There's some strange things happening in Gotham City right now. Batman was missing for a period of time after his fight with Joker in Endgame. This lead to the new robo-Batman suit with a new person taking the role. We've also seen the 'We Are Robin' kids take to the streets to become a new set of vigilantes in Gotham.

The idea of inexperienced kids running around the extremely dangerous streets of Gotham is almost hard to comprehend. How and why would they get organized enough to pull this off?

Note: There will be some minor spoilers for WE ARE ROBIN #1 & 2 and BATMAN #42.

It turns out, they are getting a little assistance. They're getting texts and guidance from someone simply going by "THE NEST," as in a robin's nest.

The question is, who is this The Nest person? We caught a glimpse of THE NEST at the end of issue #1. This isn't your average concerned citizen of Gotham. This guy has some resources and is aware of the needs of the city.

That brings about the question again, who the heck could it be?

I had a big suspicion in that first issue which was further driven home in the second issue. But let's look at some other possible suspects first.

Bruce Wayne

Batman/Bruce Wayne is dead, right? Well, apparently not. We saw him sitting on a park bench BATMAN #41 and in issue #42, he was seen with Julie Madison working at a community center or something. If he has returned, why isn't he out being Batman? Has he finally decided to give it all up to settle down?

Of course, Batman could never fully settle down. Maybe by setting up the We Are Robin team, he'll know the streets are safe and he'll have more time to actually lead a semi-normal life. This doesn't explain Alfred's sadness in BATMAN/SUPERMAN #21 when Kal visited the Batcave.

What's up with the need for so much clay, Julie?

Joker

If Batman is alive, what about Joker? Where's he been in the months since Endgame ended? Probably recovering after that brutal outcome, if he somehow managed to survive. What we did see before those events was Joker putting on quite a charade. He posed at Eric Border for months, working in Arkham Asylum and helping Batman out without anyone having a clue. Why couldn't he do it again?

Could Joker be setting up some bizarre twisted homage to Batman's sidekick he brutally murdered once upon a time? It doesn't make a lot of sense but what better way to to rub things in Batman's face than to take on a concept belonging to him and either making something truly good or evil out of it.

Lex Luthor

Is Lex Luthor becoming the new Wolverine? He's starting to pop up everywhere so why not in Gotham as well? He was just seen in the pages of GRAYSON. He's been butting into Superman's problems in BATMAN/SUPERMAN. We know, from JUSTICE LEAGUE, that he's aware of Batman's identity. Maybe this could be another ego boost for him. He would love to be able to take a Batman concept and evolve it into something bigger and more efficient just to prove he's better than Batman, even if he thought Batman was dead.

The only thing is, would he have the time? Would he actually go in disguise to talk to Duke Thomas (in WE ARE ROBIN #2) just to continue to pull this off? Or maybe he would just pay someone to do it for him. He almost resembles the guy in the equipment room and definitely has the means and tech to provide all of it.

Alfred Pennyworth

Did the butler do it?

The guy watching over in the first issue kind of had Alfred's...hairstyle. The cameras he uses look like robotic bats. That could be something Batman had in his arsenal or in development. When Duke believes he's being interrogated by a police detective, the guy kind of has Alfred's stance. Alfred is a trained actor and could easily play the part and wear a disguise.

You'll also notice his hands. He's wearing gloves. That's not too odd of a thing but in Endgame, Joker chopped off his right hand.

When we see the mysterious leader in WE ARE ROBIN, in this scene and another at the end, he's using his left hand. He likely has a prosthetic hand replacing his right, hence the gloves.

What does Alfred have to do if he believes Bruce is gone? (Does he know Bruce is hanging out with Julie Madison? Maybe that's Clayface posing as him again?) Alfred isn't the type to retire and give up on the mission. Damian is out going around the world in his own series, ROBIN: SON OF BATMAN. Alfred just has Wayne Manor to take care of (but then, is it still Arkham Manor?). The equipment room we saw in the first issue is stuff that Batman may have had made at some point or Alfred could have had them made from one of their manufacturing sources.

There could be other suspects but our money is on Alfred.

