Nick Nadel's Tuesday column examines the increasingly busy intersection between comic books and the movies.

So, it's safe to say that The Dark Knight will pretty much be the greatest comic book movie ever made. No less an authority on the subject than Kevin Smith (Clerks, Dogma) has already called it the "Godfather II of comic book films." But what's next? Sadly, the planned two-film Joker storyline will never come to fruition. While Harvey Dent/Two-Face seems to be a definite possibility for the next outing, fans are already buzzing about what other villains and characters will make the cut. Can Noland and his crew keep up the quality for the third sequel? Here are some tips on how future Batman installments can live up to The Dark Knight.

Keep the Dynamic Duo of Nolan and Bale Together
In the course of just two films, Christopher Nolan has crafted the richest, most grounded comic book movies since the heyday of Richard Donner's Superman. Meanwhile, Christian Bale gives us an intensely layered portrayal of Bruce Wayne. Is it too much to hope for that the duo will stay with the character indefinitely? Sean Connery lived with James Bond for decades. The revolving door of directors and actors on the franchise have taken us to some pretty brightly-colored places. (Ahem, Schumacher.) Nolan and Bale are the De Niro and Scorsese of comic book films. Let's hope they stay together.

Avoid Robin
Though he's been the subject of intense debate, I'm erring on the side of no "Boy Blunder." While the Dick Grayson and Tim Drake incarnations of Robin grew into their own in the comics, the character makes little sense in the current franchise. Nolan and his screenwriters have gone to great lengths to make every element of Batman's onscreen universe seem plausible. A grown man running around with a tights-wearing kid sidekick just doesn't fly in Nolan's world. (And dredges up too many hack jokes and dated rumors.) Not to mention that Batman is already getting crowded out of his own films, what with Alfred, Gordon, Rachel Dawes, Lucius Fox, and multiple villains. Save Robin for the inevitable Teen Titans movie, and keep Batman solo. 

Tread Carefully Into the Rouges Gallery
Let's face it: Batman has the coolest villains in comics. (Superman and Spidey should be so lucky.) Unfortunately, he also has some of the campiest. A psychotic clown-faced killer fits perfectly into Nolan's street-level films, but a cat burglar who literally dresses up as a cat? Michelle Pfeiffer created a brilliantly warped Catwoman for Batman Returns, though the script did occasionally veer into purr-fectly awful puns. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) The safest bet is to follow the lead of Darwyn Cooke's noirish Catwoman comics and turn Selina into an ally and informant to Batman, who also occasionally dips into cat burglary. And how about casting an actress who is both sexy and sharp-witted? (Zooey Deschanel, perhaps?)  As for oddball crime boss the Penguin, here's hoping the rumors of Philip Seymour Hoffman leading the Gotham underworld actually pan out. If anyone can bring gravitas to one of the more absurd Batman baddies, it's Hoffman. (But, please, Nolan, skip Mad Hatter and Egghead entirely.)

Leap Into the Future
Should Bale and Nolan decide to move on, Warner Bros. would be wise to restart the franchise in the future. Far into the future, that is. Frank Miller's seminal graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns, featuring a retired Batman returning to the cape and cowl, is practically begging to be adapted to film. (There's still time to play Batman yet, Clint Eastwood!) Plus, it features quite possibly the greatest Superman/Batman tussle in comic book history. Fans have been waiting for a Dark Knight Returns adaptation for decades, and with Miller currently on a cinematic high, the time is finally right. In the meantime, this fan is looking forward to many Nolan/Bale Bat-collaborations for years to come.

When not writing, Nick Nadel is in line at the comic book store alongside the other geeks, er, fans of speculative fiction. His most prized possession is a 1960s Batman comic wherein the Dynamic Duo are trapped inside a fortune cookie factory. He lives in Brooklyn and updates his aptly named website (nicknadel.com) with comedy writing and videos.