Batman Extras

Since the classic run on DETECTIVE COMICS I've done a handful of special Bat-projects, but not all of them survived the cutbacks at DC.

First, a one-shot story primarily featuring Batgirl.

Second, an "Elseworlds" graphic album casting Bruce Wayne as Hamlet, trying to decide if he should avenge the murder of his father. Unpublished.

One of my earliest friends in comics - he was already an idol - was Archie Goodwin. I followed him as a writer on four different series. Archie eventually died of cancer, and for several years before that he was struggling with the disease. When he asked me to do a 3-issue run in LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT, I made it a tribute to him. "The Primal Riddle" is Life, and what it means to be alive.

A book called BATMAN CHRONICLES had two stories as a bookend, but only one got published. The first, concerning Batman's first few nights on the job, is called "Got a Date with an Angel." The second, concerning Batman's latest few nights on the job, is called "Gotta Dance with the Devil"; it features the Joker. This project was very similar to AVENGERS CELESTIAL QUEST in that it engendered a flood of mail from people thrilled to see something outside the box again, but here, a lot of it came from other pros in-house.

Finally, I wrote a "prestige" album introducing a new Mad Hatter which was a poster child for where things have gone with comics. First, "Top Hat and Nails" was a complete album. Then I was asked to split it in two so it could go in BATMAN. Then it was knit back together to go in CHRONICLES. Then CHRONICLES got cancelled. Now it sits on a shelf, even though a top Bat-editor called it "the best Batman in the last five years."

All I can do is write 'em.

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