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Sometimes , even a champion as on the face of it invincible asBatmanhas to spend some clip on the sidelines , and on those occasion , Bruce Wayne ’s costumed alter ego passes on to heroes likeNightwing , Azraeland evenJim Gordon . Bruce is many thing , but above all he ’s human and at certain level in his career , he ’s been unable to continue his mission . When the worst has hap , several candidates have had to carry on his duties as defender of Gotham , but who did it well ? Every replacement feel a trial by fervor , show thatjob of Batman is n’t for the faint - hearted .
The challenge was n’t just being Batman , but being an efficient one who could observe Bruce ’s bequest . But of the three to take the pallium , only one successfully step up to become the Batman Gotham needed . In fact , this person did the caper so well , they earned a surprising note that definitively put them head and shoulders above the others .
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Azrael Was a Hardcore Protector of Gotham
After spend his total sprightliness being subtly brainwash , Azrael was activate to be the lead assassinfor the Sacred Order of Saint Dumas . A chance face-off with Batman leave Valley an opportunity to leave the Order and become a truthful fighter for DoJ . Spending a short prison term preparation with Batman , Jean - Paul received the chance of a life after Bruce was broken by Bane in the result of ' Batman : Knightfall . ' Valley took the responsibility earnestly , but entertain the legal opinion that Bruce was too lenient towards criminals . Ultimately , Azrael went on to make decision unbefitting of anyone break the cowl .
Jean - Paul brought a more brutal fighting style root in the ideas of payback to his tenure as Batman . The Sacred Order condition Valley with extremist ideal and while he may have desired to do trade good , Azrael was too damaged by the gild ’s piece of work and it drastically affected his work as Bruce ’s permutation . He allowed villains to die and crusade anyone who questioned his methods . It was n’t until Bruce Wayne had heal that he could physically retire Azrael himself . Jean - Paul Valley was not prepared to take on the stresses of being Batman after his mental abuse at the hands of the Order . Bruce realized as much and pick himself for putting Jean - Paul in the field of operations - an opinion broadly prove justly by Valley ’s later valiancy . The entire experience was a lesson to reader thatBatman is not easily replaceableand that anyone wanting to step in must be able to deal the stress and rely on others to help guide them .
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Jim Gordon Didn’t Try to Copy Bruce Wayne
Jim Gordon has long been Batman ’s friend , the two learn themselves on the same mission of making Gotham safe . But after an explosive confrontation with the Joker , the Dark Knight was suddenly missing , suffering blackout that surcharge the city of its vigilante protector . In the events of ' Superheavy , ' city official address the dear solution to fill the void was to have a Batman that workedforGotham , rather than just in it . Jim Gordon , one of the best the GCPDhas to tender , was selected to protect and serve the city in this capacity . While a more imposing selection to defend Gotham than Azrael , Gordon quickly learned why someone like Batman ca n’t operate in the Gotham police force system .
Even with his initial misgivings , Gordon adapt to the role well , keeping the bequest of Batman live while learning a thing or two about the big superhero community of interests . The honest challenge Gordon faced during his time as Gotham ’s defender was having to reconcile his dedication to the Justice Department system with the action a vigilance man like Batman needs to take to get the job done . With a range of command to follow , Gordon receive himself stymiedfrom investigating crimes associate with a deadly new baddie , Mr. Bloom , and the result inaction contribute to a crushing flack on Gotham .
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Many fans were outraged by the idea of chain - fume police commissioner Jim Gordon becoming the Batman , but the story did a commendable job of pointing out that he was a former devil dog fit with cut edge tech , include the Project Batman exo - suit of clothes , which was able to playact independently , devote him a brother thatput Robin to shame(even if fans did nickname it the"Bat Bunny"due to its pronounce ' ears . ' )
Jim Gordon is a good human being and a proficient fuzz , but his fourth dimension as the Caped Crusader rise that he ’s more efficient workingwithBatman thanasBatman . Gordon believes in the systemand he do it a city like Gotham require hoi polloi like him in it to keep it honest . Gordon recognized that the family relationship between the GCPD and Batman can only work when both parties move severally and was more than well-chosen to have Bruce take his role back . The story proved that being Batman is n’t just about having the technical school and accomplishment , but total commitment to face down iniquity at any cost .
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Dick Grayson Kept the Legacy Alive (Twice)
Very few the great unwashed have been a part of Batman ’s war on criminal offense as long as Dick Grayson . As the Dark Knight ’s original Robin , he ’s seen Bruce at his best and his worst . And while he may have pull up stakes his role to become his own Heron , Nightwing , he ’s shown multiple times that he understand the solemnity of someone assuming the persona of Batman . When Azrael was off from his position , Bruce requested that Dick take his place . Dick had a bunch to overpower with Azrael denigrate the Batman name andTwo - Face wreaking havoc on Gotham . But Dick rose to the challenge and kept the metropolis safe until Bruce was set to return .
Unfortunately , that was n’t the only metre Dick would be call up . After Batman ’s presumed end inFinal Crisis , Dick had to don the cowl once more . Unlike the last time where Dick was asked to supplant Bruce , Dick had to make the pick to become Batman due to a wave of criminal offense brought on by the machination of the subtle Dr. Hurt . He also needed to allow a guide hand to Bruce ’s son , Damian , who ask a positive role modelwithout Bruce around . And once again , Dick successfully kept Gotham safe until Bruce ’s comeback . Bruce even impart Dick to go along serving as Gotham ’s Batman while he look at his operation global with Batman Inc.
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Dick ’s success as Batman was n’t a diagonal of luck . Unlike Azrael , Dick had a support system in his fellowship , his friends and mentors who reassured him that he did n’t have to bear the burden of Batman alone . Where Gordon was restrain by the very system of rules he have it away , Dick gave up his independent identity to serve a dandy good . It’sDick Grayson ’s power to link with othersand his drive to do what ’s necessary that made him the best Batman since Bruce Wayne .
Batman is one of the large symbols of justice in the DCU , but Bruce Wayne is a human race . DespiteBatman ’s achievements in agitate his bodywell past human limits , he ’s shown that even he is vulnerable , whether to a founder back or amnesia . Of the few masses who have suffice the call to become the new Dark Knight , only Dick was capable to fill up in and not miss a step , resulting in him being asked to take on the bonnet multiple prison term , unlike Azrael and Gordon . It ’s no competition that compare toAzraelandJim Gordon , Nightwingis by far the best temporaryBatman .
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