Review: "Transference," from GOTHAM KNIGHTS #8-11 by Devin Grayson and Roger Robinson
From what I've read of Devin Grayson's Batman: Gotham Knights, it strikes me as an incredibly underrated series that focused on character first and foremost.
This isn't surprising, as I recall reading that Grayson was introduced to Batman via The Animated Series, and I suspect that she brought that show's character-based aesthetic to comics better than any of her contemporaries. Her treatment of Poison Ivy and the Scarecrow in that series as are as good as anything from the TAS comics, and she wrote one of my very favorite Two-Face appearances with just one poignant page.
Hell, she's so good, she's actually been able to make me care about Dick Grayson and the Bat-Family in her four-part storyline, "Transference," from Gotham Knights #8-11. It's not a perfect story, undone in places by being a tad convoluted, but it's great nonetheless. Furthermore, it features a plot point which predates what Grant Morrison did with "The Batman of Zur En Arrh" several years earlier, and--in my HUMBLEST of opinions--did it better.
On top of that, it features one of the great "context is for the weak" panels:
I'll warn you right away, this stars off a bit on the dry side. But stick with it.
Good ol' Lucius. Where the heck has he been, lately? He suffered a stroke later in this run, and I'm not sure what happened to him since. You'd think with the Nolan films giving him newfound prestige that he'd be more prominent in the comics, but alas, no.
The narration explicitly brings up questions which have become popular canon, namely that Bruce Wayne is just a mask that Batman wears. As any self-respecting modern comic fan knows, Kill Bill got it backwards, at least as far as Post-Crisis Batman and Superman were concerned. Here, the core of the narration is formed by those questions of Bruce Wayne's sanity and which identity/identities is/are the reality. It reads like an armchair psychological profile constructed less by an actual doctor and more like a comic fan with too much time on their hands to think and over-think about Batman. Which is to say, me. :)
HA-HA, SURPRISE! This post is actually the long-awaited next installment of my series on the complete history of Hugo Strange! Been a while, eh? :D
... Okay, so maybe it wasn't that big a surprise. Hell, some of you probably were clued in my the shot of the bald guy walking down the hallway, followed by Hugo getting a shout-out by Dick. If I were reading this today, I'd certainly have caught that right away. But when I first read this back in late 2000, I'm not gonna lie, I got chills. Like, serious "Oh fuck me it's Hugo Fucking STRANGE" chills. I was surprised by my own reaction, which was one of the first times I suspected that there was something special about the character.
Bear in mind, this was Hugo's first appearance in the DCU since Moench and Gulacy's Prey, published a decade earlier. Grayson's story treats that as Hugo's only appearance in this Post-Crisis DCU, which means that stories like Strange Apparitions through to Down to the Bone never happened, not to mention the Monster Men. This is pure "Hugo as mad psychiatrist obsessed with Batman," although his beefy physicality recalls the massive original version from the Golden Age. Maybe he's been working out, and/or been experimenting with Monster Men hormones.
Either way, this was Hugo's grand return since his apparent death at the end of Prey, but what he was up to is anybody's guess. The only clue we get to his activities occurs in a flashback earlier in this issue (which I didn't post so as not to spoil the twist, so sorry for any confusion!), when Hugo kidnapped Catwoman in order to pump her for information about Batman, in a flashback that takes place several months before the above pages:
"Even DEATH passes by me to allow me this, my destiny!" A nice acknowledgement to the many times Hugo has died, as he has in most appearances up to this point.
Catwoman manages to escape her bonds, breaking first Hugo's nose and then the news that if Hugo wants to be Batman, he'll have to take it up with "the acolytes." A stunned Hugo asks, "The who?"
Hey, a direct reference to Selina's tragic, awful childhood!
And that is why I fucking love Hugo Strange.
He may be batshit crazy, but he knows how to size someone up, burrow into their brains, and prod their most vulnerable places. In just two pages, he completely manages to psychologically turn the tables on Selina--that most unshakable and strong-willed of characters--by going right for the darkest parts of her past. It's not clear whether Hugo knows Selina's past, but I think it's just as likely that he can read it all over her face and personality. He's that brilliant, and--combined with his insanity--that dangerous.
