Continuity?

[TheDarkKnight]

I was just speaking with Cassandra about a certain rumored Nightwing storyline and we both found it be rathering stretching if you will.

First and foremost though, what I'm really trying to get a here is the idea of a timeline. BIRDS seems to be able to just go in every which way they intend but the problem I see is that the comics continuity, which the series is technically based on finds itself branching into its own shadow of illusion.

What I think the writers and producers need to do is set some really strong ground rules based in an actual timeline and maybe they need to pick-up a comic or two. (There only $2.25) or they could at least pick-up a trade paper back of the recent comics and draw from that or even better yet, they can draw from the ANIMATED SERIES.

Either way would be logically but just as long as we had an actual timeline to base it on.

Anybody else agree?

[jhowlett]

That's 'coz they aren't following a specific continuity much like what they did with Smallville.

They (the writers/producers) have more freedom here 'coz it's technically post-Batman while in Smallville its Pre-Superman.

Whenever they say a specific portion of a specific timeline, whether pre-crisis, post-crisis or from their own imagination...you gotta take it from their perspective and not solely on the comics. If you happen to know what they're saying (which part of which timeline) then good for you 'coz it'll be easier for you to put the pieces together. But my advise don't really compare this to a timeline in the comics 'coz you'll only get a headache trying to figure out which is which. Think of this BOP as an ELSEWORLD BOP.

[Frostbite]

I've devised my own timeline fitting almost every comic story into continuity. You've just got to tweak the stories a little bit in your mind. Everything fits in except the movies and the Earth-2 stories. The sixties show, the serials, the Hostess ads, all the cartoons, Birds of Prey, all the comics; they can all fit into one timeline. Let me explain:

I love the sixties show, so all those episodes (all in continuity, of course), happened at the date they were shown (or a day or so before or after, if the episodes lasted more than two days), except one scene in the third season premiere, "Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin" in which Dick gets his lisence for his birthday. This scene takes place March 21st, 1967.

Every other form of media can just be fit into there. No Crisis needed.

What you don't seem to realize is that while a year passes for us, only about a week passes in the comic world.

With that out of the way, in 1940, after watching the Mark of Zorro (http://www.us.imdb.com/Title?0032762), Bruce's dad was shot, causing Bruce's mom to have a heart attack. He was eight then, having been born October 13th, 1932. He started his career as Batman in 1962, when he was almost 30. After a few months, he first met The Cat, Selina Kyle, later to be known as Catwoman. In late 1963, Batman and Catwoman had sex; a one night stand. In Paris nine months later, on June 1st, 1964, Helena was born. Bruce and Selina's romance rekindled in late 1966. Batman still didn't know of the child. "Holy mush!"

There was a Helena Bertinelli, but she fought crime only as the second Batgirl during No Man's Land. In 1978, Alexei Luthor (not Alexander Luthor) became president, narrowly beating Carter. In 1980, Selina was stabbed and Bruce fled Gotham City, now called New Gotham since it was rebuilt after the earthquake. Batman and Superman first met on a cruise, when Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent where cabin-mates.

The Birds of Prey TV Show is 1987. This is my continuity. I suggest it be yours.

[Hecate]

Timelines are okay if you like that sort of thing, I guess, but I've never understood the fascination with them. Even when you have the difference in passage of time you have to do all those contortions to make everything fit. Some are better than others and I do understand its an aid to keep track of things. But what happens as more and more time passes? Do you keep resetting the clock? I kind of like it outside of time as we know it. Oh and Batman and Catwoman just a one-night stand? I think not.

[Frostbite]

No, no, if Helena was 16 in 1980, she would've had to be born in 1964. The Batman/Catwoman relationship on the TV show didn't flourish until late '66. They had the one night stand in late '63; it was only until later that they were actually in love.

[TheDarkKnight]

I'm not really worried, that much about it. The writers/producers will develop their own continuity but in essence, I would really like to sometype of explanation to explain the current events. I'm aware that No Man's Land happened (The aftershock of the earthquake, not the bar, that the TV series uses), Helena Kyle's connection to Batman but I would just want to see some sort of explanation on the show.

DEVELOPMENT is what we really need. Not a timeline but continue if you all like with what you all believe the timeline is.

[jhowlett]

In time...(maybe in the 2nd season) they may be able to explain those loose holes you've been talking about...