You Shouldn't Have Said That

"I never understood why they call Batman using the Bat-Signal," John said, sprawled across the couch.

Matt and I exchanged a glance from where we sat on the other couch. I was in the middle of a mission in Mass Effect 3, controller in hand, the screen filled with the chaos of a battle against the Reapers.

John shifted a bit, looking at us with a curious expression. "I mean, wouldn't it just be easier to text him or something?" he added.

Matt looked genuinely appalled at John's suggestion, his face twisting into a frown.

I sighed and paused the game. "The Bat-Signal isn't just about calling Batman, John. It's about sending a message. It's meant to strike fear into the hearts of Gotham's criminals—let them know he's coming."

Matt nodded, chiming in, "Yeah, and also, I'm pretty sure they do text him. The Bat-Signal is linked to his Batphone by Bluetooth."

John sat up, eyes widening with interest. "Wait, is that actually in the comics?"

Matt shook his head solemnly. "Nah, it's my headcanon."

John let out a laugh, and we joined in. "Hey, Danny," he said, smirking. "Maybe you should add that to the movie. You know, make Batman more modern."

I shook my head with an amused smile and unpaused the game, my focus returning to Commander Shepard.

"Honestly, I blame you for getting me into Mass Effect," John said as he sprawled out again. "The ending bummed me out, man."

I nodded, already anticipating where his rant was headed.

"I mean, that's it?" John continued, throwing his hands up in frustration. "All those choices we made, all those branching plotlines—and all the endings are practically the same!"

Matt snickered, turning his head towards John. "Hey, the colors were different. That's something, right?"

John groaned, but we both laughed, and I added, "Look, the ending might be weak, but it's all about the journey, not the destination. And the journey's pretty damn fun."

Matt leaned over to grab his laptop off the coffee table, muttering, "You know, people are still talking about that IGN interview you did, Danny."

I looked over at him, a little curious. "Is it bad or good?"

Matt gave a small shrug as he scrolled further down the screen. "Mixed bag, I guess. Most of it is speculation about the movies, but... yeah, looks like some folks weren't too happy with your comments about the fandom."

I raised an eyebrow. "What comments about the fandom?" I had no idea what he was talking about.

Matt spun the laptop around towards me, his face showing a hint of amusement. "Take a look."

I set my controller down, my curiosity piqued, and took the laptop from him.

r/DCComics

Daniel Adler Talks DCU, Invincible, and Fandoms in Exclusive IGN Interview

Link to interview: IGN Exclusive: Daniel Adler Talks Batman, DC Universe, and Future Projects

Just finished reading this interview with Daniel Adler over at IGN. There's some fascinating stuff in there about the upcoming DCU movies, particularly the approach to Batman Begins and more. A few takeaways from the interview:

Adler emphasizes that Batman Begins will aim for comic book accuracy while also grounding the story in Bruce Wayne's early days as Batman.He talks about the key characters, including Ra's al Ghul, who will be portrayed in a way that's closer to his comic book origins. Immortality and the Lazarus Pits? It seems like Adler wants to stay true to the essence of the character.There's a new character being introduced—Rachel Dawes—who is said to be important to Bruce's early life.Wonder Woman is going to be written by none other than Gail Simone! Adler said he wants to focus heavily on the mythological side of Diana's character.Regarding Superman, Adler said he "wants Superman to be Superman." He's aiming to bring the classic essence of the character to the screen—hopeful, inspiring, and everything we love about the Man of Steel.Adler also hinted at his future plans for the broader DCU, mentioning The Flash, Aquaman, and Justice League. It sounds like he's already laying the groundwork for what's to come.

Thoughts?

Comments:

(Thread discussing Batman)

u/BatFan89:

"Why the need for a new character like Rachel Dawes? Why not just use Vicki Vale, Leslie Thompkins, or even Silver St. Cloud? I don't see why we need to add random new people instead of using classic characters from the comics."

u/Jess12cc:

"I think Rachel is probably going to be some kind of audience POV character for Bruce's growth—like a moral compass, maybe? I get why people are worried, but it could work if handled well."

u/DCSterio22:

"I feel like Adler is a bit young to be deciding on a direction for DC movies. Sure, he did well with Invincible, but DC should have brought someone with more experience to helm these new movies."

u/ComicNerd327:

