DKA Presents - "Batman Beyond: Stripped" Talkback - FINALE (January 24th)

[adoptedBatpuppy]

Oh my god! Dick is dying, I kind of expected that, since Kara is dead now. I'm glad to see him and Bruce are starting to patch things up now. Nice of you to give Dick a family, even though Star has broken up with him it seems.
I can see why he is so depressed. Spectre is going to take advantage of that, I'm sure.
Please don't tell me that the next strip will be the final?
I'm going to miss reading Batman Beyond weekly strip. I liked what you have done with the characters.

 

[ShadowStar]

It's the anniversary today! Now would be a great time to present the final strip...

 

[James]

It's the anniversary today! Now would be a great time to present the final strip...

It's been sent to BB, so really we're just waiting on a space in his schedule.

 

[Mr. A]

Gosh, this really is the last one isn’t it? I’ve been reading DKA in its different incarnations for years, its sad to see it end.
Thanks again for providing so much quality entertainment for so long.

Whoops - we haven't added the link to the strip! Spoilers below, click the link on the post below to read the finale before Mr.A's comments! - James

Spoiler

This was a nice sum-up strip, encapsulating what makes Bruce Wayne (not even Batman necessarily, but Bruce Wayne) such a perfect hero.
Still though, would you buy a used car from that man?: “The events that led to your auto warranty were grossly manipulated and should never have occurred. Therefore I will find a way to nullify our pact”


I have my own theories as to what Bruce took in the second-to-last panel (one would be a nice throwback to the end of Dark Knight Adventures). But I think I’ll keep it to myself (in case its ever answered officially)

The “cast photo” was great too, especially “Battle Gear Ro” and “Hospital Action Dana”. Its amazing how well the DCAU style was captured in this.
Things like the ultra-thin, almost sickly looking Dick Grayson make so much more sense now that the story has unfolded…
[FONT=&quot]It’s also good to see Kara/Tea and Jimmy take a final bow too
[/FONT]

 

[James]

And the finale...!

CLICK BANNER ABOVE FOR THE BRAND NEW EPISODE (January 24th)
​

 

[DBZALLSTAR]

These last few strips have been well worth the wait. The only problem that I have is that now I want more.

Congratulations to all of you for all the great work you done with both The Dark Knight Adventures and Batman Beyond: Stripped.

So...any update of an epilogue?

 

[James]

These last few strips have been well worth the wait. The only problem that I have is that now I want more.

Congratulations to all of you for all the great work you done with both The Dark Knight Adventures and Batman Beyond: Stripped.

So...any update of an epilogue?

We're talking about it. As much as I find the thought of rendering one more strip a painful experience (72!! 7-2!!!), I think we'll be doing a final goodbye strip along the lines of a past idea we had. Don't hang your hopes on anything with substance, just something that makes a nod to the Batman Beyond story which has been my favourite moment of the entire DKA run.

 

[ShadowStar]

Fantastic finish! 3 years on, the saga comes to an end! But what a ride. And an intruiging climax - I was wrong in my assumption that Dick would become the Spectre, and it seems Bruce remains the new host. That thing in his hand immediately reminded me of the hospital scene at the end of DKA #17 too... I don't know what it is but hopefully the epilogue might clear that up? Bruce looked a bit like Dracula in that last shot. I'm sure he wins through in the end - gives us something to think about, I guess. Amazing series, all in all, and quite a curtain bow! I'll have to read all 72 strips back to back one of these days. Anyway, you guys have earned a break (until next time )!

 

[James]

Fantastic finish! 3 years on, the saga comes to an end!

Unlike many webcomics, at least it had an end! There were times I feared we'd never make it.

But what a ride. And an intruiging climax - I was wrong in my assumption that Dick would become the Spectre, and it seems Bruce remains the new host.

Unless he can escape the pact. Who knows...

That thing in his hand immediately reminded me of the hospital scene at the end of DKA #17 too... I don't know what it is but hopefully the epilogue might clear that up?

The things in his hand are a little indistinct - my fault, but are a homage to Bruce's pill popping in Epilogue.

Bruce looked a bit like Dracula in that last shot. I'm sure he wins through in the end - gives us something to think about, I guess. Amazing series, all in all, and quite a curtain bow! I'll have to read all 72 strips back to back one of these days. Anyway, you guys have earned a break (until next time )!

Well, I certainly would love to work with Kris again. I'm not quite sure how we would in the realms of DCAU, but he's a great colorist and provider of many of those small little in-fan references. We do have one Batman short we did for a French company that fell through, maybe one day we'll add that - who knows.. would be an easy publish for us, certainly.

 

[Bird Boy]

It's the anniversary today! Now would be a great time to present the final strip...

Well what's funny is it was actually up at the time you posted this. I posted it up before I left for class (at noon, ET) so it was technically already there. I just had to fly out the door and I forgot to email James to post in here about it.

But yes, it's up. Woo! And an awesome wallpaper to boot.

-BB

 

[Reverend]

Well, I certainly would love to work with Kris again. I'm not quite sure how we would in the realms of DCAU, but he's a great colorist and provider of many of those small little in-fan references. We do have one Batman short we did for a French company that fell through, maybe one day we'll add that - who knows.. would be an easy publish for us, certainly.

Actually, after more than three years since my stint on DKA began I rather do ANYTHING than delve back into the DCAU...once the epilodge/coda is done of course.
Give me a storytelling tattooed stripper or a 20's cricket girl in hades any day!

 

[James]

Give me a storytelling tattooed stripper or a 20's cricket girl in hades any day!

Then I'm sure we can talk!

