Batman: Dead?

Cover by Alex Ross

The big news in the world of nerd today: the death of Batman. Mad Scotsman/genius writer Grant Morrison says he will kill off the Caped Crusader in the final issue of "Batman RIP," which hits stands tomorrow (Wednesday). You'll probably find it hard to get a copy, since this will likely inspire the same mini-rush that the similar "Death of Captain America" did last year.

The big question: is Batman actually going to die? Especially after starring in thebiggest money-maker Warner Brothers has ever seen? Well, death wasn't particularly final for Superman. Or really, almost anyone who's died in comics in the past 20 years:

• Wonder Woman -- Killed, turned into a goddess, got over it.
• Green Arrow -- Lost an arm and blown to bits over Metropolis, later resurrected.
• Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) -- Became an insane supervillain, died during the Final Night,  chosen as the host of the Spectre, then finally resurrected.
• Robin (Jason Todd) -- Murdered by the Joker in response to a phone-in poll (this was before the Internet); resurrected, currently alive.
• Supergirl -- Killed, and subsequently wiped from existence during the Crisis on Infinite Earths; brought back with a much shorter skirt.

This isn't even the first time Batman has died. Or Bruce Wayne has quit the cowl.

See, for instance:

"The Last Batman Story":

And the other "Last Batman Story":

Or there was the time Batman's back was broken, and he retired.

Dick Grayson took on the mantle of Batman then, too.

So, is this really the end of Batman?

Give me a break. You can't kill him. He's Batman.