DCAU #302: Daddy Dearest

IN THIS ONE... Batman helps a mobster meet the son he never knew.

CREDITS: Written by Scott Peterson; art by Tim Levins and Terry Beatty.

REVIEW: Succession is a concern for wiseguys at the top of criminal empires, and when a gang war breaks out in Gotham, one particular mobster's family comes under fire. And then the rival family goes after a random kid, on to an unassuming family. Turns out, the hospital made a mistake all those years ago, and two babies were switched. Not sure how they found out, but now the badder guys want to make sure the bad guy can't hand down his assets to even this kid.

Not sure if Batman sees it coming, but he agrees to set up a meet between the mobster and his wayward biological son. The obvious ending is that the kid, well-raised by ordinary parents, refuses the blood fortune and what its ramifications. That's what happens. They do make us sweat a little bit. After all, the kid's adoptive father was never home, working two jobs to make ends meet. A dark turn could have occurred, and I probably would have welcomed it IF it had consequences for Batman in future issues. As it is, I still wonder if there should be consequences for Gotham. Absent a clear succession, won't this be hashed out in the street, with guns? I wonder if Peterson is game to play a longer game.

He does relate this to Batman however, accepting the mobster's word on faith that he won't force the family business on his son, understanding the look of a man who has lost everything, the particular resignation and course change that represents. The kid will get a scholarship from Wayne Enterprises and that's the happy ending we need, though the issue ends on a more downbeat, reflective note.

REREADABILITY: Medium - A perfectly fine story, though somewhat predictable.