Random Happenstance

So far we've seen three of the four Batman Legends of the Dead Earth annuals, and I couldn't tell you if they were written or came out in any order, but appropriately enough, this feels like the last one, since we're going all the way out to the end of the universe: from 1996, Batman: Shadow of the Bat Annual #4, "King Batman" Written by Alan Grant, pencils by Brian Apthorp, inks by Stan Woch.

This one has possibly the most interesting framing device of any of the LotDE stories I've read yet: it's nearing the heat death of the universe, as the last star is about to burn out, and the last sentient being left, is basically Satan. Evil won in the end, and for what? Nothing. Literally, nothing: instead of the universe evolving into something better, capital-E Evil has won, and 33 billion years are for nothing. So, Evil's victory, feels a little hollow. But, does he have to go out like that? Could he possibly make a change in the past and shift the cosmic balance? Possibly more out of stubborn resistance than anything, he opts to try it, reaching back to a distant world, and the start of the reign of terror of lizard-king Ophos Arkayos. Technically, Ophos might be a liberator: he tells his armies, when humans came to his world, the divided and disorganized lizards were oppressed; but we see him decapitate city-hero Starman, then order all the citizens of Finger City over the age of nine be butchered, with the kids saved for later snacking...it's a mixed bag. Only Nu-Gotham remains, and if the lizards get that, they also get spaceships, which doesn't bode well for the rest of the universe.

In Nu-Gotham, lizard spies, in front of a poster with a lizard on it that says "Beware of Spies," meet a collaborator, a Nu-Penguin. Luckily, this city's hero was a Nu-Batman, with a regal ax-staff weapon, and "the light of justice!" A "photonic flash" that would make the recipient temporarily conscious of all the horrible things they had ever done. Sounds terrible, like suddenly remembering something stupid you said once in the middle of the night. Batman returns to the royal palace, where young Robin greets his father, King Bruce, "the hero of the whole city!" Bruce's face at the sound of that...Bruce also doesn't seem like a tactical expert, deferring to his retainer, Richard. Ophos approaches Bruce's duke, Alfredo, with an offer: surrender, and free passage for himself and the royal family. Evil tries to use what power it had left, to sway Alfredo's decision, to give up; but Alfredo says no deal.

Readying for battle, Evil tries to sway Bruce or Richard: the Batman would be at the forefront, a target for every lizard on the planet, but he can't abandon Gotham. Evil knows what happens next, though: Batman leads his forces, to a bloody defeat. The lizards will take to space and put the universe to the sword, speeding up the end of everything. Sure enough, Gotham's forces think they have the lizards beat, walk into a trap before Batman can stop them, and get shredded. Batman dies a death that's only surprising in its relative bloodlessness: I'd have thought lizards would tear him into giblets. And Evil had only one small hope left, as Robin finds, in a dark room, his father: Richard had been the Batman for him, and had for years. Would Robin hate his father for being a coward...? Surprisingly for Evil, no.

To make amends to his friend and his city, Bruce suits up for real now, and challenges Ophos Arkayos to mortal combat. Bruce is completely outmatched, but manages to get Ophos with the light of justice, spurring remorse in even a lizard's brain. The lizards are stunned and defeated, and Evil wonders, did that turn the tide? Nope, universe still ending, and now he felt like more of a loser for trying. But, a new Big Bang kicks off something new, and maybe better. Although, I thought you were supposed to see a giant hand when the DC universe was created...