Thoughts on the current Batfamily line? Things you like? Things you’d change?

[Shadowcat]

Question is pretty simple. Now that 5G has effectively been cancelled, what are your thoughts on the batfamily line of titles currently? Anything in particular you think has run it’s course, and needs a break? Something you’d launch/relaunch? Creative team dream picks?

Current Titles
•Batgirl (CastellucCi/Di Giandomenico)
•Batman (Tynion IV/Daniel/March)
•B&TOutsiders (Hill/Soy)
•Batman Beyond (Jurgens/Miranda/Chen)
• Batman/Superman (Williamson/Marquez)
• Catwoman—(creator lineup changing. Post your ideal creators)
•’Tec (Tomasi/Walker/Mannie/Duce)
• Harley Quinn (Russell/Basri)
• Nightwing (Jurgens/Cliquet)
• Red Hood (Lobdell/Messina)
• Suicide Squad (Taylor/Redando)

*Not sure if SS should be considered a Batfamily title or not. Up to your discretion.

[Caivu]

A slight stretch to the topic, but whatever: A Batwoman/Question book is begging to be published right now. They're a couple again, they're at unprecedented levels of media exposure... and plus, there'd really be nothing like it out right now as far as I'm aware. I guess that would count as a change.

More on topic: it seems like it's been a while since anything really noteworthy has happened across the whole line, even accounting for delays and rescheduling.

[Zaresh]

Red Hood is ending and Lobdell is leaving, as far as I'm aware. There were some rumours about some new talent for the character, but it was some weak rumour and it was in march or even february, I think. A lot has changed since.

[scary harpy]

hard reboot.

Entire multiverse; everything...back to the basics.

Batman, Robin, Batgirl.

(Don't get me wrong; I love many DC characters. I will miss them.)

[Godlike13]

My thoughts are the current line is uninspired and stale. With for the most part tired creators going through the motions with stale ideas. Most of the books feel like they are in holding patterns, buying time for something that now isn't going to come.

[godisawesome]

I’d try teaming Paul Dini and Dustin Nguyen again on some Gotham book, akin to their Streets of Gotham and Detective Comics runs; he’s, the BTAS series is good, but I think their output on regular Batman stuff was too good to pass up, particularly when it involved new characters and other Gothamites.

I’d also try and bring back Fabian Nicieza in some book - at minimum he’s a writer of caliber between Tomasi and Dini, and his sense of humor could be a major asset in offering differentiation.

As to what that book would be... I’ve long felt something like a Gotham Knights book would be good to return to the franchise, with flexibility as to who the heroes are starring in it, or a Legends of the Dark Knight book, with a flexibility in the timeline. Either way, I want to be able to see a book that use a Dick and Tim team-up, a Steph and Damian team-up, or a Cass and Babs team-up, and i wouldn’t mind having flashback stories that could take place in any era of Batman - give the fans whining about not seeing the Bruce-Babs-Dick team something occasionally, But also provide a chance for Tim as a rookie, some Dick and Damian as Batman and Robin stories, and maybe something rare like Jason as a Robin and Babs as Batgirl.

I know there’s some general chaos right now as they kind of wait to see if any other big name superstar will rise to replace King as the lead writer, but to be honest, if they can’t do that, trying to get the kind of editorial structure that Denny O’Neill brought on might be a good replacement for it - the two Eternal series they did basically worked like that, and arguably would have been better if they weren’t tied to some single plot arc and instead just acted as cohesive interlocking stories with rotating creative teams.

[The Cheat]

My thoughts are the current line is uninspired and stale. With for the most part tired creators going through the motion with stale ideas. Most of the books feel like they are in holding patterns, buying time for something that now isn't going to come.

My thoughts also. I've been surprised how little I've missed new books these past few months.

[scary harpy]

My thoughts are the current line is uninspired and stale. With for the most part tired creators going through the motion with stale ideas. Most of the books feel like they are in holding patterns, buying time for something that now isn't going to come.

Well stated.

I love the characters...but I don't love the stories anymore.

