Batman's Most Important Murder Mystery Was Never Solved
In the scope of DC Comics, there is seldom ever a mystery that Batman can't solve. There's a reason why this universe has dubbed him the World's Greatest Detective. Batman has earned his nickname time and time again, but there is at least one mystery that he's never solved and likely never will. The mystery in question arrives in the concluding pages of Batman #691, by Judd Winick, Mark Bagley, and Rob Hunter.
Prior to Batman #691, Dick Grayson had taken up the mantle of Batman following Bruce Wayne's explosive disappearance in Batman R.I.P. by Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel. Afterward, after successfully besting Jason Todd in a fight for the right to become the new Batman in Morrison and Daniel's Batman: Battle for the Cowl, Dick finally accepts his destiny of assuming the role as Gotham's protector. #691 continues Dick Grayson's first official arc as the new Caped Crusader that first began in Batman #687. The bulk of that issue focuses on Dick's Batman having a fistfight with Two-Face, but concludes on a shocking cliffhanger. Dick uncovers a hidden flash drive in the Batcave regarding an open case file that Bruce never told him about, centered on the murder of Dick's own parents.
As CBR reiterates, writer Judd Winick had kicked off a short break right after this issue, putting any follow-ups on this mysterious flash drive on hold until he returned. Next, Tony Daniel would write a fill-in arc where Dick's Batman takes on Black Mask's new False Faces stable, ignoring #691's ending at least until Winick was slotted to come back. When Winick got too busy with other projects to return to Batman, Daniel's fill-in position became a full-time run right up until DC kicked off their New-52 initiative. Because the New-52 rebooted Batman and DC's other properties entirely, readers never found out exactly what this mystery could have been. Whatever possibly could have been left unsolved regarding the murder of the Flying Graysons surely appears to be the most important mystery that Batman will never solve.
Keep in mind that for years up until this point, the murder of Dick's parents seemed to be an open and shut case that introduced him as Batman's ward. Ever since Robin's introduction in Detective Comics #38 by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, it's been accepted in Batman's lore that mob boss Anthony Zucco ordered his top man, Blade, to sabotage The Flying Graysons' ropes to make their murder look like an accident. Dick heard an incriminating conversation between Blade and Zucco themselves that seemed to confirm their involvement. Furthermore, after some violent persuasion from the original Dark Knight, Blade wrote a confession to his and Zucco's crimes. Zucco killed Blade upon the discovery and both Blade's confession and murder were used to convict Zucco.
The story never seemed as if there were any plot holes or unanswered questions worth uncovering, but #691 suggests otherwise. Adding to the decades old lore regarding Robin's origin story surely would have changed both his origin and the history of Batman forever. However, #691 came out almost 13 years ago, meaning it is unlikely that Winick will ever revisit the mystery.
Source: CBR
Source: Screenrant
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