Does Batman need to get back to Gritty?

[Bruce Malone]

Some of my favorite batman books are where batman is at his most basic down on the streets taking out thugs and mobsters. Books like Year One, The long Halloween/Dark Victory. I don't mind the superviallains of course when they're done right.

The thing is im not feeling what morrison has been doing with batman with his past run on RIP and such. I feel he's putting batman in situations more suited to superman and the like and taking away from the more gritty down to earth nature of batman and now with bruce wayne trapped in time it just seems too out there for batman.

anyone agree?

 

[SuperFerret]

As long as Bruce comes back with personality.

 

[Drz]

The supervillains aspect is in "Batman" comic and Morrison's title because thats what it is. A Hero book. You wanna read detective stories and so forth? Read Streets of Gotham/Detective Comics then!

 

[Mr. Earle]

The thing is im not feeling what morrison has been doing with batman with his past run on RIP and such. I feel he's putting batman in situations more suited to superman and the like and taking away from the more gritty down to earth nature of batman and now with bruce wayne trapped in time it just seems too out there for batman.

Aside from the time traveling thing, most of Morrison's run has been pretty "realistic". Its not street level, its superheroic, but it isnt obsurd or anything. His stories about the Black Glove and the 3 fake Batmen have been great. I personally grew tired of him beating gangsters you know?

The supervillains aspect is in "Batman" comic and Morrison's title because thats what it is. A Hero book. You wanna read detective stories and so forth? Read Streets of Gotham/Detective Comics then!

Exactly.

 

[Cain]

Batman has always been "out there" from the very beginning, with fighting monster men and vampires and all. Maybe you shouldn't read comic books or yeah just limit yourself to the monotonous "street level" **** instead.

 

[CConn]

What Batman needs is diversity. And that's actually how it's kind of been for the past couple of months. Detective, Batman, and Streets of Gotham are all very Year One/The Long Halloween inspired, whereas Morrison's title is the complete opposite, and they all work very well on their own level, and never really contradict each other.

Gritty urban Batman is great, of course. It's probably the most popular version of Batman currently, and has produced some really great stories. There should always be a Batman book that has a gritty, urban, crime-drama feel to it.

Thankfully, there's about 5 Batman ongoings currently, so multiple aspects and depictions of Batman can be had at one times. This is what I mean by diversity. Let's have gritty Batman in Streets of Gotham or Detective Comics...but, at the same time, let's keep seeing a wild more sci-fi camp Batman that we've been seeing in Batman & Robin.

It is possible for both versions to run at the same time.

 

[CrimsonMist]

Thankfully, there's about 5 Batman ongoings currently, so multiple aspects and depictions of Batman can be had at one times. This is what I mean by diversity. Let's have gritty Batman in Streets of Gotham or Detective Comics...but, at the same time, let's keep seeing a wild more sci-fi camp Batman that we've been seeing in Batman & Robin.

It is possible for both versions to run at the same time.

Where I agree, i'd like to see more stories like "Broken City". Those kind of gritty Batman tales are a rarity. More of that would be great.

also, don't forget that next month Azzarello's "First Wave" book debuts. You're gonna get some fantastic gritty pulp fun with that.

 

[Bruce Malone]

I actually didn't have a problem with the black glove run, more so batman and son and RIP. Maybe seeing Batman in his purple and red Zur-en-ra get up was a bit jarring for me.

However i haven't had the chance to check out streets of gotham and i have heard from other people it is quite good.

 

[Mr. Earle]

What Batman needs is diversity. And that's actually how it's kind of been for the past couple of months.

Agreed, but its been like this for like... forever. Batman was always the superheroic title and Detective Comics the gritty, detective one.

Gritty urban Batman is great, of course. It's probably the most popular version of Batman currently,

During Morrison's run Batman and (its current replacement in the superhero batman stories) B&R were among DC's top sellers, so its the other way around.

Thankfully, there's about 5 Batman ongoings currently, so multiple aspects and depictions of Batman can be had at one times. This is what I mean by diversity. Let's have gritty Batman in Streets of Gotham or Detective Comics...but, at the same time, let's keep seeing a wild more sci-fi camp Batman that we've been seeing in Batman & Robin.

It is possible for both versions to run at the same time.

Agreed.

I actually didn't have a problem with the black glove run, more so batman and son and RIP. Maybe seeing Batman in his purple and red Zur-en-ra get up was a bit jarring for me.

However i haven't had the chance to check out streets of gotham and i have heard from other people it is quite good.

I LOVED Zur En Arrh Batman. The story was brilliant and justified the wacky suit (which i adore btw).

 

[CConn]

During Morrison's run Batman and (its current replacement in the superhero batman stories) B&R were among DC's top sellers, so its the other way around.

I'm sorry, I didn't clarify it properly. I was referring to the general sentiments around here...not sales numbers overall.

 

[Two-Face=Badass]

No, the OP is right, Batman really does need to be gritty again. The Brave and the Bold series has completely undone Batman's legacy and it is a shame. The dark, gritty roots of murderers and horrible psychology gone wrong is exactly what Batman should be, it is the ONLY interpretation that should be done, not that light nonsense Morrison is running around with.

