Donny Cates was offered Batman..........and he turned it down!!

[Korath]

You think this could be why she left Wonder Woman? Batman is certainly one of the only DC books that's higher profile than WW (Superman and Justice League being the others).

Whoever takes over, it's going to be tough for them, knowing that they weren't even first choice to take over the book.

Which in itself is proof enough of how far the book has fallen (or risen, for some, I guess). Honestly, who would have thought that anyone who could take the gig as the first choice from DC would refuse it, just a few years ago ?

[jetengine]

Which in itself is proof enough of how far the book has fallen (or risen, for some, I guess). Honestly, who would have thought that anyone who could take the gig as the first choice from DC would refuse it, just a few years ago ?

Even Bendis is like "Nah"

[Kurisu]

He was also asked what his favorite Batman run was and he said it was Tom King's. We have that in common.

He's a smart guy!

[Uncanny Mutie]

Even Bendis is like "Nah"

What a minute...Bendis has turned down writing Batman? Are you SERIOUS? If so, then that's GREAT news!!! Haha

[Anthony W]

But the most important news is that he doesn’t think Bats should have a Robin! Mr Cates, you are dead to me! (Hehe) but seriously, dude what?

Congratulations on dodging that bullet.

[Anthony W]

Cates seems to like a lot of modern stuff (I know he's said he's a huge fan of Jason Aaron's Thor).

Earlier I said DC dodged a bullet, but after finding this out its like DC escaped from Krypton before it exploded lol.

[Celgress]

....Whoever takes over, it's going to be tough for them, knowing that they weren't even first choice to take over the book.

Indeed, I feel sorry for the next writer. They are going to have quite the task.

[Celgress]

Even Bendis is like "Nah"

Can't blame him. I wouldn't touch this mess with a ten-foot pole.

[skyvolt2000]

Wilson might be taking over. Someone will be on the book, DC isn’t going to not have Batman on there. And in the WB, Cates and Starlin actually talked and Cates mentions talking to him about Thanos and Batman.

I would DREAD the backlash to a woman writing Batman on the flagship Batman book. That is probably why Priest passed as well.

There are too many cooks in the kitchen with Batman and if it's someone entitlement and ESPECIALLY store owners don't care for=no matter how good the book might be-someone would want that writer removed. Sales be danged.

[Robanker]

To be entirely honest, King has taken so much off the board with his run that much like Spencer over on Amazing Spider-Man, half the next writer's run has to just be putting the pieces back together. Dick, Alfred, Bruce's relationship with just about everyone, the broken pedestal with respect to Thomas, Two-Face, etc.

This isn't specific to Cates (who seems to be a fan), but writing Batman following a run that essentially changes the playing field to this magnitude (for good or ill) isn't super enticing when a lot of the pieces removed are generally the more well-liked pieces. It's like taking over someone's shift after they made either the best or worst dinner ever, but they didn't clean their station. Dick move.

Reminds a lot of McDuffie's time on JLA where he was essentially a ghost writer because editorial had so many mandates, or Gail Simone on Wonder Woman where she had to undo a lot of what had been done to Diana prior.

[Nite-Wing]

DC seems to have the right idea with Batman's direction going forward
They are finally dismantling the larger batman family and moving some of the older character out
King's run is different than Morrison's or Snyder's things are changing and the pieces aren't getting put back nice and neat for the next writer

[Green Goblin of Sector 2814]

DC seems to have the right idea with Batman's direction going forward
They are finally dismantling the larger batman family and moving some of the older character out
King's run is different than Morrison's or Snyder's things are changing and the pieces aren't getting put back nice and neat for the next writer

Wait, what? How is it a good idea to dismantle the Bat-family?

[Pohzee]

Wait, what? How is it a good idea to dismantle the Bat-family?

Look at how many folks complain about Batman because of Batfamily dynamics. It is now at a size where it is no longer beneficial to the character.

[Uncanny Mutie]

Wait, what? How is it a good idea to dismantle the Bat-family?

Because it's too freakin' BIG, and a lot of the characters are repetitive; how many Robins have there been now, all they're already hanging around at the same time, together? So basically, the Bat Family has become a huge squad full of Robins and Robin knock offs. It DEFINITELY needs to be parred down.

[Vordan]

Even Bendis is like "Nah"

Lol well he gets his Batman Universe book and he will totally be on someday, with Maleev and Marquez. He just wanted Supes first.