Dan Didio on Batman future

[davepaton]

The latest installment of 20 Answers by Dan Didio is up over at Newsarama with some interesting stuff on whats happening Batman-wise over the next few months.

Highlights -
- Dan Didio talks about how Batman's fate was always going to be revealed in FC #6 and that is when all Grant Morrison's claims will be fulfilled
- Fan reaction to RIP
- Over the next few months there will be an Oracle mini-series; an Azrael mini series; a series of 5 one shots to accompany BFTC; 2 books called the Gotham Gazette
- The 'Batman and Robin will never die' from 676 has still not happened (don't know if this includes the 6 months later bit of RIP)

Some interesting stuff with lots to talk about!

Full interview - http://www.newsarama.com/comics/120810-DiDio-20.html

[Pixie_Solanas]

"
- Over the next few months there will be an Oracle mini-series; an Azrael mini series; a series of 5 one shots to accompany BFTC; 2 books called the Gotham Gazette"

So in other words, we're getting a heaping helping of grade-a crap. Thanks, Dan!

Just end the b.s. and bring back Morrison asap.

[Dr. Chaos]

Yes! Jean Paul Valley lives!

*does a lil dance*

I hope he goes insane and dons his old batsuit during Battle for The Cowl.

[davepaton]

I'd heard talk about Azrael possibly taking over the cowl but hadn't really taken it seriously until now. Surely DC wouldn't go down that path again though?

[AlistairCrane]

I'm worried about Faces of Evil turning Catwoman into a hardcore villain again. If that happens, I will sign off the Batbooks and not even bother with this Battle for the Cowl stuff.

[booziehand]

whether liked or disliked, its definitely gonna be an interesting few months in the world of Batman. I'm kind of just looking forward to it to see how it plays out, especially now that we have a little more info or outline of sorts

[A.C.R.O.N.Y.M.]

I'd heard talk about Azrael possibly taking over the cowl but hadn't really taken it seriously until now. Surely DC wouldn't go down that path again though?

I can't see that happening. Seems like a good time to throw him in the mix, though, seeing as he still has some fans out there.

Nightwing has been set up with less than subtle hints as the obvious choice in a lot of the books recently, which makes me think that that may be a red herring as well.

I must say, though, DC either have tremendous guts, or a serious knack for making bad calls. They're in a position where they're getting their ass handed to them by Marvel on a weekly basis saleswise. And yet their big plan for 2009 is to get both their top franchises out of the picture. That's some executive decision making going on right there. DC's events have been consistently better than Marvel's the last few years, I think, but Marvel has a knack for easily marketable concepts and giving their fans exactly what they want. DC should really try to get in on that. And really, the Superman, Batman and JLA books is where it should be done (DC can go on about how Wonder Woman is one of the biggest comic book icons in the world, but who really cares about her or reads her book?). At least partly. Grant Morrison should write Batman for as long as he wants.

[davepaton]

I must say, though, DC either have tremendous guts, or a serious knack for making bad calls. They're in a position where they're getting their ass handed to them by Marvel on a weekly basis saleswise. And yet their big plan for 2009 is to get both their top franchises out of the picture. That's some executive decision making going on right there

True but they did that with the whole Death of Superman/Knightfall story arcs. People thought they were crazy then but that turned out to be a commercial success.

Love it or hate it no one can deny that what they are doing with Batman has got people talking. Whether it will turn out to be a success or not I guess only time will tell.

[AJM]

What a lot of crap. I like how he explains that the plan was always to have two separate tales in different comics that can intertwine at the reader's discretion and then tells us that the first page of RIP hasn't happened yet, and won't until next year at a time when there isn't even an issue of the Batman series - in which the original image in question was shown - scheduled for that period.

I was absolutely loving RIP until all this Final Crisis tie-in stuff and i feel pretty robbed. Whatever DiDio says, it's nothing more than a marketing stunt and has completely turned me off.

It also appear the end of the Battle For The Cowl story won't be until next June - wasn't it initially advertised as happening now so we'd have a new Batman in the new year?

As i typed the end of that last sentence, i realised that i don't actually care anymore. Boo!

[Mia]

As i typed the end of that last sentence, i realised that i don't actually care anymore. Boo!