[Factor]

My thoughts are the current line is uninspired and stale. With for the most part tired creators going through the motions with stale ideas. Most of the books feel like they are in holding patterns, buying time for something that now isn't going to come.

Exactly this. There isn't a single Batbook that I actually enjoy.
The only Bat-related book I'm still buying is Taylor's Suicide Squad, which isn't anything stellar, but it's still the best version of the book since Spurrier.

Here's what I'd want:

BATMAN needs something new and exciting. The franchise is stuck in a rut just like X-men was before Hickman arrived. I think Batman needs something similar. A fresh run that explores new ground.
DETECTIVE COMICS should be the noir crime book of the line. Think Snyder's Black Book. Bruce Wayne shouldn't be a large factor here. The focus should be on compelling mysteries.
BATWING book. Don't scrap the 5G Batman book entirely. I say they should repurpose it as Batwing and really try to build his popularity as his own hero. Having Ridley as a big name writer won't hurt.
BATWOMAN needs a relaunch and I'd love of Renee was part of the regular cast this time. It's absurd the character has a TV show and no comic to capitalize on it. I know the show is probably replacing Kate, but DC Comics should be more commited to such an important character.
BATGIRLS book starring Babs, Steph and Cass as the intel gatherers of the Batfamily. They'd all have their own unique identities back and Batgirls would be the team name.
Relaunch GOTHAM KNIGHTS as a big flagship-type book where all characters could team-up against high stake threats.
NIGHTWING returns to normal. Have him be based out of Bludhaven but focus on international missions ala Grayson. He shouldn't be always stuck in one place and that would make his solo a lot more dynamic.

I'd also want a Robin book (or Batman & Robin relaunch), an Outsiders relaunch that isn't Bat-centric and a new Birds of Prey starring Oracle, Dinah, Huntress and Starling as they hunt bad guys that are on the run.
I don't care about Harley, but a new Gotham City Sirens could also be interesting. It's weird how DC never tried that book again after Harley's surge in popularity.

[dietrich]

hard reboot.

Entire multiverse; everything...back to the basics.

Batman, Robin, Batgirl.

(Don't get me wrong; I love many DC characters. I will miss them.)

It's time to grow and move on.

As someone who got into DC just before the 2000's I don't want to go back to the old days.

I also don't want Dick in leotards and bare legs.

[dietrich]

Tynion is so dull I haven't managed to finish any of his Batman issues. He's also such a yes man that I know the Alfred RIP is also the last we will hear about bruce's action's during King's run re; the family.

I would like a writer like Taylor to take over the Batman line or Priest. I know it's not gonna happen.

Pretty sure the Synder onDick is Happening I just wish he could writer the Nightwing title for a period.
Orlando is another wish for Nightwing

Glad that Lobdell is leaving. The guy is the worst. Jason has been lucky to have the same writer for years and yet the man hasn't taken advantage of such a chance.

Jason is directionless
Jason doesn't have an established supporting cast or an established world
Jason is a member of the Bat family and yet he walks around calling himself the Red Hood! Why or how can any of the Bats work with him when he's walking around calling himself that while at the same time making zero effort to kill the joker?

Heck Jason seems to have long abandoned his whole purpose for being. He has abandoned the whole reason why he wears the helmet and goes by that name. It just feels like he wants drama and to stick it to bruce.

I hope that in 3 Jokers Jason gets to kill one of the Jokers. It was a bad idea tieing his persona and his entire point in UTRH to the Joker since it forever doomed him to hypocrisy and lack of agency because DC would never let him kill the Joker.

3 Jokers is a chance to fix it. Let Jason kill Joker and get agency.

I don't know who I would like to replace Lobdell since I don't know any other writers that have expressed an interest in the character.

Glass but he's leaving or Bendis. Bendis seems to view him highly so he could just be the one to take Jason higher.


Taylor is currently smashing it on SS as is Hill on Outsiders.
I'm loving Tomasi on tec and Jurgens on BB. I would like to see more of the Demon, Dick, his daughter and find out more about Jason in Batman Beyond.

[scary harpy]

It's time to grow and move on.

