Warning! Spoilers for Dark Nights: Death Metal #2 below
One of the coolest things about Dark Nights: Death Metal so far has been seeing all the multiverse versions of Batman that have been introduced with each issue. Obviously, B. Rex has taken the throne thus far as the coolest iteration of the Dark Knight, but for one fleeting moment, there was a challenger to his crown in the form of a tiny Batman in what looked to be one of The Atom’s suits. But alas, the Batom was taken from us far too soon…and in hilarious (not to mention bloody) fashion.
In the opening panels of Dark Nights: Death Metal #2, we stand at eye level with the grass covering a deserted field. A little lizard pops out up out of the growth and looks about. Sensing no movement, the “lizard” sheds its costume and revealed that it is in fact the Batom, a hybrid of the Caped Crusader and the size-manipulating hero, The Atom. He radios back to the Bat Castle to inform his commander that Wonder Woman and their crew have yet to come through the zone he is patrolling but promises that, when they do, he will teach them that “big things come in small—.” And with those final words, the tiniest of Batmen is promptly smushed beneath the wheels of a passing vehicle.
It’s a shame, really. Can you imagine the shenanigans that little fella could have gotten into? Thanks to his Bio-Belt, The Atom is capable of much more than just size manipulation. He’s also able to fly, can shift his mass so that he has super strength, and can even travel through dimensions at a subatomic level. Now couple those powers with the dark intensity and laser-like focus of Batman, along with the hero’s penchant for insane gadgets, and you have a terrifying combination to behold. Then again, how intimidating could he have been if his Achille’s heel was a car tire?
There still may be some hope in terms of learning a bit more about the backstory of the Batom. The anthology series, Death Metal: Legends of the Dark Knights, is due in stores next month and promises to give us glimpses into the stories of the multiverse Batmen. So, you never know: perhaps the tiniest of the Dark Knight Detectives may make an appearance. And if he does, let’s hope he’ll be a little more aware of his surroundings this time around.
