Is Bruce back yet?

Grant Morrison rocks!

Do you get it? The guy looks weak and stupid and thus he's strong and awesome! It's so hilarious how they sell a character in the exact opposite way of how he appears! My preconceived notices are shattered by Grant Morrison's wit!

LAME.

And he also seems to get great pleasure running over Batman and Robin's junk...so perhaps he IS Batman's "most dangerous, psychopathic, murderous foe.

Does Batman have a chub in that pic?

It's Zorro, the Gay Blade. He even uses a whip like the gay Zorro did in the movie.

i only want to see you laughing in the purple rain.
purple rain.
purple rain.

I'm not going to lie here...I kind of love it in its ridiculousness. But Batman's creepy (unintentional?) smile gives it a very lecherous overtone.

He does appear to be quite mental..

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kz41n4gY-6I/StOoDvgXEpI/AAAAAAAAEAQ/9q-KVuoMvDw/s1600-h/Batman+And+Robin+%235+017.jpg

"he skinned and ate only their faces".Pisses all over Crazy Quilt eh ?

Black Snow - My thought is that if you're a supervillain wearing a pink marching band jacket, then you'd better be fucking spectacularly badass to back that shit up.

I love it. Beats Bane any time.

Also: John Cleese for the movie version.

LOLWUT. This is awesome.

Just so I'm clear, this is a made up gay person, so we're allowed to make fun, right?

That being said...

"The Flamingo" was a much better villain when he was two separate characters in Silence of the Lambs. This is just boring.

Oh brother!

@Dave: You're missing the point.

@ZADL: That's Frank Quitely for you. I both love and am repelled by his art style.

That page is crazy awesome, though. I'm glad Batman and Robin is the only Bat-title I'm sticking with. Long live Grant Morrison.

Oh boy..

"I'm glad Batman and Robin is the only Bat-title I'm sticking with. Long live Grant Morrison."

What more do you want out of Streets of Gotham? Both features have been really great thus far.

'Tec I'm starting to seriously consider dropping. It's gorgeous, but Rucka isn't writing it very well at this point.

Batman is, of course, on my "avoid" list until the weird Winick obsession at the Bat-office blows over, even if he writes a better Dick Grayson than Morrison does.

Hey, wasn't this Gary Carlson's character in Image's Big Bang Comics?

Gary's been around for a long time in comics, he's the dude that published Erik Larsen and Rob Liefield's first comics work in his Megaton Comics back in the 80's. I was going to post about how Gary got skunked on the Avatar thread back when he created a character called the Terminator, a cyborg who goes back in time to change history.

Unfortunately for Gary, he only printed the comic as a ashcan to sell at cons (basically their generation's "print on demand" comics) so there's no real record of "he did it first" before Cameron's 1984 movie, Terminator. Gary's Terminator character was later published as "Berzerker".

@RobP: Exactly what point am I missing?

Batman & Robin fainted at his horrible taste in clothing.
Oh Richard, you fashionista!

So The Flamingo is, at first sight, a 60's Adam West Batman like character homage, but because he does gore ala Ruggerio Deodato is not consider camp, kitsch or lame but he is a "cool bad ass villain" in todays DC(D for Didio) Universe? How witty creativity!

Where is the serial groper Ten Eyed Man? The date obessed/serial killer Calendar Man? The Kite Man with human-flesh-made kites or even the cannibal Egghead, Mr Morrison?. You used to do jokes in your good old comics about characters like that.

Reminds me of something. Hey, remember that Michael Jackson-esque 1980's Spider-Man villain "Ace"?

@Geoff: Actually, I was enjoying Streets of Gotham, it just got lost in the shuffle recently and I haven't gotten back to it, yet. And, I didn't mean to imply the other titles were bad, just that Batman and Robin is the only one I currently don't mind dropping the cash for.

