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John Snyder talks about Joker and “Death of the Family”

Comic Book Art, DCU, Interview, Joker, Preview 1 Response »

Nov 252012

Newsarama contributor Vaneta Rogers had an interview with writer SCOTT SNYDER who revealed details of the continuing “Death of the Family” story arc and where Joker is heading in his plans to erradicate Batman’s allies.

Newsarama: Scott, there have been quite a few developments since last time we talked. But probably the most revealing thing we’ve learned about the plot you’ve crafted for this story is that you’ll be revisiting important places from past encounters between Batman and The Joker. How does this tie into your exploration of The Joker as a character, and what does it provide to the story overall?

Scott Snyder: Yeah, I really love framing the story this way because, on the one hand, it is like The Joker is sort of running through his “greatest hits” with Batman and being able to say, you know, “Look at all the great times we’ve had together.”

And you’re going to see a lot more references coming up: everything from Joker-Fish to Five-Way Revenge to Death in the Family. Joker will reference those in incredibly creepy ways.

As much as we wanted it to be there as something fans that know those stories can see and enjoy, we also wanted to have them presented, if we did reenact them through Joker, in a way that would make the fresh, you know? And also make them accessible to new fans.

It was a really fun line to walk for us. We wanted it to be something that would pay tribute to all the great Joker stories in the past and keep them in continuity, and then at the same time, to not depend on readers knowing those stories to enjoy our bigger story.

So it was definitely both fun and very tricky.

Nrama: In issue #14, he seemed to be way ahead of Batman, because he knew what was going to happen and just finished that part of the story on his own, wanting something more. But he seems to be delighted in the Batman. He loves him in his own twisted way, doesn’t he? And feels he’s going through this plan to help him?

Snyder: He really believes in his heart that he’s doing Batman the favor that Batman can’t admit he wants done, which is, he thinks that Batman regrets having accumulated this family because he knows that it makes him slow and weak and all of this stuff, and worried about the world all the time, the way a father would.

And again, like we talked about last time, with me being a father of young kids, that’s where this story came from. It’s that sense

of constant worry about your kids and wishing once in awhile you could just turn it off or put it on pause, you know? But not being able to. And that’s part of being a family.

And that’s the perfect point for someone to come up and whisper in your ear: “I heard that. I heard you think you would love to have just a minute of pause or a minute of refuge from worrying about these people you love. So let me make that easy for you and kill them all, and then you won’t have to worry, because deep down, I know that’s what you want.”

So that’s what Joker believes about Batman, and he’s going to be sort of making his case throughout this story, as to why Batman loves him more than the family, and he loves Batman more than the family loves Batman.

Nrama: The back-up was interesting too, because not only did The Joker bring other villains into it — which we know was coming from solicitations — but you added to the layers of Joker’s relationship with Batman by talking about this “religion of crime” in Gotham and how they’re really all just worshipping Batman.

Snyder: Yeah, I love that art too, the way that Jock has them with their hands tied, dead, in prayer position.

Nrama: Wasn’t that in the script?

Snyder: Yeah, yeah. That was in the direction. I just now love seeing it visually. It was so creepy the way he presented that.

Nrama: This issue also established that The Joker knows the secret identities of the Bat-family. Or at least he says he knows them, right?

Snyder: For us, that’s part of the driving horror and mystery of the story. They were afraid that this is the claim that the Joker is going to make, and now he made it. He’s saying, “I know everything about you. I’ve been in your house. I’ve been under your bed. I’ve been in your closet. There’s nothing that I can’t kill in your life or hurt to break you.” And it’s sort of your worst nightmare.

If that’s true, and what he says is true that Bruce essentially is at fault for that somehow, that’s going to drive the conflict. The question of whether or not what he’s saying is true all around is part of the driving conflict, or is the driving conflict of the story, when it comes to the family and Bruce.

So Joker is playing a game with them, where he’s saying, “I know it, and wait until you see how much I know.” He’s saying, “Wait until you see. I’m going to prove it to you. But I’m not just going to come out and say your names, because that would be too easy. I’m going to show you little by little that I have irrefutable evidence that I know exactly who you are.

And as that evidence mounts, the tension really ratchets up between the family and Bruce. What Joker said in #14 is that it’s Batman’s fault, because he wants this to be the way it is. He wants me to come after you deep down.

Nrama: We also get a really good, close look at Joker’s face in this issue. We also get to experience Greg’s portrayal of The Joker’s interaction with Batman, as he’s moving so unpredictably when he’s talking to him. He also told us in our recent interview that he’s going to be utilizing the flies around Joker’s face in a creative way to help tell the story. We’ve talked before about how important he is to the creation of this book, but can you describe his role in this story in particular?

