Spoilers follow Batman #127 below! New Batman writer Chip Zdarsky has wasted no time in making a huge imprint on the legends of the Dark Knight now that he’s the lead book architect at DC Comics. In addition to killing a major villain (revive them very quickly) and introducing a formidable new opponent, Zdarsky and artist Jorge Jimenez have reintroduced a major piece of Batman lore with a fresh new spin, Batman of Zur-En-Arrh. Originally introduced back in the pages of Batman #113 in 1958 as a completely different character, this alternate character of Batman is very dangerous.
So what is Batman Zur Un Arh?
Although he was originally a completely different character, Grant Morrison has reconnected Batman from Zur-En-Arrh to become a backup character created by Bruce Wayne. Made so that his mind is fortified in the event of a psychological attack or mental compromise, Batman of Zur-En-Arrh has fewer inhibitions and acts more violently than the average Batman (if you can believe it). He also wears a very colorful costume in stark contrast to the regular Batman, including a purple robe and cowl, a red outfit, and yellow arms.
How does Zur-En-Arrh’s Batman fit into the new comics?
Before Zdarsky and new Jimenez appear on Batman, it was revealed that they will introduce a new villain in the mix, Failsafe. Failsafe is revealed as android, and it was actually created by Batman of Zur-En-Arrh to stop Batman for any reason. In the pages of the new comics Failsafe is triggered after news reports that Batman killed The Penguin begins to spread, and Batman realizes that the only way to stop Failsafe is for the man he created to do so, which means he must control the return of his body to Zor-en-Arh.
What does zor en ara mean?
Originally it was just the name for another planet, an extraterrestrial place that has its own version of Batman in a patchwork-style suit. Thanks to Grant Morrison, the phrase has been given a new meaning, formed together from the last words Bruce Wayne heard aloud from his father before his death. As he left the stage, Thomas Wayne said “The sad thing is that they’d probably throw someone like Zorro at Arkham,” with those last three words becoming Zur-En-Arrh jumbled.
Chip Zdarsky will continue to explore the Zur-En-Arrh side of Batman in the pages of their series, confirming that the next set of stand-up stories in the comics will be titled “Zur-En-Arrh Year One.” You can find the full cover and seek the next issue of the series below.
Batman #128
August 223138
(W) Chip Zdarsky (A) Leonardo Romero (A/CA) Jorge Jimenez
Failsafe has taken his family and allies and now his city… Broken and defeated, Batman retreats to the last place on earth he can hide… But nothing can really hide from Failsafe!
In Backup…Batman prepared his mind for anything, or so he thought. We go back to his early days and a chilling case led to…
In stores: October 4, 2022
SRP: $4.99
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