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"The Butler Did It"

Gallery Alternate Covers:
Variant Cover

Batman Vol 1 #682
January, 2009

Executive Editor

Dan DiDio

Cover Artists

Alex Ross, Tony S. Daniel

Janelle Asselin, Mike Marts

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Batman #681

Batman #683

Appearing in "The Butler Did It"

Featured Characters:

Batman (flashback only)

Supporting Characters:

Villains:

Other Characters:

John Grayson (flashback only)
Mary Grayson (flashback only)
Joe Chill (flashback only)
Thomas Wayne (flashback only)
Martha Wayne (flashback only)

Locations:

(flashback only)

Items:

Vehicles:

Synopsis for "The Butler Did It"

Alfred Pennyworth reviews Batman's career. First, that fateful night where the bat entered the study as Bruce Wayne thought in the darkness. The incident inspired Bruce to become Batman, though Alfred thinks of some other things that he could have been. However, his work as Batman took its toll on Bruce Wayne's social life, and Julie Madison, a young woman he had been dating, left for Los Angeles.

Alfred finally managed to convince Bruce to take a break and enjoy a visit to Haly's Circus that fateful night when the Flying Graysons were killed and Dick Grayson was orphaned. Bruce took Dick as his legal ward and began molding him into Robin. They fought many villains in their time, chief among them the Joker, but they also made an ally in the original Batwoman. Her death hurt Batman, but he grieved and moved on. He later took part in an experiment for the army, where Doctor Simon Hurt first had access to Batman's mind. Time goes on, and eventually, Dick transitions to Nightwing and leaves. Bruce and Alfred discuss how much has changed in the years, and Bruce finally reveals that he knows that this person is impersonating Alfred. Suddenly, Bruce's mind changes to a world where his parents didn't die, and he is a doctor alongside his father.

These events are part of a plan by the New Gods of Apokolips to build an army based on Batman. The being impersonating Alfred is the Lump, a telepathic invader who is processing Batman's memories and experiences to simulate his drive, his dedication, and his unrelenting will to succeed. Once the Lump has processed all the memories, Simyan and Mokkari will kill Batman and use him as fodder to build the army. That will be Batman's legacy--an army of Batmen to die for Darkseid.

Notes

This issue shipped on December 3rd, 2008 (Early January cover date).

Issue shipped with an alternate cover illustrated by Tony S. Daniel.

This issue is a "Batman R.I.P." crossover and a "Final Crisis" crossover.

The events from this issue take place after Final Crisis #2.

Trivia

In one of the flashbacks, "Alfred" mentions some alternate names for Bruce to have adopted, including Owlman and Catman.

Links and References

Batman R.I.P. Crossover
The events from this issue or series are related to the "Batman R.I.P." storyline published throughout the Batman Titles in 2008, or its 2009 successor Battle for the Cowl. This template will categorize articles that include it into Batman R.I.P..

Batman R.I.P.

Core Issues

Batman #676 • Batman #677 • Batman #678 • Batman #679 • Batman #680 • Batman #681

Tie-Ins

Detective Comics #846 • Detective Comics #847 • Detective Comics #848 • Detective Comics #849 • Detective Comics #850 • Nightwing #147 • Nightwing #148 • Nightwing #149 • Nightwing #150 • Robin #175 • Robin #176 • Batman and the Outsiders #11 • Batman and the Outsiders #12 • Batman and the Outsiders #13

Last Rites

Batman #682 • Batman #683 • Detective Comics #851 • Batman #684 • Nightwing #151 Batman #686 • Detective Comics #853

Battle for the Cowl

Core Issues

Gotham Gazette #1 • Battle for the Cowl #1 • Battle for the Cowl #2 • Battle for the Cowl #3 • Gotham Gazette #2

One-Shots

Commissioner Gordon #1 • Man-Bat #1 • Arkham Asylum #1 • The Underground #1 • The Network #1

Miniseries

Azrael #1 • Azrael #2 • Azrael #3 • Oracle: The Cure #1 • Oracle: The Cure #2 • Oracle: The Cure #3

Final Crisis Crossover

The events from this issue or series are related to Final Crisis, the "Day Evil Won". This template will automatically categorize articles that include it into the Final Crisis Crossover category.

Core Issues