Batman will die next year in Batman RIP

London (ANI): Batman fans may witness a gruesome death of the Caped Crusader in the upcoming comic book, the creator has revealed. The character, which first appeared in Detective Comics in May 1939, might be killed off after 70 years in the new book titled 'Batman RIP''. ''Batman RIP'' will see "the end of Bruce Wayne as Batman", according to author Grant Morrison.

Rumours are abuzz that Batman will suffer a gruesome end when his sidekick Robin goes over to "the dark side" and destroys him in a terrible betrayal. Others speculate that Bruce Wayne may either retire from his duties or be killed by a mystery villain known as the Black Glove.

"What I am doing is a fate worse than death, things that no one would expect to happen to these guys at all," the Telegraph quoted Morrison as telling Comic Book Resources. Morrison declined to reveal who the new Batman would be, but the frontrunners include Tim Drake who has been Robin since 1991 and Dick Grayson - the original Boy Wonder.