You know I just wish Joe Q, would open his big fat wallet and buy Batman from DC. Batman would be much better off in the Marvel Universe and put to much better use.

[Captain Jim]

It also appear the end of the Battle For The Cowl story won't be until next June - wasn't it initially advertised as happening now so we'd have a new Batman in the new year?


Battle for the Cowl is evidently a separate mini-series that comes out in March, April and May, in place of the regular books, which are all on hiatus. The Batman and Detective books presumably return in June.

[Captain Jim]

Yes! Jean Paul Valley lives!

Well, he didn't specifically say that. All we know at this point is tht Azrael appears. Whether or not it's Valley remains to be seen.

Nevertheless, it's still pretty big news.

[Dr. Chaos]

Well, he didn't specifically say that. All we know at this point is tht Azrael appears. Whether or not it's Valley remains to be seen.

Nevertheless, it's still pretty big news.
I know.

I'm just selfishly assuming/hoping, honestly. :smile:

[AlistairCrane]

I know.

I'm just selfishly assuming/hoping, honestly. :smile:

It's probably Jean-Paul. An imitator wouldn't suffice.

[Batman was taken]

You know I just wish Joe Q, would open his big fat wallet and buy Batman from DC. Batman would be much better off in the Marvel Universe and put to much better use.

Yeah, it'd be so much better to have a story with Batman getting a black(er) costume, and them making a deal with the devil to save his parents, right?

[Mat001]

What a lot of crap. I like how he explains that the plan was always to have two separate tales in different comics that can intertwine at the reader's discretion and then tells us that the first page of RIP hasn't happened yet, and won't until next year at a time when there isn't even an issue of the Batman series - in which the original image in question was shown - scheduled for that period.

Well, technically, we were told in Batman #676 that when Batman and Robin are seen again, it's six months from the present. So it's not like we weren't aware of it. Besides, this was planned out earlier because Morrison was planning to take a break after FC finished.

I was absolutely loving RIP until all this Final Crisis tie-in stuff and i feel pretty robbed. Whatever DiDio says, it's nothing more than a marketing stunt and has completely turned me off.

Well, again, this was planned out. When Morrison first spoke about it, he confirmed that only FC and "R.I.P." were going to crossover. All other books were going to be mini-series and one-shots.

It also appear the end of the Battle For The Cowl story won't be until next June - wasn't it initially advertised as happening now so we'd have a new Batman in the new year?

No. It starts with Batman and Robin, then on page two it says six months earlier. Otherwise, DC has maintained for about a year that the two arcs would intersect.

[Bruce Wayne Jr.]

Yeah, it'd be so much better to have a story with Batman getting a black(er) costume, and them making a deal with the devil to save his parents, right?

These days, they'd just give him boobs and restart his series.

Batman at Marvel... INSANITY :confused:

[John Lynch]

Just end the b.s. and bring back Morrison asap.The longer Morrison isn't on the Bat-books the more money DC gets from me.

[Pixie_Solanas]

You know I just wish Joe Q, would open his big fat wallet and buy Batman from DC. Batman would be much better off in the Marvel Universe and put to much better use.

Not necessarily. They'd probably just throw Fraction on the title.

[Pixie_Solanas]

The longer Morrison isn't on the Bat-books the more money DC gets from me.

If the latest Denny O Neil "'Tec" is any indication, you're flushing your money away on some crapola material.

[Chiroptera]

All right, so let's see, I know I want Dini's Tec for a bit longer because I definitely want to see how Hush and Catwoman face off. I'm gonna take a looksie at O'Neil's, probably gonna end up buying those.

Other than that I'm definitely one of those "that's it I'm done" fans Dan seemed to be hoping there wouldn't be many of. Personally, I hope there's more of them than just the ones here on these forums... Alot more.

[Dr. Chaos]

I'll check in for the new Azrael mini but yeah, I'm pretty much done until the new Batman is crowned.

That'll probably peak my interest and get me to come back and take a look but right now I don't really have the same sort of "holy crap, what the hell is going to happen now?" invested interest I had when Captain America died that pulled me into the book and refused to let me go.

Right now, surprisingly I feel like I would be better off waiting until the smoke clears which is the exact opposite of what I was expecting to think before RIP underwhelmed me.