At the same time, he's not the uber-omnipotent master villain like Ra's al Ghul or Doctor Hurt. Ughhh, Doctor Hurt. Such a goddamn Villain Sue. Unlike them, Hugo is NOT on top of everything at all times, as evidenced by his surprise and confusion at the revelation of the Bat-Family (geez, Hugo, you vanish for years to plot and plan, but you don't even learn about a single sidekick?). But what I find so thrilling is that he knows how to turn the tables around to get himself back into the position of power, and watching how he does that makes him a fantastic force to be reckoned with. He can be screwed around with, but give him a chance and he'll hit you right in the psychological balls.
Hell, if you read through the past Hugo entries (and why haven't you? Go! Go now! I'll wait. *doo doo doo*), you'll see that he has managed to severely fuck Bruce up on a psychological level in ways no other villain has. So what, I wonder, will Hugo have up his sleeve for this, his grand return to confront Bruce right in the heart of his pretense? Might it have something to do with the narration, which examines Bruce's "failure" to keep his identity secret from villains like Hugo, Ra's, Bane, and Cain?
After grabbing a jug of flammable chemicals from the supply closet, Bruce splashes it over the desk, tackles Hugo, grabs a zippo, and lets it fly as he quips, "I... am... very serious about my squash game, Doctor."
I love that Hugo's psychological taunts actually double as a substitute for Batman's own internal monologue. I choose to believe that every single observation Hugo makes about Bruce is 100% true, and it's what we'd be reading if Bruce himself were narrating. Very little of it comes through in the art, because Bruce won't break character, so we're left to take Hugo's word for it, if we so choose (as I do). Very clever, very cool.
Yeah, I totally think that Hugo understands completely. As a villain, it's vital for him to be absolutely correct about thinking the way Batman thinks, because that's what makes him a genuine threat. Otherwise, he's just a crazy bald guy who won't bloody shut up, and who the hell would cared about that?
As Bruce digs around for a hidden costume, the narration continues: This is part of the problem, too: the need to keep it about the mission. Finding a meaningful way to interact with a greater society--enculturation--is only one of the steps in the development of self-realization. It's a late step at that, meant to come after individuation and interpersonal development. What if, instead of all those things, all Bruce Wayne has is simply armor?
Hugo runs into the stairwell, finds Batman waiting for him, and the two race toward the very best place for climactic confrontation: the rooftop. He points out that Batman can't just throw him in jail, because what's to keep him from spilling Bruce's secret? Hugo Strange: proving you don't have to be subtle when you're right.
In case you're wondering where Dick and Tim are in all this, they quickly become aware of the situation via the security cameras:
Did I mention that I loved Hugo? Because I fucking love Hugo. He knows everything about Bruce and isn't afraid to hit right where it hurts.
In past Hugo posts, I've noticed how every single Hugo Strange appearance directly influences the subsequent appearances, creating an unusually distinct line of character development for him over the years. In this case, this Hugo not only recalls the Hugo of Prey, but also the Hugo of Alan Brennert and Jim Aparo's amazing story, Interlude on Earth-Two, where his machinations led to the fiery demise of the Batmobile.
God, such a good story. And coincidentally, the next part of "Transference" features a Batman: Black and White story written by Brennert: his first work for DC in over a decade, and the last thing he's done since. I need to post that story here soon. Shit, I need to write an entire essay about how Alan Brennert is one of the greatest comic writers in general, and one of the greatest Batman writers specifically, even though he's only written about six in his whole career. He's that brilliant.
Back to "Transference": as Hugo watches the rubble burn, Dick rushes up to the rooftop to confront the mad psychiatrist, only to find himself alone up there. One way or another, both Bruce and Hugo are gone. But of course, they find no trace of either Bruce nor Batman's bodies, leading the Bat-Fam to conduct their own investigation. Tim scours through the Bat-Computer for files on Hugo, while Dick decides to comb over the crime scene:
Now, if you're like me, you probably assumed that Hugo was the one writing those files. But as you may have guessed from the fact that I've repeatedly referred to a "narrator" rather than saying "Hugo," the truth we soon learn is that they were written by Bruce.
I have to admit, I was disappointed at first, because believing that those were Hugo's armchair analyses gave the character a whole new meta level of both threat and greatness. Imagine it: Hugo Strange, the in-canon fic essayist about Batman and his world! What other character could possibily serve this purpose? Who else knows so much about Bruce, and who else has that much invested in psychologically tearing Bruce apart? It's why I love the character, after all.
