10 Comics Changed Due To Fan Backlash
3. Bruce Wayne's Early Return As Batman
When it comes to passionate, vocal fan bases, few are quite as intense as those who love nothing more than taking a trip to the streets and rooftops of Gotham City.
Back during the Knightfall story of 1993, Bane was introduced to comics in a major way. That major way, of course, would see this masked powerhouse debut by showing both his smarts and his strength - releasing Arkham Asylum's most infamous names as a way to tire out Batman, before stepping forward himself to break the Bat's back.
The reason for this, was that a new Batman was to be introduced.
As seen, that new Batman was Jean-Paul Valley, aka Azrael. A brutal, clinical figure, the intention of those at DC Comics was to showcase how different Gotham would be with a vicious Batman overseeing proceedings.
From writer Chuck Dixon, so negative was the reaction to Azrael, the decision was made to rush Bruce Wayne back into the cape 'n' cowl way sooner than first planned.
After having his back broken by Bane, Bruce was to be out of commission for a substantial period of time. Instead, he would return to battle and defeat Azrael just a matter of months later, before then handing the Batman mantle to Dick Grayson while Wayne himself worked on completing his full rehabilitation.
In his short spell as Batman, Jean-Paul Valley managed to piss off Tim Drake, piss of Dick Grayson, and hugely piss off readers who had zero interest in seeing his garish Batsuit and murderous ways.