RSS
Home
There's a lot more Batman coming your way
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
How much Batman can one person take?
Holy recession, Batman! If you're a fan of all things Batman, get ready to dig deep into your wallet. DC Comics is set to unveil not one, not two, but - count em - a whopping eight different comics chronicling the exploits of Batman and his various cohorts.
As this dispatch from DC's Source blog relates, not only can fans expect to see longtime Bat-titles "Batman" and "Detective Comics" on the stands, but they'll also get a look at "Batman & Robin," "Red Robin," "Gotham City Sirens," "Batman: Streets of Gotham," and, later on in the summer, "Batgirl" and "Azrael." That's a lot of cash just to keep you in Batarangs.
My advice for cost-conscious comic-book geeks is to most definitely get "Batman & Robin." Why? Well, for the last few months, DC has been setting up a successor to Bruce Wayne, the original Batman. Chances are it's going to be Dick Grayson, the original Robin. And the creative team behind it - Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely - recently won some industry awards. Should be quite creative and they have the chance to play with the concept of someone new trying to play the role of the Caped Crusader.
As for the others? Well, just be careful. The flagship Bat-book - simply called "Batman" - will be written by Judd Winick. He gets lots of assignments from DC, but criticial consensus around his work is generally less than sterling. Winick's work tends to focus more on action than it does on clever writing or creative concepts. Over at "Detective," DC will be featuring a new hero, Batwoman - a bold step that might pay off as Greg Rucka, a writer with some good chops, will be handling.
Meanwhile, "Red Robin" is worth a look. You see, there's another Robin, one who believes Bruce Wayne is still out there in the world, ready to take back the cape. The writer isn't the most famous, but the stories could have a larger impact on the Bat-titles. In any other world, "Sirens "and "Streets" would be skippable. They'll focus on ancillary Batman characters like Catwoman. But the writer, Paul Dini, is top-notch and has been handling Batman for some time. HIs work is worth checking out.
Seems to me DC is counting on the fact that "Batman" and "Detective" have been around for decades. Many fans simply purchase them automatically. While the first will feature a weaker writer and the other an untested concept, their longstanding presence on the comics racks may just get them through. And then it will be up to the writers on the other titles to drum up the stories that pry an extra $3 from your billfold during these tough economic times.
Related Articles:
Comments
