Batman: The Dark Knight

PHASE 1 What if Disney owned DC and made Batman (2011)

In 2006, as covert conflicts shape the modern world, Bruce Wayne has already been operating as Batman for several years. Trained through relentless discipline rather than superhuman means, Bruce fights crime alongside his young partner Jason Todd, who has taken on the mantle of Robin. Behind the scenes, Alfred Pennyworth serves as Bruce’s moral anchor and tactical advisor, while Lucius Fox quietly supplies the technology that allows Batman to stay ahead of his enemies. A shadow war is unfolding beyond Gotham. An ancient and powerful organization known as the League of Assassins is destabilizing governments and waging a global campaign from the shadows. The group is led by the enigmatic Ra’s al Ghul, whose longevity and strategic genius are sustained by the mysterious Lazarus Pit, a source of regenerative power sought by intelligence agencies worldwide. Assisting Ra’s is Jervis Tetch, a brilliant technologist whose advanced systems allow the League to operate with terrifying efficiency. Recognizing the scale of the threat, A.R.G.U.S approaches Batman with an uneasy alliance. As part of the operation, they recruit Selina Kyle, a highly skilled operative recently released from prison, whose agility, intelligence, and moral ambiguity make her invaluable in the field. Though wary of institutions and authority, Batman and Robin accept the partnership, believing the League’s ambitions pose a danger far beyond Gotham. As the conflict escalates into a global war fought in secrecy, Batman, Robin, Selina, and A.R.G.U.S forces engage the League across multiple fronts. Bruce’s past training and hard-earned experience are tested through relentless missions, while Jason pushes himself to prove he belongs at Batman’s side. During a catastrophic battle aboard a moving train, Robin is lost in the chaos, presumed dead, a moment that deeply fractures Bruce and reshapes his sense of responsibility. The war culminates in a final confrontation with Ra’s al Ghul, whose plan threatens to reshape the world through the power of the Lazarus Pit. To stop him, Bruce makes the ultimate sacrifice, ensuring Ra’s defeat at the cost of his own life—or so it seems. Years later, in 2012, Bruce Wayne awakens from a long coma, the world changed and Gotham without its Dark Knight. As he struggles to reconcile loss, guilt, and the passage of time, he is approached by Amanda Waller, who offers him a choice to return as the Batman once more, because the world still needs him.

Story added by dippy2 on October 23, 2022