Summary
Warning! Spoilers ahead for Batman #150!One of the most curious plot points fromThe Dark Knightis outdone when Batman shows how he would actually handle someone like Mr. Reese. When a small-time crook discovers Batman’s most closely-guarded secret, fans get to see how the Prime Caped Crusader would actually resolve such a delicate situation.
InBatman #150by Chip Zdarsky, Denys Cowan, and Jorge Jiménez, a criminal named Teddy wants to profit afterdiscovering Batman’s secret identity. However, Teddy only succeeds in nearly getting himself killed multiple times. Batman rescues Teddy and takes him to his son, who tells his fatherthe impact Batman has hadon his life.
Bruce Wayne meets with Teddy and tells him he’s made arrangements for Teddy to start a new life in Metropolis.Inspired by his son and the positive effect of Batman, Teddy resolves to keep the secret to himselfand promises to become a better person.
Batman Guards His Identity By Helping The Man Who Found Out Bruce’s Secret
This isn’t the first time someone has figured out Batman’s secret identity. Fans may recall Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knightand the subplot involving Wayne Enterprises employee, Coleman Reese. As an accountant, Reese discovered that funds from the company were being used to fund Batman, and he approached Lucius Fox with the intent to blackmail the company in exchange for his silence. However, Fox got Reese to back down by reminding him of the brute force Batman was capable of.Reese later attempted to reveal Batman’s identity on a talk show, only to be stopped by the Joker.
Reese and Teddy share one trait: They both believed they could use Batman’s identity for financial gain. But rather than intimidate someone into silence (like Lucius did with Reese), Bruce has an honest conversation with Teddy. Not only did he keep an eye out for Teddy to make sure he didn’t get killed trying to make his score, but Batman also gave Teddy a chance to reconnect with his son and in the process, learnwhyBatman’s secret needed to stay hidden. It’s a much kinder andmore effective approach than the wayThe Dark Knighthandled the situation.
Batman’s Identity Can Be a Teachable Moment
While the Mr. Reese subplot works in the larger narrative of the film, the way Batman deals with Teddy is frankly more heroic. He doesn’t threaten Teddy in any way. Batman just shows Teddy what the reality of his situation is and gives him a way out. Bruce handles this exactly the way a hero would and it pays off. Acts of kindness are what heroes are all about and because of Batman, Teddy now has a chance to grow and become a better person, something thatThe Dark Knight’sReese never got.
The Dark Knight
Cast
The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan, is the second installment in the Batman trilogy starring Christian Bale as Batman. Released in 2008, the film follows Batman’s alliance with Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent as they combat the organized crime that threatens Gotham, facing the menacing Joker.
