I just got round to reading this. As mentioned, no Tibetan caves, no Joe Chill.
I still think the Third Ghost could be Damien, or... The Third Ghost's silhouette has the same bat-head that Golden Age Batman had - and Thomas Wayne wore that costume in that one issue where they said he was accidentally the first Batman.
If he's another cop, Jim Gordon suffering from post-Joker-toxin craziness fits in all the father trauma. It's a guess without merit.
I think the tulpa/trauma thing is on the money, although it looks like there's some sort of conspiracy to replace Batman that's well in motion, that started during his 'year off'. "...as if he was designed to trigger my worst fears..." Maybe Talia wanted a proper father if Bruce was dead and tried to make him. Maybe the Joker wanted to ensure he had a proper playmate. Further baseless guesses. Maybe Gotham abhors a vacuum.
I liked the new Lazarus Pit.
"You're on my list." "I figured I could take him." "I've beaten up Superman." "You don't have to prove anything to me." S'good Batman.
I wonder if next issue's entirely a flashback, or if we'll get more three-ghosts stuff. This comic comes out less often than ASS does, I swear. |
