"Batman Confidential" death imminent?

[Pixie_Solanas]

Rumor in this week's LITG column. And he's usually spot-on, so....

WHAT TOOK SO LONG?!?

[The Cool Thatguy]

Rumor in this week's LITG column. And he's usually spot-on, so....

WHAT TOOK SO LONG?!?

Someone suggested that they do a Cass story. That killed the book instantly.

[lunajune]

It was never going to last long after that atrocious first arc. Never mind the quality of the art (always a matter of taste), but the writing was all over the show. An entire issue dedicated to Bats fighting a rogue batwing in the cave? Naff.

Look at the start of LOTDK, you have O'Neil, Grant, Morrison - masters all - pitching in with quality arcs so the momentum of starting a new ongoing on the back of Burton's Batman wouldn't be squandered.

A shame, but BC couldn't go any other way methinks.

[nepenthes]

Just because some runs so far have ben dissapointing doesnt mean it can't improve. They'll always need a 'early days' book won't they. actually maybe they should just relaunch it with the LotDK title, that's so much better. 'Batman Confidential' as a descriptive title is actually kind of meaningless.

[HaroldAllnut]

Just because some runs so far have ben dissapointing doesnt mean it can't improve. They'll always need a 'early days' book won't they. actually maybe they should just relaunch it with the LotDK title, that's so much better. 'Batman Confidential' as a descriptive title is actually kind of meaningless.

I never really saw the point of this book. I don't think relaunching it with a new title would help. Just about anything published in its pages could easily be a retrospective arc in Batman or Detective Comics or, in the case of something like "Lovers and Madmen," a self-contained mini-series.

I feel the same way about Superman Confidential.

Both titles strike me as egregious.

[Super Buddies Forever]

So why did we have to get rid of Legends of The Dark Knight again? While that title certainly dipped in quality, it at least had a history of good stories under its belt. The only thing worthwhile that Confidential produced was Lovers & Madmen.

I say, bring back Legends and give it to a high-profile writer who wants to pen classic Batman stories in the wake of Morrison's changes. There are so many things that can be done with an "any era" Batman book that it boggles my mind that only the most mundane, creatively bankrupt stories are ever pushed through.

[nepenthes]

I don't think relaunching it with a new title would help.

it would draw a little publicity but no I didn't mean to say it would help the book a great deal, it wouldn't. it would be just be nice :biggrin:. such a cool title.

Just about anything published in its pages could easily be a retrospective arc in Batman or Detective Comics or

hmm I don';t think so, people would flip out and I'd agree, the main titles are for pushing new stories and developments. Wouldn't it be kind of annoying if you ended RIP, or Hush, or One Year Later etc just to jump into an arc set right before....Knightfall, for instance? and more lines equals more money for DC anyway. as long as each line is clearly demarcated they should have as many as will sell.

There are so many things that can be done with an "any era" Batman book that it boggles my mind that only the most mundane, creatively bankrupt stories are ever pushed through.

yes! :cool:

[the-wolf]

So why did we have to get rid of Legends of The Dark Knight again? While that title certainly dipped in quality, it at least had a history of good stories under its belt. The only thing worthwhile that Confidential produced was Lovers & Madmen.

I say, bring back Legends and give it to a high-profile writer who wants to pen classic Batman stories in the wake of Morrison's changes. There are so many things that can be done with an "any era" Batman book that it boggles my mind that only the most mundane, creatively bankrupt stories are ever pushed through.

It dipped in quality because it strayed from its original format. Once it became open to current continuity and cross-overs, the uniqueness was ruined.

[Chad]

Since there are so many talented storytellers out there that have already proven themselves with Batman, why not bring them back and give them each five issues to do whatever they want? You could have Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle do the first arc; Mike Barr and Alan Davis the second; Doug Moench and Kelly Jones the third; and so on and so on. These guys have all expressed an interest in returning to Batman and DC has been taking this route already with Dark Detective and the upcoming Moench/Jones reunion - why not use this idea as the basis for a new title?

[Captain Jim]

Batman Confidential was little more than a continuation of LOTDK, which wasn't selling so hot in its latter days either. The change in title obviously didn't help sales substantially.

[Super Buddies Forever]

What killed LOTDK was a reliance on using it as a testing ground for unproven writers and just dumping stock stories in it.

I completely agree that they could bring back writers like Grant and Breyfogle to do arcs for a LOTDK/Confidential-type title. What's more, we need more "big ideas" for these arcs. Let's get out of the mundane and do something exciting with an "any era" book. Look at Booster Gold. Besides the humor and love some of us have for the characters, why does it strike a chord? Because each issue is a nostalgia-filled romp through a corner of the DCU's past. Let's take something like that and transplant it here.

We could have Batman stories set on Earth-2 in the 1940's. We could have a wacky, Morrison-penned tale that takes place in the sci-fi oriented '50s. Bring in O'Neil and Adams to do a '70s-style story. Create a storyline-within-a-storyline and do a Knightfall or No Man's Land revisited arc. Hell, let's not beholden ourselves to continuity. Hire Tim Burton to write "his" version of a Batman Returns sequel, or have Adam West helm an arc that focuses on what "his" Batman would be up to nowadays.

The possibilities are limitless, especially with a title like "Legends of the Dark Knight."

[Jack-In-The-Box]

I'd like to see a series where Jim Gordon plays a heavier role.

[the-wolf]

What killed LOTDK was a reliance on using it as a testing ground for unproven writers and just dumping stock stories in it.