I'm sorry but I fail to see how this is awesome. LOOK at the guy! If he was meant to be super camp but effective like an old 60s villain then that's fine. But apparently he's a psychopathic face-eater?! Why the hell would a guy like that put so much effort into looking like -- that?!? If you're that screwed up you wouldn't wear that outfit. It has worked in the past with (for example) camp, outlandish Jokers because it was done in a way that was creepy and ironic, it added to his menace and insanity - it was happening for a reason. It wasn't just a bizarre mesh of campy villain and pyschotic killer. HANNIBAL LECTOR DID NOT CALL HIMSELF THE FLAMINGO FOR A VERY DAMN GOOD REASON.

Just wait until they reveal that it's really Alfred with a Blade Runner-esque Rutger Hauer wig and some sort of split personality issue that somehow makes him completely unrecognizable to those who know him best.

I suppose I'm just still bitter over Morrison's really lame Xorn-Is-Really-Magneto thing in New X-Men.

snore

Why do I get the feeling that this guy was an an extra character left out from one of the Schumacher films?

And why does he need a whip? We already get the point of the character.

Still, I'm kind of liking most of what's been going on in the Bat-books lately. I'd like to see a Batman/Robin team consisting of Jason and Damian. That would just be too sick :)

Doc

@TrapJaw: But Xorn wasn't Magneto, until he was again, and then he wasn't. God, those were a couple of awful years for the X-Men.

According to the issue #5 he was
" a good man who fought the Mob until they cut his brain apart and took away everything human. They made him kill his wife, his children, and everyone and everything he'd ever loved.

And on that day Eduardo Flamingo became the king of killers, the ace of assassins. On that day, Flamingo became death."

If that's your backstory you can wear what the hell you want I reckon.

So now he's brain-damaged too? what

Or is it like in a Kiriyuma kinda way?

Yet another reason why I cant stand Morrison-- Batman and Robin is the one title from the reborn group that I probably am going to drop-(its like that Angel comic- I kept buying it hoping it would get better). the only thing worse than the storylines is the artwork.. and I think Detective Comics is probably on that drop list next--- way to end a 400 issue collection-- I dont mind Dick as Batman- but these writers are killing it for me..

Not only is that a direct copy of Prince's bike, it's TRACED. Line for fucking LINE from the cover of the album. I just tossed both images into photoshop and they line up PERFECTLY. Lazy fucking artists. Even Flamingo's shoulders are in the same place.

This is the Flamingo, who Batman Group Editor Michael Marts' claims is Batman's "most dangerous, psychopathic, murderous foe...think again. Meet the 'new crime' in Gotham City -- the FLAMINGO!"

Ummm. What? Sorry Rob. I don't usually poke at the grammar, but that's very confusing without the beginning of the quote.

(I assume the beginning is something like "If you think you know"... or something like that)

@Greg

Beat me to it.
Direct rip-offery of the Purple Rain cover.

Prince and the Goddamn Batman all in one?
Thank you, universe.
Thank you so very much.

Jeez. Just dumb. C'mon. It's Batman! I don't care how psycho someone is you can't cover bad design.

Hehehe...if you drop the "o" his name might be more appropriate.

seeing that guy one wonders what grant is on when he comes up with new characters though the guy eating peoples faces may mean finaly batman getting a villian who could wind up scaring the joker . though the flamigo maybe grant has the idea of being a new companion for the penquin.

Look the bottom line is that no one will ever be as demented fucked up and psycho as the joker. That's just how it was supposed to be. However this guy is pretty twisted. Furthermore how do they know he ate a face? Did he say it? Are his teeth marks all over the victims face? Cuz carrying a whip riding a motorcycle and wearing pink, I would tell everyone I ate his face shit in his skull then danced around naked if it gave me street cred.

I generally like Morrison, but I don't think his actual storytelling on Batman has been very good--but that's intentional, I think. I think he just wants to mindfuck Bat-fans good and hard.

That got old for me about halfway through "Batman R.I.P.," so at this point all I can do is wait until he's done playing with his Bat-toys and his attention wanders elsewhere. I'm hoping Geoff Johns takes a crack at the character after that.

"...this is what it sounds like- when bats die!"
"...I just want your extra time- and your...face!"
"...party over, oops- gonna die!"

