SPOILER WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for "Dark Knight III: The Master Race" #1, on sale now.

Since the series was initially announced earlier this year, the plot details of DC Comics' much-hyped Dark Knight III: The Master Race" have been kept a closely guarded secret, with only the vaguest hints given in interviews and advance solicitations. The first issue, out today, reveals at least one major part of the puzzle: The Batman of "Dark Knight III" #1 isn't Bruce Wayne at all, because Bruce Wayne is dead -- at least according to the new Dark Knight, Carrie Kelley.

In the issue, co-written by "Dark Knight" architect Frank Miller and Brian Azzarello with art by Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson, Batman resurfaces in Gotham City for the first time in three years. At the close of the issue, following a brutal fight with multiple members of the Gotham City Police Department, an outnumbered but defiant Batman is unmasked by Commissioner Yindel -- and is revealed to be Carrie Kelley, Miller's Robin in 1986's "The Dark Knight Returns" and Catgirl in 2001-2002's "The Dark Knight Strikes Again." Her line of dialogue that closes the issue adds a second surprise: "Bruce Wayne is dead."

"I just think the suit looks a lot better on a girl," Miller joked in an interview with the New York Post, also stating, "Carrie is Batman's equal."

With seven issues still left to go in "Dark Knight III," it's clear there's much more to this story to tell, and a much larger picture of Bruce Wayne's fate yet to unfold. In fact, Miller himself has already made it clear that Bruce Wayne is not actually dead, even if the back cover of the first issue contains the quote, "A good death? There's no such thing..."

"These decisions I was not really a part of," Miller told MTV.com, in one of several recent interviews where he's downplayed his involvement in co-writing the series. "I helped Brian with the story a great deal. You save the best line of the first issue for the last panel. I'm not quite sure where he's headed with this. I do know one thing for certain... She's lying. [Laughs]"

Miller further talked of his affection for Carrie Kelley in USA Today. "I just love her," he said. "She's my Nancy Drew. She's like my fictional daughter -- not being a parent, it's the closest I'm going to get."

"Dark Knight III: The Master Race" #1 is on sale now. The second issue is scheduled for release on Dec. 23.