This mini-series should surprise no one as it was an inevitable question of when, not if. The Source announced today that April brings Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #1, the first in a six issue mini-series written by Grant Morrison. The art on the first issue is being handled by Chris Sprouse and it sounds like other artists will be handling the other five issues.

The series is being described as “Lost in the timestream, believed to be dead by his friends and enemies alike, Bruce Wayne must use every bit of intelligence, every ounce of strength and training he’s acquired over the years to find his way back to the city, and adopted family of vigilantes, he’d left behind. 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?”

Below are a couple of concept sketches by Andy Kubert (click each to enlarge). Pirate Batman? Yeah, I’m in! more soon!