Warning: The following article contains spoilers for "Future State: The Next Batman" by John Ridley, Nick Derington and Tamra Bonvillain, on sale now.
Masked men have always had an impact on the criminal class of Gotham, whether they are legendary vigilantes or terrifying super-villains. Future State: The Next Batman, reveals how Bane, the man who broke the Bat, has left his mark upon the city.
This glimpse into the future shows a city controlled by The Magistrate, who have shoot-on-sight orders for everyone wearing a mask. For the gangs of Gotham, it seems it will take more than the threat of death to deter them from their criminal activities. While the man himself may not be present, Bane has left his impression on Gotham City via a group who call themselves the "Bane-Litos," a street gang modeled after the villain. Taking up residence in an area of Gotham called Little Santa Prisca which is named after the country in which Bane was raised, the gang wear luchador masks similar to that of the Venom-fueled super-villain. Not only that, they also require new members to "blood-in", meaning they have to prove themselves by killing an enemy of the gang before being properly inducted.
It isn't surprising that Bane has left such a long-lasting impact on the criminal class of Gotham. The recent "City of Bane" arc by Tom King, was seen as a period of relative "peace" for Gotham, although this was in all likelihood due to most of the city's criminals working directly for Bane. While this alone may be enough to fuel his presence in Gotham, he's also widely known as the man who broke the hero who had been terrorizing criminals for decades, so of course there would be many who idolize him.
However, he isn't the only Gotham villain who has become an icon. The obvious person to pick out would be The Joker, who we know from the Batman Beyond series has a lasting legacy. That series revealed that in the future a group called The Jokerz not only attempt to resurrect him, but act in a way similar to his present-day goons. Even in the present day, characters like Punchline exist to show how much some people within the DC Universe idolize criminals, in her case to a dangerous level.
The real difference is the message of the original character, and how far those who obsess or imitate them drift from that message. While there are definite intricacies to The Joker, most interpret his actions as a way to spread chaos and be an antithesis to Batman, so his followers oftentimes create as much destruction as possible. When he first appeared in Gotham, Bane's motivation was simply to take down Batman and rule the city. The Bane-Litos, however, do not share this ambition, instead seeming like simple street thugs who use the mask purely for intimidation and association with the formidable villain.
Future issues will reveal whether the Bane-Litos have bigger plans for Gotham. While it may not be the impact he was originally trying to have, Bane has evidently made a mark on the city that will not be forgotten for generations to come.