Scans: "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader" Preview

[mithen]

Oh my Go--Oh my Gaiman.

I may be the last person to have seen these, but I really, really wanted to share.

I've been trying not to get my hopes up too much about Neil Gaiman writing Batman, but the previews were released recently and all my cynicism falls away before Gaiman's writing and Kubert's art. Oh my, but this looks good.



A few notes on the cover:

--Alfred's first to enter what looks to be a wake, with Selina directly after (with an actual cat's head there--Gaiman always did love Bast). I don't know who the boy there is...it doesn't look like any of the Robins so all I'm left with is Damian, and I'm dubious Gaiman would give him such prominence.  And yes, I've strained my eyes for a glimpse of Superman among the mourners, but no luck. arch_schatten will note that Harvey is one of the first rogues (or the first, depending on where you put Selina) to enter.



My God, it's...it's a Dreaming Gotham. Or some kind of archtypal/mythical Gotham. The blue captions are Bruce...would it be too much to hope that the gray ones are Death or Dream? It doesn't look like either of their voice styles, but...I would cry tears of joy if Bruce got to talk to either of them.





Selina is so damn beautiful here. Oh my goddess.


For some reason Chill's line started to choke me up.  Gaiman is so damn good with delicate, dreamlike meta about the nature of characters we love, and for the first time I'm allowing myself to imagine this might get it right.    I mean, if anyone would it's Neil, but I'm a bitter old comics fan.  :)

People who've read the Sandman series will probably see similarities to the end chapter, "The Wake."  I'm hoping we get something similar here, with retrospectives from the people who cared the most about Bruce and Batman--both in positive and negative ways. 

And yes, I'll be crossing my fingers for some thoughts from Clark, but I won't need that to enjoy what looks like it might be a beautiful piece of meta.

Comments

[fictionalknight.livejournal.com]

I saw these yesterday and...pretty much did the happy dance in my office over them. *giggles* I cannot wait for this to be out!! :D

[22by7.livejournal.com]

as long as it smells of love, not overblown ego. and it would make my year if there was on-panel interaction between Bruce and one of the Endless.

am i dreaming?
ohhh.

still wish the title wasn't a direct reference to the Superman story. understandable, that choice, but still.

[22by7.livejournal.com]

the cover made me read the title as WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CAPED CRUSADER?!1 for a second.

[roguecatwoman.livejournal.com]

Oooooooooh! Now, I really have to get this!!

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

*flails wildly*

Why can't it have come out already? I want to read it!!!! *whines*

It's just so beautiful, and Gotham!!! Gotham!!! Eeeee!!! And Selina, and Bruce's questions and Chill! Standing out front, showing the others where to go... *flails* So. Awesome. :D

[snake-easing.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's definitely Damian. It's his style of jumpsuit. Can we hope that the artist put that in without Gaiman's direction?

I'm a little torn on this one. We've had so much meta in the last two decades. It's been nice, but it's becoming a little wearing.

[schala-kid.livejournal.com]

I am putting my money on Death being the other person who Bruce is having a conversation with.

Also Neil Gaiman can do no wrong! (Well most of the time, I mean there's still Beowulf...)

[mithen.livejournal.com]

I'm very hopeful for it! The art looks so beautiful...that Gotham is just exquisite. *happy sigh*

[vejiicakes.livejournal.com]

Oh WOW. I'm a pretty general fan of Gaiman, so there's already that going for this book. But this looks.. really wonderful in a way I can't really explain. Sort of a quiet, respectful air to the approach--both in the art and the dialogue. I dunno. I'm excited though! :D

(Also, so much love for Ivy in a leaf-wreathed, otherwise-very-straightforward black dress.)

KITTIIIIIIIES!

[ai-ici-lover.livejournal.com]

Your userpic...my eyes..too scary!

[ladymordecai.livejournal.com]

I had not seen these yet you are YAY for posting them!

Wow. Um. So I'd not planned to have anything to do with R.I.P., because I feel it's a silly and high-handed way to try to make us spend money, but man. Gaiman writing comics. That's one of those things I will always love. And the art is wonderful and sort of a modern version of a Golden Age style.

