Rumor: Tom King reported to be finished with Batman 85

[Talon1load]

In this context it matters, because there is a set narrative arc being interrupted as opposed to just general character development. I don't generally disagree with your point though.

I’d say he interrupted his own set narrative by decompressing to the point of absurdity. In 71 issues, he’s had maybe 30 issues worth of story with very little character development that many have been able to see.

[Baggie_Saiyan]

So does that mean King planned for his run to be mostly filler?

King was probably in love with the idea of a 100 issue story arc, so hence all the filler when he actually got down to "writing".

This is why you don't plan things in advance on a main title, just write the story you wanna write and go from there and that way we can avoid wasted time and money on stories like with a wannabe Bruce Wayne kid becase we have to get to 100 issues!

[Frontier]

[
Yeah, I would expect Snyder would still be doing stuff at DC, I just wonder what it could be beyond more Batman, since that's taken up most of his catalogue. And I would put Johns and Morrison up there, but they've been fairly low key lately, while the Big 3 have taken up most of the attention.

Less lowkey now, I would say, with Johns on Shazam and Doomsday Clock and Morrison doing Green Lantern.

I'm mostly referring to Hickman and everything going on with Marvel Comics #1000. I saw that as basically their way of showing how many connections they still have and any future possibilities they may decide to pull out at a given notice.

Marvel #1000 has most of those creators doing just one-pagers for a very special occasion. I think that's different from, say, grabbing Allan Heinberg, JMS, or whoever for an ongoing book.

I mean, DC did something similar with Action and 'Tec #1000 as well.

[Arnoldoaad]

I’d say he interrupted his own set narrative by decompressing to the point of absurdity. In 71 issues, he’s had maybe 30 issues worth of story with very little character development that many have been able to see.

True, but unlike other Batman runs from the past this book was shipping twice per month
I guess they thought they could get away with it because they were doing it faster

[JBatmanFan05]

My thoughts:

1) If DC is doing this because King would "change the character for a generation," then I can understand that and may even agree with DC (if I ever knew what the change was)


2) King should be allowed to do his full run, his way, even if it moves to another title (or "the change" is deemed non canon)


3) If DC is doing this because of sales conerns post-Knightmares, then DC should be ashamed and eff them

[Inversed]

I think probably the most positive takeaway regarding these rumours are, we are going to find out for sure by this week or next at the latest. He won't be able to be silent about this for too long, so we'll get the confirmation of some kind.

And also, if it does turn out to be something fairly wrong, there'd still be 7 months till the end, so there would be time to fix things or make it right. Most of the time we find out about changes like this they're usually very last minute, so this having so much buffer time is a special occasion.

[Sodam Yat]

So he's leaving!!? Good riddance. Glad to see an overrated writer leave a title for once if this is true (hopefully).

[Robanker]

This isn't the whole story as we don't know where he's going next, but at the very least, I've pretty much hated his tenure as Batman's dungeon master and I'm looking forward to a new direction for Bruce and the remainder of the Bat office. Hopefully one where we can expect more adventure and team ups (Robin as in 'Tec, Nightwing returning, etc).

Waiting to see how the other shoe drops, but it'd be nice to pick up the main Batman book again other than when it's not just for the art. I've legitimately ignored the text in a few of his issues at this point just to see the artwork. I never thought I'd be there, but it's true.

I can only hope that if there is any reaction to HiC/Batman, it's that he needs to vary his approach as a storyteller because "sad heroes acting out of character because they're sad" is becoming trite at best.

[Frontier]

This isn't the whole story as we don't know where he's going next, but at the very least, I've pretty much hated his tenure as Batman's dungeon master and I'm looking forward to a new direction for Bruce and the remainder of the Bat office. Hopefully one where we can expect more adventure and team ups (Robin as in 'Tec, Nightwing returning, etc).

It would be nice to see more positive cohesiveness with the Batfamily books. I'm not sure if that's on the main writer or editorial or what, but it's something I don't think we've really had in a long time.

[Vordan]

But a lot of writers are doing that. Especially the guy doing Black Panther & Cap America.

So why is it an issue NOW?

Also if King could get removed from a book based on lower sales-Dc has some EXPLAINING to do. Where was upper management during the butchering of Wally West, Teen Titans, Titans alum, Hal Jordan & TGLC and others?

Unless DC has some big name writer hired and they want Batman. Someone OUTSIDE of comics but has writing experience.

Because this is Batman. DC depends on the book selling in the 90k-100k range. And Marvel has different editors than DC, but Coates should absolutely have gotten kicked off BP by now. I actually like his Cap so far though.

[Vordan]

Why is "overarching long terms plans" somehow necessary? What is wrong with writers just having a good long run with good stories like what Tomasi was doing with Jon and the Superfamily stuff? This mentality we have to shake things up (like with Bendis) or have long drawn out 100 issue arcs (or King) doesn't necessarily lead to good stories as many of the anti-King people would tell you. Sometimes letting the writers just write fun stories like what we got is a formula for success by itself. And the superbooks imo absolutely needed a long run of that sort to shore up the status quo after years of turmoil and creator changes at the drop of a hat.

Because it wasn’t “fun stories”? It was boring filler for an entire summer which caused the book to bleed sales. Tomasi’s inability to stay on the book without lots of fill-ins killed any chance of him getting 100 issues.

[Frontier]

I can only hope that if there is any reaction to HiC/Batman, it's that he needs to vary his approach as a storyteller because "sad heroes acting out of character because they're sad" is becoming trite at best.

I think King's issue as a writer is his constant need to relate to characters through trauma, which means he either leans too hard on that aspect (sometimes at the expense of characterization) or just makes it up with a character.

Look at what he did to Booster Gold or how he handled Wally.

[nonsense man]

yeah can he write a hero who actually functions that is the point. Which i admit I only saw in glimpses in in annual two and the superfriends story with the double date with lois and clark that is it. Everything else especially with bane or the selina frame up which was over the top another reason why this run if it was about the bat/cat romance made no sense.

[movieclub]

As a Batman enthusiast coming back into the game after a 10 year comic hiatus since Batamn Inc/Final Crisis in general I have been dreading Tom King from what I sampled and counting the year+ until his end. Been catching up on Snyders run and Metal + Batman Who Laughs. Certainly entertaining, but forgettable.

Really loving Bendis on Action, have not read Superman. Could easily see Bendis on Batman being better than King by a long shot.

[kurenai24]

Lol this is really getting to you

After reading this whole thread I can answer for them ...yes it is.

Good Lord, Dan DiDio is LOVING this!

Wait until next week when everyone starts screeching about the ending of Heroes in Crisis. You'll be giving him fits of orgasmic ecstasy!

People raging while you watch on in amusement, there's nothing like it, I understand Didio a little now.