DC Comics Cancelled a Batman Story Fans Didn’t Even Know They Lost

1 week ago 13

Published Mar 6, 2026, 8:00 AM EST

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For every acclaimed and iconic Batman story, there are some that DC Comics fans would rather forget. Of course, there are also the adventures of The Dark Knight that fans never even had the opportunity to experience.

Artist Cliff Chiang recently revealed that he and writer Brian Azzarello planned to work on a Batman comic that was scrapped by the emergence of The New 52.

The veteran illustrator revealed this fact while appearing on an episode of The Shortbox Podcast that dropped in Jan. 2026. A question about his previous collaborations with Azzarello prompted Chiang to bring up the slice of Gotham City lore that the duo nearly delivered.

"We were supposed to do a Batman book. So that's what I think of, you know, if I have to think of one [character I'd like to work on], it's Batman, because we're supposed to do a pulpy noir Batman.... Those plans were part of, like, another publishing initiative that DC was doing. And then when that fell apart, we were going to continue with it. But then they had the idea for New 52. And so that ended up getting shelved. So our noir Batman story probably will never be made."

It is never an easy thing for a fan to learn about a comic from a pair of esteemed creators that almost happened. That is especially true when it is a story featuring the Caped Crusader that embraces his pulp comic-era roots, which DC's Black Label imprint would offer some version of with Dan Jurgens' 1939-set The Bat-Man: First Knight and its current follow-up, The Bat-Man: Second Knight.

Despite axing Chiang and Azzarello's Batman comic, DC's 2011 launch of The New 52 would prove to be a wonderful era for Batman, such as with Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's revered run, which introduced the Court of Owls. It was also a fruitful time for Chiang and Azzarello, who worked on the highly influential Wonder Woman series as part of the initiative.

Years later, Chiang would get the opportunity to produce a noir-inspired Gotham City story of his own, but not with Batman as the headliner. The comic was 2021's DC Black Label release of Catwoman: Lonely City, which follows a middle-aged Selina Kyle on an investigation years after her on-and-off vigilante lover's demise.

Also, previously in 2008, Azzarello penned the well-received Joker, which is famous for introducing one of the most disturbing interpretations of the Clown Prince of Crime put on paper. Featuring art by Lee Bernejo, the one-shot never officially shows an appearance by Batman, but his presence is felt by the end.

Cliff Chiang And Brian Azzarello Do Have A Batman Comic In The Works

Cliff Chiang insists that he and Brian Azzarello's original plans for their Batman comic will never see the light of day. However, that does not mean the world will never get to experience a Bruce Wayne story of their creation.

Later in his interview for The Shortbox Podcast, Chiang mentions some very exciting news that will be music to Batman fans' ears.

"We have worked on a Batman one shot that hasn't been announced. It's not a pulpy Batman with guns, but it does feel like, you know, finally getting to scratch that itch."

So, it appears that the duo is finally getting to live out their dream of working on their own interpretation of Gotham City lore. It may not be the pulp comic era throwback that they intended, but it is the kind of opportunity that no artist in this business should ever turn down.

Who knows? Maybe this one-shot, the details of which have yet to be officially revealed, will prove successful enough to see their vision get the DC greenlight.

DC Comics' New 52 run is available wherever comics are sold.