Warning! Contains Spoilers for Batman Beyond Neo Year #3
Many fans cite Batman Beyond's successor as the true heir to Bruce Wayne and, now, Terry McGinnis reveals what Batman really thinks of his past Robin sidekicks.
Batman Beyond takes place in the future when an aging Bruce Wayne was no longer able to be the Dark Knight. One day, teenager Terry McGinnis helped Bruce home and stumbled upon the Batcave. Having his own problems, Terry snuck back in and stole a new Batsuit, becoming Batman for a whole new age. In his adventures, Terry encountered many of Bruce's old associates who he has become estranged from. These include Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon, Tim Drake, and even his own son Damian.
Currently in the comics, Bruce Wayne has died, leaving Terry on his own. In Batman Beyond Neo Year #3 by Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, and Max Dunbar, Terry has to deal with the fact that commissioner Barbara Gordon is retiring. While in disguise at a party, Terry talks about how he now looks at Barbara as someone who gave up the fight. He even mentions that this is how Bruce looks when he talks about ex-members of his Bat-Family, who he views cynically as they quit the mission he had dedicated his entire life to.
The interesting thing about Batman Beyond is that it provides an incredible retrospective look at events that are currently playing out in the mainstream DC Universe. Of course, the Batman Beyond future is only one possible future out of many. But still, knowing how Bruce feels about all of his old sidekicks who quit being vigilantes is very telling as it explains why Bruce Wayne is so bitter and grumpy when talking with all of his grown up sidekicks. This perspective from Terry also confirms the theory that he is the true heir to the Batman cowl. He has taken such a liking to Bruce that even when his mentor is gone, Terry still embodies the same mindset that Bruce had. All of Bruce's sidekicks gave up the fight and Bruce grew resentful of that.
With Bruce gone, Terry could have quit being Batman, but he didn't. Instead, he doubled down on his mission. In doing so, Terry now views all of the heroes who did quit the same way that Bruce did. This shows that although the comic is called Batman Beyond, Terry truly is the real Batman of the future rather than Batman's former Robins.
Batman Beyond Neo Year #3 is available now from DC Comics.
Bruce Wayne would have loved it if one of his sidekicks took over for him as Batman, but they did not, and he became bitter because of it.Frank Martin