So why would Bruce be writing about himself as if he, Bruce Wayne, and Batman were separate people? I should also mention that this certainly fits with the secretive Batman of Mark Waid's JLA: Tower of Babel, where it was revealed that Bruce kept contingency plans for dealing with each League member, just in case. But why give HIMSELF a psychological rundown? That's what Dick certainly wonders, but we'll get to that soon enough.
Oh, about that "KRSSH" sound effect in the above panel? Yeah, that's Hugo breaking into Wayne Manor, something which he's done before in both Down to the Bone and Prey. You'd really think that Alfred would have installed a better security system by now. Dick rushes back on his Dick-Cycle (/HankVentureSnerk) and finds Hugo sitting at Bruce's desk. Needless to say, Dick doesn't take the impostor lightly:
Hugo "firing" the sidekicks is one of my favorite touches. I mean, of course he can do that. After all, he's the Goddamn Batman!
In keeping with Doug Moench's Prey, this Hugo is also a creepy-ass motherfucker to boot. Leave it to Hugo Strange to edge closer towards fan canon when it comes to the Bruce/Dick "relationship."
It's kind of surprising to me that this story wouldn't have involved Hugo delving into the idea of what the Bat-Family means to Bruce. At this point, Hugo is still wrapped up entirely in the idea that Batman is a power unto himself, and that the Family are liabilities that hold him back or get in the way. Hell, I imagine that ol' antisocial Bruce himself has probably considered at some point or another, even just subconsciously. I have to wonder what would happen if Hugo decided to extend his obsession to the Bat-Family, perhaps to try manipulating and "adopting" them for himself, or else to find a wayward teenage boy for himself. On second thought, ew, no. Forget I said anything. Too creepy. But then again, wouldn't that just be Hugo living out the explicit subtext that many already see in Bruce and Dick?
Anyhoo, Hugo escapes, making sure to get himself photographed by the press he tipped off, so everyone can see Batman fleeing Wayne Manor. Before Dick can peruse, the phone rings... and it's Bruce on the end other end.
... Yay, Bruce is alive, awesome! Except they soon discover that Bruce seems a bit... off, somehow. A little TOO into his role as idiot playboy:
Bruce's cowering is priceless.
Of course, Tim and Dick don't think so, and begin considering all the possibilities here. Amnesia? Robot? Clone? One thing is certain: Dick doesn't hear one trace of "Batman" in this Bruce Wayne. It appears that Bruce is fully and entirely the Twit!Bruce persona, and IF he has a plan, he's certainly not letting his sons in on it.
However, Hugo Strange believes otherwise, and proceeds to kidnap Bruce, Dick, and Tim as he sets his endgame in motion (with the help of a delusional woman named Dora who thinks she's Catwoman, in case you're wondering why "Selina" is fighting on Hugo's side), and he begins by grilling Nightwing:
Gloriously creepy fucker. And I love that he can read "dead, murdered parents ANGST" all over Dick. Hugo knows how to size 'em up with (presumably) little information at his fingertips.
Sadly, I couldn't include the sequence where Hugo grills Tim, who genuinely asks Hugo why the hell he or anybody else would even want to be Batman. It's a great question, asked without any sense of insolence or guile. I think that's why Tim is my favorite Robin, because he isn't a snarky smartass like Dick. Of course, Hugo responds with more fanantical ranting about how being Batman is to achieve the highest state of human potential, blah blah blah. There's no reasoning with Hugo, but still, good on Tim for actually trying to question Hugo like a human being.
Hugo decides to make his final move, promising to kill Tim if Bruce doesn't Batman-up and spring into action. Nightwing, Tim, and Hugo all look to Bruce expectantly, but instead, Bruce just cowers, blubbers, and begs for help. Thankfully, Tim and Dick manage to thwart Hugo on their own, which results in a big fight scene between the boys and Hugo's goons as Hugo himself finally melts down:
... wait for it...
Yeah, context ruins everything. But it's still fun to see Hugo completely self-destruct!
Hugo escapes, but the boys manage to soundly trounce the henchmen, and proceed to drag the still-cowering Bruce back to Wayne Manor for a proper Butler Examination:
Yep, several years before Grant Morrison did it with "The Batman of Zurr En Arrh," Devin Grayson wrote a story where Bruce hypnotized himself with a back-up personality to anticipate the machinations of a psychologically devastating attack by a master villain. Considering how much more this is based in Bruce's character and what he means to himself and others than anything Morrison did, I think I greatly prefer Grayson's take. Even if, as Dick notes, it's "manipulative and unfair," which--for better or worse--pretty much fits this era's Batman to a T.
