#c: detective comics | i: 370

[martyrbat]

detective comics #370

(ID in alt!)

[martyrbat]

detective comics #370

[ID: Batman confronting a villain that's reaching for a gun. Batman thinks, “Pulling a gun—! That figures too! A coward would resort to gunplay to protect his precious skin—!” END ID]

[martyrbat]

detective comics #370

[ID: Bruce Wayne as an adult reflecting on being a child and how he was bullied relentlessly. He narrates several flashbacks, “I was only a kid — ten years old — still at school... At that time I was skinny and undersized... And there was another fellow in our class a year or two older but much bigger! His name was Bart Lambert! For some reason... for a reason I've never figured out, Lambert selected me as his special victim... And the prize butt of his cruel jokes...”

We're shown young Bruce being tripped by the larger classmate. He goes crashing to the ground as all his books go flying out of his arms! Bart Lambert taunts him, “What's 'a matter, Bruce-y? Can't you walk straight on those skinny legs of yours?” One of Lambert's friends laughs at his bullying and calls him a riot. Adult Bruce admits, “I was scared of him — no use denying it! But I fought him anyway! I never had a chance...” We're shown young Bruce attempting to stand up for himself. His fists are clenched and held up but Lambert easily keeps him at arms length! He mocks him, “What makes you think you can fight me, you little creep—!” Lambert's friend once again encourages him, shouting, “Haw! Give it to him, Bart!”

Modern Bruce continues, “Once in the schoolyard, he gave me ‘three-six-nine’! In our neighborhood that was the ultimate disgrace...” Young Bruce is rubbing his eye and trying to not cry as his bully punches him while chanting a rhyme, “Three-six-nine... a bottle of wine! I can lick you... any old time! — And you better remember that, Wayne — never forget it!” Adult Bruce confesses, “I hated him more than I've ever hated anyone! It became an obsession! He even haunted my dreams...” Bruce is shown laying in his bed with a distressed grimace as he dreams about Lambert shoving him from behind to cause him to drop his books.

He says, “Lambert's bullying had one good result! I began to exercise, to build myself up, every day, furiously...” The scrawny child is shakily doing push-ups as he counts them out up to thirty-one! He pants out that's two more than yesterday and next he'll try the barbells. Modern Bruce narrates, “A couple of years later I suddenly shot up like a weed, and filled out! The exercise gave me muscles! But by that time...” Bruce, now approximately an older teen, is shown to be in an orange sweater and looking anxiously insecure. The teenager internally reflects, ‘Lambert's moved away! Now that I'm big enough to meet him in an even fight, he's gone! Now I'll never know if I could beat him... I may never see him again! I've got to forget him — concentrate on school!’ END ID]

[martyrbat]

detective comics #370

[ID: a comic panel of Batman lunging across a wood table and breaking it as he tackles a criminal who he believes killed Robin. The narration box reads, “With the hate-filled ferocity of a lion who has seen his whelp killed, the Caped Crusader springs...” END ID]

[martyrbat]

detective comics #370

[ID: a comic panel of Batman and Robin. There's a cop behind them with his speech bubble edited to be blank. Batman concernedly has his hand on Robin's shoulder and is looking at him. He asks if he's okay and Robin responds, “sure—!” despite being knocked out in a fight just minutes ago. END ID]

[martyrbat]

[ID: a panel of Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson next to the ‘woman yelling at a cat’ meme to draw parallels. In the comic panel, Dick is pointing his finger accusingly at Bruce as the back of his head is to the viewer. Bruce is facing us and defensively has his index finger held up in the air and his other hand spread out. In the meme's left panel, an enraged, blonde woman is pointing trenchantly at something off camera as a brown-haired woman to her side looks tired. On the right panel, a white cat with an unrepentant expression sits at a table. END ID]

[martyrbat]

detective comics #370

[ID: Bruce Wayne standing and talking to Dick Grayson, both in their civilian clothes. Bruce is explaining how he couldn't fight his old bully as Batman, saying, “And the sight of his face practically paralyzed me!” Dick is sitting in a small purple armchair and is in an all green outfit, looking slightly unconvinced. He asks, “And you're sure it was him?” END ID]

[martyrbat]

detective comics #370

[ID: Batman tackling his childhood bully. Batman's head is against his waist as he has his arms wrapped around the criminal. He thinks, “I guess way down I've never ever really stopped thinking about him — or waiting for this moment!” END ID]

[martyrbat]

detective comics #370

[ID: Dick Grayson as Robin flicking on a light switch with a jaded expression. END ID]

[martyrbat]

gotham's hero <3

[ID: Batman getting punched by someone off panel! A sound effect over his head reads ‘twok!’ as Batman has a dazed expression and slightly bent knees. END ID]

[martyrbat]

detective comics #370

[ID: a cropped panel of Batman crouched down and reaching out in front of him. His mouth is opened and eyes are slightly squinted as he's in shock. END ID]

[martyrbat]