Batman Returns- again.

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Well, that didn't take long.

Bleedingcool.com reports that the original Batman, Bruce Wayne is rumored to return next summer with a series of miniseries penned by current Batman and Robin scribe, Grant Morrison.  

While this is currently unconfirmed by DC Comics, it should be noted that Morrison has often claimed that he had a massive Batman opus planned in 3 parts, and many fans have expected Bruce Wayne's return to be the finale of the saga.

Morrison alluded to Wayne's death in his Batman R.I.P. arc running concurrently with his Final Crisis miniseries.  Both stories were critically bashed.  Morrison had apparently killed Wayne off in the penultimate chapter of Final Crisis, only to reveal that he was alive in the distant past at the conclusion of the story.  Since then Wayne's first protege, Dick Grayson has taken over the mantle, while his last Robin and adopted son (Tim Drake) went off to find his father.

While no one is surprised at Bruce Wayne's rumored return, the timing is a little odd, as current Batman Dick Grayson has just been announced as part of the new James Robinson- helmed JLA line-up. What this may mean for the JLA and the mantle of the Bat remains unseen.

DC is likely to remain tight-lipped for the rest of the year, but we may see more spoilers as 2010 comes around.