"Yeah, I don't get all the hate. Daniel Adler is young, but the guy knows his stuff. He made Invincible a massive success, and his Percy Jackson books are also a hit. I think it's kind of cool that someone our age is taking over the reins. Fresh perspectives can work wonders sometimes."

u/Detective4224d:

"Honestly, I think he's approaching this in a smart way. Start off grounded, then bring in the more comic-accurate elements later when Bruce really grows into Batman. Feels like it has potential, especially with Ra's al Ghul being comic-accurate! If we actually get a proper Lazarus Pit, that could be wild."

u/Nightwing444:

"Everyone's so quick to forget how young some of the greats were when they made their mark. Orson Welles made Citizen Kane at 25. I'm not saying Adler is Welles, but you get the point—talent and vision aren't dictated by age. Plus, the guy made Invincible one of the top comics out there. Let's give him a shot before we throw shade."

u/Jaded566:

"I'm interested to see if Rachel Dawes will play a love interest role or if she's something else. Maybe a lawyer like Harvey Dent? But yeah, I would've loved Vicki Vale getting a shot."

u/Arkhamtybat:

"Honestly, if Adler can deliver on the action and give us a Ra's that's properly comic-accurate, I'll be happy. I want to see the detective side of Batman and some intense fight scenes. Fingers crossed!"

(Thread discussing Wonder Woman)

u/luease2:

"Gail Simone writing Wonder Woman? Hell yes! I can't wait to see what they do with the mythological aspects. Maybe we'll get some deep dives into Themyscira's politics or even the gods themselves?"

u/Skepticdc4:

"Not sure about Gail Simone, to be honest. I didn't love her run on the comics, and I'm worried this could get too niche or preachy. I hope Adler knows what he's doing."

u/Diane33mxe:

"No 'fish out of water' storyline, PLEASE! Wonder Woman doesn't always need to be discovering our world. Focusing on Themyscira and her roots sounds way more compelling. Give us Amazonian drama, gods, and monsters!"

u/Therevena33:

"Exactly! We want Themyscira, not just Diana learning how to use a modern coffee maker. Exploring her upbringing, the warrior culture, and the relationship with her mother would be so much more interesting."

u/f34dsddandse:

"Speaking of mythology... does anyone think they'll use Circe as the villain? If they're going all-in on the mythological side, she would be perfect. Circe vs. Diana has so much potential."

u/Godkiller23:

"Circe could be great, but I'd also love to see Ares as well. There's so much mythology they can mine for villains!"

u/Notrfr55:

"I just hope Adler keeps the focus on the mythological roots and doesn't make Diana TOO perfect. I want to see her struggle against the gods, maybe even question her loyalty to them."

(Thread discussing Superman)

u/GothamKnight89:

"I dunno, a happy and wonderful Superman sounds a bit outdated, don't you think? The world's kinda dark nowadays—maybe he should reflect that?"

u/SolarFlare98:

"Ugh, here we go again with the 'gritty Superman' folks. Dude, not every superhero has to be dark. We already have Batman for that."

u/Edgeord900:

"Sorry, but I don't wanna watch a Superman who's all sunshine and rainbows. Give me some realism."

u/Kryptothed33:

"Realism?! The dude's an alien who flies around in tights. If you want realism, watch a crime drama."

u/Batsuper222:

"Happy Superman might sound boring to some people, but a well-done Superman can have challenges while staying true to himself."

(Thread discussing future movies)

u/superseeod22:

"The Flash movie is something I've been wanting forever. I wonder if we'll get Reverse Flash or maybe even Grodd as the villain."

u/Aquaman_Rules13:

"Please give us Aquaman like in the comics, a badass ruler of Atlantis, not the joke everyone thinks he is. Black Manta would be perfect as the main villain!"

u/JusticeLeagueAssemble:

"So we've got Batman, Wonder Woman, and now Superman... It's pretty obvious we're headed towards Justice League, right? I'm here for it. Justice League vs. Darkseid? Yes, please!"

u/BlackestNight555:

"Who do you think could be the big bad for Justice League? Darkseid seems obvious, but I'd love to see them tackle something like the Legion of Doom first."

u/KrypianKnight:

"If they do a Flash movie, Reverse Flash is a must. He's Barry's ultimate villain, and you can build so much around that rivalry. Plus, a speedster battle would be visually insane."

u/therebe33:

"I want them to go full Atlantis in Aquaman. None of that surface-dweller vs. Atlantean stuff we've seen before. Let's have a war between the kingdoms of Atlantis! Ocean Master could make an awesome villain."