And once again, Devin Grayson references another Hugo appearance, namely the psychological meltdown of Hugo in Down to the Bone, a story which you should all read because A.) I love it, and B.) the post still has no comments.
If there's any real problem I have with "Transference," it's the fact that it's a great story set in one of the worst periods of Batman being a secretive, manipulative dick. The ultimate confession by Bruce that he has no relationship with "Bruce Wayne" is precisely the sort of thing which led to the fever pitch that was Bruce Wayne: Murderer. Coincidentally, I'm rereading it right now in trade form, and I'm throughly annoyed by how Bruce behaves throughout, shutting everyone out of his life in order to let Bruce "die" so that he can be All Batman, All The Time. Of course, the writers of that story--Rucka, Grayson, Dixon, Puckett, and especially Brubaker--ultimately had Batman come to terms with himself and find peace, finally realizing "I am Bruce Wayne. Always have been." So they actually had an arc to give his Bruce Wayne, to ground him back into humanity for both himself and readers alike.
That said, I'm not sure it really took. I suspect that the idea that "Bruce Wayne is a fiction and Batman is the reality" is too ingrained in popular theory. Nowadays, we have Grant Morrison going the complete opposite direction and actively disregarding all sense of Bruce as a human being in favor of BATMAN: the overarching and enduring idea of Batman as--quite explicitly stated--the "BAT-GOD."
But I dare say it's only a matter of time before new writers come along with an interest in picking apart Bruce's mind, and poke around in all his dark little corners. And when they do, don't be surprised if Hugo Strange comes along for the ride.
This story has never been collected in trade, but all four parts are currently available as a digital comic on DC's Comixology app site for $1.99 per issue. And if you'd like to read the very first issue of Grayson's Batman: Gotham Knights, it's up on the same site for FREE. I'm still not a huge fan of digital comics (maybe I'd like them better if I were using a tablet), but I'm glad to see them available in some form. Check out the free comic, at least. After all, it's the way of the future!
Way of the future. Way of the future. Way of the...
This isn't surprising, as I recall reading that Grayson was introduced to Batman via The Animated Series, and I suspect that she brought that show's character-based aesthetic to comics better than any of her contemporaries. Her treatment of Poison Ivy and the Scarecrow in that series as are as good as anything from the TAS comics, and she wrote one of my very favorite Two-Face appearances with just one poignant page.
Hell, she's so good, she's actually been able to make me care about Dick Grayson and the Bat-Family in her four-part storyline, "Transference," from Gotham Knights #8-11. It's not a perfect story, undone in places by being a tad convoluted, but it's great nonetheless. Furthermore, it features a plot point which predates what Grant Morrison did with "The Batman of Zur En Arrh" several years earlier, and--in my HUMBLEST of opinions--did it better.
On top of that, it features one of the great "context is for the weak" panels:
I'll warn you right away, this stars off a bit on the dry side. But stick with it.
Good ol' Lucius. Where the heck has he been, lately? He suffered a stroke later in this run, and I'm not sure what happened to him since. You'd think with the Nolan films giving him newfound prestige that he'd be more prominent in the comics, but alas, no.
The narration explicitly brings up questions which have become popular canon, namely that Bruce Wayne is just a mask that Batman wears. As any self-respecting modern comic fan knows, Kill Bill got it backwards, at least as far as Post-Crisis Batman and Superman were concerned. Here, the core of the narration is formed by those questions of Bruce Wayne's sanity and which identity/identities is/are the reality. It reads like an armchair psychological profile constructed less by an actual doctor and more like a comic fan with too much time on their hands to think and over-think about Batman. Which is to say, me. :)
HA-HA, SURPRISE! This post is actually the long-awaited next installment of my series on the complete history of Hugo Strange! Been a while, eh? :D
... Okay, so maybe it wasn't that big a surprise. Hell, some of you probably were clued in my the shot of the bald guy walking down the hallway, followed by Hugo getting a shout-out by Dick. If I were reading this today, I'd certainly have caught that right away. But when I first read this back in late 2000, I'm not gonna lie, I got chills. Like, serious "Oh fuck me it's Hugo Fucking STRANGE" chills. I was surprised by my own reaction, which was one of the first times I suspected that there was something special about the character.
