Sometimes we are introduced to a really awesome comic book character, but once a story arc wraps up, we never hear from them again. Do you ever wonder what happens to these characters? Many of them are interesting and unique, but sadly, never make it to the pages of our funny books after their first appearance.
Last week DC comics re-released issues 164 to 167 of Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight in a 100-page spectacular titled DC Comics Presents: Batman: Don't Blink. The single issues which were first printed back in the Spring of 2003 featured a very interesting character who we haven't seen since that particular 4-issue story arc. Written by Dwayne McDuffie with pencils from Brian Stelfreeze and Val Semeiks, "Don't Blink" is a story that pits Batman against a secret government agency who is spying on foreign diplomats and terrorists as well as a mob boss who is in the business of trafficking young children. The story centers around a very cool and very different blind character named Blink who Batman has met previously, but who he must save in order to obtain his help in solving a case. Now you're probably wondering what kind of help Batman needs from a blind man, right? He's the eyes and ears of Gotham City, afterall. Blink comes in handy in this issue due to his special power.
While Blink is blind, he isn't helpless. In issue #164 Batman states that "what nature takes away with one hand, she gives back with the other." In the case of Blink, this is absolutely true. Although Blink may not be able to see in the conventional sense, he does have a very special ability: when he touches someone, he is able to use their eyes to see whatever they are seeing. But that's not all. Blink will feel, hear, smell and taste everything the individual sees, hears, smells and tastes as well, until he (Blink) touches another person and his senses transfers to that individual. His first appearance was in issue #164 of Legends of the Dark Knight in a four issue story arc and his final appearance came in the final issue of that story arc (#167). The thing is, Blink is a really interesting character.
When I first read this arc I thought to myself, I really haven't ever read a character quite as innovative as Blink. The scrawny, somewhat clumsy character with glasses and a receeding hairline hardly compares to the brute, chiseled Batman; but if it weren't for him, Batman and Commissioner Gordon may not have solved the case.
It's briefly implied that Blink had something of a troubled past (used to be something of a criminal), and that it was Batman who convinced him to rehabilitate. If he were to join Batman once again, he could help the Dark Knight by literally being his eyes, ears and taste buds -- and he wouldn't even be putting himself in that much danger. Take for example the current Batman story arc in Scott Snyder's Batman. Can Lincoln March really be trusted, or is he trying to get close to Bruce in order to take him down when he is vulnerable? With one small graze against March's arm and Batman would get a birds eye view of everything that is happening and whether or not March can actually be trusted.
I personally would love to see Blink's return to current comics. What do you think of his character? Would you like to see first hand what he can do in the new DC Universe? What characters do you think are pretty cool who are overlooked? Which would you like to see make a return to comics?