UNUSED IDEA: Batman - Prince of Gotham (comic book/musical)

A unique adaptation of music from Prince

In addition to being a comic book geek, I am also a music buff. One album in particular that fascinates me is Prince’s Batman soundtrack. It works as a great musical complement to the hit Michael Keaton movie, but when you listen to it by itself as a standalone album, it takes an entirely different tone. Prince’s Batman is actually a concept album telling its own separate Batman story that only thematically interacts with the movie, and that is something that intrigues me to no end.

One day on a lark I looked up the lyrics to this album, and I was amazed by the narrative the songs wove together. and it inspired me to do something with it. I wondered if I could craft a full-fledged story with these lyrics, and what I came with could work as a comic book storyarc. In addition, recently watching the Tony Awards and seeing the reception Alicia Keys got for making a musical based on her life and using her songs (there are also similar plays for Michael Jackson and Huey Lewis) gave me the idea that this story could also be adapted into a Broadway-styled music (and who wouldn’t want to watch a Broadway musical using Prince songs?)

So here’s what I came up with. I’ll probably never turn this into a finished product, especially since Prince’s Batman soundtrack is tied up in a whole bunch of ownership redtape between his estate and Warner Brothers. but I think you’ll still enjoy what I came up with. Check it out.

BATMAN: PRINCE OF GOTHAM.

ACT ONE

Chapter 1: The Future.

After a rigorous training session with his son Damian, Bruce Wayne takes a break to rest, and while resting, he thinks about his son’s potential as the next Batman. he drifts into a daydream where he imagines his fully grown son patrolling the city as Batman. this is a routine mission where he breaks up a drug deal by a member of his rogues gallery named Yellow Smiley and has to fight off six guys from a gang called the Razor Blades. He then fights another crook named Pretty Pony, who offers a clue about a bigger conspiracy brewing with a new criminal mastermind.

Chapter 2: Electric Chair

This chapter is the origin of Damian’s new archnemesis, Partyman, a hedonistic, nihilistic supercriminal inspired by the legend of The Joker. The man grew up obsessed with the Joker and his nefarious deeds, to the point where he even imagines Joker whispering in his ear telling him what to do. At the end of the chapter, Joker’s ghost tells him that to be complete he must destroy Batman. in the musical, Partyman is performing this song while looking in the mirror, with the Joker dancing around him whispering in his ear.

Chapter 3: The Arms of Orion

While following the lead Pretty Pony gave him, Damian meets Vicki Veil (no relation to Vicki Vale), who gleamed some information on Partyman’s big plan from her investigative journalism. while talking, it is revealed that Vicki knows Damian’s secret identity and they have a relationship together. During their meeting, Damian has to protect Vicki from some of Partyman’s Goons that arrive to kill her for knowing too much. in the musical, Damian and Vicki sing this duet shortly after revealing they have a relationship.

Chapter 4: Partyman

Vicki tells Damian about a gala she was invited to by a suspicious character. Damian crashes the party as his playboy billionaire heir secret identity, where he is introduced to Partyman in person. in the musical, Partyman makes his entrance singing his song. Damian confronts Partyman, who tells him about his philosophy: life is meaningless and we’re all going to die, so we should all party with no rules or restrictions. and he will accommodate what we need to do that. Damian asks “Accommodate what? Partying? or Dying?” and Partyman simply replies “Yes.” Partyman then locks the doors, and his henchmen pump the building full of a hallucinogenic drug that will drive everyone mad. Damian covers his mouth and tries to get the situation under control while chasing down Partyman. he gets everyone out safely but Partyman gets away.

Chapter 5: Vicki Waiting

Vicki calls Damian and asks to meet him on the roof of her apartment with vital information for Partyman’s next move…but he has to meet her as Batman. in the musical, Damian sings this song shortly after he hangs up the phone. But en route to meeting Vicki, he is bombarded by goons trying to take him out. he fights his way to the rendezvous point, only to find Vicki gone, and a note from Partyman taunting him.

Chapter 6: Dance With the Devil

Vicki is being held by Partyman at his hideout, where he torments and tortures her, feeding her his drugs. He tells her why it is important to destroy Batman, and relates the incidents that made him obsessed with emulating Joker in the first place. His abusive parents were killed by the Joker when he was young during one of Joker’s rampages. He saw Joker as a savior and his retribution, and he wanted to be like him. But studying the joker showed him the meaninglessness of life in general, so he adopted his philosophy of “party till you die.” and he will share that philosophy with Gotham City, whether they want it or not.

Chapter 7: Trust

Partyman makes a television appearance trying to sell the city of his plan to party forever. int he musical, this is where he sings the song. Damian uses detective work and beats up a lot of Partyman’s goons to get the location where Vicki is being held.

He arrives to rescue her, only to find Vicki singing the song, and it’s not Vicki at all, but a doppleganger there to lure and distract Damian while Partyman enacted his plan uninterrupted. He killed the real Vicki while she was his captive. Damian mourns and vows vengeance.

Chapter 8: Lemon Crush

Damian finds out about Lemon Crush, a stronger variant of Partyman’s halluciniginic drug that drives people even crazier before killing them. it was what he used to kill Vicki and now plans to somehow unleash it on the city. In a flashback, a goon that was with Partyman when he had held Vicki captive explains how Vicki reacted when the drug took its effects on her. in the musical, she is singing the song while she is acting erratically and dying.

Chapter 9: Scandalous

While Damian desperately searches for clues leading him to Partyman’s wherabouts, Partyman waits in anticipation of his final battle with Damian. Partyman has a last conversation in his mind with Joker about their relation to Batman. Damian talks in an internal monologue about his love for Gotham city and what he will do to keep it safe. in the musical, both Damian and Partyman are singing the song during this time.

Chapter 10: 200 balloons

Damian finally gets to Partyman, who (in his song) reveals his plan to unleash 200 balloons filled with his lemon crush drug and explode them over the city. Damian races against time to stop or destroy the balloons before they can be activated. with that mission accomplished, he turns his attention to stopping Partyman once and for all.

Chapter 11: Batdance

This is the final fight between Damian and Partyman, as they chase each other through his warehouse while the song plays in the background. when Partyman is defeated, he tries to get Damian to kill him, and Damian wrestles with the decision before deciding not to kill him and turn him in to the authorities. it is what Vicki would have wanted.

Bruce wakes up and decides that the future of the Batmantle is in good hands….but Damian still needs more training.

So what do you think? Do you think this would make a cool story, or would it be a better Broadway musical? If you like this, then subscribe! I post unused story ideas monthly.