The Bullpen

[GLewis]

Not to long ago, in another thread, someone mentioned that the X-Men would be better off, in their own universe. I thought about this for about five seconds and agreed wholeheartedly. They don't need to exist in the mainstream Marvel universe. The idea is big enough by itself. In fact, when ever there is a cross over with a non mutant book, it seems out of place.

This has got me wondering about other characters this would be true of. Would Batman be better off if he existed in his own universe? How about Superman or Spider-Man?

Curious as to what you guys think.

[lugaru]

People love the Batman that defeats epic galactic menaces and outsmarts cosmic conquerors, but I hate that character. JLA kind of ruins the Bat for me. I'm happiest when he is fighting mobsters, tracking serial killers, doing detective work in the lab and losing a battle from time to time.

[Jay Tomio]

Batman, to me, effectively seemed to be in his own universe under Denny O'Neil and for that matter Spider-man did to across its three titles. Hell, even the X-titles felt that way.

I don't think the door has to be closed completely to make this happen. I think the idea of a larger and shared world is great in itself, but how much one uses it should be flexible. I just don't think I've ever experienced it was problem beyond bad storytelling, which could occur regardless of proximity or the existence of it.

[wiezorek]

Here's to hoping that Xombi is better left out of the rebooted DC, but still continuing!

Seriously, I would go along with the Batman line of thinking, but I have on occasion liked the Bat outsmarting cosmic level threats.

Constantine would be my number one pick of staying out of a shared universe with the rest of the DC, we'll see how that goes.

The Punisher always has a hard time fitting in with the rest of the MU. I've always thought he worked better in the Ennis / Aaron Max (and the Ennis MK). What Aaron is doing right now is exactly what I want from a Punisher book. He still gets to fight MU villains, but it is part of its own little universe. Kingpin is not DD's Kingpin. It just works better for me that way.

[DGoodhart]

And to just get a little lighter...

While I like Captain Marvel and the Shazam characters in the DC Universe, they are definitely characters that do work well outside of it....

[Luke_Sims]

Batman! I don't want to see him teaming up with a bunch of super powered people. I can't even stand this Batman Inc concept. Seems out of character to me.

I want him in Gotham, solving crime, taking out crazy bad guys etc.......

Daredevil would work better as a Max title.

With Marvel, it'd be better if most were out of NY, that'd make things seem more separate.

[Dean S.]

Batman....I heartily concur with the sentiment that he's best when he's fighting gangsters.  Sure aliens can land in Gotham occasionally and he'd have to fight them.  But the contrast between he abilities and the amount of damage he can take when he's the Dark Knight and when he's the Superhero it too big for me.

[slurmo]

xombi.

swamp thing (now in dc proper)

Legion of Supes

[Doug!]

xombi.

swamp thing (now in dc proper)

Legion of Supes

Exactly, the Legion takes place in the future.  They really shouldn't be affected by 'current' DC continuity unless it fits with their M/O (Brainy and crew go back to ensure that events play out like they are supposed too).

Now, take back what you said about X-S and Gates in the other thread. 

[john_k]

swamp thing (now in dc proper)

I thought Alan Moore's run in DC proper was great; the capes were present but mostly impotent.

[jack239]

batman

[Dotanuki]

People love the Batman that defeats epic galactic menaces and outsmarts cosmic conquerors, but I hate that character. JLA kind of ruins the Bat for me. I'm happiest when he is fighting mobsters, tracking serial killers, doing detective work in the lab and losing a battle from time to time.

This, more or less. Batman's presence in Justice League: Generation Lost wasn't awful but I enjoy Batman the most when he's avenging his parents against Gotham mobsters, keeping the Joker from dumping cyanide in water mains, etc.