Yeah, but those (and Outsiders) aren't strictly Batverse titles, they're larger DCverse titles where he plays a role (and/or Batmans Adventures Outside of His General Area).
Outsiders! Knew I was forgetting one. And yeah, that's a fair point, but really, every now and again you need to step back and look at how directly he influences such a large portion of the DCU. It's kind of staggering.
Is Wonder Woman the one with the least influence?
Hmmm. Her own title. JLA and Titans (through Cassie.) Hippolyta was in JSA, but that was a long time ago and, besides, she's dead.
Yeah, I'd say so.
Hell, I think Ollie's got more influence than her, or as much.
His title, BoP, Occasional Group Titles, Outsiders, and many previous incarnations of T* Titans.
Oh, and YJ, even if Cissie's momma was lying.
I'm a Cyclops. Of course, I took the test in the person of Jessica Pierce, from
Kid Dynamo
but she can answer questions about powers and stuff better than I can.
Well, Ollie has an entire family . . . surely that counts for something?
How about the Flash and Green Lantern families -- shouldn't that indicate more influence? Or just complicated histories?
How about the Flash and Green Lantern families -- shouldn't that indicate more influence? Or just complicated histories?
Well, size and influence aren't the same thing. I mean, most of the current superteams have representatives of some or all of the major "super" families on them. It's kind of fun to look at it like dynasties:
JSA: Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Flash (Jay Garrick), Wonder Woman (Hippolyta, deceased) other golden age and legacy heroes.
JLA: (Current): Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman (Diana), Flash, Green Lantern (John Stewart) and other silver age heroes.
Outsiders: Nightwing (Batman), Arsenal (Green Arrow), Jade (Green Lantern) along with other legacy heroes.
Teen Titans: Robin (Batman), Superboy (Superman), Wonder Girl (Wonder Woman), Kid Flash (Flash).
So really, the Flash family's really the only one that runs straight through--From Jay Garrick to Bart Allen. The Bat family comes pretty close--although not reaching as far back, while the Green Lanterns don't have anyone in the youngest generation.
Wonder Woman's clan is a little sparse, what with her and Cassie really being the only ones active at the moment. The Superman family's numerous, but really, aside from Supes himself and Superboy, the rest are keeping to themselves these days.
Ollie Queen and Conner Hawke pretty much work as a unit these days, away from other super types, and I'd hesitate before saying Black Canary's under Ollie's "influence."
But really, the Flashes are probably the tightest-knit group as a whole, and all cling pretty tightly to their legacy (particularly to Jay Garrick and Barry Allen.)
The Bats, on the other hand, are the most co-ordinated, and their leader, Batman, is the most agendad. I doubt Robin or Nightwing are actively "keeping tabs" on their teams or any such, but I'm sure Bats is happy that people he trained play influential roles on each team--and I'd bet that, if he could, he'd get an "operative" on the JSA.
Of course, in a sidenote, I'd like to add that Batman was taught some of his fighting skills by none other than the JSA's Wildcat, so, really, Bats is following in his legacy.
I'm Storm.
So, I picked up Powers: Supergroup yesterday. Holy fucking shit, did that go from "very good" to "absolutely essential" fast. I especially like that this one assumes you're reading it closely enough not to need every little plot point spelled out for you. Also, the pacing was just superb; I spent most of the climactic fight scene as keyed up as I would with a particularly engrossing movie, and then found the rug pulled out from under me again with the follow-up. Wow.
So, I picked up Powers: Supergroup yesterday. Holy fucking shit, did that go from "very good" to "absolutely essential" fast.
Yeah, it's an amazing book. I've been working my way through the back issues, AIFG.
Also, the pacing was just superb; I spent most of the climactic fight scene as keyed up as I would with a particularly engrossing movie, and then found the rug pulled out from under me again with the follow-up.
Just wait till you get to "Anarchy" and "The Sellouts," dude. Bendis and Oeming deliver some chilling images.
LotDK? His book, and often the weakest of the titles in my view, because it seems to be the title where they shove all the ideas they can't really work into the other storylines. Sometimes good, often not so good.
Originally, this title was composed of stories outside of current Bat-continuity (there seemed to be a lot of "Year One" stories), so that creators could come aboard and write "the one Bat-story they wanted to do" without messing up the regular titles. It also served as a proving ground for new writers/artists, to see how well they fit the Bat-verse (with the thought that they may take over a main title down the road).
It is only recently that LOTDK has reflected on current continuity, now to the point where it is a direct participant in "War Games".
How big is Superman's title world?
As far as regular titles, not all that many. Actions Comics, Adventures of Superman, and Superman are the only monthly titles going. There was a fourh title, Superman, the Man of Steel that ran until last year (there will be a title called Lex Luthor, Man of Steel sometime in the near future, probably a mini-series). There is also Superman/Batman, and a large number of mini-series centered around Superman.
Superman: Birthright, Superman: Metropolis, and Superman: Secret Identity
are 3 recent ones.
Originally, this title was composed of stories outside of current Bat-continuity (there seemed to be a lot of "Year One" stories), so that creators could come aboard and write "the one Bat-story they wanted to do" without messing up the regular titles.
(The scary thing is, I kinda knew that already. Which may have been obvious.)
Oddly, I miss Chronicles. I'm not sure why I miss Chronicles, except that it had a couple of really good stories in its run.
Jeff, which Batbook do you like best? (Of the main Battitles, that is.)
