Could Terry McGinnis exist in "New Frontier" continuity?

[Wolf Boy2]

I thought of this yesterday. NF Batman would be in his sixties or seventies by 1999, roughly equivalent to Old Bruce's age in Batman Beyond. Thus, Terry could be introduced to that world in 1999, the same year as the premiere of his TV series. Though, I wonder if technology would be high enough in that world for his suit to exist. Then again, if robot gorillas and rockets to Mars existed in their 1950s, anything is possible.

So, what would a NF Batman Beyond be like, other than being more modern in setting?

[BigFatHairyDeal]

In the spirit of the current DCU multiverse, I'm going to say no (DCAU most likely would exist in Earth 12, New Frontier in Earth 21).

[ABrown]

I'm also gonna say no. I think that the Batman Beyond show is the only one of the DCAU shows that had to exist in the DCAU continuity. I don't think that it would've worked as a stand alone show or DTV movie.

[dark knight 90]

With the right story-telling... anything's possible.

[Bat-Fan Beyond]

ummm...

no.

[Wolf Boy2]

You guys are no fun. :-(

I don't see any reason why the events of the Batman Beyond pilot couldn't occur in 1999. It would be interesting. Though, given that New Frontier is my favorite version of the DCU, I guess I do have fanboy desires to see more characters tossed into it's mix.

But more than a "hey look, Terry exists in this world too" fanboy moment, I'm very curious about the legacy that their JLA left behind.

Batman Beyond gave an interesting perspective on BTAS, honoring it while showing that not all problems in Gotham could be easily solved. The JLU had a strong and positive legacy, both in "The Call" and "Epilogue." STAS "New Kids on the Block" showed how Superman would be remembered long after his death, as a hero and icon.

In similar manner, I'm curious about how the JLA in the NF world affected their history. Since Superman ceased to be a blind government tool, it's doubtful that a "Dark Knight Returns" resolution could have occured (though I do think it's possible, especially in the film version which omits refferences to Batman and Superman ever having fought).

NF is an origin story, and ends on a very optimistic note. Yet, I tend to question that optimism and wonder just how DID their world end up. I seriously doubt that it went the way of the Watchmen's world, but who is to say.

I think the idea of batman having a successor is good, even if it isn't exactly Terry McGinnis (though including Terry would enrichen the myth, IMO; especially since Darwyn himself was involved with that show).

I'm just as curious as to what happened before New Frontier, with the original JSA. In truth, I'm more of a JSA fan than a JLA or JLU fan. Prior to New Frontier, I wasn't very interested in the Silver Age. But obviously NF (and the DC Showcase volumes) have made a "true Believer" out of me (if a DC fan can use that term without legal issues, ;)).

It's all fan speculation as everything before and after New Frontier is purposely foggy. I wouldn't assume to tell Darwyn Cooke what should or should not be in his world, by any means. But these ideas tend to swim through my head when I'm supposed to be studying.:sweat:

[Dayspring]

Another possibility is that NF's Tim Drake (he shows up as Robin even in the movie, IIRC) becomes Batman II, and he becomes the retired Batman who acts as mentor to Terry.

[maczero]

The actual Terry McGinnis? No, for obvious reasons. Would there have been a successor to Batman? Sure, why not. I assumed Robins are groomed to take over for Batman so it makes sense that there would be future versions of Batman.

[Bat-Fan Beyond]

Another possibility is that NF's Tim Drake (he shows up as Robin even in the movie, IIRC) becomes Batman II, and he becomes the retired Batman who acts as mentor to Terry.


To me, New Frontier is all about the transition from Golden Age to Silver Age -- There is no Modern Age in the New Frontier Universe, and I believe if there was to be one, it should only involve characters that were created in and from The Silver Age.

And so... Terry McGuiness would not exist in the New Frontier continuity. Nor would Tim Drake. Or Jason Todd. The only successor to Batman would be Dick Grayson -- and he would go directly from being Robin to being Batman if he were to graduate in the event something happened to Bruce. There would never be a Nightwing in the New Frontier Universe. There also would never be a Huntress, but Barbara Gordon as Batgirl would definitely exist at some point.

I don't even think there would be any other Green Lanterns after Hal Jordan. Just Hal.

See, New Frontier is all about preserving the Silver Age even in the Modern Age. Kind of like Batman: The Brave and The Bold actually.

[Cortez2301]

I actually wouldn't mind seeing Batman Beyond done in New Frontier Style.It seems like a promising idea.

[Wolf Boy2]

To me, New Frontier is all about the transition from Golden Age to Silver Age -- There is no Modern Age in the New Frontier Universe, and I believe if there was to be one, it should only involve characters that were created in and from The Silver Age.
That's true to an extent. Though, every age has a beginning and an end. New Frontier only chronicles the beginning of the Silver Age. A story like the one I proposed would show the end of that age, whether it be a positive or dystopian ending. Nothing lasts forever.

Also, NF included cameo appearances of modern characters like Steel and Booster Gold who were not part of the Silver Age. Obviously Darwyn Cooke thought at least some modern characters were worth keeping around.

Also, the presence of John Henry Irons and Rick Flagg Jr as children strongly suggests that they will someday be heroes like their comic book counterparts.


See, New Frontier is all about preserving the Silver Age even in the Modern Age. Kind of like Batman: The Brave and The Bold actually.
But TB&TB is set in quasi-modern times, like BTAS and STAS before it with no exact years mentioned. New Frontier is concretely set in anno domini 1945 through 1960. Unless a Crisis stopped time, the year 1999 would inevitable occur. NF is not a "Peanuts Time" universe where things occur in a vague "now."

I fail to see why Dick couldn't become Nightwing in the NF world. Nightwing was a pre-Crisis character, if not technically "Silver Age" he at least existed in a pre-Crisis continuation of the Silver Age. He has more Silver Age qualifications than Booster Gold or Steel.


The actual Terry McGinnis? No, for obvious reasons.
Oh, of course I didn't literally mean the DCAU version!:sweat: I meant an alternate universe Terry, born in the 1980s who becomes Batman in 1999. There are too many BTAS refferences in Batman Beyond to make it connect to any other series.

[Dayspring]

I agree more with Wolf Boy than Bat-fan -though I also meant to say Dick, not Tim, and agree that he'd skip directly from Robin to Batman.

Here's how I view the superhero ages in the DCAU:
1) Golden Age: The unseen age focusing on Wildcat, Dr Fate, and any other heroes prior to Batman.
2) Silver Age: BTAS (excluding TNBA)
3) Bronze Age: TNBA, Superman
4) Modern Age: Static Shock, Justice League, JLU
5) Post-Modern Age: The unseen gap between JLU and Batman Beyond.
6) Beyond Age: Batman Beyond, Zeta Project

New Frontier, like Bat-Fan mentioned, is its continuity's transition from Golden age to Silver age. In light of this, I'd want the Bronze age to be completely unseen, in which possible other humans become GLs and Robin becomes Batman II. The Modern Age would then be NF's version of the Beyond Age.