The 10 Best Interpretations of Batman.
I know lists like this one have been done a million times, but this one is interesting in that it mostly avoids the well-known titles and goes for the deep cuts.
Hmm, should update and keep this thread going. Cool post Goody.
That was a fun list. I’m a big fan of J.M. DeMatteis and I do think Going Sane is one of his better superhero comics. It’s definitely an unusual interpretation of Batman. The tone of the entire story is ballsy, in a way, because it’s not really like its contemporaries. His treatment of Batman and Joker doesn’t really fit the stereotypical modern treatment of grim and gritty, but it just works somehow. Joe Staton’s art really fit DeMatteis’ story, too.
Kinda curious about the Gene Colan Batman. I forgot he ever drew Batman. What a great artist. Don’t know about those stories, though. I found a lot of the supernatural Batman stories pretty hokey… Those Batman/Dracula comics from the nineties aren’t very good.
I have zero love for Tim Burton’s Batman movies, but whatever.
And this is just me being kinda anal, but Brubaker and Phillips did a little bit more Batman than just that Gotham Noir story mentioned in #6. Bru and Phillips did Batman #603, which in my opinion is one of the absolute single best issues of anything ever made. Even though it’s part of the whole Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Fugitive crossover, Batman #603 manages to succinctly summarize everything about Batman that makes him who he is, and what makes him cool. They even manage to add a little bit to his origin without coming off as forced or unnecessary.
Bru and Phillips also did an issue of Catwoman, which was nicely done… It was kind of a noirish romance comic.
I have a lot of love for Gotham Central, too. That comic’s interpretation of Batman as unknowable force of nature always played to the series’ strengths. He was actually scary. So were his villains. Gotham Central #s1-2 have the most sinister Mr. Freeze you’re ever likely to see, and the “Soft Targets” story is still my all-time favorite Joker story.
I think everything else on the list was pretty much expected (other than maybe the JLI Batman). I did think that Paul Dini probably should have had a little more credit for The Animated Series, though.
Also, and I’m required by law to say it, but Milligan’s Batman is pretty worthy of inclusion on a list like this. Milligan is the only writer I can think of who pulled off the supernatural element in a Batman story. He also did a superb job of showing Batman doing work as the World’s Greatest Detective.
And I really like Azzarello’s interpretation of Batman. Broken City and Batman/Deathblow are hard as hell. I gotta read Knight of Vengeance at some point. I’ve got issues 1 and 3… Need to find that second one.
Azzarello and Milligan are in my top five Batman writers, even if their particular runs have been short.
Gene Colan Batman is second only to Neal Adams for me. The first Batman comic I ever had was a Neal Adams one and that image and iconic looks has always stuck with me, I always measure a Batman costume to that, it is my personal measuring stick. Personally, I will always prefer the Blue/Grey over Black any day.
Starting next week I am going to keep the first page updated with new Batman releases for the week along with general news, maybe do some issue by issue reviews if people care. Something to liven up and keep this running.
First post updated with weekly releases for Batman related titles, and some news I found regarding the Dark Knight.
How often does Batman use gadgets in the comics? I own 3 batman comics, but he doesn’t use one in any of them.
You need more then.
Batman often uses gadgets, but he doesn’t rely on them. Though with the New 52 you get to see a more tech savvy Batman which is…interesting so far. Justice League and other offshoot titles where Batman is not the central character is where you often see him as a secondary attacker/more gadget based.
Some Batman tunes, one of the few bright spots visiting TDKR thread.
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So we all should know that the critically acclaimed (And zealot fan loving) The Dark Knight comic is getting a two film animated treatment. And while I am excited for this, I was curious what would be other adaptions people here would want to see or that would make sense.
Obvious material: The Killing Joke, No Man’s Land, Emperor Joker (More Superman but still), Long Halloween, Hush. (Just my opinion on what DC would do.)
Personally what I’d like to see: Ra’s Al Ghul adaption of his first appearance, Knight arc (Knightfall, KnightQuest, etc.), Prodigal, Batman & Son, Batman & Robin, Last Laugh, Gotham PD film, and something Two-Face centric.
I want to know which 3 Batman comics you own.
Years ago, I was clamoring for DC to do a TV series based on Gotham Central. It’s so obvious. Can you imagine a good version of CSI or one of those other formulaic police procedurals, but with a little Batman sprinkled in? Or how about The Wire, only in Gotham City?
I’d watch the shit out of that.
I would love to see Kia Asamiya’s Batman Child of Dreams get the anime treatment.
I liked Batman Gotham Knights and I also loved the Marvel anime shows, but it would be nice if Marvel / DC would let Japan have free reign with their characters without supplying them with stories. To be fair they do give Japanese companies a lot of wiggle room but still. Not sure what’s up with that. It’s not like Japan did anything to tarnish either Witchblade or the Supernatural anime. Err well you can’t do anything to tarnish Witchblade… :badboy:
So yeah with a story that’s already written and drawn it would be nice if WB took a hands off approach.
…Except of course for Andrea Romano dubbing characters for the English version and if she is not going to cast Kevin Conroy as Batman peace out. Joker’s not, hmm spoiler free… Really important to Child of Dreams and Mark Hamill has sworn off ever voicing Joker again (for what, like the third time…) so I guess he can sit that one out. On second thought NO HE HAS TO VOICE JOKER UNTIL HE DIES. 
Lol Bruce Greenwood would be my second favorite Batman from Under The Hood and Young Justice. His natural speaking voice sounds so much like Conroy’s Batman voice.
Child of Dreams had really nice artwork, but the story was a little too hokey. I could never get over how a designer drug could transform people into the various members of Batman’s rogues gallery. I guess as one of those stories where Batman runs the gauntlet of his greatest enemies, it was better than Hush, but still. That comic could have been so much better if it had a writer.
I’m really interested in seeing those Marvel animes that Warren Ellis wrote (or at least plotted).
I would really like to see a proper Gauntlet story involving Batman, I could think of a few good instances that would work.
Batman Year One, Arkham Asylum a Serious House on Serious Earth and I can’t find the other one right now. I think it’s some random number issued one . The closest thing I saw him use to a gadget was his computer at the batcave. Also a Gotham PD TV series would be badass.
Batman uses a gadget in Year One. He uses that sonic device that summons all those bats.
I would also say Grapple guns/Batarangs and the like are gadgets because…well they are.
For the Marvel anime shows I’ve only seen about half the Iron Man one and all of the X-Men one so far. Both are good. The X-Men one is like a merge of Legion and Proteus’ stories so nothing new, but it looks nice and has some fun cameos in the last episode.
On topic, it would be cool to see an animated special on the Batman Black and White series, with the stories animated in black and white as well. Just make sure they get Katsuhiro Otomo’s (Akira) Bat story in there. Yes I like anime. 
I’m surprised they never did an anime adaption of the original Lord Death Man stuff.
Also I guess we can count Big O as pretty much Mecha Batman work.
Re-watching Batman Beyond, seeing it today I am noticing more stuff and a darker tone than I realized. Also I still think his gallery of villains is pretty fantastic.
Blight, Spellbinder, Inque, Shriek, Stalker, etc.
First post updated with new releases and news. Watching even more Batman Beyond, want to track down the new series I just found out about.