I'm very much looking forward to next year's "The Batman" film directed by Matt Reeves of Cloverfield and Planet of the Apes fame. Based on the first trailer, it'll feel like Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy with a new flare. And I really have faith Robert Pattinson will pull it off as the Caped Crusader and feel some people really need to let go of the Twilight hate, separate the actor from Edward, and give him a chance.
The new film will be set during Bruce Wayne's second year as Batman. In addition to newer material like Scott Snyder's "Zero Year" and Geoff Johns' "Earth One" series, inspiration for the film will be taken from classic Batman stories "Year One" and "The Long Halloween", much like the Nolan series. But there's one story Matt Reeves is drawing from that may have been overlooked by fans compared to other well known Batman tales.
"Batman: Ego" was a one-shot graphic novel released in 2000 written and drawn by the late Darwyn Cooke. With this story playing a part of what will be the next cinematic version of Batman, I decided to give it a look. And boy we are in for something quite different next year.
The story takes place from what I surmise to be around Bruce's fourth year as Batman. After capturing the Joker again, a physically and mentally exhausted Batman is on the hunt for one left over Joker thug he had previously interrogated, Buster Snibbs, while wondering if his crusade against crime is making any real difference. Batman catches up to Buster, who is fearful of the Joker inevitably escaping yet again and coming after him and his family for his betrayal. Not wanting to face the clown's wrath, Buster reveals he had already killed his family before taking his own life in front of Batman. Bruce is shaken by the act as he returns back to the Batcave and contemplates giving up the cowl. It's at this point Bruce's mind splits and he finds himself speaking to a monstrous form of Batman, as the two spend the rest of the book discussing the creation and ramifications of Batman and what the best possible path ahead should be.
And that's all I'm saying about the plot without delving too far into spoilers. "Batman: Ego" is a deep dive into Bruce Wayne's psyche done in a very creative way as he questions the pledge he made on his parents' graves. Such a concept will be new territory in terms of Batman movies when the 2022 film comes out. Sure we've seen Michael Keaton's Batman brooding and Christian Bale's Batman mourning over Rachel's death while being shaken by Joker's actions. But any insight into Keaton's Batman is subtle since much focus went to his villains and Bale's Batman was active for only a short time before his eight year retirement. When we meet Robert Pattinson's Batman, he'll already be a seasoned vigilante and the events of the film are sure to put him through the wringer. You know that one scene in the trailer where we see Pattinson's Bruce removing his mask in the Batcave and looking so defeated, hair disheveled and the eye make-up still on?
People have made the emo jokes over it, but after reading "Ego", I see more clearly where the film is going and how vulnerable Bruce may be feeling in this moment.
The writing is no doubt good, but the art is where the story really comes to life. Darwyn Cooke was regarded as one of the best artists in the comic industry, and "Ego" is no exception. Not only are Bruce's conversations with his Batman persona (whose design is simple yet unsettling) done in a dynamic way, but the scenes in the city and flashbacks give the story a very timeless quality. It reminds me a lot of "Batman: The Animated Series", which actually makes sense after finding out Cooke worked on storyboards for that and other shows set in the DC Animated Universe.
For Batman fans, "Ego" truly is recommended reading and I'm sorry I overlooked it for so long. Hopefully this story is a harbinger of the kind greatness we can expect from "Battinson".
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