I was just about to email him and congratulate him on this when he emailed me. He read this thread. And he said they are planning to go back to the original Eastman and Laird. Design Sifu tells me that the original was a spoof of Frank Miller's Daredevil, which is certainly more hard boiled and comic noir. So perhaps the Batman Begins reference is valid after all. If John says any more on the record, I'll let you know.