Ultimate Batman.

[Donal DeLay]

Inspired by the Ultimate Superman thread, how would you "ultimize" the property?

Mix Batman Begins, Year One, and The Animated Series, and you've pretty much got what I'd want.

Plus, a distinct face design like TAS as opposed to generic white man whose face changes with each artist.

[SCOURGE]

I would ditch the sidekick. I have never understood the point of Robin. Batman is supposed to be a myth or urban legend, right? So why have the ball and chain?

[Ray G.]

Start by making him younger. Early twenties, fresh off a prep-school education and a training trip around the world. I'd make Bruce Wayne less of a mask, and more of a part of the story. Bruce Wayne's social life would actually be a part of the story, as he'd be torn between two hot young women - a gorgeous Jewel thief who Batman keeps running into, and the new police comissioner's college-age daughter, who Bruce Wayne gets involved in. The rogues gallery needs much less work than with Superman. Just introduce them one arc at a time, like with Ultimate Spider-man, and you've got the thrust of the book. I'd also change his fighting style and costume to be a little more ninja-oriented and less gadgets and kevlar. This Batman is fast and brutal.

[Ray G.]

I would ditch the sidekick. I have never understood the point of Robin. Batman is supposed to be a myth or urban legend, right? So why have the ball and chain?

Agreed. Especially if this is a year-one story of a young Batman, giving him a kid sidekick doesn't make much sense.

[Steve_McMahon]

I don't think anyone could do Ultimate Batman. His origin has been covered by so many teams already.....I just wouldn't be interested in the property, personally.

[Peter McLeod]

Give him a gun.

I think a more brutal version of the character works. Rather than "Worlds greatest detective", think "Is willing to go to that place that even the villain isn't."

And by gun I don't mean - Vigilante Punisher Wannabe.

I mean "I don't kill men... but if I knee cap you, you can never harm the world again"

I like the idea of him still being in prep school.

Though for some reason (perhaps the movie links) I keep getting images of "American Psycho"...

[A.Huerta]

I would make Bruce crazy. So crazy he has no friends except Alfred. Make him a manic depressant and all that after his parents were tortured and then killed right in front of his eyes; I figure I push the limit on the moment that changed his life. Working out and training wouldnt be enough, he would take whatever drug he needed to help him do what he needs to do. No Bat symbol, no bat ears, just the black costume with the cape. HE would take the "special" villains and lock them up himself in the batcave. Thats all I can think of for now.

[SCOURGE]

He used to use a gun back in his early appearences

[bairdduvessa]

i think ray has it, it would up more year one stuff like the cops randomly shooting at him, and make harvey a good guy and a main character and really build up his character, then around issue 100 the acid. And he's be nuts, making the joker look almost sane.

[SCOURGE]

i think ray has it, it would up more year one stuff like the cops randomly shooting at him, and make harvey a good guy and a main character and really build up his character, then around issue 100 the acid. And he's be nuts, making the joker look almost sane.


Wow, what an idea! Is anybody writing this stuff down?

[Magnum V.I.]

I would make him not gay.

[SCOURGE]

The Bat is gay?

[Lemonade Lady]

Batman: The Animated Series, but Dick Grayson would be younger.

[TheKraken]

Batman: The Animated Series, but Dick Grayson would be younger.

Dick being in college was pretty handy, tho'. A young Robin would have to be around all the time... he's Bruce's responsibility. An older Robin can come get in on a few adventures and then let Bats get back to solo stories. I thought that was a smooth move...

[SCOURGE]

Batman: The Animated Series, but Dick Grayson would be younger.


I think that is probably my favorite version of Batman (besides the 60's television version).

[Lemonade Lady]

Dick being in college was pretty handy, tho'. A young Robin would have to be around all the time... he's Bruce's responsibility. An older Robin can come get in on a few adventures and then let Bats get back to solo stories. I thought that was a smooth move...

A young Robin would spend more time with school work, training and tech support in the Batcave than actual missions with Batman. In this situation you could easily pull off having more solo Batman stories than Batman and Robin stories.

[Mister Mets]

This would be the first of my Ultimate DC books.