[Captain Jim]

Personally, I intend to see Nightwing, Robin & BOP through to the end. Also looking forward to the O'Neil and Gaiman stories. I expect to read the Battle for the Cowl storyline--not so sure about the mini's and one-shots. It's after BFTC is over that I'm not so sure. It will depend a lot on what happens in FC #6 and how how things end up at the end of BFTC. And if Morrison comes back after all that, I doubt that I will stick around in any case.

[John Lynch]

If the latest Denny O Neil "'Tec" is any indication, you're flushing your money away on some crapola material.Well actually, I'm not. I'm not getting any of the RIP tie-ins, and I'm eagerly awaiting Battle of the Cowl to start. If I don't like those, I'll wait until after Battle of the Cowl (although Morrison will probably be back then :frown: and will be running the show with the eventual crossovers highjacking the other series). And if I like none of the ongoings then, I'll drop Batman completely.

But I'm going to try before I decide. Unlike many here, I didn't have RIP disappoint me, and so I'm quite excited about the post-RIP Batverse.

[nepenthes]

I'm worried about Faces of Evil turning Catwoman into a hardcore villain again. If that happens, I will sign off the Batbooks and not even bother with this Battle for the Cowl stuff.

people like you care more about 'the status' of characters than the stories themselves. like they're trading cards or something. what if it was actually an interesting story with catwoman the villain? or is that impossible? how would you even know if you DROPPED THE TITLE? (i love that threat). you can never just freeze a status quo. anyway you know she'll always be a villain in one book hero in the next.

The longer Morrison isn't on the Bat-books the more money DC gets from me.

ha ha it's too bad no one cares


I must say, though, DC either have tremendous guts, or a serious knack for making bad calls. They're in a position where they're getting their ass handed to them by Marvel on a weekly basis saleswise. And yet their big plan for 2009 is to get both their top franchises out of the picture. That's some executive decision making going on right there.

the guys at DC think about THEIR JOBS alot more thoroughly and seriously than you do. just because you can dash off a couple of easy sentences on a message board it doesn;t mean you know what the hell you;re talking about when it comes to big calls like that

Grant Morrison should write Batman for as long as he wants.

that would be a good decision :cool:

[A.C.R.O.N.Y.M.]

the guys at DC think about THEIR JOBS alot more thoroughly and seriously than you do. just because you can dash off a couple of easy sentences on a message board it doesn;t mean you know what the hell you;re talking about when it comes to big calls like that

You know, that's always a fair point in these discussions. Message board debates tend to end up with fans and readers grotesquely overvaluing their own importance and knowledge of how to run a comic book company. But I stand by my point - I think what Marvel has done so well these last five years is a sort of back-to-basics approach that celebrates the big and popular characters without relying too much on shock value and universe-spanning revamps. Yes, the death of Captain America played on shock value initially, but it works (and I still hope Steve Rogers stays dead), because it's solid art and writing through and through. And Brand New Day always seemed like more of a necessary evil than an event. And people seem pleased with the result, now that time has passed.

Now, as I've said before, I think DC's best books are better than Marvel's best books. But I also think Marvel publishes more good books than DC on a monthly basis.
I think DC's problem is that all their big events are big, universe-altering Crisis-like affairs which always affect all their core characters, whereas Marvel's are a little smaller in scope. In addition Marvel essentially have three universes in one (the Avengers/MU proper, the X-books and the cosmic characters) and all three can carry their own events, which gives Marvel more legs to stand on if one event fails. If something like Final Crisis fails, DC takes a tremendous blow. If SI had failed, Marvel would still have the (largely unaffected) X-books to rely on.

On the basis of this, taking Batman and Superman out of the equation makes sense as a way of branching out and making the b-list characters shine. However, the problem is any new characters to catch the fancy of the DC-readers would immediately be brought into the core group of characters. That's what they seem to be trying to do with the Milestone characters, for instance.

I think the Sinestro Corps War was a good move on DC's part. It was basically an event that was a little off on the side and managed to make readers excited and the DCU seem much bigger. However, now they seem to be bringing the Green Lanterns more into the core with Blackest Night.

Now, you may say that this is how the DCU works, that they were always a close-knit group of characters. Which is probably right. It's just I think it puts DC in a risky position.

