Warning! Spoilers ahead for Batman #108
In the latest issue of DC Comics' Batman, Bruce Wayne's other identity is finally exposed as having become ridiculous, seemingly signifying that it's perhaps time for Batman's "Matches Malone" persona to retire. Typically used when Batman is trying to go undercover and/or get information inaccessible to both the Dark Knight and Bruce Wayne, Matches has been Batman's go-to persona, and as such Malone pays a visit to try and join the new Unsanity Collective. However, Matches' time with the new gang is rather short-lived.
In Batman #108 from writer James Tynion IV and artist Jorge Jimenez, Matches Malone tries to join the Collective, posing as a potential recruit for their organization due to the fact that the Dark Knight wants to learn more about their operations and how they might be involved with the current threats plaguing Gotham City. Based upon reports, the Unsanity Collective is lead by a man named Master Wyze who uses old Mad Hatter tech to "reboot" willing participants, freeing them of the traumas of their past. Together, the utopian revolution group is looking to go beyond what the current society accepts to be "sane", choosing instead to look further, be more, and become "unsane".
However, Matches doesn't get very far with the new group. The Unsanity Collective and its members are quite smart, particularly one Miracle Molly, a young woman who helps build all of the Collective's impressive drones and tech. Molly sees right away that "Matches Malone" is a fake persona, and she gives him some black cloth instead to hide his true identity, rather than continue having him pretend to be someone he's not. However, Bruce agreeing to drop his fake Matches persona actually allows him to have a real conversation with Molly, seeing her passion and belief in the Collective and its ability to help Gothamites overcome their fears and traumas.
With that one line, Molly Miracle proves just how smart and perceptive she is, and also provides a reason as to why Batman shouldn't be seeing the Collective as outright villains. While they may prove to be rivals in the future, Batman isn't quite sure how to answer Molly's question when she point-blank asks him if a Batman free of his dark past and traumas could actually save Gotham. She's certainly given Batman a lot to think about considering the terrified and chaotic state the city's in and their potential to help citizens overcome their fears and pasts. Likewise, at the end of their talk, she also points him in the direction of Simon Saint and Scarecrow, Gotham's true terrors.
However, if one thing's clear for Batman it should be that Matches Malone may need to be retired, especially since he's been using the persona for decades. At the very least, Batman might want to think about switching it up with some various disguises and investing in some better ones to boot. Molly instantly picked up on his fake mustache. Furthermore, no disguise meant for infiltration and going undercover should ever become famous (even to readers). It clearly didn't work out this latest issue of Batman, so hopefully, the Dark Knight will take the hint that Matches is dated at best.
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May 09, 2021 at 06:30AM
