#al cowlings

[intriguingpeoplebyangelafloyd]

AL COWLINGS

AL COWLINGS ‘AC’

16 June 1947

OJ SIMPSON

            Al Cowlings is best known for driving his white Ford Bronco with murderer O.J. Simpson sitting in the back, they led police on a low-speed chase on 17 June 1994.

            Cowlings was born in San Francisco, California, US and was a professional football player who also dabbled in acting. Cowling and OJ Simpson were teammates and had been good friends since High School.

            OJ Simpson murdered his ex-partner Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman on 12 June 1994 and became the prime suspect. He failed to turn himself in to the police. OJ Simpson dodged capture initially and the low-speed chase by police on the LA freeway was televised live and interrupted coverage of the 1994 NBA Finals. During the chase, Cowlings told police on the phone, ‘My name is AC. You know who I am, God damn it!’ Cowlings drove Simpsons to OJ’s Rockingham Estate in Brentwood where he surrended.

            Cowlings was charged with a felony for aiding a fugitive and was released on bail. On 16 June he and Simpson attended Brown’s funeral.

            During Simpson’s trial, there was evidence of Simpson’s blood with traces of Goldman’s blood mixed together inside Simpsons Ford Bronco (both OJ and Cowlings owned the same model vehicles). Jennifer Pearce who had relationships with both Cowlings and Simpson had testified during the trial. She claimed that Cowlings confessed to her that Simpson had called Cowling on the night of the murders and was hysterical. Simpson allegedly told Cowlings that the murder weapon has been disposed. Cowlings denied this. America turned the trial into a ‘race’ matter rather than just focusing on the murders itself and Simpson was acquitted. Goldman’s father filed a civil suit against Simpson and he was found liable for both deaths in 1997.

            Cowlings's famous Ford Bronco is on display at the Alcatraz East Crime Museum. Today Cowlings is retired and living in California. OJ Simpson was imprisoned for robbery and kidnapping in 2008 and was released in 2017. He died from cancer in 2024.

#alcowlings #ojsimpson

[raynewolferune]

Battle of the Not It

Just me pushing my personal agenda that the Battle for the Cowl makes no freaking sense once again.

I want to see the Battle of the Not It, Nose Goes, Worst out of 126+ Rounds of Rock Paper Siscors Takes It, etc. Basically, the Batfam throwing down in Bruce's absence to Not Be The One Who Inherits (TM). No one wants dear dad's emo fursona but they all agree someone has to take it. The resulting Loser Gets Batmanned sibling war throws Gotham into chaos, Oracle's keeping score of everything, the one with the lowest score at the end of every week is stuck with Batman Duty the following week.

Damian hates loosing his swords everytime he gets stuck doing Batman. Tim can't stand losing his tech. Jason misses his guns. Cass hates having to talk on can't use words days. Staphanie hates doing the voice. Dick can't tolerate being unable to smile. Duke needs his freaking sleep. The list goes on because they've all agreed they hate to embody Bruce's Batman, no one can put their own flare on it (Gun!Batman will not happen on their watch and they won't risk any other equally horrible variation either.) The resulting sibling war takes place 24/7 in the masks and the criminals and citizens of Gotham are as awed as they are horrified by it.

The strangest alliances form and disolve week to week. Dick cheats whenever he gets close to loosing and dips out because "Bludhaven needs him." Cass flits off to China on a last minute mission when too many of her siblings start forming up an alliance against her. Steph breaks her leg (she says it's an accident but Tim has very vocal doubts about that). Tim, Duke, and Damien start teaming up against Jason frequently and Red Hood gets stuck doing Batman practically every other week. Other weeks, Jason picks one of them as Robin for his Batman week (rotating between them as revenge) and forces a temporary alliance to make another of them Batman for the next week. Alfred encourages the four's little rivalry and manages to finagle them into all staying in the manor full time with him.

Just Batfam bonding shenanigans over how much they all Do Not want to be Batman.

