Batman: 80 Greatest Ever Moments
22. Batman Fights Azrael - KnightsEnd
With Azrael existing as a dark parallel of what Batman could have been had he broken his no-killing rule, it’s only natural that the two are continually in conflict. Of these conflicts, none are quite as poignant as their first bout, which takes place in Batman #510, in a crucial part of the KnightsEnd storyline.
Upon learning of just how brutal Azrael has been in his time associated to the Bat, the hero confronts his disturbed protege, and after a heated argument over the impact of his actions, the two turn their verbal argument into a physical one.
Batman has no shortage of epic fights, but seeing him face off against someone who is identical in intellectual, physical, and fighting prowess makes for something uniquely dynamic. Most importantly, the fact that ultimately despite all this Batman ends up forgiving him is particularly telling of the kind heart that rests inside DC's most intimidating superhero.
[ZM]
21. The New Dynamic Duo - Batman Reborn
Following Final Crisis came Batman: Reborn, the penultimate chapter in Morrison's run on Batman.
Reborn was fresh, exciting, and marked one of the most inventive periods in Batman's history. Perhaps its greatest moment though, came as the new Batman and Robin (Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne) made their first response to the Bat-Signal.
Frank Quitely's pencils are as stunning as ever, while Morrison's determination to reiterate the immortal qualities of the Dynamic Duo as a symbol cannot be overstated.
[EP]