Letters to Batman Issue 1

this was kick butt from beginning to end. I am really enjoying the creation of this end of the DC2 universe.
Excellent job.

brian

Fun story Chuck!

I like the fact that when Bruce is in Batman mode the writing becomes 1st person. I didn’t like when it switched to Clark’s POV, though, because it went from Bruce’s POV to Clark’s without much warning. I was still reading it with Kevin Conroy’s voice in my head (as I do whenever I read any Batman) until the line ‘…seeing Bruce Wayne just leaving through the back.’ As I read the lines prior to that I thought that Bruce was just overhearing what Lois & Clark were saying. Maybe I should have noticed sooner, but I didn’t.

I liked Metallo’s introduction… very different.

Alfred & Bruce’s reparte is… odd… fun, but odd. I get the feeling they are more friends than employer/employee of father/son. It’s a different take on it & one that I’ll need to get used to. Bruce seems even playful. My thought behind this (and correct me if I’m wrong) is that we’re seeing a much younger Bruce (in the vein of the current ‘The Batman’ cartoon) and whatever happens to Robin & Batgirl that’s been hinted at in Detective, Teen Titans & The Outsiders, in the 6 years after this tale, is what makes him the harder edged Batman.

All in all, this was fun. Can’t wait to see Batman confront Lex. That was pretty stupid of Lex to shoot something at the plane personally… you’d think he’d hire someoone to do that for him!

As Charlie said, he has a unique writing style (though I think he called it "weird", which works, too), and in my effort to impose some editorial clarity upon the mix of POV, tense and format, I only added to the confusion! In the future, I will avoid doing this, and let the story stand on its own (which it can, quite admirably!).
Sorry, folks!

It's good, but I feel like it's losing cohesion -- we're bouncing all over the place, rushing through some scenes. I liked you sneaking in "Captain Savage" (what, no airline jobs in Opal City? ). I'll stick with it, though.

Not a bad issue. I like seeing Batman a little unsure of himself when faced with confronting Superman the first time. It sounds like you have a long planned out and fully engrossing story planned. Look forward to reading more.

oOOOOOHHHHH the red hood, you may like detective comics come issue 6...

Oh! And if you want to continue to read my books (ha!), check out The Flash and The Question Quarterly! And also Tales of the Green Lantern special

I want to know what you think.

Theredhood, what my pal is trying to say is that this is the early adventures of batman before he becomes the demented old sociopath that we all know and love. We can take creative liberty on him because it is the universe we have "built" up. Consider this the calm before the storm. I don't know if you realize this or not, but the first arc or so is actually SIX YEARS PRIOR! Six years before bats has really been put through the ringer, so forgive chuck if he doesnt present him as a tormented soul, the guy isn't tormented YET. As for them being eh.... flamboyant, i don't see it, but the comics version has gotten WAAY worse. While we respect your opinion, you have to understand that this is a few fans trying their best to write the entire universe as they imagine it could be and if we are off the mark sometimes, it's understandable. But come on? "Brokeback Metropolis"? Tired. Hopefully we do something you DO like but if not, it's good to know where you stand.

haha, well "Brokeback Metropolis" was just a joke...

first of all, i will say that one thing i do like about this site is the overwhelming positivity & goodwill b/w the members, which is quite refreshing coming from the regular DC boards--tho it sorta seems like most of the posters know each and are friends.

i'm certainly not trying to rain on anyone's parade or be rude, but...

i was giving honest opinions. i think this is interesting: i've never read fanfiction before. the concept of the site intrigues me, tho there are some things i think may be misdirected energy. i'm a grad student in english, working towards becoming a professor and literary critic...i also have very specific visions of these characters that i've been reading since childhood, which i will of course defend. i think my "love" comment still applies. i, indeed, love the batman character...but the most important thing is to be HONEST about who he is. there are many fans, whether its in their reaction to stories or writing stories, are so enamored with the character that their vision becomes obscured. its like you've got a girl/boyfriend that treats you like crap and everyone can see it but you. i think thats a real danger and concern.

i'll continue poking around here and reading during free time, but i will give my honest reaction. i'm a GTA and am accustomed to giving critiques on writing: hopefully its used to challenge and improve, tho i also recognize the importance of positive reinforcement. so here's one thing so i dont come off TOO negative: you guys write great ad copy promoting your stories...very professional.

as for the gay stuff: trust me, i'm not a homophobe it was just a joke. i'm sorry, but the whole batman/superman encounter seemed like "love at first sight" to me. funny thing is, as i was reading it, i couldnt help but start wishing thats the direction you'd go. i mean, you've got free reign, so why not? even if thats not something you're interested in (which i doubt it would be) i also think this site would be a great vehicle to explore the homoeroticism of batman, something thats long been there but DC is leery/afraid to address in any real capacity.

ps you do mean that alfred WAS his legal guardian, correct? i get that this origin story is "six years earlier" and all, but surely he's not 17? and i certainly don't like that, but please please please don't have bruce going around calling alfred "dad."

Like GLantern133, I'd like to thank theredhood for his honest feedback, and for his observation that we really do try to cultivate a positive atmosphere here at the DC2--- and the amazing thing is, we are as diverse a bunch of people as you've ever met, scattered across the US and indeed, the whole world. We weren't friends when we started this enterprise (just a bunch of like-minded acquaintences, migrating from different boards, including the infamous DCMBs), but we certainly are now--- and we look forward to finding more!

I hope you give us a deeper look than just these two titles (of which I am very proud), and let us know your opinion of the DC2 as a homogenous piece of work.

And while I graciously concede that we invite criticism by posting our fanfiction, I would remind any reader that (unlike the writers at DC who get paid for this), we do all of this on our own time, and for our own enjoyment, encouraging others to do the same, but are in no way responsible to any interpretation of these characters that is not our own (and while I've never been to Brokeback Mountain, I am a "bright and shiny" individual that likes his superheroes, um, heroic--- though there is a place for the grim and gritty, as well). But that's the beauty of the DC2! If you'd like to promote your vision of Batman or Superman (though I'd prefer not to send them to Brokeback Mountain, either), then, well, we would love to have you submit a proposal to write an arc!

Thanks again, theredhood, and we hope to see you around for a while!

Just because Alfred is Bruce's legal guardian, doesn't mean that Bruce goes around calling him pops or whatever. Thomas Wayne will always be his dad, and Alfred will forever be his trusted butler who raised him from the age of eight. Bruce/Batman is 24 in this book, and 30 in the others. Hope that helps!

Cool story, the Batman-Metropolis Crossover was great, and excellent cover.