Today's edition of Dave-El's Spinner Rack takes a look at what's been going on with the Chip Zdarsky run on Batman.
Recently featuring the epic clash between Bruce Wayne and Zur-En-Arrh for the mantle of the Bat.
What the heck is Zur-En-Arrh?
The name "Zur-En-Arrh" was introduced in a 1950's era story written by Frances Herron and drawn by Dick Sprang about an alien named Tlano from the planet Zur-En-Arrh who decided to become The Batman for his planet.
It's was 1950's Batman which frequently had Batman dealing with aliens and magical imps and other kinds of foolishness that bothered Superman over in his books.
In the early 21st century, writer Grant Morrison took over Batman and introduced "Zur-En-Arrh" as Batman's emergency back up personality as a defense against mental attacks.
Zur-En-Arrh was unhinged and very violent, lacking Bruce Wayne's control.
In 2022 (Geez! It's been two years?!), when Chip Zdarsky took over as the new Batman writer, the Zur-En-Arrh persona popped back up during his opening Failsafe storyline. Failsafe was an android created to stop Batman should Batman turn evil.
A false story that Batman murdered the Penguin activates Failsafe to stop Batman once and for all.
It seems whenever Bruce Wayne wasn't paying attention,Zur-En-Arrh has been busy. The persona keeps poking and poking at Bruce, forcing him to make bad decisions that drive him apart from the Bat family. Zur-En-Arrh causes Bruce to push away Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Barbara Gordon, Damien Wayne and all the rest.
And also build Failsafe.
Bruce Wayne is isolated and alone.
Except for Zur-En-Arrh.
Who is ready to move on from Bruce's head and become is own thing. Zur-En-Arrh uploads himself into the Failsafe android body and turns himself into the new Batman.
While Bruce rots in Arkham.
Zur-En-Arrh Batman goes back to Gotham on a once and for all war to eradicate all crime while Robin Damian Wayne actually joins up with him 'cause to that little pyscho's way of thinking, Batman is finally making sense.
Until Zur-En-Arrh Batman goes a bit too far and Damian is forced to confront this Batman is not Bruce Wayne.
One tip off is Zur-En-Arrh Batman is creating Amazo bodies where he will upload variations of Batman across the multi-universe into those bodies.
What the...?
Meanwhile, the real Bruce Wayne is NOT rotting in Arkham but has affected his escape. But how does he fight a version of himself who knows everything he knows and is working in a super powered android body?
Bruce has to think in ways Batman does not usually think and act in ways completely unexpected by Zur-En-Arrh Batman.
In a pitch epic battle between the two Batmen, Zur-En-Arrh Batman kills former Robin Jason Todd.
Which is part of Bruce's plan. That Bruce would willingly sacrifice one of his own family catches Zur-En-Arrh Batman off guard.
The Failsafe programming is still there in the Zur-En-Arrh Batman: when Batman kills, Batman must be stopped.
Zur-En-Arrh Batman is defeated.
Don't worry about Jason. He's done this before. He'll get better.
Just at the end, Amanda Waller and her Task Force X has snatched the Failsafe android body for purposes that will come to light in the Absolute Power event. Which is a whole 'other kettle of fish for a future Spinner Rack post.
Back to Batman....
When Chip Zdarsky took over this title, I might have expected a more street level approach given Chip's background with Marvel's Daredevil. But Chip has given us a Batman who would've been at home with some of the more outlandish sci-fi plots of the 1950's but filtered towards the dark gritty filter of a post Frank Miller perspective of our Caped Crusader.
By firmly accepting that Batman does exist in a larger DC universe (and multi-verse), Chip creates challenges to Batman that truly tests him in physical, mental and emotional ways like never before.
But Batman under Zdarsky has been perhaps too chaotic and unfocused. But perhaps that's given when the battleground is expanded from Gotham City to the entire DC multi-verse.
But the last two years on this title have not been boring. Chip Zdarsky zigs when you expect a zag. His version of Batman may not always have been on point and it may not always make sense but it's always interesting.
I've got another Spinner Rack post in a week or so wherein I will comment on the new DC event Absolute Power.
Spoiler: I don't like it.
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