According to Didio and various other sources, Dick was *supposed* to die in Infinite Crisis. So that you'd have a "Superman & Batman's proteges die" type of ending. They backed out of it because Dick had too many supporters, so only Superboy bit the bullet. Only problem was that since IC was written with plans for Dick to die, the One Year Later for Dick has been less than spectacular.

Actually, I am lying. Reading Nightwing OYL had caused me physical pain just flipping the pages. The story was bleah, and the art was no saving grace either. Now that Marv is back writing Nightwing, things can still go either way. One can only assume that since Dick was supposed to die in IC, perhaps Jason was next in line for the Nightwing mantel (as evident in him running around in Nightwing's pajamas for a while in the Nightwing comics), and things would have gone a lot differently as a result, least of which is the rest of the Bat-family's reaction. A wonderfully interesting potential - lost because fans cannot accept a change that will no doubt be reversed by the year's end. Alas!

The part about Cass was actually covered in the Robin storyline where he was framed for the murder of Batgirl. Long story short Cass has been killing off his adversaries and her own, and trying to get him to join her side because in her view, Batman had been using them as "baits" in his Fight. You know - something bright and shiny and young for the villains to take pot shots at while Batman prepares for the crippling blow. Tim didn't agree with her, and they parted ways after she pounded him good. Cass is slated to reappear as Batgirl in 'Teen Titans' in the evil counterpart team of the regular Teen Titans called 'Titans East'. They're supposed to be under Deathstroke. I'm definitely going to catch that arc since 2 of my favourite characters (Cass and Slade) are in there.

It's quite sad to see the way Cass turned out, especially since I really enjoyed her series. And the issue where Barbara accidentally thought that Batgirl liked Batman in that woman-loves-a-man kind of way and it turns out that she just really wanted physical fatherly affections from him was just... priceless.

Batman has a LOT of things on his plate right now. Aside from Talia dumping him with a boy she claimed to be his son on him (not Ibn, but some punk kid named Damian), he also legally adopted Tim as his son and is in the process of re-forming the Justice League. That means that Bruce Wayne legally and officially has 3 heirs; 4, if Damian sticks around. Well, maybe 3 still if he can't get around the legalities of Jason being alive again. And speaking of my favourite Boy Wonder, he'll be romping in Green Arrow and Outsiders next year. Yee-HAW! XD

I think the only person in the Bat-family to have ever warmed up to Huntress was Tim. Oracle seems to still have a professional type of relationship with her - she definitely isn't as close to her as Dinah. And Dick doesn't want to have anything to do with her even if he did sleep with her once. Too bad - she looked hot in that skimpy crime-fighting outfit of hers and I think she'd make a great flight for Tim >D And as for Spoiler? Man, I always thought that when Batman made her Robin, it was just his secret way of getting back at Tim for quitting - "You're leaving your post? Fine: I'll make your girlfriend Robin instead!" Plus, the arc that led to Stephanie's death never really struck a note with me. And she didn't get her own creepy display case in the Batcave either. Says loads about how Batman views her.

(cut for length)

Batman's way of being extra-harsh on his own side I feel can be justified. In a fight against a bad guy, you *know* that the guy in front of you is going to burn down your house and kill all your pets if he gets the chance. At the same time, you also *expect* the guy fighting beside you to not want to do those things. What if your ally once did those stuff? Does that mean that he is capable of becoming like the guy you're currently fighting? If Batman has to go into fights with such questions lingering, he's on some level right to be paranoia about allies who have once served the wrong side. My way of looking at it at least.

And yeah, Supes did take over a few worlds in some Elseworlds, but it all get turned into cop-outs of "I was possessed to do evil! Oh, I must right it now!" by the end of it. Always. The core of Superman is undeniable goodness, it seems.

And I believe 'Batman Unmasked' did include some of those rules. I read the old edition of it from my university's library last year - it was quite fun :D

I'm a bit shagged to reply to all you cool cats and your comments :D;;

But I do have a post here from last year that I think you'd be interested in reading! I posted segments from Wertham's infamous 'Seduction of the Innocent' and also bits and pieces from 'Batman Unmasked'. IMHO, Adam West must learn the meaning of "made love" and not use it in the context of referring to his Boy Wonder co-star...!
http://code-renegade.livejournal.com/395403.html

Have fun!