Batman: The Brave and the Bold

Batman, I'm in.

Looks like you were right.

Darkseid does indeed have designs on Earth.

Work quickly, Question.

There's not a creature on Apokolips that would hesitate to kill you.

Impossible.

Their plan is far worse than we ever imagined.

He's going to...

Batman? Are you there?

You may have discovered my father's plans.

But that knowledge won't save your planet.

Kalibak.

Darkseid's demented progeny.

I don't know who smells worse: You or the dogs.

The only stench you'll be smelling is your own

as you cook over the fire pits of Apokolips.

There's no escape.

Batman has sent you on a suicide mission.

Batman sent me because I always get answers.

There are fates worse than death awaiting you and the people of Earth.

Will you face them or fry?

Good question.

Once upon a time,

Gotham City was a cesspool of crime and corruption,

where gangsters and madmen ran afoul of the law

and decent people lived in fear.

That is, until a force for justice

appeared in the leather-winged guise of Batman.

Eventually, he saw the need for a partner in crime-fighting,

a squire, who would help him in his caped crusade.

Thus was born,

Robin.

Together they served as an ever vigilant reminder

to the Gotham Underworld

that no criminal was safe

as long as the dynamic duo was on the job.

It came time for the Robin to leave the nest.

And the Dark Knight again had to defend Gotham alone.

The greatest threat to Gotham was the Joker.

The very antithesis of Batman,

who ultimately brought about his own demise.

With his most fearsome foe vanquished,

he was able to focus on more important matters.

After all, even crime fighters need love.

And so it came to be

that the Bat and the Cat

prowled the Gotham nights together.

Our hero realized Batman had to be immortal,

even though Bruce Wayne was not.

But being true to form, he had a contingency plan.

And so the mantle of Batman was passed and justice endured.

Batman endured.

But this story was far from over.

Little Damian.

Am I kidding myself,

hoping you'll never spend sleepless nights

prowling rooftops and hunting criminals?

But should the world still need a Dark Knight,

I'll see to it that you're more than just a Batman by birthright.

Even the dinosaurs don't get a museum this big.

This is just Gotham's way of saying thanks.

Without Batman, the world would be a much darker place.

Who knows? Someday you may end up in this museum, Damian.

Intimidating much, Dad?

Could I finish junior high before you put a cape on me?

If this museum shows me anything,

it's that the world will always need a Batman.

- But what if I wanna be a scientist? - Crime-fighting is a science.

What about a racecar driver?

The Batmobile is the fastest car on the planet.

- Astronaut. - The galaxy is just another neighborhood

to patrol for a crime fighter.

Isn't that what Green Lantern told you that time?

Cut it out, Dad. Don't map out my life for me, okay?

Damian, why don't you go check out the Hall of Holyisms?

It's corny but it's kind of cool.

He gets that attitude from you.

But he has your heart, Bruce.

You know how proud he is of you. Of all this.

But he's young.

He needs to figure things out for himself without us pushing him.

- Mom? Dad? - Damian, over here.

Since the old man did the soft shoe off this mortal coil years ago,

it's only fitting that I crash the party in his place.

After all, I am the Joker's son.

Daddy's sledgehammer in here? Heresy.

The Joker has a son?

You mean, someone had kids with that guy?

Impossible. This is just a sick, shameless charlatan.

I'm gonna make this city forget Batman

if I have to conk every gullible Gothamite on the noggin one by one.

Got quite an arm on you, Mr. Wayne.

Think I'll use it to beat you to death with.

Brand new joke. Same old punch line.

Dad!

Funny, I was only supposed to trash the place,

but looks like you're going to be the booby prize, old man.

Hands off the merchandise.

No spawn of a rodeo clown is going to squash my husband.

I forgot how cute you are when you're threatening.

This guy's crazy. What are we gonna do?

Here, give these a try. It'll be good practice.

Dad, I told you I'm not ready. I still... Look out!

It just a gas grenade, Damian.

You've got a whole three seconds to throw it back before it goes off.

You think trashing a museum is going to ruin Batman's legacy?

I won't let you do that.

You and what army, old man?

Actually, that army would be me.

We haven't met, Junior.

I'm Batman.

Well, now that the guest of honor has arrived,

it's time to bring down the house.

No!