The villains aren't even serious anymore, Joker should be carving people's skin off and doing things like that. Batman should occasionally kill someone too. And the violence is not nearly big enough. People's heads should explode every time Batman walks past them and shoot up lie a big geyser of blood. The villains should collect baby skulls and specialise in cutting people in half. The gotham canal should also just be a whole river of blood. And every issue should end with Batman cutting off a mobsters face.

 

[Drz]

No, the OP is right, Batman really does need to be gritty again. The Brave and the Bold series has completely undone Batman's legacy and it is a shame. The dark, gritty roots of murderers and horrible psychology gone wrong is exactly what Batman should be, it is the ONLY interpretation that should be done, not that light nonsense Morrison is running around with.

The villains aren't even serious anymore, Joker should be carving people's skin off and doing things like that. Batman should occasionally kill someone too. And the violence is not nearly big enough. People's heads should explode every time Batman walks past them and shoot up lie a big geyser of blood. The villains should collect baby skulls and specialise in cutting people in half. The gotham canal should also just be a whole river of blood. And every issue should end with Batman cutting off a mobsters face.

 

[CConn]

No, the OP is right, Batman really does need to be gritty again. The Brave and the Bold series has completely undone Batman's legacy and it is a shame. The dark, gritty roots of murderers and horrible psychology gone wrong is exactly what Batman should be, it is the ONLY interpretation that should be done, not that light nonsense Morrison is running around with.

The villains aren't even serious anymore, Joker should be carving people's skin off and doing things like that. Batman should occasionally kill someone too. And the violence is not nearly big enough. People's heads should explode every time Batman walks past them and shoot up lie a big geyser of blood. The villains should collect baby skulls and specialise in cutting people in half. The gotham canal should also just be a whole river of blood. And every issue should end with Batman cutting off a mobsters face.

You need to write for DC!!!!

 

[IBRAH08]

I don't understand why everyone wants to eradicate any super human elements from Batman. Where is this coming from? Haven't you people read RIP or the new B&R series. And..... most of Batman (even the "real" stuff) is not feasible, so where is this line being drawn? Just where ever you feel like not believing? In the words of GOB: Come on!

 

[SixtyThree]

I absolutely hate threads like this. yes we need another 2 year run of books where batman fights child molesters and people who dont pay their taxes. thats gritty.

 

[Mr. Earle]

I think he means The Long Halloween type of gritty, meaning fighting mobsters as opposed to fighting alien gods, evil Bruce clones, siamese triplets, a fat woman, and a butcher with a pig mask who lap dances.

 

[SixtyThree]

*facepalm* oh THAT kind of gritty. yah, totally need to go back to that.

 

[Mr. Earle]

But as others have mentioned above, we were already getting that in Detective Comics and now we have Streets of Gotham and Batman.

 

[IBRAH08]

But as others have mentioned above, we were already getting that in Detective Comics and now we have Streets of Gotham and Batman.

Exactly! there is a balance in the universe

 

[Watchman]

Punisher as Frankenstein fighting steam punk monster hunters and Pirate Batman.

**** you, grounded superhero comics. So my answer is no, not at all.

 

[Mace Dolex]

Good and bad storylines come and go, there really isn't a good Batman storyline currently that's made such an impact like DKR and Year One.

Last time I checked the comic store there are multiple titles starring Batman so there's possibly multiple Batmans running around in the DC universe, I've just about given up on the Bat-titles and mostly pick up on occasson Batman Confidential but even that title has mediocre art and writing at times.

Right now the Bat-titles are going through it's superhero/fantasy RIP, Battle For The Cowl stories, they may not be gritty but it's sure not 60's campiness.

Hopefully these batch of stories get over quickly and new writers come aboard since it's only natural that the Batman comics go through another reboot.

 

[Mr. Earle]

Last time I checked the comic store there are multiple titles starring Batman so there's possibly multiple Batmans running around in the DC universe,

That just means that they re printing many stories with him. Since the beginning of time Batman starred in at least 2 comic books, Batman and Detective Comics.

 

[CConn]

Good and bad storylines come and go, there really isn't a good Batman storyline currently that's made such an impact like DKR and Year One.

Last time I checked the comic store there are multiple titles starring Batman so there's possibly multiple Batmans running around in the DC universe, I've just about given up on the Bat-titles and mostly pick up on occasson Batman Confidential but even that title has mediocre art and writing at times.

Right now the Bat-titles are going through it's superhero/fantasy RIP, Battle For The Cowl stories, they may not be gritty but it's sure not 60's campiness.

Hopefully these batch of stories get over quickly and new writers come aboard since it's only natural that the Batman comics go through another reboot.

you honestly have no clue what you're talking about.

I mean none, whatsoever.

 

[Drz]

It's like people only read "Batman" comic title and ignore what we're telling you guys. Check out Streets of Gotham and Detective Comics.

 

[Bruce Malone]

On your guys recomdation and one of my friends as well. I have been checking out streets of gotham and I do enjoy it...i am still not a big fan of dick grayson's batman. Something about robin being more hard core than batman is a little off.