WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Batman: The Detective #1 by Tom Taylor, Andy Kubert, Brad Anderson & Clem Robins, on sale now
A number of DC heroes operate within heroic legacies that transcend just one person, often having multiple characters take up a heroic mantle in times of crisis. One such legacy has been confirmed to continue on in a very promising way, and is about to get a major spotlight thanks to a visiting Dark Knight.
There's a brand new Squire serving as the sidekick to the British hero known as the Knight, and the young woman is currently set to become Batman's latest crimefighting partner.
Knight and Squire are two of Batman's most consistent international allies, effectively serving as the Batman and Robin of Britain. There have been multiple people to carry on the mantle of the Knight over the years, with the current being Beryl Hutchinson. Beryl had been just a girl when she was recruited by the second Knight to serve as the Squire, eventually becoming an ally to Batman and Robin. She did so until the Knight's death during the events of Batman Incorporated by the corrupted clone of Damian Wayne known as The Heretic, with the young woman taking up the mantle in his stead. Beryl has continued her heroic work in the first issue of Batman: The Detective, with the hero doing her best to stop a band of terrorists from bringing down a plane full of people that Batman had previously rescued.
Unfortunately, she's wounded in the process and left hospitalized in serious condition, drawing Batman's attention and presence to London. While trying to learn more about the circumstances surrounding the incident, Batman also meets Amina, aka the new Squire. Teased as a potential new partner for Batman in his crusade against crime, the new Squire quickly proves herself to be a compassionate and brave companion, working to protect Beryl from the terrorists who come to finish the job they had failed to complete following the crash. She also proves willing to stand up to Batman when she first meets him, pointing out that she should go and speak with Beryl and see how she's doing following her brush with death.
Although Batman notes how young the new hero is, Beryl later points out that Batman has brought younger into the field. Batman even shares a small moment of friendship with Beryl, smiling as he admits he may have impressed Amina during their first meeting by punching out Gentlemen Ghost, who had come to feast on the fear in the area of the plane crash. Batman also internally makes a note of how brave the new Squire proves herself to be, as she's willing to step up and potentially put her life on the line to protect her Knight when the terrorists attack the hospital where Beryl is trying to recover from her injuries. It's an impressive (if brief) showing from Squire even to Batman, who will likely utilize her as a partner during his investigation while Knight is out of commission.
Since Rebirth and continuing into Future State and Infinite Frontier, the concept of legacy is one that's long been at the heart of the DC Universe. Many of the greatest heroic roles in the world have been titles that have been shared between various heroes, ranging from familial bonds to mentors and their students. It's exciting to see one of the more underutilized (but consistently engaging) international heroes continue to keep their legacy alive, setting up a new hero to work alongside the Dark Knight in his crusade against crime.