Snyder: These issues coming up are just amazing. Issue #15 has some of my favorite moments in the whole story. There have been preview images already that show Bruce talking to the whole family.

That conversation, and what transpires between them, is at the heart of the entire story. And to have them all together in costume — Barbara included — isn’t something I’ve had a chance to do yet. I’ve had them working in their own books, and I’ve had them in different ways, like you’ve seen Damian and Dick and Tim with Bruce. And you’ve seen Nightwing with Batman. But to see the family united, at least in location — they’re not united at all in terms of how they feel about each other right now — but having them there together is a tremendous thrill as a writer.

Batman #15 Preview:

Greg’s work on the issue was so important to getting this entire story right, because issue #15 has the big, emotional showdown between the Bat-family characters, as to whether or not they believe what the Joker is saying is true. And the emotion that Greg is able to bring to issue #15, I think will blow people away. It’s a testament to Greg’s ability, the expressiveness of the intimate scenes, where there isn’t bombastic action, or gruesome horror happening — there’s just emotional tension. I was looking at the pages, and even without the dialogue, you can feel exactly what the characters are feeling, panel to panel.

And then issue #16 and #17 just go completely berserk, in terms of what The Joker has planned. So you can only imagine how amazing those are going to be. The pages coming in so far from #16, where some of the more twisted things happen, are just completely out of control. So something like including the flies was completely his idea, and the idea of The Joker’s face kind of rotting and rotting as this story goes on.

So he contributes not only these amazing ideas on the page, visually, but he also contributes great story ideas. He couldn’t be a better partner, honestly. It really is a special relationship.

I’m very close to all the artists I’ve worked with — you know, Rafael and I are extremely good friends, and Jock and I are really good friends, and Yanick and I are friends as well, and you know, Sean Murphy and other artists. I’ve always tried to cultivate relationships with them outside of work too.

But Greg has really become somebody I talk to on a daily basis. We visit each other with our wives and go out to dinner and try to go to cons together. So I can’t say enough good things about him both as a person and an artist. And I can only say that this stuff coming up in #15 and #16 and #17 shows such a range of his incredible skills, that I’m really, really, really excited for people to see.

And two of the guys I just want to mention really quick — the unsung heroes, I think, of the team — are FCO, the colorist, and Jonathan Glapion, the inker. They just work overtime for this one too.

We have a really good team. We’re really super tight, all of us. We’re not really interested in doing anything else right now, in terms of looking for projects individually in different places. No one’s splintering off from this team. We’re really committed to Batman and Gotham for another year.

Nrama: You’ve obviously talked about what’s coming up in the next three issues of the story arc. And I know that last time we talked, you said there would be an explanation for why The Joker allowed his face to be removed. Is there anything else you want fans to know about that’s coming up?

Snyder: I think the great thing about what’s coming up is that we’re just getting started. Issue #13 was just The Joker saying, “I’m back, and I have a plan.” And issue #14 was him saying, “Here’s the beginning of my plan. Here’s me telling you that I know who all of you are, and I’m going to bring you down one by one. In fact, I’m going to present you to Batman, and Batman is going to be the one that kills you in three days from now.”

So if you think about it, he’s really just set things in motion. You know what I mean? So the stuff coming up in #15 is the aftermath emotionally and what happens between the Bat-family.

And issue #15 has a really big secret, also, that’s going to come out

Issue #16 and #17 are just completely bat-sh!t crazy, in terms of what he has planned for them, in terms of the psychological, emotional and physical horror of the story.

And I would just say that The Joker has already said that he’s planning something of a celebration at some point. So I can promise you that it’s going to be the craziest, most twisted thing we could possibly do in this book.

So I’m really excited. I just finished it, actually. I just finished #17. It has my favorite ending that I’ve ever done. So I’m really, really excited about it.

And I promise you that the best stuff is still coming in this story.

Nrama: Then to finish up, is there anything else you want to tell fans about Batman?

Snyder: I definitely want to tell the fans thank you. I just found out that the sales on Batman #13 rival Batman #1, and we couldn’t be more thankful that fans have been so supportive. I think both of us — the creative team and the fans — have really created something special with this book.

