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Topic: Q for JB: Batman update Post ReplyPost New Topic
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Andrew Morton
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Joined: 02 May 2004
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Posted: 07 June 2007 at 12:53pm | IP Logged | 1 post reply

Hi JB,

If you were given a 100% free-hand to do a "Man of Steel" for Batman, would you keep the character of Robin?

In addition -- are there any established elements of the Batman mythos that you would drop or streamline?

Thanks!

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John Byrne
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Joined: 11 May 2005
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Posted: 07 June 2007 at 12:57pm | IP Logged | 2 post reply

If we're assuming that this would be a Batman who is starting more or less now, as with the Superman reboot, no, I would not keep Robin. (There is one way I might -- but unfortunately I gave that idea to Frank Miller!!)

Established elements I'd drop -- the Batmobile. Impractical in today's urban environment. Also -- and I cringe as I write this -- a Batman created in the modern world would simply have to wear some kind of body armor. Not kevlar, mind you. This would be comicbook body armor, so would be thin as silk. But it would have to be there.

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Chad Carter
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Joined: 16 June 2005
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Posted: 07 June 2007 at 2:47pm | IP Logged | 3 post reply

 

This was mentioned in the Neal Adams' thread, about the necessity of body armor.

What the movies still seems to miss is that "body armor" in the comic book world doesn't have to be visually literally what we associate with body armor. Just a simple line of dialogue explains that what we see as "fabric" is able to withstand a full hit up to a .44 Magnum and, though injury is likely, death-prevention is the name of the game.

As far as cowl design, JB, would you go with long Adams ears or short Sprang ears?

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James Hanson
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Posted: 07 June 2007 at 4:04pm | IP Logged | 4 post reply

Why no Robin?
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Michael Connell
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Posted: 07 June 2007 at 4:06pm | IP Logged | 5 post reply

JB I assume the idea you gave to FM was the female Robin?
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John Byrne
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Posted: 07 June 2007 at 4:51pm | IP Logged | 6 post reply

Why no Robin?

***

Serves no purpose. Rather missing the point, the editors introduced Robin to "give the kids someone to identify with." But the kids were already identifying with Batman. They hated Robin. After all, Batman held out the promise that if you work really hard for years, you could become Batman. But Robin was a kid, and he was already Batman.

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John Byrne
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Posted: 07 June 2007 at 4:52pm | IP Logged | 7 post reply

I assume the idea you gave to FM was the female
Robin?

***

Yup. He even reproduced my napkin-sketch in one
of the hardcover editions of DKR.
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Aaron Smith
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Posted: 07 June 2007 at 5:41pm | IP Logged | 8 post reply

Serves no purpose. Rather missing the point, the editors introduced Robin to "give the kids someone to identify with." But the kids were already identifying with Batman. They hated Robin. After all, Batman held out the promise that if you work really hard for years, you could become Batman. But Robin was a kid, and he was already Batman.

***

 Even as a six-year old kid, I never wanted to be Robin. I remember arguing with my cousin over who would get to be Batman.

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Lance Hill
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Joined: 22 April 2005
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Posted: 07 June 2007 at 5:47pm | IP Logged | 9 post reply

How about Batgirl or the Batplane?
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Christos Seros
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Joined: 16 April 2004
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Posted: 07 June 2007 at 5:59pm | IP Logged | 10 post reply

I would love to see JB do Batman!

Will somebody re-publish The Batman 3D graphic novel to see a really great Batman done right.

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Brad Krawchuk
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Joined: 19 June 2006
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Posted: 07 June 2007 at 6:01pm | IP Logged | 11 post reply

In today's market, Robin wouldn't be introduced to "relate" to the kiddies. He'd be introduced so that Batman could relate to all the fathers that collect comics.
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Michael Connell
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Posted: 07 June 2007 at 6:03pm | IP Logged | 12 post reply

Father's would never let their son's fight dangerous criminals.
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