Suppose Terry Gets Killed!

[Mr. Mayhem]

Harsh subject yes, but it's something to think about. ??? Let's face it, masked vigilantism isn't exactly the type of work you'll find listed in the help wanted ads. So far Terry has been able to overcome these countless nights of life risking. However, let's say that one night Terry doesn't return to the cave. What then??? Where would this leave ol' Bruce. When you think of the name Bruce Wayne/Batman, you see tragedy written all over it.

Murdered Parents

Tortured Surrogant Son

Fallout Surrogant Brother

Failed Relationships

Pain tolling from the endless years of crimefighting

Which brings me back to my question of what if Terry was killed? Would the bitter old Mr. Wayne just end it all with suicide? Would he simply roll over and die of a broken soul? Would Ms. McGinnis go off the deep end and shoot him? Would Bruce be imprisoned on the count of endangering a minor? Would Barbara be impeached as Commissioner for withholding information? How would all this effect Sam's political career? Or would these characters just simply press on with life?

It's an issue that could raises alot of questions. Maybe they should have made an episode on this subject. Call it "Over the Edge Again: Return of the Scarecrow."

[LazyReaper]

They did something like that in "Where's Terry?". Terry dissappears and you see a scene where Bruce wonders if Terry is dead or not. It'd still be cool to see a movie on it though...

~looks around the board~ Man there were alot of posts while I was away. It's Great to be back :)

[Mr. Mayhem]

I know Where's Terry and Eyewitness were simular in tone to this kinda of situation. However, this post is mainly trying to express what would the consequences be if Terry were to be killed. Like an Over The Edge from TNBA where things just go to hell.

[Blade]

Note: i want be able to post alot because i'm in school and homework is killin' me so i'll only be able to post on the weekends.

Well if batman died it would be a mess. Bruce would have to explain it to Mary and Matt. Then Mary would be furious because Bruce lied to her. Then Dana would get on Max because she lied to her. And yeah the commish would be in trouble and Bruce could be arrested. Yeah i agree it would be pretty bad.

[Mr. Obsession]

I think if Terry did die Bruce would put on the suit one last time, just to track down whoever did it. Maybe have some plan that would take them both down together as I doubt Bruce would really have any real reason to keep on living at that point.

But suicide? Not Bruce's style.

I'm also sure Bruce has some plan to protect Barbara. There's not that much evidence to link her to having been Batgirl. And somehow I believe that Barbara would use her resources to cover up any evidence that Bruce was Batman.

The only one's in any real danger would be Terry's family. Because if one of Terry's enemies did find out that Terry was Batman, the family would be the easiest target for revenge.

[Maxie Zeus]

Well, it all rather depends on the exact circumstances, doesn't it? If the villain takes off Terry's mask and tracks down his identity you get one kind of story; if Bruce recovers Terry's body you may get another.

Suppose it's the latter (which has the effect of focusing on Bruce's reaction without complications). Does he tell Mary McGinnis how her son died, or does he manufacture an "accident" to explain it away? I have a hard time imagining Bruce going the latter route. Anyway, with this latest I don't think he could avoid the fact that he has been responsible for some pretty ghastly tragedies, and would have to come clean. Of course, he cannot expect Mary to keep her mouth shut, so he would be best off making a public confession of his life, while carefully protecting Barbara. That would have the effect of shutting the Batman "franchise" for good. It would make him a natural target for vengeance from all of Terry's enemies, and Barbara would naturally want to throw police protection around him. I doubt he would accept it, though; might he look at the danger as one last fight, one which--because he would either survive, or go down fighting--he could regard as a victory no matter the outcome?

Just random thoughts.

[Trent Lane]

It'd be cool if someone even did this as a one shot comic book, very similar to Over The Edge, maybe with Timm and Dini teaming up for another story...

[DarkAngel]

Originally posted by Maxie Zeus
Anyway, with this latest I don't think he could avoid the fact that he has been responsible for some pretty ghastly tragedies, and would have to come clean.

