We all knew Bruce Wayne didn’t really die in Grant Morrison’s Final Crisis. Heck, they even showed us in the last page he was alive and well living in the past. Now it looks like he’s ready to make his return to the DC Universe next year.

DC Universe: The Source has announced plans for Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne, a six-issue mini-series scheduled to hit stores in April of 2010. Here’s how they describe the mini:

From DC Universe: The Source

“Blasted by the mysterious and powerful Omega Effect in the pages of FINAL CRISIS during a deadly battle with the malevolent New God Darkseid, Bruce Wayne must battle back through the waves of time to reclaim what was his – his city, his life…his cowl?”

According to the blog, Grant Morrison will be handling the writing chores, while there will be a “an all-star cast of artists” handling the art chores. Chris Sprouse will be penciling the first issue of the mini. Fan-favorite Andy Kubert has designed some new looks for our intrepid hero. (Click the images to see the larger versions):

I have not been a huge Morrison fan, as of late. While I hold a fond place in my heart for his run on Animal Man, Doom Patrol and Justice League, his work the last few years has been anything less than stellar in my opinion. His work on Batman, especially R.I.P. was disjointed and, at times, incoherent. And as far as I’m concerned, Final Crisis is a series best forgotten (does anyone have any idea what happened in that book yet?!). I even tried his new Batman and Robin series…and gave it up after three issues. So, to say I’m not looking forward to this is an understatement.

I just can’t even understand why they are bothering. Most everyone I’ve talked to, and everything I’ve read online, seems to indicate that people really love Dick Grayson as Batman. I do read most of the other Batman titles and I have to say I love him as the Dark Knight. He’s really come into his own and I don’t want to see him relegated to another back-seat position (though, quite frankly, they do need to bring Tim back as Robin and give that little shit Damian the big old black boot to the curb!).

I think it’s just really too soon to bring him back. Let Dick have more time. I realize that in a universe where you have four Green Lanterns from Earth and three Flashes running around, some could make the argument that you could have two Batmen. I say that’s just not true. Green Lanterns are a corps, so that kind of makes sense. Flash has been built around the theme of legacy, so I have no problem with multiple Flashes. But Batman…c’mon…it’s freaking Batman. You can’t have two. You can have Batwoman and Batgirl and Robin and Red Robin…but you can’t have multiple Batman.

So, what would I like to see? If it were up to me, I’d bring Bruce back as a much older man and give him a role similar to that as his Batman Beyond roll: let him be the behind the scenes guy while Dick goes out and fights that actual crime. That would give us all the best of all worlds: Bruce back and in action (sort of), while Dick gets to maintain the role he’s come to make his own.

What do you all think? Looking forward to seeing Bruce Wayne back in action? Think it’s too soon? Sound off below!