Ellison writes 'Funny Money'

"Close on fifteen years after writing, 'The Night of Thanks, But No Thanks' for Detective Comics #567, Harlan will return to the character of Batman with a new story. 'Funny Money' will appear in an upcoming issue of Batman: Gotham Knights. Although the exact issue has not bee scheduled (but soon, very very soon), one of HE's favorite graphic artists, Gene Ha, has been assigned the black and white art chores by DC Comics editor Mark Chiarello...

"'All through last year's "No Man's Land" arc, Batman became concretized in the role of a humorless brute. I [HE] have elected to go back to basics with my view of Batman in this story. First, I let him be what he hasn't been permitted to be–what he was created to be–for many years...a detective.'"

An interesting note of comparison. Before the story appeared Ellison mentioned this piece of characterization "'There's a scene where Batman meets Commissioner Gordon and some treasury agents, and even though he calls Gordon by his first name through the whole story, here you must have Batman say 'Commissioner', because Batman isn't sure Jim Gordon wants the feds knowing how cozy he is with a vigilante.' (Comics Buyer's Guide, #1380, April 28th) In the story as printed the scene plays very differently, with the Commisioner and Batman exchanging some very paly dialogue:

Comissioner Gordon: So What's New Kiddo?
Batman: Same Old Same Old
CG: Some Coffee? A Soft Drink? A Little Herb Tea?
Batman: C'Mon, Jim. I'm Tired. It's Been A Long Night. I'd Like To Pack It In And Get Some Sleep.

I don't know if HE changed his interpretation of the relationship between the two characters, at least in this public form, or if it was requested by Editorial. The back-up does come at the end of two months of exploration of that very relationship and comes as the back-up in the final story in a cross-over dealing with a shooting of Gordon in the line of duty.