Batman RIP

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts_and_culture/7753966.stm

Comic Batman reaches end of road
Bruce Wayne has fought crime in the comics since 1939
11-28-8

Warning: If you do not want to know about the plot of Batman RIP, stop reading now.

Batman's alter ego Bruce Wayne has apparently been killed off in the latest issue of the superhero comic.

Scottish writer Grant Morrison revealed earlier this week that Wayne would either retire or be killed in a clash with crime syndicate Black Glove.

The story - Batman RIP - sees Batman shot by villain Simon Hurt, who claims to be Wayne's father Dr Thomas Wayne.

The caped crusader first appeared in comics in 1939, and has spawned a 1960s TV series and a host of films.

The "death" of Wayne's father - shot alongside his mother by a robber when he was a boy - was the catalyst for the young industrialist to become the vigilante crime fighter Batman.

New Batman?

In the final scene, Hurt tries to escape in a helicopter after shooting Batman.

But the wounded superhero throws himself at the helicopter, causing it to crash. The comic story ends without a frame showing Wayne's body, however.

Morrison said earlier this week: "This is the end of Bruce Wayne as Batman. But, like I say, it's so much better than death.

"People have killed characters in the past but to me, that kind of ends the story. I like to keep the story twisting and turning.

"So what I am doing is a fate worse than death. Things that no-one would expect to happen to these guys at all."
Wayne may be dead, but publisher DC Comics shows no sign of bringing to an end the Batman franchise.

Morrison would not reveal who would be the new Batman, but the frontrunners include Tim Drake, who has been Robin since 1991, and Dick Grayson - the original Boy Wonder - who now protects Gotham City as Nightwing.

It is not the first time a superhero has met an unfortunate end in the comic world.

Last year, Captain America was killed after being shot by a sniper in New York.

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http://www.examiner.com/x-1739-Los-Angeles-TV-and-Film-Writing-Examiner~y2008m11d26-Is-it-Curtains-for-Batman-Hardly

Is it Curtains for Batman? Hardly
November 26, 2008
by Susan Marx, Los Angeles TV and Film Writing Examiner

Fear not... he'll be back

News Flash! Scottish Batman comic strip writer Grant Morrison announces that today's strip entitled "Batman Rip" marks the demise of the caped crusader! Oh no! Is it curtains for Batman? Hardly. Bruce Wayne may die, or appear to die and then return in some other form, but Batman is forever!

Clue #1: A sound byte fed to the media by Mr. Morrison himself:

What I am doing is a fate worse than death, things that no one would expect to happen to these guys at all

So, RIP (rest in peace) means something besides death. We already get that. I guess we'll have to read the next strip to find out how dark and dastardly his rest in peace will be. This is a classic publicity stunt wrapped in a "cliff hanger". You can bet they'll be counting the numbers who hit the strip today. And with luck, the story will go viral. Or maybe it already has...

Here are two more cents:

D.C. Comics (which is owned by Warner Brothers) is pursuing the rumored storyline of having numerous D.C. superheros together in one film and this is setting us up for it. The death of the megabudget superhero ensemble pic Justice League (also a WB venture) a few months ago clinches a possible D.C. Universe ensemble pic to rival Marvel's plans for The Avengers, which will feature IronMan, Captain America and The Hulk in 2011.

What's most interesting to me here is watching the starmaker machinery in motion. Just how totally CAN the marketing gurus manipulate the masses into buying more movie tickets and memorabilia? And don't forget, The Dark Knight dvd is out on BluRay disc December 2! You gotta love it. They're going for the gold.

Morrison's announcement (which was most likely dictated to him by Warner Brothers mid-level management who had it dictated to him by an anonymous but obvious Warner Brothers kingpin) couldn't come at a better time. It's Thanksgiving weekend and this is right on the heels of the record-breaking Batman feature The Dark Knight . It also coincides perfectly with other strategically placed media blurbs about the storyline for the sequel "under wraps". If it IS curtains for Batman, then this...

Clue #2: Batman is going to need some serious help from his friends. If you ask me, he's prepping a standing ovation.

The real story is the rivalry between studio heads at Paramount (who has Marvel in their corner) and Warner Brothers (who owns D.C.) Looks like they're going to duke it out in 2011.