Chapter Nine: The Aftermath
"Symbols can be great things. They inspire and drive people onwards. But at the end of the day, they are only symbols. It is the people behind them that truly bring their meaning to life. With people, symbols can move the world.
Governor of New York Steve Rogers, 1964
After the capture of Bane, the work that had started with Batman now had to continue. Gotham City was free of the corruption and extreme criminals which had plagued it and many were working to see it stayed that way. At the forefront of all this was James Gordon, who proved to be a hero of Gotham in its worst years and provided a stable, honest figure as it transitioned fully towards the future. With crime at an all time low in Gotham, Gordon was able to use the peace to its fullest extent, turning the GCPD into one of the finest police forces in the US.
With Mayor Hill's full backing, other figures entered into the picture to help Gotham grow and flourish. Wayne Enterprises, now having to look elsewhere for opportunities after the end of World War II, started to aid City Hall attempts at reinvigorating deprived areas. With the aim to all but eliminate poverty in Gotham, the program would carry on throughout the rest of the 40's and well into the 50's. It aimed to greatly improve the quality of healthcare, education and job opportunities throughout the city. When the program came to an end in 1956, the aim to eliminate poverty completely had by no means been met, but Gotham had changed for the better.
The Gotham City of the modern day still bares the hallmarks of its past. You can easily find over a dozen tour buses giving different sights into the city, showing off the locations, real or fictional, where Batman was seen. Park Row, an area once infamous for being among the worst in Gotham, was rejuvenated over the years and recently named Dark Knight Row. The port city once the main area on the American East Coast for corruption and graft greatly cleaned up its act to the extent that came to be regarded better than many of its neighbours. It still makes some money from its own questionable history, the tourism trade around the Batman bringing in tens of thousands of tourists a year.
Gotham City is by no means perfect, but the hard work put into the city in the decade after Batman's defeat of Bane bore fruit that still shows today. Although crime still exists, its figures are low compared to that of New York and other cities in New England. From the chaos of the 1940's, a city emerged that transformed and rose from the worst of its excesses into a vibrant place to live. Despite that though, it still has a tendency to look towards those seven years of the Batman's presence and what impact he had. It was a time in Gotham when a legend was formed and it seemed as if the stories of a swashbuckling pulp hero had come to life.
Although the Batman himself faded from view, there were still those left behind who had made their impact upon Gotham who had still yet to finish their own stories. I have decided to give them their own summary as it seems incomplete to talk about Batman without mentioning them as well:
Crispus Allen – After helping bring in Edward Nygma for the first time, Crispus Allen went on to become one of the major names in helping James Gordon secure the stability that Gotham now enjoyed. He rose through the ranks, becoming the first African-American in that rank of a police force. He became prominent nation wide in this role, receiving abuse and praise from all corners as he went about his job. He eventually retired in 1964, going on to become heavily involved in the civil rights movement. He eventually passed away in 1979, having left a mark on Gotham as a force for justice and progress.
Bane – The 'Man Who Broke Batman' was deemed as a high threat when he was taken into custody, placed under tight security as the fear of his abilities, coupled with some of his followers still being free, meant that many feared an escape attempt. But, the threat never came to pass as the steroid that Hugo Strange had given to Bane finally reared its ugly head. Without constant injections of the drug, Bane's body and mind deteriorated at a rapid rate, becoming invalid within a year. His body all but rotted away and he died in 1948, a warning to all who would experiment with the work of madmen.
David Cain – One of the world's most efficient assassins was himself executed in May of 1946, a broken man. After his capture by the Black Bat, Cain was nothing like he had once been, instead emotionless and apparently eager for death at the end. At the night of his execution, he rejected a final meal and his final words were simply wishing that 'she' was happy. He said nothing else and met his end quietly. Cain's reputation grew in the following years, being thought of as Batman's rival in fighting prowess, second only to Bane when it came to the ability to face Batman in a face-to-face fight. At the end though, he was broken and ultimately resigned to his fate, the execution of a common criminal.