u/Villainist:

"We've got Ra's al Ghul in Batman, possibly Circe in Wonder Woman… who's next? Brainiac for Superman, maybe? That would be incredible, and it could tie into a Justice League plot down the road."

u/ScarletStreak:

"And please, for the love of Rao, do NOT skip character development. Adler sounds like he cares about the comic lore, so let's hope he builds up each of them right. A slow burn to Justice League would be worth it."

u/TrenchDeepDiver:

"Whatever they do, just don't make Aquaman a joke. Give us the real King of Atlantis, and let him be a badass! Arthur deserves his time to shine."

.

.

r/comicbooks

Title: Daniel Adler Speaks Out on Fandom Culture in Recent Interview

Link to interview: IGN Exclusive: Daniel Adler Talks Batman, DC Universe, and Future Projects

Daniel Adler had some pretty bold words about fandom culture during his recent interview with IGN. Here's a quote from the interview:

"You know, I've noticed something about comics and fandoms as a whole. A large number of people seem to have a hard time simply appreciating something without turning it into an irrational attachment. And that's when it all spirals out—heated debates, obsessive behavior, even hostility towards anyone who sees it differently.

"There's a genuine passion there, sure, but too often it's perverted and overshadowed by competition, comparison, and defensiveness—essentially, negativity."

Interviewer asks: And yet, some would say that passion is what keeps the genre alive.

"Oh, absolutely. But enthusiasm doesn't have to mean aggression, right? You can love something without attacking others over it. That competition? It's not about who loves it more, it's about what you take from it and how it enriches your life. Let's get back to what we love, not just what we want to argue about. Otherwise, that negativity completely overshadows the joy."

Comments:

u/ComsLo123:

"Honestly, he's 100% right. Fandoms can get so toxic. It's like you can't have a different opinion without getting attacked. People just need to chill and enjoy the stories."

u/KeoardCr88:

"Oh, so now we're supposed to all be 'nice' because the Hollywood guy said so? Guess what, Adler—real fandoms aren't about holding hands. We gatekeep for a reason. We protect what we love."

u/BatmessBro:

"I don't know, man. Passion is what drives this community. Yeah, it gets intense sometimes, but isn't that part of what makes it great? We fight because we care."

u/PanelSage:

"I think Adler is trying to bring the conversation back to enjoying the art instead of making it a battleground. The constant comparisons, the gatekeeping—it can be exhausting. There's nothing wrong with being passionate, but attacking others? That's when it becomes too much."

u/Spidorld:

"He's saying what a lot of us have been thinking for years. It's really discouraging when you can't even bring up something you like without someone aggressively telling you why it's trash or why you're 'not a real fan.'"

u/Togggture455:

"Competition and passion go hand in hand. If I want to call out some casual who thinks they know everything just because they watched a couple of movies, I will. Adler's soft and trying to make this fandom soft too. Get lost, dude."

u/F557uardian66:

"Maybe stick to making movies and let us decide how we enjoy them. We're the ones keeping this industry alive!"

u/DefeddProud33:

"All I'm hearing is 'don't criticize us.'"

"Oh boy," I said, setting the laptop down, my eyes still wide from reading through all the comments.

Matt glanced at me. "Dude, you really shouldn't have said that."

I let out an exasperated sigh. "I knew I shouldn't have gone there. Why did I have to talk about the fandoms? I could've just said something generic and moved on."

"No, you definitely should have gone there," John said, reclining back on the couch, clearly amused. "This is the kind of honesty people need... even if some of them can't handle it."

Matt raised an eyebrow at him. "Yeah, but look at the responses. They're eating him alive. One minute he's the savior of DC, now he's literally the devil."

I leaned back, rubbing my temples. "I mean, they can't stay mad forever, right? This'll blow over in like, a day... maybe."

After a moment of staring at the ceiling, I took a deep breath and grabbed my phone from the coffee table. "You know what? I'm going to call Lucy. Maybe I should give the PR guys a heads-up about this."

"Good idea," John said, giving me an encouraging nod. "Better to get ahead of it before it becomes a bigger mess."

Matt laughed softly. "I'm just saying, from now on, maybe leave the philosophical takes on fandom culture out of the interviews."

"Just imagine if Batman Begins flops," John said.

"Fuck off," I replied, walking away with my phone in hand.