True. However, I don't think there would be any guilt. Pain, sure. But not guilt. In ROTJ, remembering what had happened to Tim, Bruce ordered Terry to give up the suit in order to avoid a repeat of the past. Bruce wanted to avoid the situation that's been brought up here by Mr. Mayhem. But as Terry later told Bruce, he was never a Robin. He's a completely different person, one who understands the dangers and the responsibility. Terry's his own man and made the decision to do what he does. Bruce has accepted that. If Terry were to be killed, as painful as it would be, Bruce would know that he wasn't responsible. I think Barbara would understand that as well. Terry's mom would undoubtedly be told, but no one else. As with the Joker/Tim tragedy, it wouldn't be exposed to the world. Unless the villian that was responsible made Batman's identity known. Then there could definitely be greater repercussions. But Bruce would never "beat up" on himself over Terry's death.

[Robin2099]

I could see this being a repeat of the "Death in the Family" storylines from the comics where the Joker murdered Jason Todd. If Terry died, I think Bruce would tell Terry's family about his death, but not reveal what had really happend. Then, I see Bruce taking up the mantle of the Bat one more time to avenge Terry. Then Batman would finally be no more. A really really long shot too could be Bruce convincing Nightwing to take up the mantle of the Bat for Bruce in this one last cased. This would be a really good story for the comics.

[GothamGirl]

Lets say blight kills him and Terry's family get's the whole story. Terry's little brother might want to evenge his father and brother's death. I'm not saying he'd become batman, bruce would forbid it, but he might become a super heroe when he's older.

[Nightwing]

Originally posted by DarkAngel
....as Terry later told Bruce, he was never a Robin. He's a completely different person, one who understands the dangers and the responsibility.

Wow, now there's a quote worth quoting! I really don't buy into the what if Terry dies hypothetical senario because at this point, after hearing that I would ask the person who asked me: "What if Bruce died?" Well people don't want Bruce to die, that's the obvious damn question in the world.

My point is, I see them BOTH as Batman, and frankly these two could never die. They're too strong. They are Batman.

(of course, I like how episodes such as Eyewitness, Sneak Peak, and Where's Terry showed what type of relationship Bruce and Terry have)

[Mr. Mayhem]

Ah forget it. Just forget I even posted this.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by Mr. Mayhem
Ah forget it. Just forget I even posted this.

Why? It's a good question, and a thought-provoking one. It gets us inside the characters' psychologies and histories, and if there is no clear-cut answer, the sheer number of possibilities to explore is itself interesting.

I say, keep the answers coming.

[Failure]

If Terry died I think Bruce would have felt extremely guilty about it. Even though Terry says that he understands the risks and that he's different from the Robin's, I think Bruce still sees him as a kid he has a responsibility to protect. Basically, Bruce still sees himself as Batman (like he has said in Shriek, where Terry asks Bruce how he knew he wasn't crazy and Bruce says because the voice kept calling him Bruce and he always called himself Batman) and even though Terry is Batman as well, he's still sort of a Robin. (Am I making any sense? I'll try to make it clearer)

Bruce is the teacher, like he's always been, and even though Terry's the one wearing the Batsuit now, he's still the student, just like the Robin's were. Only now, he has more responsibility than they did. If Bruce were 50 or so, and was still able to go out as Batman, would he allow Terry to go out as Batman in his place or would he allow Terry to come as a sidekick? (assuming Terry would accept that) And if Terry died how would Bruce feel? Probably the same way he felt after the whole TD incident. In fact, he'd probably feel worse, because Terry has a mother and a younger brother.

Now if Terry did die, I doubt Bruce would kill himself. I dont think anything could ever happen that would want to make Bruce kill himself. However, because Terry has a family, it makes things a lot more complicated. Basically, I think everything would go to hell, and everyone's cover would be blown.

[macforbatman]

Suppose Terry get killed. He dies saving the world. All clues will lead back to Wayne. He is his employee, and hes the reason he continues to stay out late. The bottom line is that if Terry dies, Bruce is revealed. For many years Bruce has been living in secrecy. Such word getting out would put him at risk for lawsuits (obviously something that would not be done in an animated TV show.) Bruce Wayne knows better. Saying Terry gets killed, Bruce will avenge his death. He will do what he needs to make one last fight just that. He will fight to the death for Terry. Bruce thinks of the job as a task, not a game. He knows Terry understands the circumstances. He recognizes all that Terry would sacrafice. And for the first time Bruce would bring emotions into the scenario. Prior to this theorized event of his death, Bruce has been stolid, emotionless, man and it would be a great thing for Bruce Wayne to finally do something for admiration, for respect. If Terry dies, Bruce will avenge his death.