'Bat-Mania' is bad for comic fans, and bad for creativity. Whilst it's undeniable that The Dark Knight has had an awful lot of critical successes that success has at times proven to be overbearing, with the character enjoying a renewed choke-hold over all avenues of DC entertainment from games, to film, and even comic books themselves. This is because Batman sells, and though the old DCAU certainly had its fair share of the pointy eared vigilante it gave plenty of space for other characters to thrive - as evidenced by the wide range of material provided in DC's Animated Original Movies. Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Superman and more all had titles to their names whilst DC's animated department was at its peak, but since then attempts to expand adaptations have all but faded into obscurity. Though Bruce Timm had indicated a wish to pursue features centred around Green Arrow, The Flash and The Teen Titans (the latter of which would've adapted Marv Wolfman's famed 'Judas Contract' to the small screen), DC's slate has been predisposed with Batman, Batman, and oh, more Batman. Perhaps the most frustrating thing about it is Warner's determination to use the name to sell stories not wholly dependant on the character - as is the case with the upcoming 'Batman: Bad Blood'. It's a shame that even when writers wish to make a film about Batwoman they feel the need to prefix Wayne's guise to the title, especially as animation presents the perfect opportunity for DC to expand their characters to different audiences.
Resident movie guy at WhatCulture who used to be Comics Editor. Thinks John Carpenter is the best. Likes Hellboy a lot. Can usually be found talking about Dad Movies on his Twitter at @EwanRuinsThings.
