Welcome! This is Jailbait in Hotpants! The title is a phrase I used to describe Nightwing's former career as Robin. I am a relatively new comics reader, and as I go along sometimes I read things too hilarious or awesome to not share. So I share them with you, and hope you enjoy!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

The New Batman

So, I haven't been up to date with the Batman comics (because of the delema, where to start) but I have been wiki-ing, so I know about the most recent plotlines: Batman R.I.P. and the Battle for the Cowl. Once this concludes there will be a new Batman and Robin as introduced in the soon to come out comics, Batman and Robin (click on the link for a brief interview about it). Now, all I have to say is this: I really don't think Batman will be the same without it being Bruce Wayne. Sure, human characters eventually do die, it makes sense. But the character of Batman is so intrinsically tied to Bruce Wayne, I think it would take a real amazing level of storytelling to make Batman work without Bruce Wayne. Even Batman Beyond, which was a great take at a new Batman had Bruce Wayne still in the picture (I think cranky old man Bruce Wayne is my fav. version actually).
That being said, if Dick Grayson isn't the once who becomes Batman (at least until Timmy becomes old enough), I am going to be pissed. Like, for realz. Not that I think Dick Grayson needs to become Batman as a character. I actually like him best as Nightwing, his own man out from under the Bat's shadow and a hero in his own right. The reason I think he should be Batman is that he just deserves it more than any of the other contenders I've heard of (with the exception of Tim Drake, and we'll get to why I don't think that will work ATM in a bit).Dick was the First Robin and the oldest and most constant member of the Bat family. Really, if anyone deserves to take on the title of Batman, it's him. (this is not taking into account him wanting to be Batman... most signs point to him prefering to be away from the shadow of Batman, but he did get angry when BW had Azreal be Batman when Bane broke his back, so who knows.)

And the article I linked above seems to reference a new Robin. Dude, what happened to Tim Drake (wikipedia, which is fairly up to date on the Battle for the Cowl plotlines still has him alive, kicking, and working as Robin? I mean, I suppose he could become the next Batman, but the kid's only 16, so a bit young to be Batman. He and Dick would make an awesome B&R team. But I suppose if there's a new Robin, that could hint at Tim being the next Batman. But really, I would like to see Dick Grayson take up the cowl, just until Tim is really old enough to do it well and believably and then return to being Nightwing and have Tim take up the mantle.

Other theories have been:
Jason Todd - I will kill someone if this annyoing ass, I'm gonna be emo and become a bad guy becomes Batman. He died, and he shoulda stayed dead. Seriously.

Damien al Ghul - I know the kid is Batman's biological son, but really, we have a lot of characters who are far more intrinsically tied to Batman. While the other Robins (esp. Dick Grayson) have been a part of the Batman cannon for waaaay longer and the fans have more emotionally invested in them. I think it would be a bad move to make a relative newcomer to the Bat family take on the mantle. Also ,he's technically a villian.

Catwoman - really? that's all I have to say

Hush - to be fair, I haven't read the comics.... so I have no idea who this is. Apparently he's tried to kill Batman before but was childhood friends of Bruce Waynes. Yea.... considering I've seen pretty much every non-Batman comic incarnation of Batman and never heard of him, I feel (similarly to my argument against Damien) that it would be a bad idea to make him Batman. It would alienate new readers who may have seen the TV show or movies, or just heard about Batman from pop culture (who probably would have heard of DG or TD).

Azrael - He did become Batman when BW broke his back.. but that srsly P.O.ed DG. Also, he's supposedly dead.... so probably not.

So, to sum up, I really like Bruce Wayne, I feel like you can't really have Batman without him. I would honestly prefer if they just got rid of Batman with his death and made Nightwing a bigger character. Maybe have TD Robin help him out. I feel like having anyone else (Esp. since all the contenders already have strong Superhero or Supervillian personas) take on the Bat persona would cheapen and damage the originality and uniqueness to their characters. They all have interesting stories going for them in their current incarnations, and taking on the mantle of the Bat would diminish them becuase they'd be forever living in BW's shadow (moreso than they already are). And while that might be interesting for a while, it would get boring after a while. And while you could have them get out from under BW's shadow in the comics somehow, they would never be able to in the eyes of the fans. Bruce Wayne will always be Batman. period.

Thoughts anyone?