Batman gets broken. Gotham needs Batman. Bruce asks JPV to step into the position and take up the mantle of Batman.
(Why didn't he ask Dick....?)
And the Order training starts coming back to JPV who becomes obsessed with staying as Batman.

Bruce Forces him out of the suit as he'd taken it too far.

Oh and this isn't the first card WK 'got wrong' lol!

Azrael from the Arkham games or the White Knight story are good takes, and I'm less inclined by most 'other takes'.

Dick got rid of Bruce because Bruce treated him like a child and sidekick, instead of like an adult and partner. As Batman, Dick would have done things his own way. Yes, JPV ended up doing things his own way, but he was chosen because it seemed like the opposite would happen.

Yes all of this is what I remember about the story.

Dick was doing his own thing in Bludhaven but I also seem to remember he was unhappy that Bruce didn't ask him to fill in. I unfortunately sold off all of my comics from this era (was broke at the time). But now I'm wanting to acquire them again.

Bludhaven debuted in 1996 in Nightwing 1 (Oct 1996). Valley first fills in as Batman in Batman #489 (Feb 1993) and becomes Batman full-time in #498 (Aug 1993), the same month as Grayson's aborted marriage to Starfire.

lol damn, rough month for Dick.

I think he was busy leading the Titans...