No, I don’t mean the Owlman from the Earth 3/mirror universe. I’m referring to a single issue where the story revolved around Batman’s facing some sort of evil doppleganger of himself. Or at least I think that’s what happened. I need to refresh my memory but I can’t recall enough specifics to do a search. Couldn’t even say for sure if it’s pre or post Crisis. All I really remember about the story was it kept quoting some weird poem about an enemy who never makes a mistake, and that the cover showed Batman and the anti-Batman dressed in a brown version of Batman’s costume and carrying a gun.
His name was The Wraith, and I’m pretty sure he was pre-Crisis. Only appeared once, as far as I know. I think his parents were petty criminals who were killed by a cop the same night Bruce Wayne’s parents were murdered by the robber. I’m sorry I can’t help more, but I sold my Who’s Who issues on eBay a while back. That’s your guy, though!
So… if he’s the anti-Batman, does that mean he’s never prepared?
The story was called “The Player on the Other Side” and it was a study in ridiculously contrived fiction.
Don’t forget the post-Crisis version of the character, with a similar origin: Prometheus.
Damn! Talk about synchronicity. I was re-reading the Prometheus origin the other day and was wondering about The Wraith, a character I had heard of but never got around to reading his one-shot appearance. Jim Gordon killed his parents, correct – the same night the Waynes died?
This wouldn’t happen to be an “Earth-B” Bob Haney story, would it?
I think it was Mike Barr/writer, and either Art Adams or Michael Golden/art.
Not even for a savage attack by Urkel, which is how he was killed.
Or maybe he only wins if he’s not prepared. He can develop a master plan that’s perfect in every respect, only to watch it go awry. But if attacked when unsuspectingly walking down the street, his instincts take over and he wins. 
Anyway, there’s also Man-bat, and the fight with Azrael after the Knightfall arc. But that’s not really what you’re looking for. I’m just being a smartass.
:eek: [nasal whine]Did I do that…?[/nasal whine]
My God, Wile E. Coyote is the anti-Batman!
Thanks all! The DC Universe Guide site I read had nothing more to add than what’s already been posted, but I was able to satisfy two questions of mine:
First, I was able to look up the poem/quote in question, and to my surprise it’s originally talking about science and the search for the laws of nature!
From the story, I’d imagined it was about someone facing an implacable unbeatable enemy!
Secondly, since it was a Batman Special, I had wondered if it was an artsy allegorical thingy, and that the “Anti-Batman” was some sort of symbolic figure; an exact anti-Batman down to copying the costume in a different color seemed unreal. But since the character had a name and a history, I gather he was a real character (however briefly) and that the events of the story were in canon.
I’ll have to look up this Prometheus guy.