If you had complete control over a new monthly Batman title what would it be?

[Paul Dee]

I'm talking mainly a concept but then obviously artists, a title, in-continuity or out? And so on.


I like the idea of a monthly title with its own continuity, based to an extent on the 'heightened reality' of Batman Begins but not related to it. It'd be in a world with no other super-heroes, no Justice League, magic or science fiction elements. It'd concentrate more on Batman as a slightly unhinged (but not BatDick) detective and would have a noir-ish quality to it. A lot of the classic villains would have to be reimagined to fit in, as they are in Nolan's franchise, and to make them more believable (Catwoman for example would just be a jewel thief whom the news refer to as The Catwoman due to the outfit she wears). I think Alex Ross' art would fit the images I have in my head nicely and would give the artwork the touch of realism I'm after. No idea what it'd be called though.


What ideas do others have?

[rwe1138]

Dan Slott writes & Michael Gaydos draws. :D

[j3h]

I would do an in continuity, current times book focusing on Gotham City and Batman's supporting cast. Batman would appear regularly, but would not be the main "star".

I would rather have The Question and Montoya star and be sorta the "day time detective" role previously held by Jason Bard (though they would opperate at night too). Bard can appear too, along with Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock.

Using Vic Sage as a Gotham reporter allows for all types of big city stories to manifest...and it would mean that he has to survive 52.

The title would simply be Gotham City

[carabas]

A lot of the classic villains would have to be reimagined to fit in, as they are in Nolan's franchise, and to make them more believable (Catwoman for example would just be a jewel thief whom the news refer to as The Catwoman due to the outfit she wears).

How would this be different from regular Catwoman?

[Paul Dee]

How would this be different from regular Catwoman?

I just meant the way in which her name was used. I was always under the impression she was called 'Catwoman' in a more superhero costumed-gimmick way, as if it's the name of her alter-ego, rather than being referred to by the media as "The Catwoman", or even "The Cat Woman" as a sort of title.

[Gaspard]

I'd just have a run of my own on Batman with some cool artist drawing it. I'd start from the beginning and end it with his possible death somewhere later in his life. A lot of it would be influenced by Miller's Year One -- but I also like to keep things more realistic when it comes to Batman, so no JLA, or supervillains etc. Mainly just keep the story around Bats fighting crooked cops, gangsters and the few psychopaths running wild like The Joker, Two-Face, The Riddler etc. Less Robin too, but I'd probably do the whole Jason thing again, because it really is a good dramatic period in his life.

[The Punished]

I would bring back a monthly title for Azrael [in the original costume] just to p.o. Didio.

[TheTen-EyedMan]

Batman as written by Darwyn Cooke and drawn by Norm Breyfogle.

[Reptisaurus!]

Batman and Jesus: Trading Places.

[Super Buddies Forever]

My ideal Batman book would be a blending of Legends of the Dark Knight and Confidential. An in-continuity Batman book that can jump around to any point in the timeline. There could be stories set in Year One, the Dick Grayson as Robin era, the Jason Todd era, the Tim Drake era, during KnightQuest or No Man's Land, etc. Heck, why stop there? Have a story set in the 1940's on Earth-2.

It would be, at least, 44 pages and with a different creative team each month. Stories would be self-contained (no sprawling arcs like in LOTDK), and there could even be a backup story centered around some element of Batman.

[shaxper]

I might do a Batman ensemble title; something like "Gotham Knights," featuring a solo or teamup adventure for one or more Batman-related heroes (including Batman). I think this makes more sense than trying to force characters like Robin and Nightwing into obligatory solo adventures each month. It would also give writers a chance to experiment with lesser known Batman characters. Maybe give Jason Bard an issue, or tell a story from the point of view of someone from the rogue's gallery. Remember that hunchback named Harold that was working with Batman back in the early '90s? Whatever happened to him? There's a story. What's up with Leslie Thompson post-War Games? Writers could explore that. Maybe a solo Jim Gordon story. Stories of Arkham Asylum and the people that work there would be quite fun too.

The Batman universe is so rich, and so little of it gets covered in the main titles.

[TheTen-EyedMan]

My ideal Batman book would be a blending of Legends of the Dark Knight and Confidential. An in-continuity Batman book that can jump around to any point in the timeline. There could be stories set in Year One, the Dick Grayson as Robin era, the Jason Todd era, the Tim Drake era, during KnightQuest or No Man's Land, etc. Heck, why stop there? Have a story set in the 1940's on Earth-2.

It would be, at least, 44 pages and with a different creative team each month. Stories would be self-contained (no sprawling arcs like in LOTDK), and there could even be a backup story centered around some element of Batman.

When I take over D.C. in a few years...you're coming with me.

[Fish Sauce]

I'd just have a run of my own on Batman with some cool artist drawing it. I'd start from the beginning and end it with his possible death somewhere later in his life. A lot of it would be influenced by Miller's Year One -- but I also like to keep things more realistic when it comes to Batman, so no JLA, or supervillains etc. Mainly just keep the story around Bats fighting crooked cops, gangsters and the few psychopaths running wild like The Joker, Two-Face, The Riddler etc. Less Robin too, but I'd probably do the whole Jason thing again, because it really is a good dramatic period in his life.

I quite like that idea. If it went for a few years or so it would be great to have a "Life of Batman" series, as it were.

[the goddamn batman]

I still want the All Star book we were sold at the begining.

Batman AND Robin. Dick Grayson. Iconic. Monthly. Rotating teams. (big names optional)

I would also except a decent Jason Todd as Robin era series. Maybe a retelling of A Death in the Family, because let's face it, ADitF sucks.

[joe bloke]

I'd aim for a kind of all-ages Batman comic, completely removed from all current continuity. Back to basics. For the first year or so, just Batman ( or maybe even THE Batman ), the caped crusader NOT the dark knight, then bring in Dick Grayson, then six or seven months down the line Robin, the boy wonder. I'm fed up with the overly gritty, tortured Bat. It was a buzz for a while, but that was then ( damn that Miller-man! it's all his fault, I tell you ). The classic villians, the classic supporting cast. Pull in all the finer elements of what has gone before and stream-line them into a regular monthly comic. Action, suspense, and above all FUN. The artist? A clean-line uncluttered master along the lines of Dave Gibbons or Kevin Nowlan. The writer? Hey, this is MY baby, man. AND - and I think this is important - distribute the comic through newsagents and supermarkets the length and breadth of the land, NOT JUST SPECIALITY COMIC BOOK OUTLETS.

Oh, I have a dream, alright. . .