With Grant Morrison’s overarching storyline reaching a pause with the “conclusion” of “BATMAN, R.I.P.” we’re left with two big questions “What’s become of Batman?” and “Who is Dr. Hurt?” It’s too early to answer the former question, but part of the fun of these stories is guessing where the writer is going. I’m going to attempt to summarize the basic theories and add one of my own to the mix with the idea that Grant Morrison likes to sprinkle clues and hints throughout his stories.
DR. HURT IS MANGROVE PIERCE
Evidence for: Batman says so. And you certainly shouldn’t bet against Batman on a regular basis.
Evidence against: Dr. Hurt denies it. And while we shouldn’t necessarily believe a villain, the denial rings true. More to the point, Mangrove Pierce as Dr. Hurt is so out of left field that it has no resonance and is about as anti-climatic a reveal as possible. Also, no idea how Mangrove Pierce supposedly was able to figure out that Bruce Wayne is Batman. Also, what’s his motivation?
It’s certainly possible that Batman is in fact right, but Morrison needs to do more to make it matter.
Odds: 10 to 1
DR. HURT IS THOMAS WAYNE
Evidence for: Dr. Hurt makes the claim. It certainly would be as shocking a reveal as possible given Batman’s nearly 70 year history, something supporting Morrison’s hype.
Evidence against: Batman denies it. Alfred denies it. It doesn’t even cross Batman’s mind in the flashbacks to the “space medicine” experiment. It’s doubtful that DC would approve that radical a change to Batman’s origin, even if it probably wouldn’t stop Batman’s career.
I don’t put it past Morrison to float this by DC, but in the end I think it’s merely a psychological ploy and not a likely outcome.
Odds: 100 to 1
DR. HURT IS SATAN
Evidence for: Dr. Hurt is depicted as a demonic presence throughout “R.I.P.” and makes various claims that he’s “been there since the beginning”. In BATMAN #666 the third ghost of Batman claims he works for the Devil and is seen working for Dr. Hurt. Morrison loves the archetype and has presented Batman against a satanic Joker in ARKHAM ASYLUM: A SERIOUS HOUSE ON SERIOUS EARTH and had Satan be a presence in the “Gothic” arc of LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT.
Evidence against: The literal Devil in a main Batman comic? Anyone think that DC would approve that?
I think people are confusing symbolism with literalism. It’s possible in comics, but I can’t see Morrison convincing anyone higher up that this is a good idea.
Odds: 100,000 to 1
DR. HURT IS JOE CHILL
Evidence for: Nothing direct, but one of the overarching themes of Morrison’s run is fathers and sons. BATMAN #673 flashed back to “The Origin of Batman” with Batman driving Joe Chill to his death. That certainly would be motivation for revenge for a Chill. And would explain the presence of that story within Morrison’s larger run since it doesn’t appear to play any larger importance in the plot.
Evidence against: There really isn’t any other evidence. Since there seems to be no one else present, hard to figure out how Dr. Hurt could possibly know Bruce Wayne is Batman. And what kind of resources would Hurt have?
It’s a plausible enough theory, the sons of Joe Chill and Thomas Wayne fighting seems to have some possibilities, it would add a new Rogue to Batman’s foes, and it wouldn’t be completely out of left field. That said, there’s certainly not a lot to support the theory other than guesswork.
Odds: 20 to 1
DR. HURT IS REALLY HUGO STRANGE
This is my own personal theory which I developed in the wake of BATMAN #682. Let’s lay it out in one place.
Evidence for: Dr. Hurt is an evil psychiatrist that knows Batman’s secret identity. That describes Hugo Strange as well.
“Hurt” describes Strange’s sadistic tendencies.
Simon Hurt and Hugo Strange share the same initials, “H” and “S” albeit in different order.
The “space medicine” experiment takes place during Hugo Strange’s long absence from comics where he was doubtless in hiding or disguise. It neatly fits into the timeline without contradiction.
The “space medicine” experiment takes place in a cell designed to hold the Monster Men. Is that a hint?
The “three ghosts of Batman” could be seen as someone trying to combine Batman with the Monster Men, Hugo Strange’s big obsessions.
Hugo Strange has been shown to employ disguises in the past, most notably in the Englehart/Rogers stories reprinted in the STRANGE APPARITIONS trade paperback. He was able to make himself look exactly like Bruce Wayne in that story and has an obsession to usurping his identity. If he can imitate Bruce Wayne, there’s no reason he couldn’t imitate Thomas Wayne.
In BATMAN #667, we see Mr. Mayhew hanging upside down about to have his face cut off. And later, we see the villain announce his presence while wearing the face of Mr. Mayhew. “Mayhew” shows up later, but what if that was simply the villain in disguise. We’d basically have a mask, above a mask, above a true face, which is very reminiscent of an Englehart/Rogers sequence.
Dr. Hugo Strange has been absent from the comics for awhile. He’s due for a big return and it wouldn’t upset editorial a bit to use him this way.
Evidence against: None, although Hugo Strange’s definitive knowledge of Batman’s identity seems to come and go.
It explains means, methods, opportunity, and motivation. It wouldn’t be the “most shocking reveal in 70 years”, but it would be an effective reveal. And there’s an awful lot of subtle evidence pointing in that direction.
Odds: 5 to 1
DR. HURT IS DR. HURT
Evidence for: Why over-think things?
Evidence against: Dr. Hurt seems to imply that he’s someone else. No explanation, yet, of motivation.
The most audacious theory yet! It never hurts to take a step back and think about the obvious.
Odds: 15 to 1
DR. HURT IS…?
There’s story left and time for Morrison to introduce new suspects. It wouldn’t be fair, but neither was it to have Gilda Dent get out of a Hospital bed with no one noticing in THE LONG HALLOWEEN. A master of disguise could just as easily be False Face as it is Hugo Strange.
Odds: 30 to 1
