9. A Betrayal of Trust
Despite the failure of Kevin Smiths first Batman limited series, Cacophony, D.C were willing to give him another chance. And were generally glad they did; Smith really pulled up his socks for a larger second series entitled the Widening Gyre, which saw the surprise return of Cacophonys villain, this time in the guise of a new Gotham-based vigilante, Baphomet. Baphomet gains Batmans trust, and as Bruce Wayne falls deeper in love with Silver St. Cloud, a woman to whom hes entrusted his dark secret, he starts to imagine a life away from the pressures of being Gothams stalwart defender. He starts to consider giving Baphomet the keys to the Batcave and calling it a day. However, in one of the most dread-inducing surprise twists that Ive seen on paper of recent years, Baphomet reveals himself to be an old foe, and in front of a devastated Batman, he slits Silvers throat ear to ear. Just when you thought he was out, they pulled him back in. Its rare that Batman allows anyone but members of the Bat-Family down into his retreat, into the bowels of the earth below Wayne Manor, and whenever he does, its fairly monumental. I mean, its happened only once in the movie franchise so far, at the end of Nolans TDKR. But having Batman completely exposed in this way in his only safe haven, having him completely and utterly duped with such devastating consequences would be a unique and entirely unexpected moment for cinema audiences. And do you want something new for the next Batman movie, or simply more of the same?