Justice League: 10 Most Emotional Moments

Batman is a character who is defined by personal tragedy. Bruce Wayne has such an inability to cope with the loss of his parents that he chooses to wage an unending and un-winnable war against the very nature of crime itself. Tragedy is so ingrained in his character that this talking point has become tired and cliché.

That is why this scene in Flashpoint #5 hits so hard. It really gets to the core of the character of Batman, tearing away at the tough exterior of the Dark Knight and showing, for a fleeting brief moment, the man underneath.

In a moment of realization, Batman removes his cowl to reveal Bruce Wayne, with tears in his eyes, having received a letter from his father, who was the Batman of the Flashpoint continuity.

For just an instant, he lets himself be vulnerable, and lets himself grieve. A fitting end to what would functionally serve as a hard reboot for the entire DC universe, ending on one of its most iconic characters finally being able to get just one more happy memory of his parents.