6 Wildest Batman Stories Never Published

3. Batman, Prince Of Denmark

Steve Englehart has his bona fides as a Bat-writer, and he came up with a fascinating concept: turn Hamlet into Batman. The two do have some intriguing features in common: a fixation on murdered parents, a background of wealth and privilege which they never fully enjoy but employ in their dark missions, a tendency to talk out loud to themselves, a poor track record with romance and emotional availability. So it's kind of amazing that Englehart's pitch didn't turn out more engaging. The biggest surprise is that in his version, the Joker-like Jester is actually a benevolent agent, guiding Hamlet to his ultimate destiny.

Alone in a deserted turret of the castle, Hamlet calls himself a coward and berates himself. The Jester comes and talks with him, advising him to take his adoption of a false persona a step farther. If he, Hamlet, can't make himself act, why not "become" a man dedicated to action? "They'll still know who I am," complains Hamlet. Then why not wear a mask? Something designed to show those who encounter you that you're no one to be trifled with? Something to strike fear in their hearts! At that moment, a bat flies through the turret window. And so is born€the idea for the Bat-man.

But Hamlet still doesn't do anything. "To be the Bat, or not to be€"

Problem is, that destiny is nothing if not predictable: Hamlet's tale sticks pretty close to the play before veering away just in time to avoid any killing that could be said to be by Hamlet's own hand. (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are fine!) At which point he becomes Batman and swears to bring his uncle and anyone who supports him to justice! And, um, that's the end.

Odds Of Being Good:35%. Nothing about actually bringing his uncle to justice, or how the most effective way for a prince to fight crime might be to, you know, become king? Englehart is a fine writer and it's possible he could rework this a bit. Plus, working from Shakespeare isn't a bad place to start. It's just that pitch itself is really puzzling. Odds Of Being Published:30%. Some mashup of Batman and Hamlet does seem like the sort of thing DC will publish eventually, though whether it'll be based on this pitch or even involve Englehart is uncertain.