Comic Vine News

100 Comments

The Defense: Too Many Batman On-Going Titles?

Does he really need six?

No Caption Provided
When it comes to comic books, there's a lot to choose from, but when you find that certain character you love, you'll most certainly buy anything that character is involved in. Undoubtedly, one of the biggest comic book heroes to date is DC Comics Batman. Currently, Batman has six on-going books he's a part of, and he also has a few mini-series flying around as well. Not all the books currently feature Dick Grayson as Batman, but the mantle stays the same. There are quite a few to choose from, but are all of them needed?
 
Currently, Batman has 6 on-going titles: Batman, Detective Comics, Batman and Robin, Batman: Streets of Gotham, Superman Batman, and Batman Confidential. That's more comics starring the same character than any other hero at any publisher. Aside from that, he always has at least two mini-series going on at the same time. Does he really need this many books though? In the defense of Batman, I think he does.
== TEASER ==
Each comic focuses on aspects within the Dark Knight's life. Take Batman and Robin for instance. As much as this is a super-hero book, it's also a book about father and son relationships. Now, Dick isn't Damien's actual father (Bruce Wayne is), but Dick has grown up a lot in the past year, stepped up, and become that father figure that Damien truly needs. Along the same lines, Superman Batman is much like that. Instead of a father son relationship, we see more of a "brotherly love" relationship. A man who has all the powers in the world, but is emotionally weak teams up with a man with no powers, but emotionally strong. Think of it as a modern day Odd Couple. 
 
There's two other on-going titles that many people seem confused why they exist: Batman: Streets of Gotham and Batman Confidential. Batman: Streets of Gotham, to me, is essentially, "What if Batman The Animated Series kept going, but got darker and more adult?" Paul Dini, who was also a part of Batman: The Animated series, has done an amazing job at keeping this book fresh and a lot of fun to read. The other book that doesn't get enough praise is Batman Confidential. This book does what other Batman books can't do, it tells stories that don't take place in main continuity. Many can argue that Superman Batman does the same thing, but one of the great things Confidential does is retell stories without messing with continuity, like the first time Batman met the Joker, or the first time Bad Cop (terrible name for a character, but a great character none-the-less) was introduced. Be weary though, sometimes the stories can be less than stellar. It all depends on what creative team is on the book.
 
That leaves us with the two big ones, Batman and Detective Comics. As weak as this argument may be, why get rid of them? It usually has the best, most innovative creative teams and the most interesting stories. Both books have been around for more than 70 years, and the majority of Batman stories you remembered, came from one of those two books. 
 
There you have it. Batman may have six ongoing comics currently, but each of them has their own place in the world of Gotham and Batman. What do you think? Is there one of these books that doesn't deserve to be a part of the Batman world? Tell us why!
 
~Mat "InferiorEgo" Elfring is a comedian, teacher, comic book writer, and comic store employee.~

100 Comments

Avatar image for dr__maxwell
Dr. Maxwell

676

Forum Posts

1880

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 14

User Lists: 2

Edited By Dr. Maxwell

even as a Diehard Dark Knight fan I don't read all six titles, dump Superman-Batman and Confidential and it will be alright.
 
Let's not get started on the Batfamily titles

Avatar image for simply_me
simply_me

40

Forum Posts

1341

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 5

Edited By simply_me

It doesnt bother me (especially since batman is one of my favorite heroes) but some of the storylines are kind of slow.
Avatar image for airdave817
deactivated-579fe0ae58107

1321

Forum Posts

12134

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 304

User Lists: 27

One of the main reasons I stopped reading Batman long ago. When a story is spread out across six to eight or nine Bat-family titles, I call fowl.

Avatar image for igman51
igman51

33

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By igman51

people shouldnt complain because spidey, x-men and the avengers have many titles as well. batman is a diverse character, he has dealt with metahumans, the cult, and other kinds of criminals....i think a new title should deal with oddities that batman faces..
Avatar image for cbishop
cbishop

21161

Forum Posts

393968

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 92

User Lists: 1268

Edited By cbishop
@AirDave817 said:
"One of the main reasons I stopped reading Batman long ago. When a story is spread out across six to eight or nine Bat-family titles, I call fowl. "

lol annnnnd <rimshot>
Avatar image for trougedoor122
trougedoor122

59

Forum Posts

12

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By trougedoor122

I personally buy all six, and like that I get to read something Batman every week.

