Four Batman Titles: Too Much of a Good Thing?
Batman is one of my favorite characters, and I have always enjoyed the different facets of the character. He has a rich and full life, both as Batman and as Bruce Wayne, and he has a wonderful supporting cast and family with which to interact. However, there is always one thing I have wondered … why are there so many comics starring Batman? With the New 52, this would have been a wonderful time to thin out the Batman titles a bit, but instead things seem more bloated than ever. I have to wonder if the two most recent titles, “Batman” and “Batman: The Dark Knight” are really needed.
Both first issues are nice stories. Both have a good mystery started, and are interesting reads. Both are compelling enough to make me keep reading the rest of the story arcs. Yet I have to wonder if it just too much market saturation. How many titles starring Batman will people actually read, and more important to the readers, how many will we enjoy?
“Batman and Robin” is a title that is needed, as it highlights stories with the two heroes together. I did not like the first issue of this new run, but one can hope that the title will find its footing. In the three remaining, “Batman,” “Batman: The Dark Knight,” and “Detective Comics,” I am simply not seeing enough differences to justify all of the titles.
To read the rest of this post, please click here.