Batman's Biggest Failure Is Never Growing Past Gotham

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Warning: Spoilers ahead for Batman 2022 Annual

In his efforts to save the soul of Gotham, Batman may have prevented himself from bringing genuine change into the world. A debate with a figure from the Dark Knight's past raises an interesting point about Batman's inability to break away from his beloved city.

Since he was a boy, Bruce Wayne has witnessed the crime and corruption that plagues his hometown. With a history of evil that stretches back centuries, Gotham suffered under criminal masterminds, mob families and later, colorful-costumed villains. After witnessing his parents being shot in a random encounter with the street tough Joe Chill, Bruce made it his mission to become the hero that could combat the dark forces that seem to permeate the city. While Gotham still struggles, Batman has become a much-needed presence to help keep the tide of evil at bay.

Related: Gotham Doesn't Respect its Supervillains, & One Weird Detail Proves it

But Batman's sole commitment to Gotham appears to fly in the face of a belief Bruce expresses when he attempts to persuade his old ally Ghost-Maker to embark on a mission with him. Batman 2022 Annual by Ed Brisson and John Timms features a flashback in which Bruce attempts to draft Ghost-Maker into his expansive global network, Batman Inc. The Dark Knight's rival dismisses the idea, saying that he does enough travelling from city to city, eliminating the criminal elements. But Batman counters saying that without leaving anyone to keep the cities Ghost-Maker «saves» in line, he allows for the evil to return in worse capacities. Bruce offers Ghost-Maker a way to maintain the order he establishes by using Batman Inc. operatives to carry on the work that the vigilante begins.

While Batman