I just read this article from gawker.com

But not, erm, not the way the Joker died this winter. Industry rumor says that DC Comics will kill off Batman this summer, and not even in his own comic book but in the series Robin. According to the rumor (possibly confirmed by this cover of an upcoming Robin), the sidekick will become the new Batman, which isn't even how that works. Since the new Batman movie The Dark Knight comes out in July, Batman's death in another medium would make front-page news, especially since Captain America's death made the New York Times front page last spring.

Incidentally, this sort of stunt may feel like a cheap grab for readership in a dying industry, and it is, but it's also part of a long tradition in superhero comics of violating all traditional rules of literature. Superheroes have always died, resurrected, and revealed their identities without consequence. Why doesn't this ruin the brand? Well, when's the last time you bought a comic book? Modern film audiences don't need to actually read the comic to get the Batman brand, so DC can do what they like with comic-book Batman while film Batman keeps raking in money.

But still, they're killing Batman, dude, the real honest-to-god comic-book Batman, and the Times will write about the character's importance to America, making a sort of cultural obituary, and either Chuck Klosterman or the Freakonomics guys will explain how this is a zeitgeist, and DC might sell a few extra copies before its comics again fade into obscurity.

I heard about them killing Wanye off last year, they compared it to killing Captain America. That's not even in the same ballpark.

This is indeed what looks to be happening. It ties in somewhat to the massive story going on over at DC this year.
I am for it as long as it is done well. We all know it won't last and that he will be back sooner rather than later but if we can get a good story out of it i will be happy.

There have been rumors about Batman's death that were leaked last year, about his possible death during DC's big event "Final Crisis" but where shot down by the WB. The main jest of the statement from WB was "Kill one of our biggest names before the movie comes out, you must be joking."

I could be wrong. All signs seem to lead to this, but I think it would be a HORRIBLE idea on DCs' part.

All I can say is...he better get a grandiose death.

I don't think so, Captain America books spiked after he died, and look how Superman's death effected his mythos. Batman would only be gone for a while, and I seriously doubt that Bruce Wayne would be gone forever, he would be back.

I don't read Captain America's books, but I think he's already back in action.

Captain America is back. But Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes is the new Cap. Although, the latest issue shows that there is a clone of somesort of Steve.

Aside from this though, I really don't think anyone, including Dick Grayson, can take the mantle of Batman.

Cap is indeed still dead. Bucky is running around in a new Cap suit but let's be real. The real Cap is dead... for now.

I think the rumor was shot down just to shut people up about it. It's still going to go down though.
The big storyline in the comics called Batman RIP is about to begin and one of the covers shows Robin holding a rather dead looking Batman.

Maybe Bruce will fake his death, who knows? Part of me thinks it would be cool to see Tim Drake take the mantle of BATMAN, or Dick Grayson. The other part thinks it would be a rough ride along the way and in the end I would miss Bruce as The Batman. I can't wait for "BATMAN RIP" coming up in his monthly though.

That could be...I mean Captain America's death as well as Superman's death weren't announced. So maybe they're messing with us.

I hope its Dick Grayson who becomes the new bat.

There's a big difference between Captain America's death and Supermans's. DC Comics planned out the whole Death of Superman storyline. They were going to bring back Superman. Marvel killed Steve Rogers aka Captain America for good. Marvel has said there not doing it for money or nothing. Captain America is dead because his death changed the lives of all the heroes in Marvel for good. Batman's death would be big like Superman's because Bruce Wayne has always found a way to beat any villian. If a villian finally killed Batman it would be huge. Because not only would it affect the heroes in DC but Batman's villians who wanted to kill Batman since the first day they fought him. Joker would go crazy. Batman's death if DC Comics plays it right could be bigger than Captain America's death and Supermans' combined. No one has every outsmarted or bested Batman in combat. The day someone does and even kills him would be huge.

Thats the thing...It would be huge if someone did beat him.
And about the RIP arc-I think if its not the death of Bruce, then he brecks his no killing rule.

Maybe it will be like a bird of pray situation?

Two things:

1. Check your "there's." There is a misused version in there somewehere.

2. I read an interview with Joe Quesada who said, and I paraphrase, Steve Rogers will probably come back one day. That's how comic books work. But for now, he's not coming back.

I don't think anyone expects Steve Rogers to be gone forever.

As to Batman dying...I don't know if I buy it. I don't think it will happen.

Let the bets begin...