Earth-Two "never existed" and retroactively removed the Earth-Two Batman from history, blending elements of his past with Earth-One, effectively creating a new modern continuity.

Infinite Crisis

File:Supermanmeetsbatman.jpg

Confrontation.

After Kal-L returned from his banishment, he confronted the modern Batman, whom he told that he believes Earth-Two's destruction was precipitated by the death of the Earth-Two Batman.

Most of the Earth-Two survivors, Wonder Woman, Superman, and Lois Lane died during this newer Crisis. The Infinite Crisis hardcover had several lines of dialogue rewritten to imply the survivors were being called somewhere instead of fading out of existence. Wonder Woman mentions she is being pulled somewhere, and Lois Lane does as well. Earth-Two was the only resurrected Earth that was empty. Sand mentions the world is new and manufactured. The anomalies are ignored by Alexander Luthor. During his last words, Superman says to Power Girl "They're still out there."

One Year Later

In the One Year Later story arc of JSA, members of a heretofore inactive Justice Society are attacked by the Gentleman Ghost. With the villain suddenly possessing limited control over the spirits of the dead, Jakeem Thunder and the Thunderbolt are assisted in battle by the spirits of various deceased JSA members and allies. Among their number is an entity who clearly appears to be the Batman who was a founding member of the JSA.

See also

• All-Star Squadron
• America vs. The Justice Society -- miniseries in which Batman (through his diary, discovered post-mortem) accuses the JSA of committing treason during World War II
• Golden Age Robin
• Golden Age Catwoman
• Huntress (Helena Wayne)
• Justice Society of America
• Multiverse (DC Comics)
• Superman (Kal-L)