Avatar image for ston3face
Ston3face

95

Forum Posts

459

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 6

Edited By Ston3face

What's wrong with him having 6?  In my opinion he is the greatest character in comics.

Avatar image for kevinmcclaran
KevinMcClaran

1

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By KevinMcClaran

You can't have to many Batman.

Avatar image for video_martian
Video_Martian

5650

Forum Posts

2349

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Video_Martian

I could care less about Batman, all I ever read are The Flash, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman (but mostly Flash).

Avatar image for mtharman
MTHarman

824

Forum Posts

49576

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 103

User Lists: 0

Edited By MTHarman

Um, this topic should be labeled. 
 
TOO MANY ONGOING AVENGERS TITLES? 
or 
TOO MANY ONGOING X-MEN TITLES? 
 
Batman is awesome (despite if he wet his pants or not), DC has many titles to where Batman isn't a gloryhound anti-social asshole like many of the Avengers ive been seeing lately. Hell, I haven't even hardly noticed and I could careless. 
  
Batman has one huge reputation of complete awesomeness, he's like the Clint Eastwood of comics and its a fact that you can't get enough of Batman.

Avatar image for graphiccasualfreak
GraphicCasualFreak

347

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 113

User Lists: 2

Six IS too much, I love Batman but this doesn't mean he should have this many titles.  There aren't THAT many people who can write Batman descently. 

Avatar image for sdtopdog
sdtopdog

15

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By sdtopdog

Remember a time when there was only Batman and Detective!!!

Avatar image for eisforextinction
EisforExtinction

2013

Forum Posts

2742

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 68

User Lists: 6

Edited By EisforExtinction

If memory serves he is the god damn Batman.

Avatar image for danhimself
danhimself

21433

Forum Posts

36958

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By danhimself

I could be wrong since I don't read Streets of Gotham, Batman Confidential, or Detective Comics but from what I've seen you don't need to read all of the books since they never crossover anymore...Batman and Robin is self contained and so is Batman and Superman/Batman is all out of continuity stories....so who cares if there's six books....read the ones you like and don't read the ones that you don't like....simple

Avatar image for jefprice
jefprice

882

Forum Posts

401

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 2

Edited By jefprice

While he does have a lot, none of them are really about the same thing. Batgirl...IT'S BATGIRL not Batman. B&R? Not Bruce. Etc

Avatar image for shockwave632
shockwave632

55

Forum Posts

27

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By shockwave632

I think Dark Claw should have 20 titles.

Avatar image for deadlywolverine
DeadlyWolverine

228

Forum Posts

6

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By DeadlyWolverine

Dump Superman, I don't like the man of steel.

Avatar image for mumbles
Mumbles

858

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Mumbles

batman is the greatest.  tpb only, dont care how many titltes he has. if there good, i'll buy

Avatar image for inferiorego
inferiorego

25752

Forum Posts

28300

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 324

User Lists: 12

Edited By inferiorego  Staff

I like how there's quite a few people that you can tell didn't actually read past the title of the article, since the whole article is defending why he should have 6 titles.

Avatar image for ceniza
ceniza

101

Forum Posts

11

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By ceniza

He's the godamn Batman.

Maybe wolverine and him should star in a reality comic book called "We can super-manage", showing all of the other lazy super heroes what is really like to have a job in several superhero comic books and comic book teams. 

Like a talk show/comic.

Avatar image for kjpppimp
KJPPPimp

86

Forum Posts

184

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By KJPPPimp

I say they break it down GL style: two main titles, Batman and Detective Comics. I say two instead of one just because the characters and rogues of gotham city have more stories to tell than what one monthly can deliver. The regular Batman series should focus on Batman (be he Bruce Wayne or Dick Grayson) and Robin, much the same way Green Lantern mainly focuses on Hal Jordan and sometimes John Stewart, and helmed by Grant Morrison with the intent of telling his jumbo arc he's been plotting. the series under Daniel has had its moments but it doesn't really feel like he needs a whole other series to show batman kicking ass that could be shown in the flagship title. Detective Comics should work on the same level as Green Lantern Corps in that it focuses on the other major players in Gotham (revamped villains, whatever the hell hush is doing, stuff like that) the stuff that you don't absolutely need to understand what's going on when Batman's fighting whatever pig faced, technicolor villain Morrison throws at him, but would show you that the penguin has been making power moves in Black Masks absence or that last time the Joker ran off he started building a gang. Stories that play into each other but aren't required to read either title. Cuz six a month is breaking my bank.

