It looks like DC has actually been going loopy with Batman in current instances. With out lacking a step, the animated motion pictures have given us a Caped Crusader in feudal Japan, a Lovecraftian horror spinoff, and one the place he faces off in opposition to Jack the Ripper in 1850s London. If you happen to haven’t heard, the newest distinctive Batman story is Aztec Batman: Conflict of Empires.
This story transforms The Darkish Knight right into a Sixteenth-century Mesoamerican-inspired hero who should not solely push again in opposition to Spanish invaders, but in addition face off in opposition to this timeline’s model of the Joker — a person pushed by the illusions of an Aztec conflict god. As at all times, DC’s “what-if” eventualities work splendidly properly as a one-off animated entry. Seeing Batman in a special mild, away from the identical previous origin story, works nice. However what if all of us took a step again and appeared to comics for the following iteration? DC’s subsequent transfer needs to be introducing Africa’s personal Caped Crusader — Batwing.
Most DC followers may query this alternative, for the reason that second iteration of Batwing — younger Luke Fox — already seems in varied comic-related content material, together with CW’s Batwoman and two DC animated motion pictures. I’m speaking about David Zavimbe, the character who began the Batwing comedian again in 2011. Whereas Luke comes from Gotham Metropolis and is already immersed in Bruce Wayne lore (as he’s Lucius Fox’s son), Zavimbe’s distinctive Congo-based character arc is prime and prepared for an adaptation.
A Batman for Africa
Written by Grant Morrison (who took the mantle after Judd Winick left) and drawn by Chris Burnham, David Zavimbe’s story begins when he was only a baby. After each his dad and mom died very early on in his life from HIV/AIDS, he and his brother Isaac have been pulled right into a normal’s conflict deep throughout the Congo. Despite the fact that they turn into extremely educated and glorious in battle, David activates Normal Keita for desirous to assassinate harmless girls and youngsters.
With Isaac severely wounded from a near-fatal machete assault, David has to fend for himself and escapes, finally discovering refuge in an orphanage, the place he matures. Bruce Wayne — with the Batman Integrated plan in thoughts — hears of David’s heroics as a Congolese police officer. After giving him his personal batsuit and teaming up with him on a mission, Batwing’s solo tales turn into darker and extra political than you’ve ever recognized a Batman to be. That is one violent story.
Whereas this is probably not everybody’s cup of tea, the brand new DCAU (consider what transpires in Gunn’s Suicide Squad) is the proper place for Zavimbe’s story. It is a aspect of DC that’s not often given a highlight. There are warlords, dictators, African crime lords, and worse crime scenes than you’d discover in Gotham. Battle, colonialism, and spiritual conflicts are the themes right here. Quite a few heroes and villains make their debut in David’s 19-issue run of Batwing, like Bloodbath, Blood Tiger, Thunderfall, and a whole staff known as The Kingdom.
Not solely does the gritty, darkish artwork of Nightwing complement the general tone of the story (which might look nice on the small display), however these characters maintain surprising secrets and techniques as properly. Throughout a vicious battle (the place Batwing practically dies), Bloodbath seems to be his long-lost, thought-to-be-dead brother. To not point out, he actually goals to kill — Bloodbath’s solely weapon is a machete. If that’s not sufficient, The Kingdom seems to be the rationale behind Bloodbath’s creation — they left a metropolis simply earlier than utterly ridding it of rogue navy forces.
Contemplating each different model of Batman is being spotlighted, David Zavimbe ought to have that chance as properly. The explanation for the character change could possibly be resulting from Winick leaving and DC not figuring out what to do, or the comedian ebook writer not liking the truth that David’s world was far too faraway from the Gotham Metropolis vibe. Regardless of the case could also be, now’s the proper likelihood to proper a fallacious and reintroduce this character to the DC fandom. Aztec Batman: Conflict of Empires is now out there to observe on HBO Max.
- Launch Date
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September 18, 2025
- Runtime
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87 Minutes
- Director
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Juan Jose Meza-Leon
- Writers
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Invoice Finger, Bob Kane, Juan Jose Meza-Leon, Alfredo Mendoza
- Producers
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Aaron Berger, Fernando de Fuentes Sainz, Jose C. Garcia de Letona
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Horacio García Rojas
Yohualli Coatl (voice)
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Álvaro Morte
Hernán Cortés (voice)
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Omar Chaparro
Yoka (voice)
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José Carlos Illanes
Pedro de Alvarado (voice)