Nega said:

Reminds me of something. Hey, remember that Michael Jackson-esque 1980's Spider-Man villain "Ace"?

Nega, you beat me too it. That was my first thought when I saw that ridiculous excuse of a 'villain.' I haven't collected Batman for years and that joke of a 'villain' sure as hell isn't going to get me to change my mind. After the awesomeness that is Arkham Asylum this seems almost criminal.

Because when you think of fear you think of.... FLAMINGOS!!!!!!!

"..I just can't stand how awesome this."

Did Rob just create a new variation on WHOSE RESPONSIBLE THIS?!!

HOW AWESOME THIS?!!

"I'm hoping Geoff Johns takes a crack at the character after that."

Yes, because what we need in Batman is storytelling without a hint of subtlety whatsoever and more gore than the average saw flick. Johns lost his fastball sometime around GL Rebirth and he's only getting worse (his Superman origin has thus far been pretty godawful, although that's largely because he's one of about ten people on the planet who thinks Superboy was a good idea).

Damn you, DC! I came up with the Flamingo when I was in the 5th grade for my Batman parody comic, Remote Man. I need a lawyer...

So basically, they're admitting they can't come up with a character half as awesome as Eiichiro Oda, and just making a seventh-tier Bon Clay (Mr. 2) knock off.

As someone said above, this is dangerously close to Gary Carlson's "Pink Flamingo" villain. On the other hand, Pink Flamingo fought the Knight Watchman, Gary's Batman homage. Maybe turnabout is fair play, but DC probably ought to behave itself better than a little low budget indy title.

@TVtastesGood:

They know he ate their faces because one of the prostitutes whose face was eaten was still, infact, alive. RTFP.

@Hak Foo
if he's ripping off any OP character it's Do Flamingo

http://images2.fanpop.com/images/quiz/208000/208261_1242000401487_320_240.jpg

LOL batman got killed by adam ant blaaates

also, wesley, yes, bane is a gay lucha libre, snoodle, john cleese, fine choice, tho i thin some one more...colourful could be in order. and jack of all games. rob did. by gum he did. new-internet-quote-sensation- 5?

Black Snow said:
"The guy looks weak and stupid and thus he's strong and awesome! It's so hilarious how they sell a character in the exact opposite way of how he appears! My preconceived notices are shattered by Grant Morrison's wit!"

Truly, I am more shattered by your wit since you just demonstrated the truth behind nearly EVERY goddamn superhero/villain in the history of comicdom COMBINED, sir. Yes, the awesome costume to crap costume to badassery in crap costume ratio is just like this character here.

9000 Internets for you.

Also, Flamingo perhaps killed Jason Todd once and for all at last. Doubtful, but it's already sad Grant didn't make Red Hood actually be the Joker. :(

Black Snow: "The guy looks weak and stupid and thus he's strong and awesome! It's so hilarious how they sell a character in the exact opposite way of how he appears!..and so on"

We're more astounded by your wit, since you failed to notice this is the case for 99% of all superheroes AND villains that exist.

Also, hopefully Flamingo did indeed kill Jason Todd at last, since Grant didn't make Hood be Joker like he should have been.

Oh goody, one of my favorite pop-culture cliches.

No wait! Can Batman save some dewey-eyed damsel from the Flamingo, who only wants to ruin her virtue with his fabulousness? Maybe Robin will be tempted, but brought back to the side of good by the sight of Batman's enormous, uh ... gun?

Geez, this stuff makes me cringe.

I don't care if Grant Morrison is secretly a good writer and he just puts out crap comics to be ironic. Regardless of said secret genius the comics I end up reading still suck. The words make sense. The sentences generally make sense; in fact there are sometimes three or four sequential panels that are perfectly fine. As a whole, though, his comics are terrible, nonsensical B.S.

Final Crisis was terrible. Batman R.I.P. was terrible. The Flamingo Saga will be terrible. Because the literary apple does not fall far from the deranged, incoherent tree. I am saying that Grant Morrison is terrible; and also, a tree.

