Future Of The Bat Family?

[AlexanderLuthor]

I think this really started with Eternal. Given its sales and general reception I'll be surprised if we don't have a semi-permanent weekly for the Batbooks that act as the crossovers. That will reduce the crossover burden on the solo books allowing them to do their own thing. A lot of credit has to go to Doyle as well. When Marts left there was a lot of teeth-knashing, but as well as they had done the Bat-books needed a shakeup.

As for Batgirl - DC has to look at the amazing sales on Harley Quinn and say let's make Batgirl as Bat-**** goofy and crazy as we can and see what happens

[Llama Shepherd]

If the Bat-Editorial were smart, they could play the simultaneous retooling of Grayson, Batgirl, (amnesiac) Red Hood, Red Robin (in Teen Titans) and dead Robin to their advantage as we progress through Batman Eternal. Have Batman slowly losing everyone, even those he was just getting started, as they turn to Tim and Barbara. Even Alfred can't take it after the loss of Damian and Dick.

But Bruce tries to persevere. But he can't keep it up alone, he starts to become sloppy, endangering his life (in Batman terms).

Then once all the new characters are established, and the retooled characters have their ground and the return of Damian, bring them back into Bruce's life for the finale (they don't need to stay within earshot though). Basically turn Batman Eternal into a big epic for the Batfamily's necessity.

[Punisher007]

I actually think that that might be were they're going with it. We already know that Stephanie becomes Spoiler and is "key" to something and at some point Batman accepts Harper as an ally/sidekick (which he was reluctant to do before) and there's that mystery character operating in the Batcave (is it Cullen, is it Julia Pennyworth, is it someone else entirely, we shall see)? It appears that Harper and Tim will probably be teaming up a some point during Eternal, and so on.

[PastTenseOfDraw]

It truly does seems like they are building to something. I really do think this newly dawning era is going to be one of the most interesting yet. Building off of Snyder's past work as the current Bat-Architect (i feel we always need one driving the crux of the story), with a new editor willing to try new and truly fascinating things (with a fairly clear vision -- at least so far), and a "new story" hub with Eternal (anyone else getting the feeling that this is almost the main Bat-title currently?), we are heading to a new exciting age, something different from the last few years. Hopefully this all works, heh. But yeah, I do think by the end of this 75th anniversary year, we will have a different and exciting bat-family. Fingers crossed.

[EdwardNigma]

Let Babs and Dick have their own book. Tim can team up with Batman once in a while. Kill off the rest.

[Punisher007]

Yeah that'd be the most foolish thing that they could possibly do. It's essentially flushing money right down the toilet and ticking off lots of readers for no good reason.

[AlexanderLuthor]

If the Bat-Editorial were smart, they could play the simultaneous retooling of Grayson, Batgirl, (amnesiac) Red Hood, Red Robin (in Teen Titans) and dead Robin to their advantage as we progress through Batman Eternal. Have Batman slowly losing everyone, even those he was just getting started, as they turn to Tim and Barbara. Even Alfred can't take it after the loss of Damian and Dick.

But Bruce tries to persevere. But he can't keep it up alone, he starts to become sloppy, endangering his life (in Batman terms).

Then once all the new characters are established, and the retooled characters have their ground and the return of Damian, bring them back into Bruce's life for the finale (they don't need to stay within earshot though). Basically turn Batman Eternal into a big epic for the Batfamily's necessity.

That's pretty much the plan. If you go back and look at Eternal 1 the big bad says he's taken everyone from Bruce. And Snyder has been setting that up since Death in the Family

[Dzetoun]

If the Bat-Editorial were smart, they could play the simultaneous retooling of Grayson, Batgirl, (amnesiac) Red Hood, Red Robin (in Teen Titans) and dead Robin to their advantage as we progress through Batman Eternal. Have Batman slowly losing everyone, even those he was just getting started, as they turn to Tim and Barbara. Even Alfred can't take it after the loss of Damian and Dick.

But Bruce tries to persevere. But he can't keep it up alone, he starts to become sloppy, endangering his life (in Batman terms).

Then once all the new characters are established, and the retooled characters have their ground and the return of Damian, bring them back into Bruce's life for the finale (they don't need to stay within earshot though). Basically turn Batman Eternal into a big epic for the Batfamily's necessity.

That's pretty much the plan. If you go back and look at Eternal 1 the big bad says he's taken everyone from Bruce. And Snyder has been setting that up since Death in the Family

I believe that was the plan under the previous editorial dispensation. Now, I am beginning to be unsure. The possible backing down from grim and gritty across some titles signals, maybe, a change in direction. I certainly thought what they were doing with Grayson fit into such a plan, as the secrets and decisions featured there are certainly explosive. But they seem to be moving away from those plotlines, although that may in part be because poor communication and bad luck prevented the Bat Office from adequately setting up the relevant stories. Perhaps Doyle is just not as taken with the plan as Marts was.

[EdwardNigma]

Yeah that'd be the most foolish thing that they could possibly do. It's essentially flushing money right down the toilet and ticking off lots of readers for no good reason.

What statistics do you have to back that up?

[Aioros22]

What statistics do you have to back that up?

Apart from well marketed animated features, toy lines, vídeo game in-story appearances, popular usage among writers of the office and fanbases? It`s an exercise in futilty to "keep two and kill the rest". Writers have been expanding the "family" since the 70`s, right down where Batman`s main creative season began . You can just watch it happen right under your eyes with Snyder and his Bluebird today.

If mone of these characters expanded on anything in terms of mythos, they wouldn`t use them.

You might as well accept it or simply purchased the kind of solo stories you prefer for Batman. There`s a market for everyone these days.

[Kalethas31]

If the Bat-Editorial were smart, they could play the simultaneous retooling of Grayson, Batgirl, (amnesiac) Red Hood, Red Robin (in Teen Titans) and dead Robin to their advantage as we progress through Batman Eternal. Have Batman slowly losing everyone, even those he was just getting started, as they turn to Tim and Barbara. Even Alfred can't take it after the loss of Damian and Dick.

But Bruce tries to persevere. But he can't keep it up alone, he starts to become sloppy, endangering his life (in Batman terms).

Then once all the new characters are established, and the retooled characters have their ground and the return of Damian, bring them back into Bruce's life for the finale (they don't need to stay within earshot though). Basically turn Batman Eternal into a big epic for the Batfamily's necessity.

Jason has no amnesia

[dropkickjake]

The future of the bat family seems to be having distinct titles with unique directions, art styles, and a diversification of tone. So, overall, I'd say the future is bright.

[Punisher007]

Agreed. Now, if only Cass would come back and be apart of it, we'd be set.

[catbatfan]

Agreed. Now, if only Cass would come back and be apart of it, we'd be set.

I agree. She has a unique role to play as Bruce Wayne's daughter. That helps differentiate her from the other Bat girls and the Robins. Don't know what it's going to take to get her back, though. DC has been slowly dismantling Cassandra for the past 8 years.

[catbatfan]

Yeah, a "Streets of Gotham", "Shadow Of The Bat" or "Gotham Knights" series rotating arcs between the New Generation characters and having them bump into each other would be a heck of a trick to miss. They don't all have Solo Potential - or, at least, potential to have differentiated solos from each other - but they need somewhere to tell their story once Eternal is over.

Ideally we'd get a Batman Family series with a lead feature and a back-up. It would also involve other Bat Family members like Commissioner Gordon, Alfred, Leslie Thompkins and Lucius Fox. Perhaps Cassandra Cain could headline the back-up. DC, make my dreams come true!