Have you read BATMAN #41? Chances are you've heard the talk about the "robot-Batman" armor that looks like a "bunny." Gotham City is seeing a bit of a change after the events of Endgame.
There is more going on than just the idea of "Batman" in a suit of armor. There's a few things you should take note of and keep in mind as this story moves forward. If you haven't read BATMAN #41, we strongly suggest you do so before reading on. There will be spoilers below.
Who's in Charge of Batman Now?
Geri Powers is the CEO of Powers International. She is the one that went to and convinced Jim Gordon to become the new Batman. She believes this is what the city needs with the absence of the actual Batman. It sounds like she means well but we also have to consider her heritage. We saw in the aftermath of the Night of the Owls arc that Joseph and Maria Powers were part of the Court. With the downfall of the Court because of Batman, could she have some other motive for this new Batman?
We also know that in the Batman Beyond animated series, Derek Powers, possible her son or nephew, goes on to do some pretty evil things as well.
Joining Geri in assisting the new Batman is Julia Perry (who we know is really Julia Pennyworth) as the tactical strategist and Daryl Gutierrez who played a big role in designing the suit.
Why Was Jim Chosen?
This is the first time Batman hasn't played a role in appointing a replacement. Who better than his best "friend"? As Geri pointed out, there were cadets training for the program that might have been smarter, tougher, or prettier, but Jim has the heart for the role. His main priority has always been keeping the city safe.
The Suit Can Change Color
When Jim first sees the "robobat-bunny" suit, Gutierrez points out the color could be changed if Jim didn't like it. The solid blue seemed a bit odd at first but it does fit in with a police department theme, even if "Batman" isn't officially part of the GCPD.
The examples Daryl show are obviously homages to past costume designs and might not make the most sense for what they're trying to do. Having a darker suit for stealth missions (assuming the giant mech-suit can be stealthy) could be useful. It'll be interesting to see if the option of changing colors is used.
There's a Suit Within the Suit
A nice secret DC managed to keep was the fact that there's another "regular" Bat-suit Jim wears inside. (You can see what Scott Snyder said about it in our interview with him and Capullo HERE). To mix things up a little, we will see Jim come out when the situation calls for it. I would imagine a giant metal suit wouldn't be able to fit in all areas. The new design is pretty neat as well.
Why does he have a gun? It's actually more of a Bat-taser gun. It's able to shoot out a little Batarang that shocks the perp unconscious. Batman shouldn't have a gun. We all know that. Jim was a cop though. It is non-lethal. It may be treading dangerous grounds but Jim could use some assistance since he doesn't have the physical training Batman had.
Batman is No Longer a Vigilante
Just as the idea of Jim in a robot-suit as Batman can be seen as an experiment for the book, the idea of Batman part of a system of checks and balances is as well. Does Gotham City need a Batman? Can a Batman working within the system be allowed to do what needs to be done? There is a police task force, which we see in DETECTIVE COMICS #41 but you have to wonder if the entire police department and all the citizens in Gotham will be happy with the idea.
The other question is, are you happy with the idea? We can assume this won't last forever so it's going to be interesting to see how this all goes.