And when Bruce comes back Babs naturally has a highlight reel waiting for him. Some of the gems include: Steph in a cast with crutches say "oh no, I broke my leg, however will I be Batman now" in the most deadpan voice. Dick 'answering' an obviously turned off cell phone pretending it's an emergency calling him back to Bludhaven. Cass saluting the security camera as she leaves with a full duffle bag in the dead of night. Jason in the Batsuit, minus cowl, storming into the kitchen shouting "you little shits are conspiring against me!" As Tim, Duke, and Damien are crowded around the island with a bunch of documents clearing planning something. A heated game of Rock Paper Scissors between Dick, Jason, and Tim with the rest of the batkids watching (having already won their freedom from the cowl for the following week). Duke wearing the cowl and asking Oracle repeatedly over coms if it's time for bed yet. Damien throwing a full on tantrum trying to get out of wearing the physical cowl "it's unnecessary and impractical!"

Oracle sends him the reel a day after his return during the standard Justice League team meeting, helpfully projecting it so everyone can see. The reels starts with an argument in the Bat Cave between all of Batman's (previously unknown to the Justice League) children:

"Well, Dickhead, I guess this means you're it now." The clip starts with a red helmeted man speaking.

"The fuck?" Nightwing asks on screen.

"You're Batman now." The teenager with yellow bandoliers replies from where he sits in front of an enormous computer. A girl in purple and another in black both nod. (At this point, it begins to dawn on members of the Justice League that this is footage from the fabled Bat Cave they're seeing.)

"Oh, fuck that!" Nightwing answers. "Not it!" He shouts. The boy with the bandoliers jolts and then says seemingly reflexively.

"Nose goes!" Bandolier boy calls out hand shooting up and touching his nose as he speaks. Both girls and Nightwing react immediately following suit. A smaller boy with a sword copies them a half second later. The red helmeted man sputters.

"Wha-that-NO! NO NO NO NO NO! I am not the one! Fuck no!"

"You snooze you loose, Bro." Nightwings tells him.

There's a pause, red helmet starts laughing, pulls the helmet off slowly to reveal a red domino underneath, and lazily touches his nose with a sharp grin.

"You're right, Bro." He says teasingly. "And Signal's still sleeping." A short pause and then all the people on screen are laughing.

"Oh," bandoliers gasps out between giggles. "He is gonna be so pissed in the morning."

[wesavegotham]

"Damian shouldn't be Batman because he was told it's his birthright, so he doesn't deserve it"

...I mean, let's be real nobody is ever going to replace Bruce as Batman, DC will nuke their continuity before that happens so why do people keep asking who will replace him, but also, that is not quite true?

In some stories DAMIAN thinks he's entitled to the cowl, but except for two not main continuity stories by Tom Taylor where Bruce dies (DCeased and Batman One last day: Ra's al Ghul) I really don't recall Bruce ever saying to Damian that he wants or expects him to be Batman after him. Either because he believes he will doom them all (Morrison run), expects him to be a hero who knows how to take care of the stuff Bruce will leave to him, but never says he wants him to be Batman (Batman and Robin 2011), created a cloning machine so nobody but Bruce will need to be Batman (Snyder's Batman run) or because he pretty much forgot/ignored Damian existence (pretty much everything between 2018 and 2021).

And Ra's and (modern, not classic) Talia wanting him to be Batman makes little sense either because they want an heir for the league of assassins to take over because the lazarus pits might stop working for Ra's. Batman is mostly focused on Gotham, their plans are about the world. It wasn't their goal to raise the next protector of Gotham.

In Pre New 52 and then in New 52 continuity Damian wasn't even told who his father was until he was ten.

Thinking he should become the next Batman was Damian's own idea.

[cheesed-14]

daughter of the Demon & son of Gotham

[mlbdraws]

new kids on the block

[thefluffybennett]

not me sobbing over infant damian AGAIN sisters what the FUCK

like hes undeniably a lttle shit but my god LOOK AT HIM

[adalineozie]

Headcanon

When Damian first came to live with his father in Gotham, he refused to adopt the name Wayne for years. Damian for a long time would deny that Bruce Wayne was his father. When the batfamily would ask him why, he'd explain that he is the son of Batman, not Bruce Wayne.

[bess3714]

BIG fan of how Dick is standing here. HUGE fan. I love the way swordfighters(?) stand.

I don't know about that, Michael, they seem pretty not-cool too ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Okay, Dick, but I don't know what. I am perpetually confused about everything and need it explained to me like I'm five. Is this in reference to him becoming Batman? Is this Damian related? Comics are so confusing and I like it like that.

