Elseworlds is not the name of a title, but a label applied to alternative Batman stories. They are not part of the continuity, and are often based upon what-if? themes. They are also for alternate-reality themes. For example, Brotherhood of the Bat focused on a future where Batman has died and Ra's Al Ghul uses the Batcave to launch a band of Batmen to clean Gotham City of crime. Batman and Talia's son learns of his father's legacy and decides to reclaim the mantle of the bat from his grandfather. Scar of the Bat, a recent book, offered the idea that Elliot Ness, of The Untouchables, was Batman during Prohibition.

It should be noted that The Dark Knight Returns, is an Elseworlds story. Yes, I know that it doesn't say so on the cover, but the Elseworlds name wasn't created until after TDKR was published, and this story definitely falls under that category, due to the fact that it is a "possible future" for Batman. Read the new introduction to The Dark Knight Returns (in the 10th anniversary release) - they explain that it was the first Elseworlds story. Kingdom Come also falls under this heading.

This file was last modified on December 16, 2003

A second window will open if you select any links external to the site.