The first arc would focus on 20-something Bruce Wayne returning to Gotham City after several years training (the training may be the focus of some early issues and introduce important characters for later storylines.) He quickly riles Gotham's criminal class led by Rupert Thorne, and faces the wrath of Gotham's mostly corrupt police force (I know I'm ripping off Year One here.) The penultimate issue includes a confrontation with Superman. In the last issue, Superman gives Batman an hour to bring down Thorne, or he'll do it (which Batman believes will hurt the city).

The first volume would set up Ras Al Ghul (as one of the people who trained Batman), the Joker (some minor character falls into acid, and emerges as the Joker in Volume 1's climax), and Two Face (making Harvey Dent an important character.)

The second volume includes a battle with Catwoman, which ends with the two having sex in the middle of a bank. Batman has enough rogues to support the series for a hundred issues.

I would introduce Robin, but I'd wait until Issue 50 or so. Dick Grayson would be a self-trained vigilante named Nightwing, before he agrees to Batman's training.

I don't think I'd want to write this, so I'd try to get some great creators.

The writer could be anyone from Bendis to Brubaker to Rucka.
The artist could be anyone from Lee Weeks to Jae Lee.

And again- I'd try to have this set in Marvel's Ultimate Universe. I'm pretty sure I could arrange some sort of deal with Joe Q.

[gardner]

I would introduce Robin, but I'd wait until Issue 50 or so. Dick Grayson would be a self-trained vigilante named Nightwing, before he agrees to Batman's training.

I like the idea of Nightwing being an independant vigilante that gets brought in under Batman's tutelage. They could have some great tension as they clash over whether he's doing good by Gotham or just getting in the way.

However, it would have to happen well after Batman's established to provide that mentor/tutor relationship.

And I'd drop the Robin name all together. Robin's are little birds that don't scare anyone...

[Simps]

I'd have him kill people, fits his character.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Um, isn't this basically what every team who's ever worked on Batman since DKR and Year One has done?

1 star.

[Magnum V.I.]

And I'd drop the Robin name all together. Robin's are little birds that don't scare anyone...



Hmm,, lets call him, the Fucking Robin

[Frozen Sooner]

Well, the first thing I'd do is have him kidnap an orphan, then drive around town for three issues cursing. Then I wouldn't have an issue come out for like three months.

That'd reel 'em in.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Well, the first thing I'd do is have him kidnap an orphan, then drive around town for three issues cursing. Then I wouldn't have an issue come out for like three months.

That'd reel 'em in.
OMG u ttly burn3d Miller and L33.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Start by making him younger. Early twenties, fresh off a prep-school education and a training trip around the world. I'd make Bruce Wayne less of a mask, and more of a part of the story. Bruce Wayne's social life would actually be a part of the story, as he'd be torn between two hot young women - a gorgeous Jewel thief who Batman keeps running into, and the new police comissioner's college-age daughter, who Bruce Wayne gets involved in. The rogues gallery needs much less work than with Superman. Just introduce them one arc at a time, like with Ultimate Spider-man, and you've got the thrust of the book. I'd also change his fighting style and costume to be a little more ninja-oriented and less gadgets and kevlar. This Batman is fast and brutal.

I agree with almost all of this, the big part I'd change is Ninja Batman. No Ninja Batman. I'd want his fighting style to be more MMA, and I'd have the series focus more on his mind than his brawn anyway, he's the world's greatest detective, SHOW that.

[SLAvery]

Didn't Batman Begins already apply the Ultimate formula to Batman?

[Lemonade Lady]

I'd drop the Robin name all together. Robin's are little birds that don't scare anyone...

He was named after Robin Hood.

[Philip J Eaves]

The book would actually be Ultimate Nightwing.
A young man, after losing his parents in a tragic accident, uses his physical prowess to stop crime. In time, he creates his own weapons and outfit, designed to protect his body but not his identity. He has nothing left to lose. He is a man living on the edge. In reality, he wants to die. He doesn't want to live. Until he runs into the Batman, a crime fighter of legend. He hasn't appeared for some time. He is everything Nightwing will become, except the Batman has a plan, a strategy, to strike at the hearts of those who murderer, steal, and pillage. Nightwing trains under the Batman, never knowing his identity. He always keeps Nightwing in the dark. However, as Nightwing becomes a great detective, he begins to learn the startling truth about his mentor...

[JackBauer]

I'd give him a new all black costume.
These black panties with the grey pyjama don't work anymore.