Batman Returns…With a Vengeance

It’s really no surprise to anyone but just to make it official, Bruce Wayne returns in 2010. April to be exact. Also no surprise, his “ultimate fate” was not what it appeared to be but exactly what we all said it was – being badass throughout history.

The DCU Source blog debuted this Andy Kubert sketch yesterday which is design for the upcoming Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne mini-series. Pirate Batman, very reminiscent of Davey Jones, excited me just a hair more than Cavebatman, who is equally sexy in my opinion, because…well, pirate.

Grant Morrison is penning the series of course, but it will have a rotating array of artists. So far, Chris Sprouse has been announced for the first issue. “Each of the stories is a twist on a different ‘pulp hero’ genre — so there’s the caveman story, the witchhunter/Puritan adventurer thing, the pirate Batman, the cowboy, the P.I. — as a nod toward those mad old 1950s comics with Caveman Batman and Viking Batman adventures. It’s Bruce Wayne’s ultimate challenge — Batman vs. history itself!” Morrison told USA Today.

Some people are complaining it’s too soon to bring Bruce back. I’m not one of them. I’m enjoying Dick in the role a lot more than I expected to but my heart lies with Bruce. That isn’t to say I want Dick to stop being Batman though. Morrison says, “the status quo of the Batman universe will be changed completely after this book.” This could mean any number of things but what I’m hoping for is two Batmen. In a perfect world I’d like to see Dick remain mentor to Damian in Batman and Robin, Batwoman remain as the star of Detective Comics and Bruce to reclaim the Batman title for his own. Though the writer also says, “I’m doing at least another year of stories with Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne in the Batman and Robin book before that book starts to dovetail with Return and we rush headlong and screaming into the next big, earth-shattering, game-changing twist in the life of Batman,” so who knows?

Talk about devestatingly handsome men. Check out ol’ Alfred Pennyworth as designed by Gary Frank. Hummana-hummana! This also comes courtesy of the DCU Source blog and is the basis of a new ongoing line of original graphic novels about Batman and Superman subtitled Earth One. DC says the series will be “spotlighting the most powerful heroes of the DC Universe, with their first years and earliest moments retold in a standalone, original graphic novel format, on a new earth with an all-new continuity.”

Somewhat surprisingly, the writer on Batman: Earth One will be Geoff Johns and writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Shane Davis will tackle Superman: Earth One. Of course Johns is currently telling the secret origin of Superman. I’m very interested to see what he does with his first chance writing Bruce.

Aint It Cool News was actually the site to give the news and spoke with both authors. “I’ll be straight up with you: I’m not here to change his story into something it was never intended to be so that I can “make my mark” on the character,” said Straczynski, “It’s about respecting the character and his origins. Especially for me, since Superman has always been my number one icon growing up as a kid.” About his book, Johns had this to say, “Some of it the characters will more closely resemble the classic interpretations while others will be wildly different. We’re introducing a lot of new characters and elements to this Batman.”

Nothing makes a great day like some fantastic Batman news, wouldn’t you say? What are your thoughts on these new projects? Yah or nay? Or should I say, ARRGH?