The September 2023 BOF Mailbag

By
Bill "Jett" Ramey
-
333

Welcome to another edition of the “award-winning” BOF Mailbag for September of 2023!  Thanks for all the questions and let’s roll! – Bill “Jett” Ramey

What are your Top 5 favorite single-issue Batman comics?

JETT SAYS:  Oh man, SO many.  But, I’ll go with…

DETECTIVE COMICS #27 (1939), “The Case of the Chemical Syndicate”

BATMAN #1 (1940), “The Joker” / “The Joker Returns”

BATMAN #47 (1948), “The Origin of Batman”

BATMAN #251 (1973), “The Joker’s Five-Way Revenge”

DETECTIVE COMICS #439 (1974), “Night of the Stalker”

Considering the SAG-AFRA strikes, the Depp-Heard shitshow, and the rumors of poor test screenings, do you think AQUAMAN 2 gets delayed until 2024? Are you expecting the film to flop, just like every single DCEU film since BIRDS OF PREY?

JETT SAYS: No.  However, it’s going to be interesting to see how it does since its predecessor made $1 billion+ worldwide (though most of the box office — $813.4 million — came from overseas).  If it flames out, then it’s going to be more lend more credence to the belief that DC on film (other than solo Batman) is a dead brand.

JETT SAYS: Great idea…got it on the list of our “Rank “em/Faves” shows!

Given we actually get to see Matt Reeves complete his ‘Epic Crime Saga” with THE BATMAN SAGA, once it is over will you continue to bang the drum for Batman on film, pass it onto a potential trustee BOF Family (fellow site contributors) or retire the whole thing completely having fulfilled the mission to get a great bunch of live-action Batman films made since 1998?

JETT SAYS: Though I’ve had some moments where I thought about shutting BOF down — especially in recent years seeing how much of a clusterf*ck online fandom and fan media now become, I plan to keep on BOF’ing ’til I can’t do it anymore.  Probably.

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What movies do you think will inspire THE BATMAN sequel the way CHINATOWN and others inspired Reeves with THE BATMAN?

JETT SAYS: Well, I’m not sure, to be honest.  I could pretend like I know, but I don’t play that BS game.  With CHINATOWN (and some other films and comics like BATMAN: EGO), I knew for a fact that they influenced Matt Reeves.  With all that said, I suspect that a lot of the stuff that influenced Reeves with THE BATMAN will continue to influence THE BATMAN SAGA and its “Epic. Crime. Saga.” going forward.

If you were to write a Batman story, what would you have as a basic concept?

JETT SAYS: While I fancy myself an amateur Batman historian, I certainly don’t fancy myself any kind of a Batman creative.  But I will say my basic concept would be grounded, gritty, solo Batman with no Robin or any other kid sidekicks.

JETT SAYS: You’ll find my answers here…

JETT SAYS: Yeah, it’s a little alarming — IF he really believes all that.  However, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if it was just a massive troll by JG.  To be honest, I am a bit concerned about how this new DCU Batman — who is supposed to debut in THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD — is going to be portrayed.  Based on what we know about it — Damien Wayne Robin, the Batman Family, Bat-God/Fanstical Batman, Grant Morrison-influenced, etc. — doesn’t sound like my cup of tea.

JETT SAYS: If there were no strikes and THE BATMAN was still set to start filming in November as originally planned, we would’ve heard a lot about THE BATMAN: PART II by now — especially when it comes to casting and characters.  With that said, if the strikes end soon and the film goes in front of cameras in early 2024 (March, allegedly), we’ll be getting all that news later this Fall or very early next year.

JETT SAYS: Nope.  I don’t think Matt Reeves is doing it like those 4 Bat-Films between 1989-1997 where a “love interest” was a must.  Also, I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Zoe Kravitz’s Selina Kyle — though I’m not sure if Catwoman will return to Gotham in PART II.  It would be cool to see Bruce Wayne’s original girlfriend, Julie Madison, have a role in the upcoming sequel — and she doesn’t have to be “The Love Interest” either.

Can you see a whole movie based on Clayface? I can definitely see him as a supporting character, the deformed actor who uses prosthetic makeup to disguise himself. But can that be the main villain?

JETT SAYS: There have been legit reports from the trades of a Clayface film that’s part of Reeves’ Batverse/THE BATMAN SAGA being “in development”, but I’m not sure if that’s going to end up happening.  Talked a lot about Clayface/Basil Karlo on the latest BOF Social Hour, so check that out.

To your knowledge, was there ever a time when Harvey Dent was supposed to be in THE BATMAN? Was he ever in any drafts of the film—Matt Reeves film, not the version Affleck was developing?

JETT SAYS: I’m not sure, but I don’t think so.  Gil Colson was a weak and corrupt D.A. as was most of the rest of the D.A.’s office.  Thus, a do-gooder like Harvey Dent wouldn’t fit in that group.  But maybe he was actually a low-level assistant district attorney that we just haven’t met yet.  Perhaps Reeves was holding back on using Harvey Dent until THE BATMAN: PART II or maybe even THE PENGUIN?  I do think it makes perfect sense for him to show up here soon in THE BATMAN SAGA.

JETT SAYS: Of course! You know some dipshit would actually believe that LMAO! 😂

After THE FLASH failure do you think Gunn and Safran keep Muschietti on for THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD?

JETT SAYS: I don’t think the failure of THE FLASH was Andy Muschietti’s fault — it was D.O.A. because of the DCEU stuff prior to its release last June.  Certainly, it’s possible that Gunn/Safran move on from Muchietti, but not likely. We shall see.

JETT SAYS: I’m sure both will be tweaked…but hopefully not much.  I absolutely dig it how Bruce makes all of his Bat-stuff.

Do you think Robin would work in the Matt Reeves Batman world or should they just reserve Robin for THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD?

JETT SAYS: Talked about “Robin” in both on the latest BOF Social Hour. I will say that I think “Robin” is tricky for the world that Reeves has created for THE BATMAN SAGA, but I’m sure MR knows the importance of Dick Grayson in Batman history and mythos.  I do find it interesting that the new DCU is going with Damien as Robin and not Dick Grayson.  Maybe Reeves wanted to use DG?

Did we ever find out why Reeves almost walked away from THE BATMAN?

JETT SAYS: He had a very specific vision for a Batman movie and it didn’t involve a fantastical Batman and a shared universe.  WB wanted him to simply “fill in,” if you will, for Ben Affleck and use his script.  Thankfully, WB got smart and allowed Reeves to make the film(s) he wanted to make.

If you had the money, smarts, and attitude would you become Batman?

JETT SAYS: Isn’t that one of the greatest things about Batman?  It’s probably why he’s arguably the most popular comic book hero.  We all think that if we had all that stuff, we *might* be able to be Batman.  He’s grounded, he’s relatable, and he’s human.

JETT SAYS: Heard nothing about the release date…hopefully soon!

Choose your mode of transportation: Tumbler, Batpod or The Bat?

JETT SAYS: The Bat, hands down.

JETT SAYS: Been wanting to see Hugo Strange in a live-action movie for a long time.  So yeah, absolutely.  My question is how would that character fit into the world of THE BATMAN SAGA and the story that Reeves is telling?  Maybe if the Arkham series on MAX happens, he’ll first show up there.

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