You're given carte blanche to reinvent Batman for a new line of books, or revamp his current line. What would you do CREATIVELY?

I've mentioned many times before what I'd do but here it goes again (and some I'm just thinking of).

Keep it as real as possible, including clean art. No more leaping 50 stories of building into a den of machine guns
Gadgets, gadgets and GADGETS
A new Batmobile that is far more maneuverable, like an enclosed armored Bat cycle
More DETECTING
Cassandra as the new Robin (in the original outfit). As one of the deadliest people alive, no one would question this decisions and the subtle sexuality of it could be great.

The return of Barbara Gordon as BATGIRL, Stephanie and Tim as the new Nightwing and Flamebird.

Dick Grayson as Red Robin?

And of course, a new Blackwing!!



Trained by Ben Turner, the Bronze Tiger, his life was saved by Batman ten years ago and he never forgot it (I have the warm scene already in mind). Since then he has trained himself to be his neighborhood's "Bat" hero. Costume would be more realistic, like JMS' Nighthawk though.

I don't need to.

MIller's Year One is as perfect a Batman as there can be.

My Batman would be a blind lawyer with some sort of radar sense. He protects his turf with nothing but his fists and his conscience.

Miller can draw, or Mazzucchelli

I would go a lot the same way, Allen, except I've always thought that there should be
a small army of Batmen running around, all pretending to be one person. So, let's
have Bruce, Dick, Tim, and the Bronze Tiger all be Batman.

Have Babs, Stephanie, Cassandra, and Huntress (and/or Batwoman) all take on the role
of "his" partner, Batgirl.

Even room for a few Robins in there, too, as some of these guys would get killed.

But then what?



Interesting. Could be cool for a TRUE Ultimate Batman version.

Then what what?

It's a rehashed version of my CHAPTER SERIAL idea. I love old movie serials
and their cliff hangers. I want to do a movie version (of "12 chapters") where
every 15 minutes or so, the hero gets into a death situation. Sometimes, I show
him escaping (copping some of the best escapes from the old serials) and other
times I just skip it without explaining how he got out.

At the end, we find out that there were four of five men in the role, and at least
three of them died. I would also have some Vicki Vale type (and the audience)
try to guess the hero's ID, just to screw with her head.

I thought it would work best as a period piece.

This.

Although, I'd call it "Miller & Mazuchelli's Batman: Year One."

Damn that was a magical combination, those two.

Mazuchelli (sp?) Batman was basically the Adam West version... but with a more practical belt and no smiling.

Miller/Mazzucchelli's Batman was NOTHING like the Adam West Batman.

Are you on crack?

That's one story, how would you guide the universe after that?

That's funny, mine would be dressed in all-white, with a widow-peaked hood covering his face. He would throw crescent-shaped shuriken, and have two more secret identities in addition to the Superhero and Billionaire (maybe a Cabbie and Mercenary), get around on a silent helicopter piloted by Alfred (who would would be Gay and French), and have a smoking hot, blonde wife. Ideally, the creative team would be Moench and Sienkiewicz...



...followed by a 5+ year run by Bendis and Maleev.

Oy. No thank you.

By hiring Grant Morrison.

My mistake. I am 99% writer oriented, so I tend to give the writer the credit, but Mazzucchelli (spelling hint, just double all consonants except M and H) is as much part of the brilliance of YO as Miller.

I didn't say "Miller/Mazzuchelli's Batman" I just said "Mazzuchelli's Batman." I was talking costume design and visual look only. And I can't do any fucking crack because you already did it all. There's none left!

Fixed.

I get what you're saying-- Mazz drew Batman with more realistic proportions and the suit looked to be made of somewhat similar materials as the West Batman. It's like he drew the TV Batman as if he were a "serious" character.

Yeah, which is probably the reason the Mazzuchelli Batman is my favorite design.

Personally, I think the Nolan Batman films are pretty much Ultimate Batman. The way Batman's tech is detailed, the way Gotham is depicted, and many of the character relationships "feel" like they have a Ultimates vibe (without the tough guy lines and snark).

I wouldn't reinvent Batman so much as bring him back to basics. And if I had any editorial say, no crossovers of any sort. Each book would have its own feel and look. Batman shouldn't be involved in any cosmic crisises or have to deal with any DC universe crap for at least a year.