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The Dark Knight of Batman: The Imposter doesn’t have his traditional support system… and there are sad reasons for where Alfred and Gordon are.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Batman: The Imposter #2, available now from DC Comics.
Although it may not broadcast the Elseworlds banner, Batman: The Imposter has revealed itself to be a uniquely realistic and brutal take on the story of Batman. The hero has yet to confront any cartoonish villains or garish enemies, instead, he’s contending with the criminal powerhouses of the city in more realistic ways. This element also explains why this Batman doesn’t have many stringent allies.
In Batman: The Imposter #2 by Mattson Tomlin, Andrea Sorrentino, and Jordie Bellaire, it’s revealed how this version of the Caped Crusader ended up losing two of his traditionally strongest allies and it’s a perfect explanation for how this version of Batman has developed into such a hard man.
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In the world of Batman: The Imposter, the Dark Knight has been doing his best to combat the dangers of Gotham City largely on his own. Unlike most variations of the classic character, he’s completely alone in this crusade. The series serves as its own unique version of the Dark Knight, showing a version of Batman who’s unable to contend completely with the even ground-level criminals on the streets of Gotham — resulting in him coming closer to death than most versions of the character. A lot of this can be seen as the results of his typical support system being out of the picture, as neither Alfred nor Gordon are parts of Batman’s life in this reality.
Shortly after the loss of his parents, the Bruce of Batman: The Imposter became increasingly unstable. He terrified the staff of Wayne Manor — including Alfred Pennyworth. In most worlds, Alfred stepped up and became more than just a guardian to young Bruce, but a new father figure. In this world, however, the sudden pressure was too much for Alfred to handle. He eventually sent Bruce to a military school and quietly quit his position leaving the Wayne family behind and finding a new path in life. In the present day, this is why Wayne Manor is a decrypt ruin instead of a homey mansion, and Bruce notes — with some disdain — that he doesn’t particularly care for butlers.
At least in his first year, Batman had a steady ally in James Gordon. But a conversation with Leslie Thompkins hints at his eventual fate in this world. The GCPD officer worked with Batman to try and bring down some of the organized crime in the city. Their mission ended up incriminating a number of judges who had been working with the chief criminal families. But ultimately, their efforts met a more tragic and realistic fate. Due to Gordon working with an unlicensed vigilante, the evidence was thrown out and the judges they’d caught never faced justice. Instead, the GCPD turned on Gordon, with his alliance with the Batman costing him his job and allowing numerous other convictions to be overturned due to Batman’s interference.
Both changes are painfully realistic, with neither man leaving their encounter with Bruce Wayne unscathed. But it’s a tragic reason why this incarnation of Bruce is so alone and violent, with his commitment to his war on crime being a far harsher version in this reality. In a brutal twist of fate, this has left Bruce as alone as most versions actually believe themselves to be and in the perfect place to find guidance with Leslie Thompkins and potentially even romance with Blair Wong, a detective with the GCPD. This is a Batman with fewer people to overtly rely on and it might allow him to be pushed to a new, dangerous edge by his hunt for a killer posing as him.
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