Batman May Have Just Cost Himself the Flash's Friendship

WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for The Flash #65 by Joshua Williamson, Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Terragona, Tomeu Morey and Steve Wands, on sale now.

The four-part Batman/Flash crossover "The Price" concludes in Joshua Williamson and Rafa Sandoval's The Flash #65. DC Comics' greatest detectives face the threat of an even more powerful Gotham Girl, but in the aftermath the two allies pay a price. Both face similar life-changing problems, but their diverging ideas about how to deal with these issues may have pushed these two teammates further apart than they've ever been throughout their years together as superhero sleuths.

The World's Greatest Mentors?

The arc ties into the recent superhero massacre currently unfolding in the pages of Tom King, Clay Mann and Mitch Gerads' Heroes in Crisis. Barry Allen has understandably been hit particularly hard by the murder of Wally West, and now he struggles with the role he's played in support of Wally's career. Barry can't help but feel partially -- if not completely -- responsible for his nephew's death. Not just for his support of Wally as a superhero, but also encouraging him to check into Sanctuary in the first place, which ultimately led to his murder.

Batman, meanwhile, faced no such loss directly tied to Sanctuary, but is no stranger to losing crime-fighting partners in the line of duty, partners he directly brought into his line of work, many of whom are like family to him. But unlike The Flash, Bruce Wayne has continued to bring more partners into the Bat family. One of the latest, of course, is Gotham Girl, who had trained to fight alongside Batman as a member of the Bat family. Claire Clover, though, has suffered ongoing psychological trauma at the hands of Psycho Pirate, compounded by the subsequent loss of her brother Henry (Gotham).

The Fate of Gotham Girl

Gotham Girl's powers stem from a specially engineered venom concocted by a still unknown benefactor, as did Gotham's. The life-threatening consequence of these powers, though, is that the more she uses them, the sooner she will die. This side effect, in fact, is what killed her brother. And after self-administering a seemingly lethal dose of the toxin at the end of last issue, it looked like Claire's demise would come about sooner rather than later.

The overdose does nearly do her in, as she collapses after inflicting additional damage to Central City. Some quick thinking and superpowered medical aid, as delivered by The Flash, saves her life, and the threat of Gotham Girl is contained. Batman and Flash later bring her to the Batcave, putting her in stasis for eventual recovery. Physical recovery, anyway.

A Life Saved, But A Friendship Destroyed?

Claire will still need time to heal psychologically, but she isn't the only one. As Claire's recovery begins, Barry and Bruce now deal with the consequences of her actions -- and their own. First, though, they must deal with their differing opinions on how to deal with their present and future proteges and the potential danger they always face.

Bruce's idea is to put Claire back on the road to being a hero once she recovers, much to Barry's dismay. With Wally's death still fresh, Barry is incredulous that Bruce would willingly and knowingly put Claire, or any of his partners, back in danger again. Both cite their younger allies' unstoppable desires to be heroes, and their past decisions to support them. But where the death of Barry's closest partner has changed his mind, Bruce's mindset remains unchanged.

Had Claire not survived, another death on Batman's conscience might have brought him more in line with The Flash's thinking. Ironically, though, Barry saving Claire's life spared him that emotional burden. Barry's lifesaving actions may have also been a defining moment that has now altered the dynamic between Bruce and himself.

NEXT PAGE: Words Cut A Lot Deeper Than Batarangs

The Tragic Final Blows

Barry knows exactly which buttons to push to get through to Bruce, referencing the innocents who've gotten caught up in superhero conflicts and the danger they're constantly put in. "Another bullet for Alfred," Barry cites. "Another innocent in the crossfire."

And perhaps harshest example of all: "Another dead Robin."

Not to be outdone, Bruce reacts with an uncalled for and even more brutal remark of his own: "At least I never forgot one of my partners existed."

Ouch.

That jab, of course, is a reference to Wally's reintroduction to the DC Universe at the outset of Rebirth. Previously erased from reality, for reasons that are still being explored throughout the DCU, Wally's return triggered Barry's memories of his once forgotten nephew. Barry wasn't at fault, of course, as all of reality was being manipulated by a higher power. And, to be fair, Bruce didn't remember Wally, either.

Friends No Longer?

In response, Barry departs before he can pummel Bruce in the face dozens of times before Bruce could even blink. And while Barry might not have restrained his mouth, he manages to restrain his fists before racing out of the cave. The final blows between these now estranged friends aren't superhero fisticuffs, they're something that hurts far more. Words and ideological differences are what have seemingly ended a once strong bond.

The future of this now damaged relationship, and its impact on the Justice League and the rest of the DC Universe, remains to be explored. For now, though, both Batman and The Flash are subsequently seen being the heroes they still are, but in their respective cities.

Barry is slated to face one of his more traditional foes next month in The Flash #66, on sale Mar. 13. Meanwhile, Bruce continues to face his nightmares -- or "Knightmares" -- in Batman #66, on sale Mar. 6.