 

[Jasmerrin]

Congratulations

I'm really upset that this is over. I realize that it is only a fan-comic, but the stuff you did here rivaled the work on the actual shows (it certainly surpassed the official animated universe comics). But congratulations. I'm sure you're all happy to have finally finished a story years in the making.

I got the reference to the Epilogue pills, but had trouble deciphering their meaning. Would they stop Bruce from dying until he can figure out a way out of the bargain? Make him immortal (so long as he keeps taking them)? Somehow null the bargain on their own?

I'm just a bit confused. I suppose an epilogue would help. Or a reply post. But I'd prefer an epilogue.

Anyways, congratulations on having finished your strip. Good luck on any future projects you have.

 

[James]

I'm really upset that this is over. I realize that it is only a fan-comic, but the stuff you did here rivaled the work on the actual shows (it certainly surpassed the official animated universe comics). But congratulations. I'm sure you're all happy to have finally finished a story years in the making.

Yes, very happy. It's a shame to leave DCAU behind totally, but the story's, characters and products all belong to other people. As a fans, I'm very happy we were allowed to have fun as we have, but there comes a time to move on, and I can't think of a better note than this to finish DKA on.

I got the reference to the Epilogue pills, but had trouble deciphering their meaning. Would they stop Bruce from dying until he can figure out a way out of the bargain? Make him immortal (so long as he keeps taking them)? Somehow null the bargain on their own?

They would never stop Bruce dying but at best they may prolong his life in case of an opportunity to null an agreement he doesn't wish to honor, and at worst, it's a statement - "You may one day get me, but I'm not going to roll over easily, I'll make you wait as long as I can."

I always imagined the pills had some sort of Lazarus Pit ingredient, but really its up to the individual to how powerful one imagines the pills are.

I'm just a bit confused. I suppose an epilogue would help. Or a reply post. But I'd prefer an epilogue.

This whole thing is a big epilogue! Well, if I can find the time, I intend to start putting a final strip together next week in between professional projects.

Anyways, congratulations on having finished your strip. Good luck on any future projects you have.

Well, I know "Stripped Bare" is planning another set of stories which I hope to get Kris involved in if the writer doesn't have any objections, so watch that space. And I'm involved in several projects that if you keep an eye on my website - www.jamesmclean.net - will be posted up as they come!

 

[adoptedBatpuppy]

The Grand Finale! So Spectre left just like that, without making Bruce to fullfill his pact? I wonder what Bruce did to make it so the Spectre would leave. I bet we could only speculate.

This has been long but fun 3 years of reading Batman Beyond Stripped.

Are we going to see another DCAU story line, or perhaps something different a new comic all of your own soon? That would be nice.

Although I'm sad that Batman Beyond Stripped has ended. I understand that everyone and everything has to move on in life. I wish you Reverend, James, and the rest of comrades on your creative team the best of luck in the future!

P.S
You are a talented bunch, and can definetly do this for a living!

 

[Reverend]

The Grand Finale! So Spectre left just like that, without making Bruce to fullfill his pact? I wonder what Bruce did to make it so the Spectre would leave. I bet we could only speculate.

Not exactly. I mean the Spectre can't collect on the debt so long as Bruce is alive (hence the name) so as long as Bruce's soul stays in his body, there's nothing the spirit of Vengence can actually do about it. As far as it's concerned WHEN Bruce eventually dies he'll come to collect (Presumably allowing Corrigan to pass on) Bruce is just basically saying "you will TRY".
As far as the pills go, I think the original script did attribute some specific purpose to them (magical cancer eating beans or something) but we both agreed that was too on the nose (and a narrative deux ex machina cheat to boot) so now they're just a symbolic representation of his will to not give up - which has always been the closest thing Batman has to a "superpower".
If you REALLY MUST have some specific, real world purpose ascribed to them, lets just say they're angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Look it up.

 

[James]

...but we both agreed that was too on the nose (and a narrative deux ex machina cheat to boot)..

I would disagree with the deux ex machina point simply because they aren't there to resolve, conclude any narrative line; they don't stop The Spectre, an entity not really that fussed to wait a few years, all they do is prolong the period, giving Bruce a tiny mid digit symbol of control. They are only there really for two reasons, the first, as Kris said, "they're just a symbolic representation of his will to not give up" which is where I think we agreed", but equally, they were just a fun tie in as to Epilogue, giving a possible background to the pills he has and why he's fighting the reaper by becoming a walking medicine cabinet (though officially, obsessive people like Wayne don't really need much of a reason).

So what they were didn't matter, but I wouldn't say they were technically a deux ex machina to any narrative - far too superficial, they don't resolve any narrative out of the blue, just give a small bridge to Epilogue and a symbolic thrust to Bruce's mindset.

- PickyJames

 

[James]

Just as an update, we'll be making the final epilogue a 5 page story - not because we think people want more, but simply, its the only way to really make any final goodbye more than simply a few fan glory shots - which I can't be arsed to put the effort into - there needs to be a little more substance to make a final farewell worth the effort.

We've had a chat (myself and Kris) and come up with some good ideas to stage a story that I've just finished scripting. I'll probably start working on penciling it this weekend. I think it will be a rather good farewell.

 

[ShadowStar]

Just as an update, we'll be making the final epilogue a 5 page story - not because we think people want more, but simply, its the only way to really make any final goodbye more than simply a few fan glory shots - which I can't be arsed to put the effort into - there needs to be a little more substance to make a final farewell worth the effort.

We've had a chat (myself and Kris) and come up with some good ideas to stage a story that I've just finished scripting. I'll probably start working on penciling it this weekend. I think it will be a rather good farewell.

Fantastic news! I really hope we will get a closer look at the Justice League Beyond and an explanation for how Bruce cheats the Spectre (I hope he does!).

 

[Wing Zero]

excellent