What You Need To Know About Grant Morrison's Batman Run, One Of The Key Comics Behind James Gunn's DC Universe
There is a new DC cinematic universe on the horizon, and there is plenty to be excited about. For one, Gunn promises to "elevate" DC writers and make sure scripts are ready before cameras start rolling, which already feels like a game-changer for superhero movies. We also got a slate announcement with a surprising variety to it, with movies and shows of very different tones all belonging to the same universe.
Arguably the most exciting part of the announcement was Gunn's general enthusiasm for comic books. Not only did he name-drop specific books (that later sold out in great numbers), but many of the titles in the slate are inspired by iconic comic-book runs — hopefully in a more direct way than most movies until now, which just bastardize the source material until it is unrecognizable. Sure, as I've argued before, all of this is already done in the animated DC movies, which offer variety, an interconnected universe, and also direct adaptations of iconic storylines.
One of the key comics that will influence Gunn's new DC universe is Grant Morrison's "Batman" run, which inspired the upcoming "The Brave and the Bold." Morrison's is widely considered one of the best runs of all time for the character, so before we get yet another Caped Crusader, here's everything you need to know about Grant Morrison's "Batman" comics.
A great source of inspiration
Grant Morrison's "Batman" run felt rather groundbreaking. The issues did many great things — key among these was the celebration of the character's entire history and the canonization of it all. From Batman's violent start in the '30s to his weird, psychedelic '60s phase, to the gritty and sexy bachelor era of the '70s and into the very messed up and edgy '90s. All of it happened, and all of it is part of Batman's biography.
Indeed, Morrison grabbed references and influences from even the most obscure corners of the DC universe. They were not above getting weird with Batman, with things like Bat-cow, The Batman of Zur-en-arrh, or the fifth-dimensional Bat-Mite.
Then there's Damian Wayne, the future of DC and one of its most exciting new elements. Morrison didn't just give Bruce Wayne a kid, they gave a bigger focus to the entire Bat-family. Nightwing and Damian Wayne's relationship became a highlight of DC comics, but there was also Damian and Tim Drake fighting over the right to consider themselves Bruce Wayne's son.
Perhaps more importantly, Morrison acknowledges that batman is a symbol more than a man, and they put the idea that "Batman works alone" to rest by showing how Batman inspires other heroes and collaborates with others. In "Batman Inc." we see Bruce Wayne assemble an international team of heroes he himself has inspired. No matter what he goes through; no matter if he dies, even after he dies, Batman always comes back. As Morrison themselves wrote in their final "Batman" issue, "Batman never dies. it never ends. It probably never will."
Hopefully more than lip service
Of course, Morrison's run depended on two big ideas: having the entire history of Batman be part of the canon and having a rather long time to tell the story. Though Gunn is reportedly looking to cast young actors in order to have them inhabit the characters across multiple media for years and years to come, and even if it is hard to imagine the entire run covered by movies, there is room to play here.
The addition of Damian Wayne is a phenomenal start because it is bound to bring about the rest of the Bat-family. Through them, we can finally see DC bring some levity to the Caped Crusader, some funny friction between father and son. More than anything, we can finally have a Batman who is not alone, who has someone he cares about other than Alfred.
We have already seen a Batman that is old and tired of everything, but here is an opportunity to take Morrison's love and appreciation for the entire Batman mythos and translate it into a movie that has a multifaceted Batman. He has seen the worst humanity has to offer, but he is not only edgy and gritty, he is weird and funny, he is edgy and violent, but he is more than just one thing. He is Batman.