[AJM]

Well, technically, we were told in Batman #676 that when Batman and Robin are seen again, it's six months from the present. So it's not like we weren't aware of it. Besides, this was planned out earlier because Morrison was planning to take a break after FC finished.



Well, again, this was planned out. When Morrison first spoke about it, he confirmed that only FC and "R.I.P." were going to crossover. All other books were going to be mini-series and one-shots.



No. It starts with Batman and Robin, then on page two it says six months earlier. Otherwise, DC has maintained for about a year that the two arcs would intersect.

I think you missed my point - i read Batman every month, and the conclusion to RIP will not appear in Batman, it will appear in Final Crisis; and the first page from RIP part 1 is also a scene from another comic. That's 2 new titles i have to buy to get the ending for a story that i have paid for regularly for a couple of years now.

And whether or not it was planned out, that doesn't mean the whole thing still isn't a scam to get readers to spend more money at a time when monthly sales are falling. How can you justify it simply because they planned to do it? Yes, you're right - it was always DC's plan to con us into spending more money.

Of course, i don't have to buy these items and i'm not sure i will. But that's not the point, the insult is that i have already invested a great deal of money in - specifically for this argument Grant Morrison's - Batman, and i think it's more than reasonable to expect the story to end in the same title in which it started.

[n2doop5u]

I think you missed my point - i read Batman every month, and the conclusion to RIP will not appear in Batman, it will appear in Final Crisis; and the first page from RIP part 1 is also a scene from another comic. That's 2 new titles i have to buy to get the ending for a story that i have paid for regularly for a couple of years now.

And whether or not it was planned out, that doesn't mean the whole thing still isn't a scam to get readers to spend more money at a time when monthly sales are falling. How can you justify it simply because they planned to do it? Yes, you're right - it was always DC's plan to con us into spending more money.

Of course, i don't have to buy these items and i'm not sure i will. But that's not the point, the insult is that i have already invested a great deal of money in - specifically for this argument Grant Morrison's - Batman, and i think it's more than reasonable to expect the story to end in the same title in which it started.

You should read Final Crisis. It's good. Maybe that's what they're trying to do. Get you to branch out to other good stories. Batman isn't the only interesting hero in DC's arsenal. Sure, they want more money. They're a company... they want to make money.

But Grant Morrison is writing both Final Crisis and Batman. Did you really think they WEREN'T going to intertwine somewhere? I would hardly say that's the company's fault. He was interested in telling both stories and having the events of RIP effect the events in Final Crisis and vice versa. Whatever brings a better story. I don't think you can blame the company for something Morrison clearly WANTED to do. Otherwise he wouldn't have taken up writing both titles.

[Vidocq]

I think you missed my point - i read Batman every month, and the conclusion to RIP will not appear in Batman, it will appear in Final Crisis; and the first page from RIP part 1 is also a scene from another comic. That's 2 new titles i have to buy to get the ending for a story that i have paid for regularly for a couple of years now.

And whether or not it was planned out, that doesn't mean the whole thing still isn't a scam to get readers to spend more money at a time when monthly sales are falling. How can you justify it simply because they planned to do it? Yes, you're right - it was always DC's plan to con us into spending more money.

Of course, i don't have to buy these items and i'm not sure i will. But that's not the point, the insult is that i have already invested a great deal of money in - specifically for this argument Grant Morrison's - Batman, and i think it's more than reasonable to expect the story to end in the same title in which it started.

This was announced in an interview a couple of months ago. I said the same thing but with different words. Somebody else told me that he was sure that the ending will also appear in Batman and that he didn't think a writter such as Grant Morrison could be such a douche.


Guess he was wrong.


I honestly don't give a **** about Final Crisis, gave it two issues before I dropped it, maybe I will catch it in TPB one of this days. I cared about RIP, even if I didn't liked the storhy, because it was going to change the Status Quo of Batman Comics. So For Grant Morrison to tell me that after twenty something Bullshit issues and an unsatisfactory finale, I need to read other 7 bullshit issues of another story just to get A damn ending to a story I didn't liked in the first place.

To illustrate How I feel is as if Morrison went from his home in Glasgow, Scottland to my house, kicked me in the Balls, took my wallet and said '' Hope you liked the story''.

After Dini's Last Hush story, I will be dropping every thing Batman except for All Star Batman which I Know this Bullshit wont affected it.

