Batman Goes from a Chemical Romance to an American God

Yesterday I reported that My Chemical Romance bassist Mikey Way wrote a comic that combines Batman and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. And now today, information about another Batman comic being written by a celebrity has hit the ‘net. Neil Gaiman, infamous for writing the Sandman series, as well as books such as Stardust, Neverwhere and American Gods, is currently working on a two-issue story set in the caped crusader’s world.

Gaiman’s involvement was announced in July during the 2008 Comic Con in San Diego, but mum was the word about the details. In fact, all of Gaiman’s comments at the time were posted in his blog: “1) Yes, I am writing a two part Batman story. 2) Yes, Andy Kubert will be drawing it. 3) Yes, it will be two oversized issues. 4) No, I don’t plan to say anything else about it until it’s all written and drawn.”

However, in an interview with MTV.com, Gaiman did let slip a few more minor details.

So, we now know that Selina Kyle, Catwoman, will appear in the issue, as well as Joe Chill, the man who murdered Bruce Wayne’s parents. But that’s still pretty much all we know. Though Gaiman does take a chance to gush about Kubert’s art work (no shock, the two worked together on the amazing Marvel 1602, which relocates classic Marvel characters to the Elizabethan era. An amazing read, trust me), he’s hush-hush on the plot details of the comic.

Gaiman’s been a busy guy. Between working on the comic, which is anticipated to release in February, he’s been working with Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls on her solo debut Who Killed Amanda Palmer (she’s currently on tour to promote the album and will be hitting the states later this fall…check out Desert’s gallery of pics from her show in London!) and touring to promote his young adult novel The Graveyard Book.

Picture by the amazing Kyle Cassidy, click the picture to check out his other shots from the night.

Last year, Gaiman was honored with the Comic-Con Icon Award at the 2007 Spike TV Scream Awards, and this year he’ll be part of the judging panel. No word yet on if he’ll be at the 2008 award ceremony next Tuesday night (the 21st), but we do know that Selma Blair, Jon Favreau, Milla Jovovich, Jaime King, Kristen Bell, Julie Benz, Guillermo Del Toro, Summer Glau, Jared Padelecki, Seth Rogen, Seann William Scott, Kevin Smith, Liv Tyler, Rob Zombie and Samuel L. Jackson will be. Oh, yeah, and Gerard Way.

What kind of take on Gotham’s Dark Knight do you expect from Gaiman? Any other comics you’d like to see him tackle in the future? And how much ass would it kick if he someday collaborated with another musical act like, say, My Chemical Romance? I never did get my Sandman-inspired video for “Sleep!”

That only existed in my head.

I like my head.