Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal by Zach Weinersmith for October 21, 2014

Step one in the plan to create a new Batman: Pick a replacement orphanStep two: Orphan him.Step three: Chase him around the city like a loony to make him big and strong.Step four: Repeat until you find one that works.

And thus the cycle of violence that creates wealthy costumed vigilantes continues. Nature’s cruel tyranny endures.

Superheroes are modern secular versions of mythological figures. It was probably dangerous to be around those. Heracles, for instance seemed to be always accidentally killing people and then apologizing. Or seducing kings’ daughters and leaving kids behind. He was wacky from the beginning, even had a lion skin as a costume. But in the end he went to Olympus and his image was put among the constellations. What can Batman look forward to if the Stock Market crashes? Personally, I always liked The Phantom better.

Uh … what about Dick Grayson? Or Terry McGinnis?

Dick, Tim and Terry have all donned the cowl at one time or another.