Avatar image for aquamariner
Aquamariner

211

Forum Posts

487

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Aquamariner
@MTHarman said:
"

Um, this topic should be labeled. 
 
TOO MANY ONGOING AVENGERS TITLES? 
or 
TOO MANY ONGOING X-MEN TITLES? 
 
Batman is awesome (despite if he wet his pants or not), DC has many titles to where Batman isn't a gloryhound anti-social asshole like many of the Avengers ive been seeing lately. Hell, I haven't even hardly noticed and I could careless. 
  
Batman has one huge reputation of complete awesomeness, he's like the Clint Eastwood of comics and its a fact that you can't get enough of Batman.

"
You read my mind! If any there's such a thing as too many titles, then we should be talking X-men first and foremost... or X-anything for that matter! 
 
That being said, i do believe we could totally do without Streets of Gotham and Confidential.... those are just redundant!
Avatar image for benyang
BenYang

16

Forum Posts

3

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By BenYang

I don't really see that much of a need for Batman: Streets of Gotham or Batman: Confidential. Batman: Confidential to me just sounds like a string of mini-series being released, sort of like the main Wolverine title was a few years back. And I don't understand why you can't just merge Streets of Gotham with Detective, they have very similar premises.

Avatar image for xion
Xion

249

Forum Posts

136

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Xion

I really like batman, but i only keep up with Batman, Batman and Robin and streets of gotham so i really dont mind cause i dont read all of the ongoing books

Avatar image for bestostero
Bestostero

5782

Forum Posts

10440

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 5

Edited By Bestostero

Wolverine is a big offender of this too, and yes, it is tiresome and gets way too messy with continuity and what not... this happens before this, but after this and during this, but in a different universe which corresponds to that lol yeeaahhhhh...just no lol

Avatar image for aspenite
Aspenite

935

Forum Posts

15053

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 29

User Lists: 3

Edited By Aspenite

He is the new Deadpool!

Avatar image for fabcomics
Fabcomics

4

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By Fabcomics

I think 6 is too much. And you also have Red Robin, Batgirl and Birds of Prey !! That's 9 "Gotham titles" ! 
Why not make one single batman ongoing title, keep Red Robin, Batgirl and BoP, and have some mini-series (but just one at a time !) starring other bat-related caracters or telling "out of continuity" stories ?    
Avatar image for _mistress_redhead_
.Mistress Redhead.

26773

Forum Posts

16909

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 6

@inferiorego: great article Mat! 
 
and I am following almost all of the titles, you are right each one has a place in Gothams history and relevance.
Avatar image for the_orange_crush
the_orange_crush

79

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By the_orange_crush

Great article as you may an argument for each title. Currently, I'm only picking up the main Batman title. I only read Detective Comics when Batwoman was the lead character. And I plan on picking up Batman and Robin. I would pick up the other Batman books, but money is always an issue. With this article though, I may look into them though. Thanks InferiorEgo for making me spend even more money!

Avatar image for silver_knight75
Silver Knight75

1250

Forum Posts

7128

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 10

Edited By Silver Knight75

It can be difficult to keep track of at times

Avatar image for degraaf
DEGRAAF

8431

Forum Posts

72

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By DEGRAAF

Yes i think he has to many titles, for sure but luckly i know which ones i need to pick up for the main continuity and the current timeline of the events going on.
Avatar image for versatilehearts
versatilehearts

28

Forum Posts

15

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By versatilehearts

I read *nearly* every bat, and bat related book every month, and I do so happily. 

Avatar image for petarvukobrat
PetarVukobrat

22

Forum Posts

65

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By PetarVukobrat

Three is a crowd, but six? It's just too much. I still can't find my way through the load of comics that came out.