Who do you think the mysterious leader might be? Do you agree with our thinking?

I've got a strong feeling that it's Hugo Strange.

I hope It's Alfred.

@black_arrow: If so, I wonder if a) Bruce knows and b) would he approve?

I wonder if Bruce had some sort of contingency plan in place. Would this be his idea or Alfred's? More reasons to read this series!

i suspect it's Alfred. Also in BATMAN/SUPERMAN #21 didn't Kal mention in monologue, Alfred was an actor and he didn't believe Alfred. That stuck out to me. Maybe he is wearing a disguise.

Dang, looks like I need to add another series to the list.

@synack1138: I think he also said it seemed like he was hiding something.

Looks like an interesting read, I might pick this up! Thanks for the article.

Maybe Owlman. The one from earth 3. He's still running around.

I've been enjoying Robin but I wish there was no benefactor and it was just the kids doing it for themselves.

@jonny_anonymous: The'll probably lose their benefactor once there identity is reveled.

The Joker chopped off Alfred's hand!?! WTF! Ouch!

I'd still bet my money on...

And "The Nest" really sounds like...

We have another Mockingbird! :P

Its Jason Todd lol

Definetely Alfred

The text doesn't seem like Alfred, but the image does. It could be that Alfred was affected by Batman's "death" so much that it affected his way of speech. Could be.

Am I being silly thinking it could be Damian?

It's Uncle Ben.

Could be Alfred but it could also be the Joker. He could always use more Robins to smash with a crowbar.

Marvel ran Wolverine into the ground by using him as a tool to sell more books because of how popular he was. Fox did the same thing with the movies. Seems like DC is using Lex for actual story purposes, because although Lex is very popular he's not freaking Wolverine when it comes to popularity. I don't think any villain outside of the Joker can push comic sales like that.

@joaoanjos: No I was kinda hoping it would be to.

Should I be reading this? I feel like I should be reading this.

I'll pick up the first two issues tomorrow.

It's Stan Lee.

Alfred makes the most sense out of this list. Didn't he even start the Outsiders back up pre-Flashpoint? Maybe knowing that Bruce has stopped crimefighting has pushed Alfred to start up a new legacy of crimefighters

I was going to pass on this, but should I be reading this?

@g_man: I was hoping the leader would be Carrie Kelley. Because I'm disappointed how the negative backlash she got that made her disappear from the face of the earth. It would have been a great dynamic storyline for Robin War since Damian will be involve in some form. I still want Carrie Kelley involved in the Batman Family in some shape or form.

I'd be interested if it was Alfred.

YES!

That'd be interesting....

Agreed, he's completely disappeared whereas we've had tiny glimpses of Ultraman and Superwoman in their jail cells.

I just wish that with Bruce returning that meant Alfred would get his hand sewn back on. Instead of just throwing it away because "there was no-one left to fix" it just sticks as a partial win for the Joker in my mind.

This looks dang interesting. Oh welp.

*adds We Are Robin to the list

Is this mysterious leader who found out Clark's secret identity?

To be fair, I think that was the intention.

It better be CALENDAR MAN!!!
~MiB

My guess has been Alfredo from the start. I always prefer being wrong when it comes to this kind of mystery though.

I'm not sure but i think is Robin.

It's Pikachu!!!

Maybe it's Richard O'Sullivan (one for Briton's of a certain age).

Probably Tim Drake because how predictable all stories set in Gotham are.

I don't know, but I am eager to find out. I am not going to just jump out and say it is robin or something, but he's right. Alfred and robin seem like big suspects.

IMO, none of these people on the list scream wanting to run a secret sect of civilian teenagers/young adults to protect Gotham from street crime. At least Batman trained the Robins and had a hand in showing them how to do things, etc. I'm sure it's a familiar character but not sure If it's anyone in the Batfamily to be honest. They're iffy about including new members as it is and it normally spawns some sort of story. Why would they suddenly trust an untrained group of kids to do it? Same Bruce and Alfred got bent out of shape for including New 52 Dick Grayson and Tim Drake to various extents.

It would be really out of character for Alfred who usually wants the Batfamily members to lead a normal live.