[AlistairCrane]

people like you care more about 'the status' of characters than the stories themselves. like they're trading cards or something. what if it was actually an interesting story with catwoman the villain? or is that impossible? how would you even know if you DROPPED THE TITLE? (i love that threat). you can never just freeze a status quo. anyway you know she'll always be a villain in one book hero in the next.



I don't know if this is difficult for you to understand or something, but I like Catwoman as an anti-hero, not a full-fledged villain. I'm not going to read something that makes me unhappy---that would just be masochistic. As a consumer, I'm not going to waste my time buying something I won't enjoy. And you call it a threat but I have no problems dropping a title. I have slashed my DC pull list more than in half in the past year. It's very simple. Do you understand now?

[AJM]

You should read Final Crisis. It's good. Maybe that's what they're trying to do. Get you to branch out to other good stories. Batman isn't the only interesting hero in DC's arsenal. Sure, they want more money. They're a company... they want to make money.

But Grant Morrison is writing both Final Crisis and Batman. Did you really think they WEREN'T going to intertwine somewhere? I would hardly say that's the company's fault. He was interested in telling both stories and having the events of RIP effect the events in Final Crisis and vice versa. Whatever brings a better story. I don't think you can blame the company for something Morrison clearly WANTED to do. Otherwise he wouldn't have taken up writing both titles.

Yes, you're right - it's both their faults. How does that make it better?

And for the record, i think that Batman pretty much is the only interesting hero in DC's arsenal right now, at least i did until the end of Batman 682. And i've read some Final Crisis and it doesn't interest me in the slightest. Although i'll probably get #6 because i'm a sucker, although i'm starting to understand why people are reading bootleg torrent versions these days.

[MNM]

Battle for the Cowl is evidently a separate mini-series that comes out in March, April and May, in place of the regular books, which are all on hiatus. The Batman and Detective books presumably return in June.

Makes you wonder why they didnt just do it as a cross-over throughout the Bat titles rather than putting everything on hiatus.

[AlistairCrane]

Makes you wonder why they didnt just do it as a cross-over throughout the Bat titles rather than putting everything on hiatus.

Because they're going to charge $3.99 for all these specials and one-shots and thus make more money than they would've with a basic crossover.

[AJM]

Okay, so i just read Final Crisis #5 - and WOW! What a garbled, confusing, boring mess. It was nice to see Frankenstein for a few panels, but other than that i couldn't care less.

[AlistairCrane]

Okay, so i just read Final Crisis #5 - and WOW! What a garbled, confusing, boring mess. It was nice to see Frankenstein for a few panels, but other than that i couldn't care less.

I think you posted this on the wrong forum.

[James Conniff]

At least I now know that the conclusion to RIP wasn't the end of the story....but I am left with a question ...how did Batman get from his fiery helicopter crash, to showing up hanging with the Justice league before his capture? Iguess I shall wait and see what happens in FC before I decide to continue reading Batman and Detective.
...oh and I need to know that Grant and Dini are returning or i'm outta here.

[Captain Jim]

Makes you wonder why they didnt just do it as a cross-over throughout the Bat titles rather than putting everything on hiatus.

Yeah, I've wondered that too. It can't be just the price; they could raise the price on the regular titles if they wanted to.

[Captain Jim]

At least I now know that the conclusion to RIP wasn't the end of the story....but I am left with a question ...how did Batman get from his fiery helicopter crash, to showing up hanging with the Justice league before his capture?

Not to mention the fact that everyone seemed to think he was missing before he showed up hanging with the Justice League.

This had darn well better be addressed in Batman #683. If it isn't, I'm going to be really ticked. But I have to admit, I'm not very confident that it will.

[Captain Jim]

For the record, I'm in complete agreement with those who say it sucks to have the ending to RIP in Final Crisis. And to blame it on the fact that they're both being written for the trades makes it worse, not better.

[AlistairCrane]

For the record, I'm in complete agreement with those who say it sucks to have the ending to RIP in Final Crisis. And to blame it on the fact that they're both being written for the trades makes it worse, not better.

Good point--so if you collect RIP in trades, you'll have to get FC too.

I hope Batman's trek from the helicopter to FC#1 is explained in 683...it's pretty important and I don't see where else that story could be told...