Bear in mind, this was Hugo's first appearance in the DCU since Moench and Gulacy's Prey, published a decade earlier. Grayson's story treats that as Hugo's only appearance in this Post-Crisis DCU, which means that stories like Strange Apparitions through to Down to the Bone never happened, not to mention the Monster Men. This is pure "Hugo as mad psychiatrist obsessed with Batman," although his beefy physicality recalls the massive original version from the Golden Age. Maybe he's been working out, and/or been experimenting with Monster Men hormones.
Either way, this was Hugo's grand return since his apparent death at the end of Prey, but what he was up to is anybody's guess. The only clue we get to his activities occurs in a flashback earlier in this issue (which I didn't post so as not to spoil the twist, so sorry for any confusion!), when Hugo kidnapped Catwoman in order to pump her for information about Batman, in a flashback that takes place several months before the above pages:
"Even DEATH passes by me to allow me this, my destiny!" A nice acknowledgement to the many times Hugo has died, as he has in most appearances up to this point.
Catwoman manages to escape her bonds, breaking first Hugo's nose and then the news that if Hugo wants to be Batman, he'll have to take it up with "the acolytes." A stunned Hugo asks, "The who?"
Hey, a direct reference to Selina's tragic, awful childhood!
And that is why I fucking love Hugo Strange.
He may be batshit crazy, but he knows how to size someone up, burrow into their brains, and prod their most vulnerable places. In just two pages, he completely manages to psychologically turn the tables on Selina--that most unshakable and strong-willed of characters--by going right for the darkest parts of her past. It's not clear whether Hugo knows Selina's past, but I think it's just as likely that he can read it all over her face and personality. He's that brilliant, and--combined with his insanity--that dangerous.
At the same time, he's not the uber-omnipotent master villain like Ra's al Ghul or Doctor Hurt. Ughhh, Doctor Hurt. Such a goddamn Villain Sue. Unlike them, Hugo is NOT on top of everything at all times, as evidenced by his surprise and confusion at the revelation of the Bat-Family (geez, Hugo, you vanish for years to plot and plan, but you don't even learn about a single sidekick?). But what I find so thrilling is that he knows how to turn the tables around to get himself back into the position of power, and watching how he does that makes him a fantastic force to be reckoned with. He can be screwed around with, but give him a chance and he'll hit you right in the psychological balls.
Hell, if you read through the past Hugo entries (and why haven't you? Go! Go now! I'll wait. *doo doo doo*), you'll see that he has managed to severely fuck Bruce up on a psychological level in ways no other villain has. So what, I wonder, will Hugo have up his sleeve for this, his grand return to confront Bruce right in the heart of his pretense? Might it have something to do with the narration, which examines Bruce's "failure" to keep his identity secret from villains like Hugo, Ra's, Bane, and Cain?
After grabbing a jug of flammable chemicals from the supply closet, Bruce splashes it over the desk, tackles Hugo, grabs a zippo, and lets it fly as he quips, "I... am... very serious about my squash game, Doctor."
I love that Hugo's psychological taunts actually double as a substitute for Batman's own internal monologue. I choose to believe that every single observation Hugo makes about Bruce is 100% true, and it's what we'd be reading if Bruce himself were narrating. Very little of it comes through in the art, because Bruce won't break character, so we're left to take Hugo's word for it, if we so choose (as I do). Very clever, very cool.
Yeah, I totally think that Hugo understands completely. As a villain, it's vital for him to be absolutely correct about thinking the way Batman thinks, because that's what makes him a genuine threat. Otherwise, he's just a crazy bald guy who won't bloody shut up, and who the hell would cared about that?
As Bruce digs around for a hidden costume, the narration continues: This is part of the problem, too: the need to keep it about the mission. Finding a meaningful way to interact with a greater society--enculturation--is only one of the steps in the development of self-realization. It's a late step at that, meant to come after individuation and interpersonal development. What if, instead of all those things, all Bruce Wayne has is simply armor?
Hugo runs into the stairwell, finds Batman waiting for him, and the two race toward the very best place for climactic confrontation: the rooftop. He points out that Batman can't just throw him in jail, because what's to keep him from spilling Bruce's secret? Hugo Strange: proving you don't have to be subtle when you're right.
