Detective Comics 977: Finding Your Calling

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Batmen Eternal, Part 2

Writer - James Tynion IV, Artists - Javier Fernandez, Eddy Barrows & Eber Ferreira, Colors - John Kalisz & Adriano Lucas, Letters - Sal Cipriano, Cover - Alvaro Martinez, Raul Fernandez & Romulo Fajardo Jr., Assistant Editor - Dave Wielgosz, Editor - Chris Conroy, Group Editor - Jamie S. Rich

Initial Reactions

I know it sounds a little weird, but I have a soft spot for dystopian fiction.  I enjoy the moral themes that this type of writing presents.  This may be one of the main reasons I have been drawn to the stories in Detective Comics.  The opening sequence in this issue is both stunning and devastating for Tim Drake, but we finally get to see why his future self is so worried about Kate Kane.  I still have to be convinced on the character Ulysses, but I do like some of the schemes he is coming up with in this issue.  I am really liking this arc, and I can't wait to get into it.

The Story

We open a few years in the future at Ivy University with Tim Drake studying in what seems to be the Student Union.  His friend breaks up his concentration and convinces him to take a break.  He invites Tim to his "Terror Tuesday" movie marathon, but he has no interest.  Tim explains that seeing depictions of death is just not appealing anymore.  As they return to their dorm room, another floormate alerts them to the news.  We see that the President has deployed the Colony to take down Batman.  Tim rushes to his bedroom and takes out his Red Robin costume and heads toward the Bat Cave.

The scene shifts to Wayne Manor, which is surrounded by Colony ships, demanding that Batman disable his entire operation.  Batman refuses and instead is uploading something to Brother Eye.  As we turn the page, the Colony forces storm the mansion but Batman is ready for one last glorious stand.  In the last bat-shaped panel, we see that Bruce is shot in the shoulder.  As he looks up, he sees that the shooter is Kate, who gives him one last chance to surrender.  It seems as if the reactivation of his satellite is what pushed the Colony's hand.  When Bruce refuses, Kate executes him.  Just as Kate is confirming the success of her mission, Tim appears.  Just as they were about to fight, we see that this is all a simulation that Ulysses is showing Tim in the Present.

Ulysses tells us that the information for this simulation came from future Tim's suit, and that he is showing this dark future to him in order to help him. He is extremely eager to show off his lair, which is essentially a museum of weaponry.  He tries to endear himself to Tim, trying to relate to his sense of artistry.  As Tim asks why helping him is in Ulysses' interests, he shares that his own future self is unceremoniously disposed of by Batman and Red Robin.  His aspirations are higher than that.  He sees his purpose as providing Tim information from the future today, allowing him to bring peace to Gotham.  Tim turns down the offer, which upsets Ulysses.  He leaves the offer on the table, allowing Tim to think things through.  

Meanwhile, Luke Fox just broke the news to his sister that he is going to be away from Gotham for a year on Colony business.  She is very upset that he is leaving her here, even more alone than when he was Batwing.  She voices her concerns, but he insists that this is necessary to bring peace to the world.  Kate assures her that Luke is in good hands, and she agrees to let him go.  Azrael is hungry, and invites everyone to dinner, including a pair of Colony soldiers.  They politely decline because they are on watch duty.  Once they activate their armor systems, they are under the control of Brother Eye.  

On a rooftop in Gotham, Tim joins Batman to reconcile their recent arguments.  Just as he asks for help, Batman asks him to help out with their seemingly normal mission for the evening.  Just as they are about to descend on their targets, the Brother Eye-controlled Colony soldiers crash through the window and open fire inside.  The issue concludes with the reveal that Ulysses is controlling the soldiers, and monologues that this is all for Tim.

Final Thoughts  

On the surface, Ulysses seems to be motivated by a sense of calling.  For him, it is a delusion of grandeur, and his quest for superiority is already resulting in collateral damage.  In contrast, Tim's arc since his creation is the dissonance between the need to be Batman's Robin and his own best interests.  Currently, Tim is literally seeing his future before his eyes, and struggles with what that means for him.  While our calling usually incorporates our passions and talents, it also involves sacrifice.  Tim has certainly experienced this, and it has cost him dearly.  He is always being asked to forego his own interests in service of the greater good.  Tim certainly has the skill set to help in Batman's crusade, but at what cost?

What is God's calling for you?  When discovering this calling, what things have you had to sacrifice?  Is it worth it?  I would love to talk about these questions as well as what you thought of the issue.  You can comment below, find me @behindthecapes on Twitter, or by liking the Behind the Capes Facebook page.  Also, something new, Behind the Capes has a group called Behind the Capes' Nerd Out Round Table, where we talk about a bunch of geeky stuff.  It is technically a closed group, but anyone can join if they agree to the simple rules laid out in the group.  I would love for this group to grow!