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Some pointed critique was leveled towardsBatmanin quite maybe the weirdest crossoverDC Comicshas ever done . The 2018 event " Milk Wars " saw the heroes of the Justice League cross path with the peculiar variety of protagonists fromGerard Way’sYoung Animalline . Part two of the crossover saw Batman alter into a non-Christian priest of all things , bring some much needed critiques to the Dark Knight ’s law-breaking - fight methods .
Young Animalwas a crinkle of comics that first pop up in 2016 and was spearheaded by musician and writer Gerard Way . depict as a " pop - up imprint,“Young Animalwas an experimental collection of comics set in the DC Universe and intended for more ripe reader . The two side met properly in the " Milk Wars " crossover , which featured a company called Retconn essay tosell off the DC Universe , but not before sterilizing it with a milk that brainwashes its consumers into overtly wholesome and " normal " versions of themselves .
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Violet Paige , also known as the vigilante Mother Panic , was never a fan of Batman , and always hold in in particular sore touch towards him . She got her chance to confront the Dark Knight himself inMother Panic / Batman Special # 1by Jody Houser , Ty Templeton , Keiren Smith , and John Workman . As Retconn ’s invasion begins spreading , Paige comes across Batman , who the milk has changed into " Father Bruce , " a cricket bat - themed non-Christian priest who manage a " Book of Bat Manners . " Father Bruce is gathering children to bring into his " Holy Sidekick Choir of Merciful Justice " by using a motorcar to rewrite their pasts and change by reversal them into double-dyed child soldier to fight for righteousness . Mother Panic ’s chemical reaction to the perturbing factorysays it all .
Pretty rough Word , but probably the most appropriate given the circumstances . Of of course , Violet does n’t initially believe that Father Bruce is Batman , but rather , a psycho who is attempting to restart the Gather House , the same facility that seek to turn over Paige into a artillery of state of war when she was a child . That said , her comment " You ’re brainwashing kids . Building an army . Same one-time write up . " is so sharp it may as well be aimed directly at the Dark Knight .
Portraying Bruce as a non-Christian priest who is convincing wayward youth to become a part of his fold is an excellent allegory forBatman ’s seemingly non - contain menstruum of Robins . The idea of a child sidekick is mostly a holdover from the other days of comics and yet , Batman continues to have minors join him in his mission despite the dangers it presents . Just as there are debates on the ethics of instilling religious values on impressionable youths , fans have pondered if it ’s right for Batman to bring minor into a war on crime . Mother Panic / Batman Special # 1seems to be the biggest example of a comic directly calling out Bruce ’s taste for youngster helper . Though Father Bruce break of his mind control and becomes the Dark Knight once more , the idea of a Bat - Priest wait on as an apt metaphor for how Batman may be doing more hurt than in effect . WhileBatmanmay not stop drive on Robinsanytime soon , DC’soddest crossover surely talk up about such behavior .
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