Avatar image for the_devil_himself
The Devil himself

30

Forum Posts

2

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 1


It's justa way to get even MORE money for those hard core batman fans out there. Of COURSE people are going to buy them. It's Batman, but in diffrent stories at the same time! they don't put it in the main batman comics because 1) It gets them more money 2) It would be really confusing and too much all at once. I think It depends on what kind of stories they each have. What I think is really intersteing is that they don't have diffrent versions of the bat. Like for example, I'd love to see OWLMAN. Have his own series for a little while, battling thejokester (or jetser, red hood) and the reveal what the other villians and heroes would be like if they where swapped consciences'.
Avatar image for eto
Eto

5568

Forum Posts

6697

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Currently it's:

- Batman

- Detective comics

- All star

- batman & shadow minis

That's already four and I'm pretty sure I am overlooking something. Is it too much? debatable. Do they all deliver? Unfortunately not (barring batman shadow since I havent read it).

Avatar image for entropy_aegis
entropy_aegis

21789

Forum Posts

420

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 7

All Star is ending in September and Batman/Shadow is a mini that ends in September.

I guess Murphy's White Knight mini kind off replaces All Star but that too will end in May.

Its not the number of ongoings thats the problem for me but the use of Batman to tell general DC stories. Take DK 3 as an example,Max Landis has got Superman: Agent of Batman in the works. Now DC just announced a Deadman series that will also have Batman in it, we've got JLA that has Batman ( why again?), even Murphy's mini blackmailed its way in to existence. They only wanted him to do an arc with Snyder but he said that he'd only do it if they gave him a book of hiw own and then he goes to Twitter and admits that he doesn't know much about Batman, doesn't like Joker and is using the book to create a readership for his creator owned book. Similarly Bruce has no reason to be in Tec but Tynion insists on keeping him so that he can job some more and finally they're using the upcoming Batman event to launch a whole line of books. I hate this crap, enough with this shit. There's a limit to which you can milk a character.

Avatar image for eto
Eto

5568

Forum Posts

6697

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Avatar image for orangebat
OrangeBat

1152

Forum Posts

16

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

@entropy_aegis said:

All Star is ending in September and Batman/Shadow is a mini that ends in September.

I guess Murphy's White Knight mini kind off replaces All Star but that too will end in May.

Its not the number of ongoings thats the problem for me but the use of Batman to tell general DC stories. Take DK 3 as an example,Max Landis has got Superman: Agent of Batman in the works. Now DC just announced a Deadman series that will also have Batman in it, we've got JLA that has Batman ( why again?), even Murphy's mini blackmailed its way in to existence. They only wanted him to do an arc with Snyder but he said that he'd only do it if they gave him a book of hiw own and then he goes to Twitter and admits that he doesn't know much about Batman, doesn't like Joker and is using the book to create a readership for his creator owned book. Similarly Bruce has no reason to be in Tec but Tynion insists on keeping him so that he can job some more and finally they're using the upcoming Batman event to launch a whole line of books. I hate this crap, enough with this shit. There's a limit to which you can milk a character.

LOL, what a hack.

I didn't really mind JLA at first because we got some nice interactions between Batman and not-so-A-List characters in it but in terms of plot, goddamn that book blows.

Avatar image for rurgandy
Rurgandy

480

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

From what I'm gathering, people here are angry about too many Batman books, only because they're worried that it's more chances for Batman to job.

Avatar image for entropy_aegis
entropy_aegis

21789

Forum Posts

420

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 7

No I dislike all these books because they're poor. DK 3 was poor,JLA is poor,Deadman will suck donkey balls(written by Adams),White Knight is a huge gamble,Trinity has gone under after the first arc.

The only book where your assesment holds is Tynion's Tec and yes if Batman leaves then that book will tank and since Batman is not treated with respect then he has no reason to be in it and be expected to carry it.

Avatar image for eto
Eto

5568

Forum Posts

6697

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

No I dislike all these books because they're poor. DK 3 was poor,JLA is poor,Deadman will suck donkey balls(written by Adams),White Knight is a huge gamble,Trinity has gone under after the first arc.

The only book where your assesment holds is Tynion's Tec and yes if Batman leaves then that book will tank and since Batman is not treated with respect then he has no reason to be in it and be expected to carry it.

