His crime-fighting duties have spanned almost 70 years in an attempt to clean up the streets of Gotham City.

But now Bruce Wayne, better known by his alter ego Batman, is to finally be killed off.

Fans of the comic book version of the Caped Crusader will tomorrow learn the fate of the philanthropist turned super-hero.

Grant Morrison, the Glasgow-born writer of the Batman series for DC Comics, has revealed the character has reached the end of the line.

‘What I am doing is a fate worse than death, things that no one would expect to happen to these guys at all,’ said Morrison.His comments to a trade magazine based in Los Angeles sparked an internet frenzy over what will actually happen to Batman, one of the most popular and well known of all the comic book characters.

One rumour is that Batman will meet a grisly end after his sidekick Robin goes over to the “dark side” and succeeds where villains like The Joker and The Penguin have failed . . . and kills Batman.

Others speculate that Wayne will retire or be killed by a mystery villain known as the Black Glove.

Morrison did not give any clues in an interview with a US-based trade publication.
But what is certain is that the Batman character will live on in the form of another person.

Tim Drake, who has been Robin since 1991, is favourite to slip into the black cape and mask for the DC Comics.

Batman R.I.P., a story penned by 48 year old Morrison, will be published tomorrow and the magazine is predicted to be a sell-out.

Over the years Batman has battled villains such as The Riddler, Joke and Penguin. But the caped crusader’s demise will not be the first time a super hero has been killed off.

Superman’s death in 1992 became the biggest selling Superman comic in history.

Last year Captain America was killed off when he was shot by a sniper’s bullet.

The demise of Batman in comic book form is unlikely to have an effect on the Hollywood version.

The Dark Knight, starring British actor Christian Bale as Batman, has taken over £500 million at the box office worldwide.

The super-hero was first co-created by artists Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger for DC Comics in 1939.

Morrison has been the lead writer for the Batman series since 2006.

Source: Daily Mail/ Credit: Lola

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