Anyone else fed up with the Bat Family?

[earl]

That whole War Games story line is a prime example of how the Bat Family centered story line makes Batman look pretty dumb. I thought that wasn't very good.

Most of the time in the big crossovers the extended Bat Family always is sent out to find some type of information and usually fails as they get there and someone is dead or they were unable to do what they needed to do. Mostly just busy work to fill up pages, not really important to the actual plot.

[JasonTodd428]

Seeing as how I enjoy reading about Batman's "extended family" moreso then the big guy himself , my answer to the OP question is "no". If you're wanting stories that feature just Batman then Detective is pretty much the comic that runs those kind of stories. Batman also frequently has him working alone but it's more likely that other members of his family might make an appearence there.

[oasis1313]

I'd like to see Azrael (JPV) back--the original costume was COOL.

[EdwardNigma]

The Joker.

Isn't that what DITF was all about?


Also, that Darkwing Duck line was pretty funny, really made me smile.


I absolutely feel the same sometimes. When I got into Batman, I didn't want to read about Huntress or Azreal and the idea of Batman having a genetically prefect son with a supervillain for a mom seemed awful. Then it turned out this red hood guy was a zombie who used to be Robin?

So yeah, it was pretty different from what I expected or wanted. But I grew to like it, when it was good. Plus there are loads of books out there that do fit what I originally wanted. So everybody wins. Batman without friends is abundant and readily available. Batman with friends is abundant and readily available, and not actually nearly as bad as I imagined.

Thanks man.

[EdwardNigma]

That whole War Games story line is a prime example of how the Bat Family centered story line makes Batman look pretty dumb. I thought that wasn't very good.

Most of the time in the big crossovers the extended Bat Family always is sent out to find some type of information and usually fails as they get there and someone is dead or they were unable to do what they needed to do. Mostly just busy work to fill up pages, not really important to the actual plot.

Completely agree.

[Nygma]

I like the Batfamily for the most part, although I agree it's probably a bit bloated at the moment. The issue is that in the old continuity it kind of made sense for there to be so many people because Robin's came and gone as did Batgirl's, where as now they're all still kind of around despite the reduced timeline, which squeezes everything together to the point that the Thanksgiving picture preview for Eternal is kind of funny in relation to it all.

But because every member of the family has drawn it's own fanbase, it also makes sense for DC to pander to that group by keeping them around and giving them stories. Outside of the big events they do tend to keep to their own areas and roles. Nightwing was travelling (and will continue to do so as Dick Grayson), Jason has his team, Tim with the Titans, Damien with the grave. It's kept Gotham open enough that really only Batman, Batgirl and Batwoman have been working there consistently, and they've had their own sections and focus points so that they only come together when the citywide threat of the Owls or Eternal comes about. It actually makes it possible for writers to do both the crazy big events that need a full team and the dangerous but not citywide threats that allow Batman to be soloBat

[E.Nigma]

I for one am tired of the 800 members of the Bat family. Batman is supposed to be a loner yet anymore the scenario is more like this: "Well Two Face is loose. Let's call in Huntress, Red Hood, Robin, Red Robin, Batwoman, Nightwing, Cyborg Robin, Darkwing Duck, and Knight/Squire to handle him."

Batman should be alone with Alfred as the person to bounce things off of. MAYBE Robin on some rare case but it is ridiculous. I honestly don't see how any villain really has a chance against an armada of people which removes the element of danger. Don't get me wrong. I like Nightwing but keep him in his own book. Keep Batman as a loner so he can truly take on an enemy and at least give the illusion of danger. Anyone else feel this way?

I think someone needs to take a break from Batman comic books.

His supporting cast is part of his strength. If you don't enjoy that, then maybe you need to just save your money for a while.

[wyze2099]

I for one am tired of the 800 members of the Bat family. Batman is supposed to be a loner yet anymore the scenario is more like this: "Well Two Face is loose. Let's call in Huntress, Red Hood, Robin, Red Robin, Batwoman, Nightwing, Cyborg Robin, Darkwing Duck, and Knight/Squire to handle him."

Amen, brother.

It made sense to have that many people for like NML, but they all just keep hanging around! Like go away! "Uh oh, the Condiment King has just hit a Mcdonalds's, help! Robin, Red Robin, Red Hood (you have authorization to kill), Nightwing, Batgirl (call in the BOP for backup on this one), the other Batgirl, the other other Batgirl, Blue Bird (thank god she didn't want to be Batgirl), Catwoman (is she an anti-hero or a villain right now, I forgot), Azrael (oh wait, we're not allowed to use him, damn it!), Knight and Squire (hell call in the whole damn League of Batmen), Talon, whatever other villian who is currently trying to be an anti-hero. . .How the hell do they not manage to swing into each other?

Okay, I'm curious: When has this EVER happened? The only time I see that many Gotham vigilantes in the same place is during line-wide crossovers, which tend to have threats large enough to warrant it.

[Carabas]

That whole War Games story line is a prime example of how the Bat Family centered story line makes Batman look pretty dumb. I thought that wasn't very good.

'War Games' was a prime example of Batman being very stupid all on his own. It was also one of those stories whose prime purpose was deleting some characters from the cast.

[Carabas]

Amen, brother.

