BATMAN #41 Preview/Discussion (All New Batman!)

[zwixxx]

(maybe mentioned..) Am wondering if we'll ever get someone pointing at the Bunny and saying "hey, you're not Batman, you don't have a cape" (or words to that effect). IIRC When Azrael took up the cowl, he morphed:

from Batman_by_Jim_Lee_(2002).JPG to Azrael-batman_01.jpg
over a period of time, allowing people to become used to the changes. But this version of Batman feels too great a leap for many people to be "oh, ok then" with.

[Panfoot]

(maybe mentioned..) Am wondering if we'll ever get someone pointing at the Bunny and saying "hey, you're not Batman, you don't have a cape" (or words to that effect). IIRC When Azrael took up the cowl, he morphed:

from Batman_by_Jim_Lee_(2002).JPG to Azrael-batman_01.jpg
over a period of time, allowing people to become used to the changes. But this version of Batman feels too great a leap for many people to be "oh, ok then" with.

I haven't gotten around to reading Knightfall yet, but I'm assuming between Azreal taking over as Batman, it wasn't believed that batman had died like with the current storyline, so everyone already knows Jim Gordan Batman isn't THE Batman.

[zwixxx]

^Everybody ?! Sure many cops know but what about the everyday citizen and crim ?

[bat1987]

In FCBD issue, it was announced on television that Batman died in his final confrontation with The Joker. So I'm assuming that people of Gotham know this isn't THE Batman.

[zwixxx]

oops, my bad - forgot all about the happenings in the "freebie" comic, my memory is kaput.

[AUScowboy]

The FCBD short had some phenomenal art in it, the two page Bat vigil spread in particular.

[GhostlyRetro]

I loved the new 52 relaunch of Batman and for about two years I followed the title religiously, but then financial responsibility got in the way and I dropped most of my books in favor of TPB's. Looks like my last issue would've been #40 based on what I read in #41. A robot suit? Jim Gordon? What the hell is going on here? It wasn't my cup of tea and I can't believe DC is going this route. My guess is that it won't last, changes hardly ever do, and Bruce will be back on no time, especially since his "death" wasn't touted too highly and media didn't pick it up as a major news story like they did Superman back in the 90's and Captain America 10 years back.

[agentofthebat]

I always loved the Azbats suit.

[SuperiorIronman]

The book isn't as big of a change as some might expect, but it's a change that works somewhat.

The premise of Jim Gordon taking on the role of a Batman with checks and balances is an interesting idea. Problem is that outside of the setup it doesn't really feel like it. The story however is mostly setting up bat bunny and how he operates with the new status quo. Good stuff but during the fight in this book it felt simply like another superhuman brawl. Bat bunny is by far the worst part of the book because it doesn't feel exactly like a Batman story. It lacks the darkness or the goofy lighthearted nature of older stories because it wants to be taken seriously. Gordon never feels like Batman, he acts like Jim Gordon in a robot suit called Batman. The story as well in of itself isn't all that memorable outside of the bunny mech. If you choose to skip this for another title or only read the FCBD issue then you're not missing much. I do like how they set up Gordon as Batman. Problem is that with what they had in mind ANY of those kids could've been Batman. It's an experience thing mind you but it comes across at the end of the day as Snyder just wanted to use Gordon who by the end of the book is almost unrecognizable. Nothing about him screams Batman or that he is the right man for the job which is sad because even Azrael felt like he belonged under the cowl.

Some might say that is the point but this is coming from a story telling perspective. I never get a reason to be invested other than Gordon is Batman and outside of the suit it makes no effort to leave me interested in the concept. Gordon just doesn't fit and I have no reason to think otherwise now. The costume itself is also very ugly. Bat bunny is brought up in a self aware manner but that doesn't change the fact the suit looks awful. Not even in a 90's cheesy sort of way. The suit doesn't work as a full time bat suit, it could benefit immensely from a redesign. Gordon's body suit is more recognizable and is sadly plain in appearance. Discounting the random lines it doesn't have much to it to be distinctive. Why not play with Gordon's detective elements and incorporate that into the costume? It would be more defining and make sense to the charaecter.

I like the book but I'm not sold on Gordon just yet. It doesn't feel forced but it does feel like a shake up because Snyder got bored. Not a bad thing but it needs to move beyond the concept for a moment and give us something that you can only get with Gordon. Otherwise this a pretty forgettable issue.

[Mgoldman14]

Okay, I have been in a huge comic hiatus because I had school and I had to travel alot so far this summer for skateboarding but I caught up on the Batman series and now i'm up to 41 where Gordon is Batman.....

WHAT THE SHIT?

Someone please tell me that this isn't the end of Bruce.... Why Gordon? Why not Dick? -- I know that Snyder killed off Joker a while ago before he returned to in Endgame but it's been confirmed that Bruce is dead...

So can someone shine some light on my pissed off mood please? Batman is my favorite, I don't like seeing this whole new high tech suit Gordon wears either. Don't get me wrong, I love Gordon, as a cop.

[JBatmanFan05]

Bruce isn't dead, not confirmed at all, quite the opposite really. Don't overreact. Dick isn't Bats because he just was Batman in that Black Mirror/Batman & Robin/Inc period.

All this Gordon as Batman stuff is about whether Batman might be able to work more from inside the legal system, more as part of it with checks and balances. Less outlaw and more controlled.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/06/...2-new-costumes

IGN: So will the return of Bruce Wayne be a big part of this story going forward?

Snyder: I can't say. [Laughs] There's no way to answer that question without being spoilery. You'll have to wait and see.

[Nite-Wing]

Were in a weird place now where Bruce is "dead" in the sense that he's not in any of the Bat books anymore
Batman got announced as dead on the news but the rest of the DCU or anyone really hasn't really reacted like when he died in Final Crisis
so yeah that's going on

[Mgoldman14]

Thanks man, how do you feel about this version of batman though? I feel like it's a step back from Scott Snyder's usual dark batman which I love, but that the whole point of the legal system I guess..

[Darth Kal-el]

Snyder has said Bruce isn't dead and will be back by 50. He said this is one of those stories that's a love letter to Bruce and why only he can be Batman. With Gordon as Batman I am sure it's about why Batman can't work within the system

[MajorHoy]

Bruce is dead and in Purgatory, hoping to be reincarnated as Keira Knightley's underwear.