[ladymordecai.livejournal.com]

Also! "Aparo Bridge"! "Finger" typewriters!

I love comics's respect for those who have gone before.

[elenorasweet.livejournal.com]

Oh god, this will be glorious. I have utter faith in both the men working on this, and it looks like neither will be letting me down anytime soon. Selina!

(That's definitely Damian in the white and black, which makes me very excited. Not many would dare to put him in front of the lineup. OH I'm eager!)

[elenorasweet.livejournal.com]

Also, Damian isn't actually standing in the line, but off to the side, with his back turned. Like he has to be there, but is fighting it. GNNN! *hugs him*

[mithen.livejournal.com]

I agree with you about the title! I don't want something re-heated, I want something fresh.

Usually I trust Gaiman not to have too much ego. :) There's always the chance he will let me down! I hope not...

[mithen.livejournal.com]

*snicker* Going back and looking it totally does for a second, doesn't it? Oy, DC...

[mithen.livejournal.com]

I looks so awesome, and anything that seems to be somewhat from Selina's POV makes me very happy. :)

[mithen.livejournal.com]

Doesn't Gotham look good!? And Selina! Oh, Selina. I can't wait to see what else Bruce says in this setting: "I know Gotham like I know myself" just made me coo with delight.

[mithen.livejournal.com]

I agree with you about the amount of heavy-handed meta running around the DCU (I'm getting caught up on Trinity and man, ugh. Okay, okay, we got it). Still...I have a pathetic amount of faith in Neil Gaiman. :)

[mithen.livejournal.com]

I have a great deal of faith in Gaiman. His little stints on "Black and White" proved he can do Batman meta for me...

Oh man, I would die of bliss if that was Death. I really would.

[mithen.livejournal.com]

But this looks.. really wonderful in a way I can't really explain.

Yeah, that's exactly how I felt about it! There's a very delicate, quiet feeling to it, nothing overblown or melodramatic, that thrills me. *fangirls Gaiman*

Ivy knows proper attire! She just likes to add leaves. :)

[mithen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've mostly been dodging RIP and the tie-ins, but...Gaiman grabs me just about every time. :) I can't resist him! And the art is very lovely as well, which is such a nice counterpoint...

[mithen.livejournal.com]

Aren't those nice? I love the nods like that--not heavy-handed, just right. :)

[mithen.livejournal.com]

It is interesting that Damian is not quite in the line, isn't it? And not standing with his grandfather. :)

Gaiman and Kubert own my soul at this point. <3

[arch-schatten.livejournal.com]

Harveeeyyyy! I wanna hear Harvey tell it like it is! And Selina! she looks so gorgeous! I got all.. O_o at Joe Chill being there. That's.. nghh. My poor fannish mind can't take so much joy! and I loved Bruce's dialog! oii, he's so adorable, I want a squishy Batman! *squishes*

[mithen.livejournal.com]

Doesn't Bruce sound...kind of sweet and disoriented? See, killing him always improves his mood! You're proven right! :)

Joe Chill gave me happy shivers, I'm not sure why. Maybe the confirmation that this wasn't just a mundane wake, but something more... I can't wait to see what Harvey says, I am sure Gaiman will write Harvey all kinds of awesome.

Oi, I would love to see Gaiman write Clark there! So much!

[plingo-kat.livejournal.com]

OMGOMGOMG Neil Gaiman ins writing Batman! *flails* And it's so beautiful! Ye gods, I have to get this when it comes out. Is it already out?

*flails some more*

[mithen.livejournal.com]

The cover says "April 2009," but that must be a lie because I don't know if I can wait that long! *joins you in the flailing* It's a two-part special and I'm just dying to see it now...

[plingo-kat.livejournal.com]

oh, darn! That's WAY too long to wait. I wonder if B&N will stock it...

And I've really got to get a S/B icon. Or maybe just a DC icon. Hm.

[mithen.livejournal.com]

Wait, wait! The cover does seem to have been a lie, because I just downloaded something that looks suspiciously like the whole thing! (I can't look too closely or my husband would kill me, lol) So maybe if you go looking it's out there... I'll probably post scans as well, if it is...