The Dark Knight Rises 8 Years: Active or Retired?

[Caekzor]

Yeah, but I could imagine their fights. If Bruce has been retired for eight years then that means Poison Ivy, Penguin, et al don't exist in the Nolanverse, which is a rather sad thought.

 

[Nevincer]

Lol. Yeah, I'd rather not think those characters exist in the Nolanverse, honestly.

 

[Victarion]

Lol. Yeah, I'd rather not think those characters exist in the Nolanverse, honestly.

They were in Arkham in BB! Penguin and Ivy.

 

[GENERAL RAAM582]

I don't know if this has been posted, but in the latest Entertainment Weekly Magazine it says, and I quote.

"Batman who took the fall for Harvey's crimes so Gotham could remain inspired by the lawman's former idealism, continues to be reviled and MIA as the story begins."

So there it is folks, for eight years he has been retired.

 

[GENERAL RAAM582]

They were in Arkham in BB! Penguin and Ivy.

Really?

 

[Nevincer]

Really?

Yes.

 

[Llama_Shepherd]

Were they? I don't remember seeing any women in Arkham, and I would assume Ozzy wasn't there because wasn't he supposed to be one of the mobsters in TDK? Before he was cut out.

 

[Victarion]

You see them in some quick cuts to people looking through the window in their cell doors as Batman walks past them.

 

[GENERAL RAAM582]

Wow, I gotta check it out next time.

 

[The Joker]

This is the "Penguin" sighting in BB:

 

[GENERAL RAAM582]

Is this like a definite thing or like a kinda looks like him so it must be him thing?

I mean if you said that's Nolan's Penguin I would be OK with it, but there is nothing that says oh man, that's the penguin!

 

[raybia]

I know this has been discussed to death in the Gen Discussion thread but I'm curious in terms of numbers on who thinks Batman has retired during those 8 years and who thinks that he's been active (or semi-active)?

My vote still goes to active (semi-active). I think he's just been doing it more discreetly and he can't move on from not being Batman.

Semi-retired. Once a year at Halloween

 

[The Joker]

Is this like a definite thing or like a kinda looks like him so it must be him thing?

I mean if you said that's Nolan's Penguin I would be OK with it, but there is nothing that says oh man, that's the penguin!

It's pure fan speculation. Nothing more. There's no factual basis behind it.

 

[Victarion]

OT: I see Batman as allowing Gordon to chase him...making appearances so to speak so that Gordon's credibility is maintained before disappearing. Likely when Foley steps in and the chases get hotter.

 

[GENERAL RAAM582]

It's pure fan speculation. Nothing more. There's no factual basis behind it.

Oh, I understand now. That's still cool though.

While it was cool seeing Victor Zsasz in BB, he didn't have any scars.

They were only on his neck, which I only noticed by looking at this picture.

 

[Bruce Malone]

Yeah, but I could imagine their fights. If Bruce has been retired for eight years then that means Poison Ivy, Penguin, et al don't exist in the Nolanverse, which is a rather sad thought.

They don't regardless. With that logic you might as well imagine superman popping up during that time with his dog.

The nolanverse is what's shown or stated to be in there by nolan. With that said i don't know if he's been retired for 8 years or not but what people can or can't imagine shouldn't effect anything.

 

[MrWayne]

Some things to consider...

1- If Batman was REALLY retired, or hasn't been seen in some time, let's say 8 years, then why is there a task force specifically out looking for Batman?!

I would think that after a few years of no contact or no visual sight of Batman that yes, he would still be a wanted criminal, but I doubt that the GCPD would spend 8 years searching for him with such conviction. I get the feeling that Batman was still out there and was being chased and hunted by the task force at every opportunity given.


2- If Bruce hasn't been Batman in so many years, what the hell is Alfred talking about when he says "I swore to protect you, and I haven't."

If Bruce was not putting himself in harms way by going out as Batman at night, what would make Alfred say such a thing? What else could he be referring to?? To me, it seems as if Bruce has still been going out at night, and clearly is losing himself even more, sad and depressed maybe, and perhaps in his age is putting his mind and body through unnecessary damage. Alfred, being his father figure could feel some deep guilt about seeing the condition he allowed Bruce to put himslef in while he stood by and allowed it.

Now, I am not saying that he has or hasn't been retired, we just dont know until we get more details or see the film. I'm just looking at these clues and trying to figure this out for myself, but the above two points does make me feel that he was active for quite some time after TDK as Batman.

 

[ThreadPool]

^ Makes the most sense to me, given (what little) we know.

What else would cause Alfred to be so broken up? There could be something else but I can't think of anything.

 

[Laderlappen]

Why couldnt Alfred say that after he returns as Batman?

 

[ggghhh]

Some things to consider...

1- If Batman was REALLY retired, or hasn't been seen in some time, let's say 8 years, then why is there a task force specifically out looking for Batman?!

I would think that after a few years of no contact or no visual sight of Batman that yes, he would still be a wanted criminal, but I doubt that the GCPD would spend 8 years searching for him with such conviction. I get the feeling that Batman was still out there and was being chased and hunted by the task force at every opportunity given.

Is there actually any official news about a task force actively out looking for Batman? I thought that was just a rumour to explain who John Blake was.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

What you need to know, with highlights:

Empire, January 2012 issue:

LA Times, December 2011:

Entertainment Weekly, January 20th, 2012

Entertainment Weekly, April 20th, 2012:

Leaked synopsis from Film Cells:

When Commissioner Gordon stumbles upon a plot to destroy the city from within, Bruce Wayne gets back into action as the Batman. Waiting for him is the mysterious Selina Kyle and Bane, a lethal adversary on a crusade to tear apart Batmans legacy piece by piece.

Bruce Wayne is emotionally frozen because of the events of The Dark Knight, and has nowhere to go. He is still-grieving, he is a glum, he is aging, damaged, and is not in prime condition. He is recovering mentally and physically from the damage inflicted by The Joker and Two-Face. A sacrifice occurred at the end of TDK and so Batman is gone, the symbol is detested, and Harvey Dent is the symbol that is liked as Gotham gets better after The Dark Knight, thanks to the deception and things such as the Harvey Dent Act.

 

[Marvin]

8 years? the rookie excuse is gone, he better be smart.
or else!

 

[Gianakin_]

Rag and a few others' theory that he's not gone for 8 years, but that he faded about 3 to 5 years after TDK sits better with me than the "8 year retirement" scenario. I hope this is the case.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Rag and a few others' theory that he's not gone for 8 years, but that he faded about 3 to 5 years after TDK sits better with me than the "8 year retirement" scenario. I hope this is the case.

Really. This.

They say he's in exile but that doesn't automatically mean he imposed that on himself as went home after the events of TDK.

"He's MIA as the story begins" doesn't mean his last appearance was eight years ago. It could be two, four or five years ago without changing one word of the quote.

 

[ThreadPool]

Why couldnt Alfred say that after he returns as Batman?

Very true. I'm just more hoping for this here:

Rag and a few others' theory that he's not gone for 8 years, but that he faded about 3 to 5 years after TDK sits better with me than the "8 year retirement" scenario. I hope this is the case.

Maybe that Alfred scene is a flashback? Maybe...