Why do I have the feeling we'll get a trinity vs dark trinity storyline?

Avatar image for entropy_aegis
entropy_aegis

21789

Forum Posts

420

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 7

Well okay I admit, I've seen some October solicits and there's ceratainly a Bat overload when it comes to mini series.

DC will be launching

Batman :White Knight (8 issues)

Shadow/Batman as successor to Batman/Shadow currently being published.(6)

Harley and Ivy crossover with Archie characters(6)

Ragman will be set in Gotham as per tradition(6)

Deadman will involve Batman (6)

This in addition to Bane: Conquest and Nightwing : New World Order.

There's also the announcement for the Duke book and Silencer book which will feature Talia/Leviathan

Yikes, the good thing is that by May next year these will all be over and books like BOP and Batgirl will be hitting the cancellation numbers. Probably wont be looking too good for Outlaws and Beyond either.

For now they've cancelled All Star Batman and Gotham Academy.

Avatar image for rdclip
RDClip

2792

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By RDClip

Well okay I admit, I've seen some October solicits and there's ceratainly a Bat overload when it comes to mini series.

DC will be launching

Batman :White Knight (8 issues)

Shadow/Batman as successor to Batman/Shadow currently being published.(6)

Harley and Ivy crossover with Archie characters(6)

Ragman will be set in Gotham as per tradition(6)

Deadman will involve Batman (6)

This in addition to Bane: Conquest and Nightwing : New World Order.

There's also the announcement for the Duke book and Silencer book which will feature Talia/Leviathan

Yikes, the good thing is that by May next year these will all be over and books like BOP and Batgirl will be hitting the cancellation numbers. Probably wont be looking too good for Outlaws and Beyond either.

For now they've cancelled All Star Batman and Gotham Academy.

What?!?!?!

No one likes Duke, but they're giving him his own book? WTF DC. Shazam hasn't had a book in years, no JLD rebirth book, and still no mention of a JSA rebirth book, but F**KING Duke Thomas gets a book? No one cares about Scott Snyder's black Tim Drake knockoff. So how long will DC stubbornly continue to publish it while it is selling <15k?

On topic. There isn't as many Batman books now as there were when n52 launched, but every Batman book (barring Beyond which is just okay) right now is downright mediocre. Maybe rather than throwing more bat books out, DC should hire competent writers for 'tec and Batwoman instead of giving Scott Snyder's rookie buddies the gig. And while they are at it, get Tom King off of Batman, he had proven that he can't write the character.

Avatar image for mohhsen
mohhsen

126

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@rdclip: I agree.the more I read any thing with duke pushed in it. the more I hate him.

yes, hate not just(not liking him). at first I didn't care,but......really does any one like him?!he just ruins everything

Avatar image for eto
Eto

5568

Forum Posts

6697

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

@rdclip: it's just bull%#t. Duke gets a title and we still haven't had JSA. Smh.

I mean come on, that title is doomed to fail. No way it's gonna sell above the cancellation zone.

Avatar image for rurgandy
Rurgandy

480

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I'll take a creator-driven "gamble" over editorial-controlled 90s pandering any day.

Avatar image for entropy_aegis
entropy_aegis

21789

Forum Posts

420

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 7

@rurgandy said:

I'll take a creator-driven "gamble" over editorial-controlled 90s pandering any day.

Like David Finch's Dark Knight? or Tony Daniel's Batman work? or Neal Adams Odyssey? and I dont even like Tyion either.

Avatar image for dragonrampage
dragonrampage

452

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

Edited By dragonrampage

All hero should have one comic to their name. Just have Batman or ironman, if someone has great little side series make it that it is limited to a small amount of characters and does not occur in the monthly comics. The event would take place in a side series that does not impact the monthly issues. The monthly would be cannon, special issues would be else worlds and crisis moments for the universe without forcing people to buy fifteen other comics.

Avatar image for rurgandy
Rurgandy

480

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@entropy_aegis: Or Grant Morrison's run? Darwyn Cooke's Ego? And the majority of the most well-known Batman stories?

Avatar image for eto
Eto

5568

Forum Posts

6697

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

  • 100 results
  • 1
  • 2