Warning: spoilers for Batman: The Detective #1!
DC's worst superhero. There have been many criticisms of Batman's crime-fighting style and his impact on Gotham. Now, the Dark Knight is bringing some of those criticisms upon himself and realizing he may not be as good as he hoped he was.
First appearing in 1939, Bruce Wayne has spent a lot of time being Gotham's main vigilante. Over the years there have been numerous criticisms about how he chooses to fight crime, such as how he could have used his money better or how his code holds him back. Batman has worn the cape and cowl a long time and has been fighting the same villains repeatedly. While this is par for the course when it comes to superheroes in comics, it is even getting to be a bit much for Bruce himself.
Batman: The Detective #1 - written by Tom Taylor with art by Andy Kubert - shows Bruce Wayne questioning everything he has done as Batman. People he saved were personally attacked and harmed, drawing him out from Gotham and heading towards the United Kingdom. In the bat-cave, he reflects on his impact on Gotham - or rather, the lack of impact he has had over so much time. This issue forces Bruce to ask: "what difference have I made?"
In reality, Bruce has made very little difference. Gotham isn't safe and never seems to truly get any safer. Crime hasn't lowered and he keeps facing the same criminals and supervillains - or new villains inspired by the ones that came before. This moment shows Bruce at his lowest: realizing that he isn't the superhero he thought he would be or was, in retrospect. Nothing he has done has actually made Gotham a better place for anyone to live. All he has done is enter an endless cycle that brings him loss, scars, and pain - even as Bruce continues to try inspiring hope.
This issue provides a low moment as Batman discovers that his existence has become too small for his original aspirations. Alfred is gone and his manor is emptier than it has ever been. Bruce has lost the closest family he had and it's taking its toll on his mental state. The truth is that he has had smaller impacts, which are still important, but they definitely haven't been the victories he may have previously thought he had under his belt. Everything Batman thought he stood for and accomplished has had little impact in the long term and now he knows he could potentially be DC's worst hero.