I completely agree that they could bring back writers like Grant and Breyfogle to do arcs for a LOTDK/Confidential-type title. What's more, we need more "big ideas" for these arcs. Let's get out of the mundane and do something exciting with an "any era" book. Look at Booster Gold. Besides the humor and love some of us have for the characters, why does it strike a chord? Because each issue is a nostalgia-filled romp through a corner of the DCU's past. Let's take something like that and transplant it here.

We could have Batman stories set on Earth-2 in the 1940's. We could have a wacky, Morrison-penned tale that takes place in the sci-fi oriented '50s. Bring in O'Neil and Adams to do a '70s-style story. Create a storyline-within-a-storyline and do a Knightfall or No Man's Land revisited arc. Hell, let's not beholden ourselves to continuity. Hire Tim Burton to write "his" version of a Batman Returns sequel, or have Adam West helm an arc that focuses on what "his" Batman would be up to nowadays.

The possibilities are limitless, especially with a title like "Legends of the Dark Knight."

WOW! Dude, you are so right.

Continuity be damned. Soap-operas be damned. Cross-overs be damned. Just give me a Batman title with good writers and artists telling me a good Batman yarn.

[the-wolf]

Almost like a series of writers/artists each giving their own interpretation of an Ultimate version of Batman.

One hitch: no origin stories. It would get tiresome quick.

[Lupek]

I liked the Joker arc and the Wrath arc. Everything else was kinda bleh.

I stuck around till the Barbara Gordon Batgirl story ended just because I like Batgirl. But it wasn't very good and I've since cut it from my list. I won't miss Batman Confidential.

[AlistairCrane]

I picked up BC only for the Catwoman arc and now that it's over, I will no longer be getting it.

[mgs]

That latest storyline was one of the most AMAZING, FUN & ENTERTAINING batman stories I've ever read!! ;)

If they continue like that, I'll always buy the books! :D

[nepenthes]

^ wow. I'll have to check it out :cool:

[nixon]

Does anyone know if they're releasing a Wrath Child trade?

[Captain Jim]

What killed LOTDK was a reliance on using it as a testing ground for unproven writers and just dumping stock stories in it.

I completely agree that they could bring back writers like Grant and Breyfogle to do arcs for a LOTDK/Confidential-type title. What's more, we need more "big ideas" for these arcs. Let's get out of the mundane and do something exciting with an "any era" book. Look at Booster Gold. Besides the humor and love some of us have for the characters, why does it strike a chord? Because each issue is a nostalgia-filled romp through a corner of the DCU's past. Let's take something like that and transplant it here.

We could have Batman stories set on Earth-2 in the 1940's. We could have a wacky, Morrison-penned tale that takes place in the sci-fi oriented '50s. Bring in O'Neil and Adams to do a '70s-style story. Create a storyline-within-a-storyline and do a Knightfall or No Man's Land revisited arc. Hell, let's not beholden ourselves to continuity. Hire Tim Burton to write "his" version of a Batman Returns sequel, or have Adam West helm an arc that focuses on what "his" Batman would be up to nowadays.

The possibilities are limitless, especially with a title like "Legends of the Dark Knight."

The thing is, they could also do all of this as limited series -- and they would probably sell better.

[the-wolf]

The thing is, they could also do all of this as limited series -- and they would probably sell better.

I disagree. An ongoing makes more sense. You buy one title and every story arc or so you get a different creative team giving their take on Batman or that Batman story they've just always wanted to tell. Free of continuity.

People get tired of limited series and it's too hard to keep track of when they're coming, etc, etc. and consistency = sales.

Besides, if you only want to purchase the odd arc that really interests you, then trade paperback form would suit this title especially well.

[earl]

I don't really have that many problems with this title and hope they keep it going or at least keep a Batman title like this coming out, as I also really liked Legends of the Dark Knight. I think they almost are doing this title to be able to make trade paper backs of the stories when they are done.

I like that the stories are self contained and really wish they would do some tighter told shorter stories that are like 1 or 2 issues, not everything having to be 5 or 6 issues long.

[Captain Jim]

People get tired of limited series and it's too hard to keep track of when they're coming, etc, etc. and consistency = sales.


But having a different team each arc (some of which may not appeal to you) does not appeal to the collector mentality that wants a complete set. Sales history proves that fans prefer a limited series that starts with a #1 and completes in a finite period of time.

[TROUBLEZ]

I first bought an issue of this series with the Batgirl/Catwoman arc. Some of the best art and characterization I've seen. I really like the way Catwoman was written and Bat-girl seemed spot on as well. And Maguire draws great female characters. If he had been drawing Catwoman I would have bought every issue.


The reasons I didn't buy the book before was because, from the title, I thought it was going to be something like The Punisher Armory series or Iron-Manual. Portacio did some dynamic art but his Batman seemed a little off to me.

The Joker arc turned me off because of the hype of a new Joker origin by some tv writer and the art looked messy. I liked the artwork on Blind Justice but here I didn't like it.

Wit the exception of Maguire/Nicieza's arc, I think these half-year story arcs are bad. If readers don't like a certain type of story or direction, they're gonna stop buying the next 5 issues. It's better to do smaller stories so bad stories don't outstay their welcome.

[the-wolf]

But having a different team each arc (some of which may not appeal to you) does not appeal to the collector mentality that wants a complete set. Sales history proves that fans prefer a limited series that starts with a #1 and completes in a finite period of time.

It's a series of limited series:wink: .