WHAT DID I SAY?? Not. Cool.

Daaaaaaammmmn, I wonder what Bruce would say about this. I mean, he didn't kill him, or anything, so it's probably fiiiiiiine

Listen, I didn't know this guy existed before Battle for the Cowl but I kinda like him. He's a little weird but that just makes him better

[bitterrobin]

a small snippet of my notes

Here's my haphazard planning for the final chapter of CHIROPTERA in my notes app.

It's still subject to change, but I just wanted to get it out there to see people's thoughts. Take all of the wording here as prose, since I'm still testing out the...feeling of the chapter.

I still need to reread UTRH and catch up with Batgirl 2000, but I have big plans for Cass and Jason's final fight. A two-part event so to speak, that ends with the plan above. Things will probably be changed no matter what, since I'm still in the process of writing. Talia's part in the fic will be minor, since I want it to focus more on the Batman conflict and Damian's inner conflict. This is just building towards her bigger involvement later on, and maybe the Batman Inc rewrite I'm still planning. Who knows.

[splooosh]

Battle for the Cowl

Guillem March

[late-tothe-party-07]

Everyone: Who will take up the mantel when Bruce dies omg we need to know beforehand ahhhh

Me, walking in with a smoothie: Let Batman die with Bruce. He's been gone for awhile before, and you guys handled it. You literally have enough associates to have the US government worried you're making a private military. Rely on each other like the family you fricking are, instead of destroying and sacrificing one person for the sake of keeping a troubled man's legacy alive. Let. Batman. Die.

Everyone:

“Cass should be Batman” “Dick should be Batman” “Jason should be Batman” the real question is: Who tf would wanna be Batman lmaoo

[graphicpolicy]

Exclusive Preview: Venom #35

Venom #35 exclusive preview. For calamity to be averted, can either Brock suffer the other to live? #comics #comicbooks #venom

[caffeinatedvigilantewriter]

Dick Grayson used to be Dani Fenton

You can see it in the way he flips in the air, almost flying. You can see it in the way he switches between languages. Accents aren’t a problem. It’s almost like he’s lived there for longer than 2 weeks like he claims. You can see it in the way he celebrates with the locals, as if he’s living, laughing and dancing like he’s been there before. You can spot it in the way he handles spicy food, and isn’t scared to try new things. He can handle the weird, unique, and cultural. You can see it in the way he fights for justice and protection, because someone she used to know had the same mission. You can see it in the way he cares for his siblings; Dani’s family did the same for her. You can spot it with the way she forgives, after all, once upon a time, Danny forgave her too. You can see it in the way he fought a for freedom, she had to do that once.

Bruce Wayne used to be Danny Fenton

You can see it in the way he puts on the cowl, hands shaking, but his crusade isn’t over yet. You can see it in the way he cares for his family, even if he doesn’t show it the way he should. You can see it in the way he can handle the cold gotham nights without a shiver. You can hear it in the way his voice commands, as if his words could knock down a building with a scream. You can(‘t) see it in the way he blends in with the shadows seamlessly. You can see it in the way he relaxes on the watchtower, overlooking the void of space. You can see it in the way he gets up, because if he doesn’t keep fighting, who will?

Cassandra Cain used to be Jazz Fenton

You can spot it in the way she reads people, a lifetime of psychology helps. You can see it in the way she’s always there, because once she wasn’t and her brother died. You can see it in the way she fights with a purpose, because she finally has the skills and courage to help. You can see it in the way she’s always ready to listen and bear your stress, because no one did that when she was struggling. You can see it in the way she protects, because she was once protected, and she is now returning the favor. You can see it in her determination as she faces the rouges of Gotham without fear of death, because death is not the end.

Tim Drake used to be Tucker Foley

You can see it in his hands that fly across a keyboard like he was born to type. You can see it in the way he keeps his gadgets on hand, he never knows when he might need them. You can see it in the way he helps, because that was all he could do. You can see it in his stubbornness, after all, someone had to convince Danny to let him help. You can see it in the way he solves cases, because he was the only one who could. You can(‘t) spot it in the way he hides, after all, he can’t exactly fly. You can see it in the way he downs coffee like he needs it to live, spending the night fighting ghost and rouges doesn’t exactly give you a good nights sleep. You can see it in the way he can assess for danger, after all, the last time he didn’t he watched his best friend die.

