The man who proved batman wrong

ABSOLUTE UNIVERSE

Issue #4 — "THE MAN WHO PROVED BATMAN WRONG"

Opening Page

The Bat-Citadel.

The largest structure on Earth.

The center of Batman's perfect world.

The place from which every contingency is monitored.

Every future calculated.

Every risk measured.

Every mistake prevented.

Batman stands alone.

Looking down at Gotham.

The city is still peaceful.

The city is still safe.

The city is still afraid.

And for the first time in centuries...

Bruce Wayne is uncertain.

Scene One — The Invitation

A message appears.

Not a warning.

Not a threat.

A location.

Crime Alley.

Clark.

Batman stares at it.

For a moment the Omega Power suggests hundreds of responses.

Ignore it.

Monitor it.

Arrest him.

Contain him.

Prepare contingencies.

Bruce deletes every option.

And goes alone.

Scene Two — Crime Alley

Night.

Rain.

The alley is unchanged.

The same alley.

The same place.

The same wound.

Batman lands.

Superman is already waiting.

Neither speaks.

For a while they simply stand there.

Two gods.

In the place where one was born.

Finally:

BATMAN

You picked this place on purpose.

SUPERMAN

Of course I did.

Scene Three — The Argument Begins

Clark walks slowly through the alley.

No anger.

No rage.

No battle stance.

Just disappointment.

SUPERMAN

You know what I don't understand?

BATMAN

Many things.

SUPERMAN

Why you keep lying to yourself.

Batman stiffens.

BATMAN

Be careful.

SUPERMAN

About what?

Clark turns.

SUPERMAN

The truth?

Scene Four — The Core Belief

Batman finally speaks.

Years.

Centuries.

All condensed into one belief.

BATMAN

People don't change.

The words echo.

BATMAN

Give them enough time and everyone becomes what they truly are.

BATMAN

Criminals offend.

BATMAN

Tyrants rule.

BATMAN

Monsters destroy.

BATMAN

That's reality.

Clark listens.

Then asks:

SUPERMAN

Is it?

Scene Five — The Proof

Clark steps closer.

Not challenging.

Not threatening.

Just speaking.

SUPERMAN

What were you before Batman?

Bruce doesn't answer.

SUPERMAN

A child.

Silence.

SUPERMAN

Scared.

SUPERMAN

Broken.

SUPERMAN

Alone.

The rain falls harder.

SUPERMAN

Then you changed.

Bruce's jaw tightens.

SUPERMAN

You became Batman.

Clark keeps walking.

SUPERMAN

Then Batman changed.

SUPERMAN

You became a hero.

Another step.

SUPERMAN

Then the hero changed.

SUPERMAN

You became something more.

The Omega Power flickers.

Just once.

SUPERMAN

Then you changed again.

Clark stops directly in front of him.

SUPERMAN

You became a god.

Silence.

Complete silence.

Then Clark asks:

SUPERMAN

So tell me, Bruce.

SUPERMAN

If people can't change...

SUPERMAN

Explain yourself.

Scene Six — The Collapse

For the first time in centuries...

Batman has no answer.

The Omega Power searches futures.

Millions.

Billions.

Trillions.

No solution.

No contingency.

No escape.

Because Clark isn't attacking his system.

He's attacking the foundation beneath it.

Batman remembers:

Dick Grayson.

Barbara Gordon.

Damian Wayne.

Alfred Pennyworth.

Commissioner Gordon.

Selina.

Every person who changed.

Every person who grew.

Every person he helped become better.

Every person who disproves him.

And then...

The final realization.

He beat Darkseid because he believed change was possible.

Then spent centuries building a world that denied it.

Scene Seven — Laughter

Bruce looks at Clark.

Looks at Crime Alley.

Looks at himself.

And suddenly...

He laughs.

A small laugh.

Then another.

Then another.

The laughter grows.

Not Joker laughter.

Not madness.

Relief.

Pure relief.

The laughter of a man laying down a burden.

Clark smiles.

Bruce keeps laughing.

Tears form in his eyes.

BATMAN

My God...

Another laugh.

BATMAN

I've spent centuries proving myself wrong.

Clark nods.

SUPERMAN

I know.

Bruce laughs again.

Harder.

Freer.

Lighter.

For the first time in forever.

Bruce Wayne is happy.

Scene Eight — The Choice

The Omega Power begins reacting.

Not violently.

Almost peacefully.

Like it knows.

The light surrounding Batman softens.

The universe itself seems quieter.

Bruce looks at his hands.

Then at Clark.

For the first time...

Not as a threat.

Not as an equal.

As a friend.

BATMAN

You really are Hope.

Clark says nothing.

Bruce smiles.

A genuine smile.

BATMAN

Damn you.

Final Page

Above Earth.

Far above Gotham.

The Omega Power stirs.

Waiting.

Watching.

Knowing.

Batman stands in Crime Alley.

No longer certain.

No longer afraid.

No longer carrying everything.

And for the first time...

He is ready.

Caption:

BRUCE WAYNE

Maybe...

Maybe the world doesn't need me to save it.

Maybe it just needs a chance.

Final image:

Bruce and Clark standing together.

Not opponents.

Not gods.

Friends.

The first sunrise in centuries begins to appear behind them.

TO BE CONTINUED...

ISSUE #5 — "THE LAST KNIGHT"