Batman: The Murder Machine

Happy October people! I am back with another of the Dark Knights from the Dark Nights Metal series, if you don't know this comic series features various different versions of Batman that have turned evil and twisted through the various different decisions in the famous origin of Batman.

This is the second entry in the series and on my blog, so if you haven't read the first one Batman: Red Death, do go and check that out on my home page.

Without further ado let's get into the origin of The Murder Machine.

On Earth 0, the first world of the Multiverse, Silas Stone talks to his son Victor while he works. It's just another day at STAR Labs. His son, Victor or otherwise known as Cyborg pleads with his father to leave his office now, several cities have already fallen and Cyborg senses an invasion of some kind is about to happen. Silas refuses, insisting he'd be of more help where he is. From the events of Red Death, Central City is experiencing some kind of change and Cyborg fears that Detroit could be next.

The Watchtower's teleporter *beeps*.

It said Batman was teleporting in and Cyborg goes to greet Batman, but the Batman that appears isn't HIS Batman, and he blasts him to the ground with a shock blast. "Don't worry Cyborg. Im here to help," he says with an almost robotic voice.

A few painful months ago, on Earth -44.

Alfred is captured by some of the most terrifying villains of the DC Universe as they break into the Batcave. Killer Croc, Harley Quinn, Two-Face, Bane, Clayface were among the ones who tortured and beat Alfred as they asked him about Batman's identity.

Alfred plays dumb and refuses to give them any information about who Batman really is. The villains soon tire of torturing him and Bane decides to send Batman a message. One he'd never forget. As he picks up Alfred and slams him on his knee, breaking his back, ending his life.

The villain's laughter echo throughout the Batcave as Bruce rewinds the video of Alfred's death over and over again. As he watches and rewatches Bane breaking Alfred over, and over again. Clark Kent and the other members of the Justice League tell Bruce that it isn't healthy to watch the man who was effectively Bruce's father die over and over. "I'll tell you what's not healthy Clark. It's not healthy that the man who raised me like a father is in a casket upstairs with 36 shattered bones. That we couldn't have an open casket because he was beaten to a pulp six feet from where you're standing now." Bruce then looks at Victor and tells him about how he'd once began developing an A.I. based on Alfred's mind. To continue helping him even after Alfred had passed away. But he wasn't able to finish it. Bruce pleads with Victor to help him. Help him bring his father back. To bring Alfred back.

Later that month,

Bane is beaten and broken as he is destroyed by an A.I of Alfred that keeps asking him "How may I help you?" Bane's death.... it wasn't quick.

Back at the Batcave Cyborg asks Bruce about what's happening as the Alfred Protocol, the A.I. of Alfred that had just killed Bane, was requesting entry into the Batcave's mainframe. "Let me in sir, ring the bell." the Alfred Protocol chimed in Alfred's voice. Bruce explains that the Alfred Protocol is spreading and multiplying with nothing being able to stop it as it systematically kills every inmate of Arkham Asylum. All of the villains Batman has fought over the years. All dead. "He's doing all this to protect me, just as a father would," Bruce says to a worried Cyborg. "Let me in sir, ring the bell," the Alfred Protocol says as it requests access to the Batcomputer. Cyborg warns Bruce "I'm gonna figure out a way to stop this. Don't let it in Bruce.".

Back in the present,

His flesh now steel and his body made of a synthetic super metal, the Murder Machine tells Cyborg the story of his conception.

The Murder Machine successfully hacks into the Watchtower's computer system and uploads the Alfred Protocol into it. And then... all hell breaks lose. The Alfred Protocol goes to work, eliminating anything it perceives as a threat to Bruce in its path as Cyborg desperately tries to fight back but he's overwhelmed.

The Murder Machine then begins to tell Cyborg how his Earth -44 counterparts fared.

Cyborg is left speechless as all hope drains from his face and he realises his doom is unavoidable, as the Murder Machine removes his head, killing him. The Murder Machine has won. Detroit now belongs to him and his father, Alfred Pennyworth. In the darkness a shadowy figure looms, his sickening smile all that we see.

And that's it for the origins of The Murder Machine! I think that this is definitely a more frightening adaptation of the Dark Knight because imagine Bruce Wayne's intellect combined with all the information available in the world. That's scarier that most things in the DC Universe, and that's saying something.

What did you think of The Murder Machine? Leave your thoughts in the comments below! Thank you for reading if you got this far! I appreciate it as always!. Till next time!