Damian Wayne Al Ghul used to be Dan Phantom

You can see it in the way he hesitated before killing. You can see it in the way he was desperate to be loved. You can see ut in the way he’s determined to keep everyone alive, because he didn’t do that right the first time. You can see it in the way he patrols with Jon, because he finally has someone to fight rouges with again. You can see it in the way he cares for animals. Animals don’t deserve the cruel fate life has given them. You can see it in the way he fights, desperate to prove his family’s trust, love and forgiveness was worth it. You can see it in the way he cares for Titus, who reminds him of a certain green dog. You can see it in the way he never cuts corners, last time he did he watched everyone he loved die. He will not make the same mistake again.

They might not remember who they were, but they will soon.

Lazarus Water has a habit of bringing back old lives…

[gotham-snark]

WAAAAAAAAHHH this is too cute!! 🥹

an attempt at brotherly bonding

[redsray]

Red Robin Au where after Battle for the Cowl, Jason (instead of donning that ridiculous pill helmet) goes back to visit Talia and blow off some steam with the LOA; it's an effective way to do so at first, as long as he keeps Ra's at arms length and has all the Bats away from him. Except is that Timothy fucking Drake working with Ra's al Ghul.

So now Jason's like oh my god are you kidding me why is Tim here working with Ra's of all people??? Last he checked, Dick was Batman now and Tim was part of that gaggle of Robins in Gotham. Not here, in Nanda Parbat.

Tim, fresh from a splenectomy: Jason?!

Jason: What the fuck are you doing here?

Tim: ??? I could ask you the same question??

Jason: No the fuck you couldn't?? I trained with Talia and now I'm back here for a bit, and I'm not the one missing an organ right now?! Why aren't you back with Dickbat in Gotham??

Tim: Well. Let's say I'm not Robin anymore

Jason: ... Not... Robin?

Tim, scowling: Dick gave it to Damian.

Jason: Dick is Batman for like a month and already gave the traffic light leggings to a mini assassin? Nice.

Tim: Ugh

Jason: And... this was enough reason to run away and get impaled by assassins in Iraq? While working with Ra's al Ghul?

Tim: Well, not really. I need to find Bruce, and Ra's is the only one who will help me. Even if he's a freak of nature.

Jason: Bruce... are we talkin' about another Bruce or did I miss a memo? Bruce is dead, Timbo.

Tim: He's not. He's trapped in the timestream and trying to get back. And don't- don't tell me I'm going insane with grief or in denial. Laugh all you want, then leave. I don't need this shit again.

Jason: Trapped in time? Damn motherfucker can't even stay dead?

Tim: ... You believe me?

Jason: Sure. Not the craziest shit we've seen. I have a feeling you wouldn't go as far as Ra's if you were actually going off nothing. (mumbling) stealing my schtick. What a bastard.

Tim, blinking: Wow. That... just wow. That was easy. Dick thought I was losing it with grief and so has everyone else.

Jason, shrugging: B is definitely stubborn enough to get lost in time instead of dying and, frankly, I know what being off yer rocker looks like, and this ain't it. I climbed out of my grave, for god's sake, is time shit really off the table? Wouldn't hurt t'look if the old man's still kickin'.

Tim: Uh-

Jason: First stop: away from Ra's, preferably. Talia's not bad, but Ra's is a whole other can of worms. Get up or I drag you.

[bess3714]

I've got to say, even though the art in this series isn't to my usual taste, I really like how moody the colors are. The cool blues, the warm yellows, it's very thematic. Plus, the framing on this page looks really awesome

Oh, that's very clever, ten points for Talia

Michael must have a spine made of steel to be brave enough to call Talia a "diabolical seductress" to her face. Not that I disagree with the diabolical part, because giving your son a suit that drives people insane so he can become Batman and assuming he won't go insane because he's her special little boy seems slightly unhinged. And also stupid. I definitely disagree with the seductress part. Michael got away with calling her a babe, and yet she's the seductress? She didn't even do anything! The sexiest thing she did was try to stab him, and that's not a metaphor.