Batman: Urban Legends #11 will feature Batman's canine companion Ace the Bat-Hound in a new story with a new uniform fit for a working dog like him.

Batman's canine companion Ace the Bat-Hound has been at the caped crusader's side since 1955. Now, he's coming to Batman Urban Legends #11 in early 2022 and he's getting a new, practical uniform.

Dog is man's best friend, and Bruce Wayne is no exception. He has had two major dogs living with Wayne Manor, Ace and Titus, though Titus was adopted within the New 52 and he belongs to Damian. Ace has made numerous appearances, but his upcoming one could be his first appearance since the launch of DC's Infinite Frontier era. 

DC editor Jessica Chen shared a look at Ace's new look on Twitter, revealing that he will appear in Batman: Urban Legends #11 in January 2022. Ace will be part of a story spanning six issues that has the creative team of Mark Russell, Karl Mostert, and Trish Mulvihill. This is a realistic take on Ace, putting him right at Batman's side - even with a sneak peek at a ride in the Batmobile. Chen states that there will be other super pets appearing and that inspiration was taken from The Plague Dogs, which is an animated film from 1982 based on a novel of the same name from 1977. Also of note is Ace's latest gear, as he suits up with Batman, detailed on a variant cover by Karl Mostert and Trish Mulvihill.

Ace is repping the Bat-symbol on his chest, just like his owner, while also wearing his own utility harness. This is similar to the kind of gear found on actual working dogs within the military and law enforcement. Like Batman, he is geared up for crime-fighting, though in a far more realistic way than how the character is usually portrayed. Ace has often been used in cartoons in a very silly manner, wearing a cape and cowl that matches the Dark Knight. Now, Ace is taking his crime-fighting more seriously, albeit his identity is not quite as protected. Considering Ace's secret life is much harder to give away, this won't be a major issue for him in the same way it would be for Bruce.

DC canines have played a big role in comics and animated series, from Ace to Krypto and beyond. With the DC League of Super Pets animated film coming soon, it isn't too surprising that they'd find their way into recent comic titles. There have also been new additions, as Nightwing recently adopted his own canine companion - Haley, also referred to as Bitewing. She is a three-legged puppy who has already found lots of love in DC's fandom, as well as the spotlight on variant covers for the ongoing Nightwing series. In the future, an Ace and Haley team-up could be very intriguing, as these DC heroes spend time with their furry companions who help them tackle their tough nights. Batman's furry friend has been with him for sixty-six years and Ace is showing no signs of slowing. Fans can see Ace the Bat-Hound's newest adventure when Batman: Urban Legends #11 arrives January 11, 2022.

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Source: Jessica Chen