Oswald Cobblepot – As a man who had once tried to become King of Gotham, the destruction of his criminal empire left Cobblepot left with only the Iceberg Lounge to fall back on. With pressure from police, Cobblepot was forced onto the straight and narrow as his trial took place throughout 1946. Having sunk his money into a top notch legal team, Cobblepot's efforts paid off as he was found not guilty on the charges put before him. As a response though, the GCPD put him under constant surveilance and any attempts at legal activities were stopped before they even began. Cobblepot spent the rest of his days running the Iceberg Lounge. He gained something of a following as he told the tale of how he stood toe-to-toe against Bane, but never managed to regain the wealth and influence his family had once possessed. He passed away in 1968 at the age of seventy-two, regarded as a relic and having spent his twilight years selling off his club and living quietly, wistfully thinking of past glories that never were.
Jonathan Crane – The man known as the Scarecrow was swiftly taken into custody after his capture and put back on Death Row. He was executed by the electric chair in April 1946 and his body cremated. Although a demented and ultimately dangerous figure, his work on nerve gas and its impact did not go noticed. His 'Fear Gas' was extensively studied by scientists of various nations in the years after his death and was used extensively in the Iran-Iraq War. Its use in 1984 by Iraq is what caused President Batson to break all ties with the nation before negotiating a ceasefire between the warring countries. The use of a gas developed by one of America's own villains was too much for the government to stomach and the gas itself has been banned by most nations. Crane's legacy is a dark one on humanity, with his work casting a shadow even after all these years.
Harvey Dent – Perhaps the most tragic figure to ever face the Batman, Dent handing himself over to Gordon saw him being sent to a mental hospital outside of Gotham City's city boundaries. He would spent the rest of his life there, his mind forever conflicted between the duality of his own warped personalities, and the guilt he felt for his actions. He passed away in 1952, broken and mourned by those who remembered the once crusading man who had taken the fight to the corrupt of Gotham.
Jenna Duffy – Caught by police in 1945, Duffy was arrested and sent back to Gotham where she was charged with aiding and abetting Edward Nygma's mad schemes. Given an eight year sentence, Duffy actually managed to make something of herself while in prison, entering a Wayne Enterprises sponsored prisoner rehabilitation program. Her skills with woodwork and mechnics soon saw her teaching other inmates as part of the scheme. When released, she went on to become a teacher at a local school, putting her criminal ways behind her and eventually dying in 1970 after complications with cancer. After her brief role in crime, she eventually went onto become something of a pillar of Gotham's community and spoke about her relationship with Nygma only with regret.
Barbara Gordon – James Gordon's daughter had made a name for herself by helping her father and the Batman bring in David Cain. Inspired by her role in this, Barbara Gordon dedicated herself to studying how to become a police officer, joining the force in 1948. From their, she rose through the ranks, breaking previously strong barriers that would have held her back because gender. She rose through the ranks to become the first female police commissioner in Gotham's history in 1965. She remained in the role until her retirement in 1973, although remained active in training and helping new police officers in the force. She passed away due to caner in 1995, having been a pillar of the community in Gotham and one of those who helped secure the legacy of her father and the Batman.
James Gordon – Having been at the forefront of the fight against the extreme crime and corruption that had plagued Gotham for so long, James Gordon remained as Commissioner of the GCPD to help stabilise the city in the years following it. He served the city well, turning the GCPD into one of the most well run and highly regarded police forces in the country. He never gave a clear answer on the Batman's involvement with the GCPD, merely sticking to the 'illegal vigilante' line he had given throughout the years of Batman's role in the city. Refusing to divulge anything about the Batman further than that, Gordon was simply focused on his job. He was so devoted to his position that it took a heart attack in 1956 to get him to step down, at which point, he retired with his family. He still attended community meetings and helped organise community watches to help tackle crime, as well as served as an unofficial advisor for many police captains still on the force. He passed away in 1963, given a borderline state funeral by the city that he had served so well and for so long.
Hamilton Hill – Mayor Hill held three terms in leading City Hall. These terms were to transform Gotham as Hill focused on economic renewal and ending the poverty inflicting the city. Although not entirely successful, Hill did indeed help renew Gotham into a vibrant and much safer city. He built on the accomplishments of those around him to turn Gotham into a better city for all. He resigned as Mayor to stand for Governor of Delaware in 1956, successfully standing for two terms before eventually retiring from politics due to age and health concerns. He returned to Gotham City to live out his remaining years, passing away in 1972 after a long life of successful public service.
