Well, it would seem that Bruce Wayne is back now, what with the information we've received in Batman: Return of Bruce Wayne #6 and Batman and Robin #16.  And so starts a new era for the Caped Crusader involving the franchising of the Batman name.  Supposedly its all part and parcel of a new scheme for Bruce's war on crime.  Frankly, I just do not know if it is a direction I'm necessarily wanting to happen.  Part of the whole mystique behind the Dark Knight was his personal vendetta on Gotham's dark underbelly in the name of avenging his parents.  Sure, he had help often (Robin, Birds of Prey, Oracle, etc.) but he never tried to FRANCHISE the name.  I must admit, I've not read any of the literature yet concerning his intentions in B&R 16 or other items, but to me this just seems another lame attempt to try and put Batman down a road that may not necessarily be wanted by fans.  For me then my recent road for the Batman ends when Batman: The Return comes out and the last two issues of Time Masters: Vanishing Point arrive; and this is a long road considering that I jumped back onto the Batman bandwagon all the way back with the Batman and Son storyline four years ago now.  Maybe one day, when things get normal again (doubtful) or when the economy gets better again (who knows!) I'll be reading more on him again. Till then Dark Knight, au revoir, and reclaim the cowl for you and yourself as if your God-given right!

I haven't collected in years so my knowledge on modern comics is limited. But through the Vine I am able to keep up with some of the story lines and I agree. There should only be ONE Batman. Let Dick be whoever he wants just not Batman. Still the only advantage of having a franchise is if both batmen are never seen together. This way it adds to the mystery and myth of his legend, if and only if  he can appear in two places at the same time. Anything other than that is a crime.If the two of them teamed up on one villain alone I personally feel it would ruin the whole Dark Knight image 

You can only do the same thing for so long before it gets old. Batman's war is against crime, not just crime in Gotham, and Batman himself as a symbol is bigger than just Bruce Wayne. Just sayin'.