Chapter By Chapter (usually) features me reading one chapter of the selected book at a time and reviewing it as if I were reviewing an episode of a TV show or an issue of a comic. There will be spoilers if you haven’t read to the point I have, and if you’ve read further I ask that you don’t spoil anything further into the book. Think of it as a read-along book club.

PART 3: KnightsEnd

The end is in sight. All stories end sometime, even the good ones like this. Last time Bruce was ready to put on the costume but the name and persona doesn’t seem to be in his head. Hurry up, Bruce!

That is one thing that O’Neil has brought up thematically in this book: the hero identity. In these days where superhero names, identities, and code names are now treated as “mantles” so this or that creator can use the marketing of a big name to push their character (and often their social issues), it feels like the hero identity has been further nullified. Over in the Marvel universe the concept of secret identities seem to be slowly disappearing and there are writers and/or editors at DC that seem to be trying to do the same thing there. This seems like a good topic on it’s own so I’ll save it and get back on topic.

We’ve seen in this book that Bruce puts a lot of stock in those names. If Tim is in the Robin costume, he’s Robin. When Bruce was disguised as Sir Hemingford Grey he insists on being called by that name and keeping up the persona and speech patterns. It speaks to Bruce’s mindset. He’s Batman in the cape and cowl but Bruce out of it, lending more credience to my rejection of “Bruce Wayne is the mask”. Jean Paul is calling himself Batman now that he’s in the outfit, but he’s corrupting what it means to be Batman because he hasn’t rejected the part of him that became Azrael. He’s Azrael in a Batman themed armor but he’s holding on to that identity as the only one that matters. Is he even thinking of himself as Jean Paul anymore? On the plus side it helps maintain a secret identity without slipups. Say if Batman has to save Tim and friends and Tim doesn’t have a chance to change costumes, thus not changing identities. In Bruce’s mind Batman is saving Tim, not Bruce saving Robin or any other combination. It’s probably what helps Bruce keep “public Bruce” and “Batman” separate, and he’s not the only one. Look at the various defenses of Clark Kent and you’ll see what I mean. Even with me, “Troy A” is the penname I use in my comics while “ShadowWing Tronix” has become my reviewer identity. It’s more mindset than the performed personalities, though if you get too into the roles you get the recent take on Moon Knight in the comics.

Will any of that play into this chapter? Let’s dive in and see.

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