Waylon Jones – Out of all those who made their names during this period in Gotham's history, it was surprisingly the man who was known as 'Killer Croc' who would get the only happy ending from those who fought against Batman. He managed to survive the fight with Bane, resurfacing from the Delaware River and deciding to quit Gotham for good and returned to his roots as a circus freak in the Haly Circus. To everyone's amazement, including his own, Jones seemed to be at home back in his new surroundings, mellowing out from his earlier rage filled days and building an almost family like relation with the rest of the freak show members of the circus. He would spend the rest of his days at the circus, passing away in 1958 in Maine due to complication that came from his earlier injuries. It was only after his death that the truth behind his past was discovered by those he had worked with for over a decade. A violent man throughout his life, Jones had managed to find some semblance of peace in his final years, a great accomplishment when considering many of his peers.
Alexander Knox – The crusading reporter continued on at the Gotham Gazette, working hard on exposing the remaining crime and corruption in the city while digging further into the mystery of the Batman. He wrote a book on his experiences, entitled The Dark Knight releasing it in 1955 as it became a nation-wide best seller, giving a full in depth view of the Batman and his actions around this period. Knox would later grow to become an arch-defender of vigilante heroes in situations similar to Gotham's own. He would continue to work as a writer and reporter up until his death in 1969, having been a major reason why the Batman's legend had spread so far and wide.
Edward Nygma – After being arrested and his attempt to kill that Batman soundly defeated, Nygma had could what only be described as some kind of nervous breakdown. Although the truth was later deduced by the police and others, Nygma's inability to see any kind of flaw in his thinking meant he refused to even see the possibility of losing. He spent his days during his trial scrawling on paper as he tried to figure out how the Batman could have cheated and how to further defeat him. Found mentally incapable of standing trial, Nygma was then sent to an asylum where he spent the rest of his life writing even more ludicrous schemes as his obsession on defeating the Batman overcame everything else. He died in 1960, a completely broken man.
Michael Ruegger – The man known as the 'Sewer King' failed to live long enough to see the end of World War II. He was cornered and killed by his fellow prison inmates in early 1944, his crimes against children being beyond the pale, even for the others in Blackgate.
Jervis Tetch – Like others who escaped Blackgate Prison, Tetch was sent to Death Row upon recapture and was executed in March, 1946. His work on mind altering substances did not go forgotten however as they became the basis for government experiments in the 1950's. Such experiments led to the drug growing in infamy and even being used recreationally once it leaked out to dealers. It was the scourge of the streets throughout the 1960's and 70's, Charles Manson becoming infamous for expanding his cult numbers greatly with it. The substance is illegal in many countries and remains a threat to law enforcement agencies everywhere due to its addictive nature and the ability for anyone to use it to bend people to their will.
Two names are missing from this list for good reason. Selina Kyle shall be talked about shortly, as she played a major role in Gotham's late life another way. Hugo Strange is also missing from the list, in large part due to no one knowing what happened to him. After the capture of Bane he disappeared, leaving behind only a few diaries and his research notes. A huge manhunt took place to find him, but he was never found. Rumours were rife that he had fled to South America and had joined Nazis who were living there. But with the capture of Josef Mengele by Max Eisenhardt, which led to further arrests of those on the run, hopes were dashed that Strange would be caught and he was never seen again. He continues to be one of the final mysteries of Batman and one of the more sinister foes that the Dark Knight faced.
These figures soon grew to be part of the legend that the Batman had started, the folk hero joined by his villains. The legend soon came into question though, the anti-communist hysteria of the 1950's causing the HUAC to look into any possible links that the Batman may have had with the Soviet Union. The ridiculous accusations were mocked by many in Gotham, but they were serious enough to prompt Alexander Knox to write his book in order to defend the Batman.
Since then, the reputation of the Batman has been the subject of debate depending on the person's views of vigilantism. The anti-government feelings born from the 1960's and turmoil of the 1970's certainly helped this feeling grow and the Batman has been seen through that lens by historians of the period. The 1980's saw a more critical approach to the man and his actions, as it was felt that such desperate actions came from someone who was as much of an unstable threat as those he had fought.
The historical view of the Batman can never truly be settled. The fact that his actions inspired others like him who had their own successes and failures muddied the waters on vigilante justice in general. The Black Bat and Azael were only two of many who tried their hands at becoming vigilantes, striking at criminals while wearing masks and bringing controversy that came from their own self-imposed quests. These issues around the Batman are debated to this day and will probably never be settled.
But the major issue around the Batman is the one mystery that hangs above him most of all.
Who was he?