It made sense to have that many people for like NML, but they all just keep hanging around! Like go away! "Uh oh, the Condiment King has just hit a Mcdonalds's, help! Robin, Red Robin, Red Hood (you have authorization to kill), Nightwing, Batgirl (call in the BOP for backup on this one), the other Batgirl, the other other Batgirl, Blue Bird (thank god she didn't want to be Batgirl), Catwoman (is she an anti-hero or a villain right now, I forgot), Azrael (oh wait, we're not allowed to use him, damn it!), Knight and Squire (hell call in the whole damn League of Batmen), Talon, whatever other villian who is currently trying to be an anti-hero. . .How the hell do they not manage to swing into each other?

A lot of the time, many of these characters aren't even all based in Gotham. You'd have Nightwing in Blüdhaven, Robin off with the Teen Titans, Oracle and the Birds Of Prey working globally, others like Bat-Woman specialising in different kinds of threats... They all tend to have their own little corner of the Batverse.

[exile001]

I just try not to think about it too much as my opinion is a bit conflicted.

I do feel Gotham is already somewhat over-populated with vigilantes. Soon we will be getting even more with Bluebird and Spoiler and this is a bit of a problem.

I think part of the problem is that the various vigilantes are not distinct enough in the areas of Gotham they are handling or the threats they are tackling. It all seems a bit 'generic Gotham' so there is no real reason they don't overlap more. Surely they would be a more effective group if they co-ordinated on the major threats and there is no real reason not to as they are all connected via Batman.

On the other hand, current Batwing aside, I love them all and wouldn't be rid of any of them. In fact, I actively want to see the return of both Azraels, Orpheus and Oracle (Babs - Steph could return as Batgirl)!

Would I like to see Batman solo in more issues? Yes! Would I move some characters away from Gotham? Yes!

Would I support Gotham based bat-books titled Batman and Nightwing (Dick, obviously), or Batman and Red Robin every month? Yes! I'd buy Batman and Titus, pet detectives if it were available! Batman teams well.

I would not buy Batman and Bat-Cow, however. There is a line.

See? Conflicted.

[Kingcrimsonprog]

I just try not to think about it too much as my opinion is a bit conflicted.

I do feel Gotham is already somewhat over-populated with vigilantes. Soon we will be getting even more with Bluebird and Spoiler and this is a bit of a problem.

I think part of the problem is that the various vigilantes are not distinct enough in the areas of Gotham they are handling or the threats they are tackling. It all seems a bit 'generic Gotham' so there is no real reason they don't overlap more. Surely they would be a more effective group if they co-ordinated on the major threats and there is no real reason not to as they are all connected via Batman.

On the other hand, current Batwing aside, I love them all and wouldn't be rid of any of them. In fact, I actively want to see the return of both Azraels, Orpheus and Oracle (Babs - Steph could return as Batgirl)!

Would I like to see Batman solo in more issues? Yes! Would I move some characters away from Gotham? Yes!

Would I support Gotham based bat-books titled Batman and Nightwing (Dick, obviously), or Batman and Red Robin every month? Yes! I'd buy Batman and Titus, pet detectives if it were available! Batman teams well.

I would not buy Batman and Bat-Cow, however. There is a line.

See? Conflicted.

I get that conflicted thing too.
I like the idea of separating them.

Like the Batman book is all about Batman mostly solo, and a Batfamily book to include all the others. Or Batman can show up in the other guy's books, but if you want a solo Batman thing, its available.

Heck, I'd even like it if they kept Batman the way it is with Nightwing and Batgirl etc showing up and they started a new book called Batman Solo.

Basically, I'd just like things to be clearly labeled.

[JasonTodd428]

That whole War Games story line is a prime example of how the Bat Family centered story line makes Batman look pretty dumb. I thought that wasn't very good.

I disagree with the first part of this quote but agree with the second. Having the Bat family involved in the story had nothing to do with how bad it was that's all on the writer not the characters. It could have been a story focused solely on Batman and it still would have been awful IMHO.

[jump]

I didn't mind War Games that much, intresting idea but could of been better (& just scrap the school stuff) but the thing that really bugs me about it is how it ends, Spolier hasn't died yet but Oracle blows up the Clock Tower as she thinks Bats will kill Black Mask over Steph when he wouldn't kill Joker over Robin and her.

[Claude]

That whole War Games story line is a prime example of how the Bat Family centered story line makes Batman look pretty dumb. I thought that wasn't very good.

I think that's probably more an example of War Games making War Games look dumb!



Who's actually in the Bat Family and the moment, anyway? Thinking about it, isn't the only one that Bruce is on good terms at the moment - literally the only one - Batwing?

Robin is dead.
Nightwing is "dead", and keeping away from Bat Titles.
Tim and Barbara aren't on good terms with him, and keep themselves to themselves.
Red Hood is off doing his own thing.
So're Batwoman and Hawkfire, although the most recent annual skews them a little closer than before.
Talon might become part of the Bat Family, but hasn't been inducted yet.
Likewise, Bluebird.
Likewise, Spoiler.
Huntress is heading off to another Earth after meeting Bruce once.


So at the moment, the sum-total of the Bat Family that Bruce could run up against in Gotham, or call on for help is Batwing, Red Robin and Batgirl. And the latter two would be resistant, and are more likely to be following their own adventures than joining in on Bruce's.