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Jochimus — The Dynamic Duo

Published: 2006-09-08 18:38:21 +0000 UTC; Views: 3853; Favourites: 60; Downloads: 33
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Description I guess you'd call this an Elseworlds piece - it depicts a sort of reimagined version of Batman and Robin taking on some of their Rogues.

Batman's suit has the colors, insignia and utility belt of Adam West (though I went for a more cobalt-blue type color instead of deep purple); the lower body and boots of Michael Keaton; and the cowl, cape, and gauntlets of Christian Bale. Likewise, the Batmobile is similarly a piecemeal homage; I grafted the front half of the '66 TV car onto the back half of the '89 movie car, minus the red striping, and gave'er the rims off the Bruce Timm animated version.

In this universe I figure Batman would only ever have ONE partner (he probably wouldn't care for the word 'sidekick'), and a little boy would probably not be who he has in mind for the job. Hence I gave him a 17-year-old Barbara Gordon. The whole problem I had with Barbara Gordon being one of Batman's partners in the early days was twofold: A) she didn't have a 'unique' superhero identity, just a 'she' version of Batman's suit; and B) she really didn't have the tragic connection that Dick Grayson did. This one likely has endured the separation of her parents and on the verge of reconciliation saw her father gunned down into a coma and her mother killed outright (a sort of nod to both the murder of Gordon's wife Sarah during No Man's Land and Gordon himself getting swiss-cheesed in the Officer Down storyarc). As for how I got the Robin suit into this without using Dick Grayson - heck, maybe Bruce did some circus time on his 'quest' and had his original suit in the trophy section of the cave.

As for the Rogues, each has their own little real-life quirk I put into each character's design (clockwise from right):

* The Penguin was inspired by Edward G. Robinson from "Little Caesar".

* Two-Face was inspired by my thoughts on what would have happened if WB had kept Billy Dee Williams in the role of Harvey Dent for the sequels. I also ditched the previous 'two-sided' business suits in favor of half police uniform and half prison jumpsuit (suggesting maybe that his Harvey Dent, before becoming D.A., had at one time been a cop himself), and his scarring is more geared to the fact that having acid doused in your face probably isn't going to turn your skin blue and hair white; more likely, it's going to EAT IT ALL RIGHT OFF.

* Poison Ivy I restructured as more of an 'urban jungle warrior' willing to fight violently for her crazed ecological ends. She probably still strolls around virtually naked in her off-hours, but I figure it helps one's stature as a criminal mastermind to project a business aura when needed and not come off as a COMPLETE loony.

* Mr. Freeze came from my childhood experiences seeing "E.T." in the movie theatre for the first time, and being scared as hell by it. Of course, it doesn't terrify me NOW, but the movie had so many images that had me freaking in my seat back in 1982; the gloom-and-doom astronaut-guy standing right in Dee Wallace's door as she opened it was one of them. There is something I find intimidating about the newer 'bulky' spacesuits NASA uses, and with that whole 'faceless' element to them I figured customizing one for Freeze's containment suit was perfect. Oh, and his freeze-gun is supposed to have a sort of supercharged snowblower feel to it.

* The Riddler is based somewhat on that weird guy Matthew Lesko who does those late-night informercials offerings ways you can get the government to give you free money (HA!). I mean, THE GUY RUNS AROUND FRANTICALLY WEARING A JACKET WITH QUESTION MARKS ALL OVER IT. Would you trust a guy who's dressed like one of the most famous supervillains of all time? I sure wouldn't.

* Bane I reworked to be more in line with the image of a former luchador who got a little TOO ambitious, particularly in the performance-enhancer department, and has since moved up in the annals of drug running when wrestling just couldn't prove financially viable to his tastes anymore.

* Killer Croc I re-created here to be in keeping with the non-reptilian origin given him on B:TAS, in which he suffers a skin condition that makes his skin leathery, rough and scaly. In this case, I turned his whole skin cover into one big callous. He probably wouldn't smell very good as a result, but then he roams around sewers half the time anyway, so it's all good.
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Comments: 8

bkno [2010-10-12 20:36:26 +0000 UTC]

You rock!

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timmysphotos [2007-04-22 06:58:04 +0000 UTC]

all the big villans...nice. amazing there aren't a million posts!

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RoaP [2007-03-25 21:25:33 +0000 UTC]

Nice piece! I love the inventive thinking with your rogues.

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zerry [2006-09-11 10:47:21 +0000 UTC]

All in all a great interpretation of Bats & Co. I noticed the nod to that crazy infomercial bastard in Riddler and Two-Face being black. I especially like Freeze: He looks like The Fury, a boss villain in Metal Gear Solid 3 who's basically a former cosmonaut with a flamethrower and a few screws loose.

Hell, this whole pic'd look great as a poster, actually. Keep up the good work!

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MedevalMaiden [2006-09-09 16:12:41 +0000 UTC]

Great explanation. I like the idea of Babs as Robin, it's kind of obvious but no one's ever really done it before, I don't think. I TOTALLY agree with the ET thing! The astronaut part terrified me as a child and I thought I was the only one slightly scarred by that scene...and pretty much the rest of the movie. ET...ugh. *shudders* I still can't watch it without getting shivers. So excellent idea with the whole faceless element. I really like this piece, it's got a good composition with the batmobile bursting out and all the villains around them. Oh yeah the Two-Face one I like a lot too. So great all-around awesome job.

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angel-gidget [2006-09-09 15:23:45 +0000 UTC]

Barbara Gordon as Robin...I *never* woulda thunk it.

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Druce-White-Owl [2006-09-09 06:07:34 +0000 UTC]

Nice work! Love the reimagining of the characters! just ONE nit pick... If that's Babs in that robin suit, the face looks feminine but that body... Either she's done some REALLY heavy bulking up or she's a hermaphrodite, because the female torso just doesn't work like that, that's just to barrel chested for a female.
Other than that, nice work, particlarly like Batman's costume... One question. Where's the joker?

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Tiger-Prime [2006-09-08 22:42:46 +0000 UTC]

very awesome once again

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