...

I also don't want Dick in leotards and bare legs.

Do Not Put Words In My Mouth...or in my post in this case.

Richard Grayson would neither have bare legs nor a leotard...but he would be Robin (for a little while).

Then he and others would form the Titans (NOT Teen Titans)...then he'd become Nightwing (sans the disco look).

I don't know if either Jason or Tim would become Robin...or if neither would become Robin. They might take on new names and new roles.

Jason may not die; Tim may gain powers; and etcetera. Fresh start; new universe with new rules!

[Oberon]

It's time to grow and move on.

As someone who got into DC just before the 2000's I don't want to go back to the old days.

I also don't want Dick in leotards and bare legs.

I can give you no bare legs, but my back to the basics would have to include the original Bat-Girl, Betty/e Kane

[Korath]

Red Hood is ending and Lobdell is leaving, as far as I'm aware. There were some rumours about some new talent for the character, but it was some weak rumour and it was in march or even february, I think. A lot has changed since.

I just hope that his ten years on duty for Jason will have created a foundation solid enough that he won't revert abck to insane psycho-killer from the Pre-New 52 Era...

I like BatO but in regard to Cass and especially Duke, it hasn't been the best showing yet...

[Sergard]

Red Hood is ending and Lobdell is leaving, as far as I'm aware. There were some rumours about some new talent for the character, but it was some weak rumour and it was in march or even february, I think. A lot has changed since.

Harley Quinn is ending with #75 but there's supposed to be a new series. Or is the digital first "Harley Quinn: Make 'em Laugh" already the new series?
This is just me guessing without any proof but I wouldn't be surprised if there were some relaunches after Joker War. At least it would be a good time to do a relaunch - and sales are low currently.

Personally I'd like for a relaunch:
- more independence for characters
- less events/tie-ins
- more variety in the publication formats (monthly floppies, graphic novels, minis, limited series, seasons, etc.)
- character consistency (within a universe) over flashy stories
- if there's no writer who wants to write the character, the character gets shelved for the time being.

Titles that I'd personally like to see (not ordered by any priority) after the next relaunch:

Batwoman - the main focus is on Kate Kane. Other characters appearing are Renee and the rest of the Kane family (+ other supporting cast). Kate fights international terrorism and is specialized in occult/paranormal/spooky cases. Possible guest appearances: Birds of Prey, Justice League Dark (preferably Wonder Woman and Zatanna). Very minimal appearances of the batfamily (preferably none, not counting Barbara as part of Birds of Prey. Luke and Azrael are okay too).

Red Hood (and the Outlaws) - Jason is starting his new life in New York. He lives in Ma Gunn's school together with the other Outlaws (Bizarro and Artemis - Artemis is sometimes away on solo adventures), Generation Outlaw (Devour, Cloud Nine, DNA, Doomed, Caden, Mombie, Babe), Ma Gunn (his grandmother) + teachers (currently Monsieur Mallah and Brain), Pup Pup and Dog. Other supporting cast: Crux, Su sisters, fixer Tara Battleworth, All-Caste members (Ducra, S'aru, Essence), FBI-agent Melissa Mitchell, Wingman (Willis Todd), Faye Gunn Jr., Isabel Ardila. It's a mixture of solo missions and team-ups with his supporting cast. The school is his homebase. In his civil life he helps raising and teaching the kids who are currently in a dark place so that they won't end up were he did in the past. As Red Hood he's traveling all around the world infiltrating/taking down crime syndicates and occasionally encountering mystical threats. He takes jobs from Tara Battleworth to financially support his family and helps FBI-agent Melissa Mitchell with severe cases.
NO batfamily.
Plus points for Dexter Soy (lines), Veronica Gandini (colors) and Yasmine Putri (variants)

Signal (and the Immortal Men) - I want a book that focuses on Duke's heritage, his powers, Gnomon and the connection to the Immortal Men. I liked Tynion's Immortal Men, I think he could therefore also do good on Duke in this regard.

Cass and Stephanie - I pretty much just want a book with those two teaming-up.