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| By Chris J. Thompson |
There’s been a great deal of skepticism amongst the comics community about Batman Live.
Many of my friends grimace when the topic is raised and some media outlets have been less than kind in their commentary on the subject. I’ve been guilty of a degree of cynicism myself, and it’s easy to understand why … there really hasn’t been anything like this before.
People feel very attached to, and protective of, the character of Batman.
For over 70 years he has remained a cultural icon with worldwide recognition and Batman comics are still among the highest-selling books each month. Many of us fell in love with Batman when we were young – whether it be through the comics, films or campy ’60s TV series – and most kids can tell the tale of putting on a cape and pretending they were Batman. It’s this kind of loyalty which can inspire the feelings some people have towards Batman Live, but it’s all a little misguided and misplaced.
Why do I say that?
Well, this week I attended the European press launch for Batman Live in central London, and I was reminded just what this whole thing was all about. It’s easy to forget really …
Sometimes we’re so close and feel so passionately about something that we forget the bigger picture.
What is Batman Live really? Why are they putting on this show? The answer, as the people behind it reaffirmed, is to create a family experience. This isn’t about Johnny Fanboy or Billy Continuity, it’s about creating a family experience that parents and children can enjoy together. Sure, big kids can enjoy it too, but it’s not just geared at us – and that’s something we find all too easy to forget.
The same debate has raged around Doctor Who for some time now.
Traditionally Doctor Who was a family show intended for kids and most of us who love the show now got into it when we were young. Yet somehow there are still fans who manage to forget that fact and begrudge that Doctor Who hasn’t grown up with him. Of course it has, and Doctor Who is ‘cool’ once again, but there’s still a debate about it being a family show as opposed to something for the fanboys.
The same thing is happening with Batman Live, and a lot of us are simply too close to recognise it.
I’d love nothing more than for kids to see this show and feel how I felt … To want to rush home and read some comic books or don a cape and cowl to run around the backyard. More than anything, that’s what we should all want. Who can begrudge a child that opportunity or excitement? Comic readers are, on the whole, an aging and dying breed.
In an age where film, TV, video games and the Internet all clamour for children’s hearts and minds, I think it’s refreshing to think that something like Batman Live could spark their imagination in a different way. I’d love to see kids walking into comic stores again and watching that love affair begin afresh for someone. It makes me stop and appreciate things more, and it ensures our future as a fanbase.
So, what did the people behind the show actually have to say about it?
Not a lot, in some ways. There’s a definite desire to retain an element of surprise and keep something for the opening night on July 19 in Manchester, but they did share a little about the ethos and heart behind it. Seeing Geoff Johns and Jim Lee on the overhead screens speaking passionately about the project was a small reassurance – they get Batman, they get why he works, and they just want to share that with a wider (and perhaps younger) audience.
The calibre of talent behind the show is what really impressed me. Creative Director Anthony van Laast may not seem an obvious choice for this show, but his rich background in theatre and film lend him a much needed credibility when spearheading this kind of project. Set and props designer Es Devlin was also a real eye-opener – she’s created powerful set pieces for musical acts like Lady Gaga, Pet Shop Boys, Take That and MUSE – and right now she’s also working on the Closing Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games. These aren’t fanboys made good, but they are creative individuals with a genuine desire and passion to make this work. Perhaps that’s what we need more than pandering fanboys?
Of course, the biggest thrill for me was finding out that Allan Heinberg was the writer behind Batman Live. Working from an idea by Alan Burnett and Stan Berkowitz, Heinberg has expanded upon that, fleshed it out and created the script on which the show hangs. Beyond all the spectacle and effects, the writing will still make or break the show. In lesser hands I’d be concerned (and with good reason), but I can’t help being more than a little relieved knowing Allan’s behind it.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Allan Heinberg for about 20 minutes after the main presentation and probing a little further into Batman Live and his various other projects. Fortunately I was able to record our discussion and the audio will be available to Forces of Geek readers through The Orbiting Pod comics podcast next Wednesday (www.orbitalcomics.com). While that may not completely assuage your fears about Batman Live, I hope it will remind you what’s at the show’s core … a family experience everyone can enjoy.
I don’t want to sound like a sycophant, as there are still so many things which could go wrong, but I’d much rather remain positive and hope for the best – especially to counterbalance the cynical way some people have portrayed the show. I want it to be good. I want kids to enjoy it. I want to see the next generation of fans enter the shops and pick up the torch.
More than anything, I want to see comics thrive … for more people to join the Forces of Geek army and march on.
And, when the time comes, I want an invite to the show so I can see if I was right.
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