The Dark Knight Rises' Batman & Bane Covers Unveiled

What the *Batman* is that? Empire has been running a viral voting game the last few days asking fans to choose which cover of their new issue gets unveiled first - Batman or Bane. The covers are for The Dark Knight Rises and are Empire's "world's first" TDKR mag covers. Once enough votes were cast (about 160K on Saturday), the Bane cover was revealed. It looks badass, nothing we haven't seen before, but I'm more intrigued by Batman—what the heck is he holding, some newfangled UV Bat-binoculars, perhaps? You can see the Bane cover in full below and most of what's revealed of the Batman cover so far, too. Bah-Sah-Rah!
Click on either image to jump to Empire where the reveal took place. I prefer the Bane one - he just looks so badass! Tom Hardy is going to steal the show playing Bane. Any idea what that new gadget is Batman has?

The Dark Knight Rises finishes the Batman saga begun by Christopher Nolan in 2005 with Batman Begins. We featured the first teaser back in July and have been waiting patiently for the next trailer later this year.
The Dark Knight Rises is once again directed by Oscar nominated British filmmaker Christopher Nolan, of Following, Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight and Inception previously. The script was co-written by Christopher & Jonathan Nolan (The Prestige, The Dark Knight), from a story by Chris Nolan & David S. Goyer (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight). Warner Bros is bringing The Dark Knight Rises to regular and IMAX theaters everywhere on July 20th, 2012 next summer. The Fire Rises!