Let's Fix Legends.

Let's Fix Legends.

Aug 27

Just finished reading the second issue in the Morrison/Kubert run on Batman–fun stuff. And my love for the Dini Detective Comics is well-documented. And the upcoming Batman Confidential looks intriguing.

Here’s my question, though: Where does this leave Legends of the Dark Knight?

If there was ever a bastard son of the Bat-family, this title is it. Once the primary destination for mid- to high-level talent looking to tell “their Batman story,” it’s now more of a limping lame duck, featuring serviceable and solid Bat-tales that lack any real creative impact. In my opinion, at least–I hopped on board at issue 201 and dropped it by issue 204. And I’m a Bat-freak who expects to simply collect everything Bat on the stands, but I couldn’t justify the expense.

What to do, what to do? Is there a place for this title, with a streamlined Batman group of titles and Batman Confidential seemingly horning in on the same territory Legends occupies? Here’s a few ideas.

1. Cancel that shit. I’m honestly a fan of a tiny Bat-family of titles, and am glad we’re basically down to Batman and Detective as the core books. If Confidential will be offering talent the chance for a strong one-off Bat-tale that’s not as heavily beholden to continuity as the main titles, there’s no strong need for Legends. Too bad, so sad.

2. Shove these random miniseries into Legends, instead of spitting them out on their lonesome. While the core Bat-books are tight as a gnat’s ass (TM 2006 Alert Nerd), the dribbling and wandering slate of miniseries that is constantly pouring out featuring the Dark Knight still seems out of control. I really can’t understand why these arcs aren’t lined up in Legends–they’re still very sellable as trade paperbacks, and they give readers a reason to buy Legends, instead of passing over Legends but buying the miniseries, something I’ve at least contemplated, if not actually done.

3. Make it consistent. If Confidential will become the new rotating creative team title of choice for Bat stories, then lock in at least a single writer on Legends, if not a writer/artist team. Reaching back into Batman’s storied creative history for a strong team might not be a bad idea–how about a Grant/Breyfogle Legends? Or an Englehart/Rogers version of the title? Even better, get one of those artists or writers strongly associated with the Bat to collaborate with a rotating stable of talent–make Steve Englehart work with a different young artist every arc, for example. Do SOMETHING to give this title a reason to exist, something consistent.

4. Fell it up. A Bat-title that’s $1.99, with sixteen pages of story and four pages of “back matter” including letters, guest columns, short fiction, historical essays–I’d buy that all the damn time. You’d get more mileage out of each arc by shortening the length of each chapter, and the potential would exist for a little variety for a change.

5. Let Tim Burton write it. Hey, if Dick Donner gets a Superman book, where’s the love for Timmy B.?