In case you're wondering where Dick and Tim are in all this, they quickly become aware of the situation via the security cameras:
Did I mention that I loved Hugo? Because I fucking love Hugo. He knows everything about Bruce and isn't afraid to hit right where it hurts.
In past Hugo posts, I've noticed how every single Hugo Strange appearance directly influences the subsequent appearances, creating an unusually distinct line of character development for him over the years. In this case, this Hugo not only recalls the Hugo of Prey, but also the Hugo of Alan Brennert and Jim Aparo's amazing story, Interlude on Earth-Two, where his machinations led to the fiery demise of the Batmobile.
God, such a good story. And coincidentally, the next part of "Transference" features a Batman: Black and White story written by Brennert: his first work for DC in over a decade, and the last thing he's done since. I need to post that story here soon. Shit, I need to write an entire essay about how Alan Brennert is one of the greatest comic writers in general, and one of the greatest Batman writers specifically, even though he's only written about six in his whole career. He's that brilliant.
Back to "Transference": as Hugo watches the rubble burn, Dick rushes up to the rooftop to confront the mad psychiatrist, only to find himself alone up there. One way or another, both Bruce and Hugo are gone. But of course, they find no trace of either Bruce nor Batman's bodies, leading the Bat-Fam to conduct their own investigation. Tim scours through the Bat-Computer for files on Hugo, while Dick decides to comb over the crime scene:
Now, if you're like me, you probably assumed that Hugo was the one writing those files. But as you may have guessed from the fact that I've repeatedly referred to a "narrator" rather than saying "Hugo," the truth we soon learn is that they were written by Bruce.
I have to admit, I was disappointed at first, because believing that those were Hugo's armchair analyses gave the character a whole new meta level of both threat and greatness. Imagine it: Hugo Strange, the in-canon fic essayist about Batman and his world! What other character could possibily serve this purpose? Who else knows so much about Bruce, and who else has that much invested in psychologically tearing Bruce apart? It's why I love the character, after all.
So why would Bruce be writing about himself as if he, Bruce Wayne, and Batman were separate people? I should also mention that this certainly fits with the secretive Batman of Mark Waid's JLA: Tower of Babel, where it was revealed that Bruce kept contingency plans for dealing with each League member, just in case. But why give HIMSELF a psychological rundown? That's what Dick certainly wonders, but we'll get to that soon enough.
Oh, about that "KRSSH" sound effect in the above panel? Yeah, that's Hugo breaking into Wayne Manor, something which he's done before in both Down to the Bone and Prey. You'd really think that Alfred would have installed a better security system by now. Dick rushes back on his Dick-Cycle (/HankVentureSnerk) and finds Hugo sitting at Bruce's desk. Needless to say, Dick doesn't take the impostor lightly:
Hugo "firing" the sidekicks is one of my favorite touches. I mean, of course he can do that. After all, he's the Goddamn Batman!
In keeping with Doug Moench's Prey, this Hugo is also a creepy-ass motherfucker to boot. Leave it to Hugo Strange to edge closer towards fan canon when it comes to the Bruce/Dick "relationship."
It's kind of surprising to me that this story wouldn't have involved Hugo delving into the idea of what the Bat-Family means to Bruce. At this point, Hugo is still wrapped up entirely in the idea that Batman is a power unto himself, and that the Family are liabilities that hold him back or get in the way. Hell, I imagine that ol' antisocial Bruce himself has probably considered at some point or another, even just subconsciously. I have to wonder what would happen if Hugo decided to extend his obsession to the Bat-Family, perhaps to try manipulating and "adopting" them for himself, or else to find a wayward teenage boy for himself. On second thought, ew, no. Forget I said anything. Too creepy. But then again, wouldn't that just be Hugo living out the explicit subtext that many already see in Bruce and Dick?
Anyhoo, Hugo escapes, making sure to get himself photographed by the press he tipped off, so everyone can see Batman fleeing Wayne Manor. Before Dick can peruse, the phone rings... and it's Bruce on the end other end.
... Yay, Bruce is alive, awesome! Except they soon discover that Bruce seems a bit... off, somehow. A little TOO into his role as idiot playboy:
Bruce's cowering is priceless.
