Batman seems to be everywhere in the news today. I can't surf the web without seeing a new article about the character. Be it about a Batman movie reboot, the coming Batman vs. Superman movie, the Batman: Arkham Origins video game, or the newly announced Gotham TV series, The Dark Knight is a hot topic.
Indeed, he always has been. Bruce Wayne's alter-ego is just one of those amazing characters that can transcend a medium. It was no shock to me when I turned on my computer to find messages asking me about what I thought about the idea of this show. So my thoughts?
BRING IT! A film/series that centres the Gotham Police Department is something that I (and many others) have been seeking for ages now. Granted many of us when thinking about it, thought we would get it in a world inhabited by Batman. Last week we found out that Gotham, a FOX tv series that is set before the time of The Bat, will feature Jim Gordon in the spotlight. Am I disappointed? Not really. The pre-Batman era Gotham City is a lot more interesting than some people may think. In the comics it is often brought up that the crazier members of Batman's Rogue's Gallery exist because of Batman. And this statement would be true. That said, Bruce Wayne didn't Bat-Suit-Up just to avenge his parents. When first Bruce decided what he was going to do, he knew that Gotham City was dying. The criminals that ruled the city were a cancer, and his parents worked hard for the people of that city. Cleaning up the city was a legacy passed down to him, and he was going to see it through. Bruce Wayne became Batman because of the crime that had already existed in the city. When people talk about what new Batman film or whatever is coming out, the first thing people think about is... What villain is in it? When it comes to this particular character, the villain is what makes the story evolve. It's what makes the difference between a simple bank robery, and a story worthy of being told. I think it will come of no surprise that the bulk of the characters we all think of when we think of the character, will not be making an appearance. That means that we should not be expecting: The Joker, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, Catwoman, Clayface, Mr. Freeze, etc. These characters are iconic to Batman. Yes, it's true some of them can show up as Pamela Ivesly, Jonathan Crane, Selina Kyle, Basil Karlo, and Victor Friese... but why tease us? It would only be a disservice to the characters. Maybe mention they exist, if that? The CW's Arrow gets it right when it does it's little easter egg's. So, who is going to be in this series? Who is going to go against the GPD? Well first you have to understand the continuity? That this takes place before Bruce becomes Batman means something... we are not going by the standard "Year One" continuity that we have become acustomed. Why? Because Jim Gordon is already in Gotham well before Batman. This means we get to play fast and loose with character portrayals and time lines if it fits a good story. Personally, I'd like to think that this also marks the beginning of a shared DC Universe, being a prequel to it all. In that, My assumption is that in this time Bruce is still gone, training to be the man he will become. I am about to give you a list of ten villains that must be in this series. Moreover, this list is going to be of villains I want to see in the first season. There are so many that came to mind, but the ones that I found just make sense to me. There are some villains that I think need to be on it as their civilian persona. These include: ADA Harvey Dent, Roman Sionis, Edward Nashton, Arnold Wesker. As an honorable mention: Hamilton Hill, Branden, Luigi and Sal Maroni. Not that I think they won't be in it. In fact, I'd be shocked if they weren't... Just these aren't the characters you want to see. So let's get to them in no particular order.