Bat-Thought Exercise: Spyral

**Doug Strange** · 11-28-2012, 10:09 AM

Morrison gave us such a cool, 60's-style playground with Dr. Dedalus and Spyral. I was only able to force myself to jog in the cold this morning by sending my mind elsewhere...and somehow it drifted to Batman and, more specifically, the U.N. super-intelligence agency Spyral. I kept myself busy thinking up connections to existing characters and inventing new ones and just generally attempting to flesh out the world a little bit more. And since we're not likely to see it used much once Morrison's run is over (which is both bad and good because I haven't been buying any DC books outside Inc.), I thought it might be fun to bring the thought exercise here, to some of the finest minds in comic-book-dom.

So, who else has worked for (or against!) Spyral in the past, or has otherwise been caught up by Netz?

Some of the obvious pre-existing candidates: Spysmasher, Nemesis, Phantom Lady, Checkmate agents, DEO, etc. Maybe less obvious? Rex Mason, pre-Metamorpho...Peter Cannon...who else? How about Acro-Bat or the other Justice Experience folks from "Chase?" C'mon people, have some fun! Create new characters, too!

How did Netz keep all these powerful personalities in line? Kathy Kane, El Gaucho, Lazlo Valentin, (the Hood? Matron?)...What was the bureaucracy like? How did it work on a nuts and bolts level?

And what about Netz himself? Is this truly the last we've seen of him? Or has he laid (like Jigsaw from the Saw movies) traps to get revenge on his enemies well after his death? Or will there be a new Agent Zero/Dr. Dedalus to revitalize the organization?

Or, y'know...nothing. This thread dies a terrible death in 3, 2,...

**Doug Strange** · 11-30-2012, 12:38 PM

I totally take back what I said about you guys being the finest minds in comic book-dom.

Your minds are mediocre at best. And your mothers dress you badly.

**Jeff Brady** · 11-30-2012, 01:23 PM

Your first mistake was using the word "exercise."

Though some may argue that "thought" is what tripped them up.

**ElMacho** · 11-30-2012, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by Doug Strange

Morrison gave us such a cool, 60's-style playground with Dr. Dedalus and Spyral.

Ha ha, I've posted a bit about Netz on another Forum:

http://new.dcuwiki.net/forums/postin...t&f=95&p=53915

what a god-damned great villain!!!!!.

By the way, if you don't mind me asking, do you race, or jog to keep fit?.

**TheGoshDarnBatman** · 11-30-2012, 05:32 PM

I loved Spyral, and I thought that the 60s espionage vibe of things was another thing that worked fantastically as far as Morrison bringing all of these different eras together.

I'd love to see it shown as a hub for those types of 'spy' characters that you mentioned. Doesn't seem like the kind of thing DC would be remotely interested in now, but a book set in the past, before Netz's death, at the sort of height of Spyral has a lot of potential, I think.

**ElMacho** · 11-30-2012, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by Doug Strange

And what about Netz himself? Is this truly the last we've seen of him? Or has he laid (like Jigsaw from the Saw movies) traps to get revenge on his enemies well after his death?

I think we've seen the last of him in Inc (bar a flashback appearance) yes, It could have been another fake Netz that Robin killed, but personally I'd see that as a bit cheap to be honest. As far as his "perfect plan" Kathy Kane said it best after his death in Leviathan Strikes! "it's never really over, is it Matron, Oroboro is a circle, after all", Talia may have adopted it or elements of it, but I don't think we've seen the last of it.

I'd love a series focused on a younger Netz at the head of Spyral, reading about him being paid by governments to "kill their troublesome superhumans......leading them into elaborate deceptions, scenarios costing millions of dollars".

I've said it before,

http://forums.comicbookresources.com...Spoilers/page3

and I meant it, In my opinion, Netz is the best Batman villain since Joker.

Also, in Kerry Conran's 2004 film Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, the villain, seen in newsreel footage as vintage clips of Laurence Olivier, is revealed to be long dead at the film's conclusion, his end-of-the-world plot instigated by robots and recordings after his death........thanks to Ben at DST for pointing that out!.

**Doug Strange** · 12-01-2012, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by Jeff Brady

Your first mistake was using the word "exercise."

Though some may argue that "thought" is what tripped them up.

Oh, you snark and you snipe, but do you contribute?! No, you do not. I will not condone your shallow behavior, Jeff Brady. I will condemn it. I condemn you.

Originally Posted by ElMacho

what a god-damned great villain!!!!!.

This guy gets it, Jeff Brady...and he's ESL!

ElMacho: I can't follow that link you posted without registering for that site...I'd love to have a look, though.

By the way, if you don't mind me asking, do you race, or jog to keep fit?.

Mostly to keep fit, but I'm training for my first marathon in April. After that...don't know!

(Sorry I implied you were ESL and that that was a bad thing...I just wanted to gig Jeff Brady, whom I detest.)

Originally Posted by TheGoshDarnBatman

I'd love to see it shown as a hub for those types of 'spy' characters that you mentioned. Doesn't seem like the kind of thing DC would be remotely interested in now, but a book set in the past, before Netz's death, at the sort of height of Spyral has a lot of potential, I think.

Of course it does. Of course. That is why...we should write it here!

Anybody got any more thoughts on potential co-stars?

Originally Posted by ElMacho

I think we've seen the last of him in Inc (bar a flashback appearance) yes, It could have been another fake Netz that Robin killed, but personally I'd see that as a bit cheap to be honest. As far as his "perfect plan" Kathy Kane said it best after his death in Leviathan Strikes! "it's never really over, is it Matron, Oroboro is a circle, after all", Talia may have adopted it or elements of it, but I don't think we've seen the last of it.

It would be nice if he set off several plots to go off after he was killed. Years and years of posthumous villainy.