Summary

• Batman's origin story gets a fresh twist as he trains under Ra's al Ghul during the Vietnam War in Batman: Dark Age #2.
• The Bats, led by Ra's al Ghul, use guerrilla warfare tactics to strike fear into enemies, preparing Bruce Wayne for his future role as Batman.
• Green Arrow also trained with Batman under Ra's al Ghul in this story, hinting at a unique development for both heroes in this universe.

Warning: Contains spoilers for Batman: Dark Age #2!

In a fascinating rewrite of Batman’s origin, Bruce Wayne is drafted to the Vietnam War and s a commando team led by one of his iconic villains. In Batman: Dark Age, Ra’s al Ghul is a legendary expert on guerrilla warfare and heads up a group in Vietnam that includes Bruce, teaching him strategy. Under the guidance of the Head of the Demon, Batman’s League of Assassins training is redefined.

While Bruce Wayne has been depicted as trained by the League of Shadows in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, this was never really an element of Batman's comic origin. However, Batman: Dark Age #2 by Mark Russell, Michael Allred, and Laura Allred gives Bruce and Ra’s al Ghul a new mentorship dynamic. Sent to war after turning 18, Bruce becomes part of a group that is whipped into shape and led into action by the supervillain.

Dubbed “the Bats” because they act in the shadows, the group moves through the night and strikes fear into their enemies. Bruce uses his lessons in war from the tactical group led by the villain Ra’s al Ghul to inform his training as Batman.

Batman: Dark Age Establishes Bruce Wayne’s Training During the Vietnam War

The international group that Bruce Wayne s when he’s drafted into the war gives him a reason to fight with a purpose, but he doesn’t let their leader compromise his morals. Batman: Dark Age #2 begins with Bruce Wayne’s 18th birthday in the year 1965. Rewriting Bruce Wayne’s origin in a historical context, he is obligated to fight in the Vietnam War as he comes of-age in this era. Although he requests a low-responsibility position, Bruce is thrust into an elite squad of soldiers led by his future antagonist, Ra’s al Ghul.

This version of Ra’s al Ghul fought as a Gurkha in World War II, and his legendary tactics in guerrilla warfare have led to him forming this team of soldiers, which includes Bruce. He trains them to expertly attack targets and extract information, skills that Bruce will use as Batman later on. The leader’s rules about not using guns and always having a partner play into famous parts of Batman lore, giving new meaning to them in this universe. When Bruce denies Ra’s al Ghul’s request to kill a prisoner, they go their separate ways and establish their steadfast difference in ideology.

Green Arrow Also Trains With Batman Under Ra’s al Ghul

A surprising addition to Ra’s al Ghul’s squad is another rich boy with a superhero destiny: Oliver Queen aka Green Arrow. While Green Arrow has not been connected to the villain much in the comics, the Arrowverse saw Oliver trained by Ra’s al Ghul as that version of the character also borrowed from Batman lore. Pairing Batman and Green Arrow together in this universe and giving them identical training under an iconic supervillain is a unique development. As they notably share similarities, how the two heroes could individually evolve from their tenure on the Commando Operations squad is worth dissecting.

Though not explicitly revealed, it’s also hinted that Justice League ally and Wonder Woman rogue Maxwell Lord is in the squad in this universe. With a super team including Lord, Oliver Queen, and Bruce Wayne on tactical missions fighting under the Head of the Demon, the group does a lot of damage overseas until Bruce is sent back to Gotham in 1968. After training under one of his most dastardly villains with a war-torn backdrop, Bruce leaves the team a new man and his Batman journey in the Dark Age officially begins.

Batman: Dark Age #2 is available now from DC Comics.