Of course, Tim and Dick don't think so, and begin considering all the possibilities here. Amnesia? Robot? Clone? One thing is certain: Dick doesn't hear one trace of "Batman" in this Bruce Wayne. It appears that Bruce is fully and entirely the Twit!Bruce persona, and IF he has a plan, he's certainly not letting his sons in on it.
However, Hugo Strange believes otherwise, and proceeds to kidnap Bruce, Dick, and Tim as he sets his endgame in motion (with the help of a delusional woman named Dora who thinks she's Catwoman, in case you're wondering why "Selina" is fighting on Hugo's side), and he begins by grilling Nightwing:
Gloriously creepy fucker. And I love that he can read "dead, murdered parents ANGST" all over Dick. Hugo knows how to size 'em up with (presumably) little information at his fingertips.
Sadly, I couldn't include the sequence where Hugo grills Tim, who genuinely asks Hugo why the hell he or anybody else would even want to be Batman. It's a great question, asked without any sense of insolence or guile. I think that's why Tim is my favorite Robin, because he isn't a snarky smartass like Dick. Of course, Hugo responds with more fanantical ranting about how being Batman is to achieve the highest state of human potential, blah blah blah. There's no reasoning with Hugo, but still, good on Tim for actually trying to question Hugo like a human being.
Hugo decides to make his final move, promising to kill Tim if Bruce doesn't Batman-up and spring into action. Nightwing, Tim, and Hugo all look to Bruce expectantly, but instead, Bruce just cowers, blubbers, and begs for help. Thankfully, Tim and Dick manage to thwart Hugo on their own, which results in a big fight scene between the boys and Hugo's goons as Hugo himself finally melts down:
... wait for it...
Yeah, context ruins everything. But it's still fun to see Hugo completely self-destruct!
Hugo escapes, but the boys manage to soundly trounce the henchmen, and proceed to drag the still-cowering Bruce back to Wayne Manor for a proper Butler Examination:
Yep, several years before Grant Morrison did it with "The Batman of Zurr En Arrh," Devin Grayson wrote a story where Bruce hypnotized himself with a back-up personality to anticipate the machinations of a psychologically devastating attack by a master villain. Considering how much more this is based in Bruce's character and what he means to himself and others than anything Morrison did, I think I greatly prefer Grayson's take. Even if, as Dick notes, it's "manipulative and unfair," which--for better or worse--pretty much fits this era's Batman to a T.
And once again, Devin Grayson references another Hugo appearance, namely the psychological meltdown of Hugo in Down to the Bone, a story which you should all read because A.) I love it, and B.) the post still has no comments.
If there's any real problem I have with "Transference," it's the fact that it's a great story set in one of the worst periods of Batman being a secretive, manipulative dick. The ultimate confession by Bruce that he has no relationship with "Bruce Wayne" is precisely the sort of thing which led to the fever pitch that was Bruce Wayne: Murderer. Coincidentally, I'm rereading it right now in trade form, and I'm throughly annoyed by how Bruce behaves throughout, shutting everyone out of his life in order to let Bruce "die" so that he can be All Batman, All The Time. Of course, the writers of that story--Rucka, Grayson, Dixon, Puckett, and especially Brubaker--ultimately had Batman come to terms with himself and find peace, finally realizing "I am Bruce Wayne. Always have been." So they actually had an arc to give his Bruce Wayne, to ground him back into humanity for both himself and readers alike.
That said, I'm not sure it really took. I suspect that the idea that "Bruce Wayne is a fiction and Batman is the reality" is too ingrained in popular theory. Nowadays, we have Grant Morrison going the complete opposite direction and actively disregarding all sense of Bruce as a human being in favor of BATMAN: the overarching and enduring idea of Batman as--quite explicitly stated--the "BAT-GOD."
But I dare say it's only a matter of time before new writers come along with an interest in picking apart Bruce's mind, and poke around in all his dark little corners. And when they do, don't be surprised if Hugo Strange comes along for the ride.
This story has never been collected in trade, but all four parts are currently available as a digital comic on DC's Comixology app site for $1.99 per issue. And if you'd like to read the very first issue of Grayson's Batman: Gotham Knights, it's up on the same site for FREE. I'm still not a huge fan of digital comics (maybe I'd like them better if I were using a tablet), but I'm glad to see them available in some form. Check out the free comic, at least. After all, it's the way of the future!
Way of the future. Way of the future. Way of the...