I am not suggesting that we should take all of Grant Morrison's creations, throw them in a big bonfire at a bonfire party and revert to a simpler time when comics generally were not purposely retarded. It would be cruel to destroy all G.M.'s hard work in a public display, and also impractical. I am just saying we should consider it. Like, while we know that ultimately we will find the idea flawed, it should still be on the table.

On the other hand,I guess there is something to be said for things that are bad in an interesting way. Like, while Final Crisis made no sense, it made no sense on a scale that I find difficult to fully grasp. Its like trying to grasp the concept of 1,429,378. Its just too big. As big as Final Crisis was terrible. I felt like this guy, only in my room and with Cheetos instead of popcorn. And sadder. And there was a cat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cwtjXOusMc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cwtjXOusMc

As a friend just said; He's not a villain, he's a prostitute. Batman has a PAINFUlLY obvious erection.

Pro gay people won't like him because his evil.
Anti gay people won't like him because he's gay.
And most of the rest will hate his design/theme.

But I bet the vore community will just eat this guy up. Pun intended.

My vote's on him as the main villain in the next Arkham Asylum game.

Could you take the time to spell check or at least read over what you type before you post it?

Lads, Batman doesn't have an erection in that drawing. He has a penis. Now, I know you're not used to seeing anything approaching regular human anatomy in comics but I assure you, that's what most men's crotches in tight trousers would look like.

@rj472
Zorro the Gay Blade. That was my first thought when I saw this.

http://www.zorrolegend.com/zorrogayblade/zorrogayblade.html

http://www.superheroeslives.com/independents/zorro_the_gay_blade_(1981).htm

"Vega sprains his ankle and cannot figure out how to continue his campaign when his long lost twin brother (sent off to the British Navy to make a man of him, flamboyantly gay, and now known as Bunny Wigglesworth) appears. He agrees to take his brother's place but wishes to make some changes. His new suits are lemmon, plum, and scarlet, and Bunny insists on using a whip."

Now the face eating stuff is some Hannibal Lecter freaky-deaky stuff.

He eats faces? What happened to villains who robbed banks, or tried to take over the world? Sigh. I guess that's just not EXTREME!!!! enough.

Jesus, people, it's Batman not Dostoyevsky. What the hell do you want?

Johns writes good Green Lantern but everything else is so incredibly status quo with him that you swear you've read everything he's written before. Oh wait, he brought back Hal Jordan. And Barry Allen. Yeah, that sucks.

Love him or hate him at least Morrison is trying to do something *shock* different.

And where is the "Shock-different" that Morrison brings on to the Batman with The Flamingo? Gore & shock IS the only thing that IS going for years on the DCU of Dan "kids like Saw movies" Didio. And campy characters with ridiculous costume & more stupid motivations are part of the comics books lore.

So campy costume + gore = revolutionary genious???

Nothing New here. Grant is just dancing to the boss drum.

Well, I know what I'm going to be for Halloween next year.

That bike is traced directly off the Purple Rain album cover (Quitely admitted as much) - just a shame that the woeful Philip Tan is actually drawing the contents....

I thought the concept of "extreme" villains died back in the 90's.
Why does Batman need *another* serial-killer/ gory villain? I can't even name all the killers that Batman faces in every-other issue. Or is it because the writers haven gotten tired of using the Joker, Killer Croc, etc?

Is this a "disposable" character that will be built up for a year and then Batman kills him, which causes the DC heroes to realize they need Bruce Wayne back, which paves the way for "Final Crisis 2: Crisis of the Batmen" in 2011?

and he's scary because he eats their face? come on!!!! how can this pink twat beat joker and scarecrow!!

DC, you manage to get gayer and gayer

You guys need to relax. Maybe try reading the comic before freaking out about it. The point of batman villains is to be unsettling, to make you uncomfortable, and to make them difficult to UNDERSTAND. Do you really think the motivations of a guy whose brain was sliced up should be apparent? Flamingo is a dangerous assasin who feels no pain and has either lost the ability or will to speak...so why does he dress like that? That's kind of the POINT. To get you thinking about the character, to make him stand out. Badass looking assasins are a dime a dozen in comics. This guy is at least fairly unique.