(Original interview posted by Vaneta Rogers at NEWSARAMA)

Joker and Harley in Suicide Squad 14: The Adam Glass Interview

Comic Books, Harley Quinn, Interview, Joker, Preview 2 Responses »

Nov 152012

Bringing you more updates from the DEATH OF THE FAMILY story arc, spin-off issue SUICIDE SQUAD #14 this month brings together one of the most love-hated couples of all times. This issue reunites Harley Quinn and Joker and serie’s writer ADAM GLASS talks about it in this wonderful CBR article posted by editor Kiel Phegley>

CBR News: In a way, this Joker story has been in the offing for “Suicide Squad” as much as it has been for “Batman.” In issues #6 and 7, you wrote a big story about Harley Quinn’s past and present and how they related to the Joker’s disappearance after he lost his face. When you were working on that, did any word come down to you about where Joker might finally return?

Adam Glass: Obviously we knew that eventually the Joker would return, but we had no idea when. One of the first things in dealing with Harley that I wanted to do was explore who Harley is outside of the Joker. He was gone. Perfect timing. In fact, the whole conversation about that started back when DC asked me who I’d want on my Suicide Squad team. I said, “Harley!” And they said, “But Harley’s off in Arkham Asylum.” “Well…what if she’s not? What if in this brave new world, she didn’t go to Arkham right away?” The truth of the matter is, she had a history at Arkham. If we want to think about how the legal system works, that’s probably the last place they’d send her to – a place where she used to work and then flipped out.

So the idea started there. Harley was out on her own, and Joker was gone. The question of how that leads to who she’ll become fit perfectly. And there was an opportunity when we saw what happened to Joker’s face to keep him alive without seeing him. Then we could learn more about her story. Those two issues sold well, and the fans seemed pretty responsive to it.

Now, this has all worked itself out. My natural telling of her story and its unfolding fits in perfectly with the Joker’s return and his new place within the DCU. I’d love to sit here and claim that we planned it all out, but a lot of this is just a mixture of good luck.

On the other side of the coin from Harley and Joker’s issues, you had been playing with this story of Regulus – a kind of arch-villain for our team of villains – since the #0 issue. How did that thread help or hinder where you take things in this week’s issue?

Well, the end of issue #13 took one of the team off the table. Deadshot sacrificed himself against Regulus, and we’re left with both of them apparently dead. And I think the truth of that becomes clearer at the beginning of #14 where we open at Deadshot’s funeral. As the Joker’s returning, we’re dealing with all the fallout of that now. What does his death mean? We’ve learned that within the Squad, most of them had no idea they were sleeper agents. So now they need to be deprogrammed. There’s a lot of fallout from the last story.

And in the middle of all that, who comes to throw a monkey wrench in everything but the Joker? His story and Harley’s story and their reconnection asks what this means not only for the Squad but for the DCU. That’s what we’ll play with. So the truth is that this is a very balanced story where the fans who are with us month in, month out and want to see where the Squad is at continue to get that story. Meanwhile, we get to tell a story for everyone showing up to see what’s going on with Harley and the Joker as well.

We spoke some in San Diego about how you chose different characters to play a part on this team with a high turnover rate, and I’ve grown to get the sense that some of the tougher villains – even the smaller ones – come from Batman’s world. Is there a connection between the Gotham rogues and how you view the Suicide Squad?

When I originally started the book, I asked for a couple of characters, and they told me, “That’s too many Batman villains.” [Laughs] The reason you go to that well is that there are so many great ones. Batman’s rogue’s gallery is second to none. He has the greatest array of villains in comic book history. With that said, I got Harley and Black Spider who some people forget comes from Batman’s world. Even Deadshot technically comes from Batman’s world even though those latter two are so far back in the memory of the DCU that it slips our mind. But technically, that’s three characters coming out of that world.

So you can’t help but have Batman and Gotham bleed into our stories on some level. And anytime the Joker makes an appearance, obviously it’s a direct connection to Batman. That’s hinted to in our book – how all these stories and pieces connect up with one another. Scott Snyder already wrote a little piece of “Batman” that showed Joker and Harley together, and Joker asked her to do a favor in standing in as the Red Hood. That whole story starts in my book, and we explain how that all happened.

2-page preview:

On the non-Batman side, you’ve also recently gotten to reintroduce Captain Boomerang onto the team. He’s someone with a long history with the franchise. What are your goals in this story for people like him and the rest of the team who won’t have as much impact on what the Joker does next?

The good news about being on the book as long as I have been is that we planted a bunch of seeds. Some of those have grown quicker than others because of crossovers or characters that are very connected to Harley and Deadshot. People wanted to see those stories in the forefront for a while, but we’ve got a lot of other players waiting in the wings. King Shark has a mystery to him. Who is he? Why is he there? We’ll be dealing a lot more with that in the coming books. There was a reason he got to where he is – a goal. But he forgot about it because he was dehydrated by Amanda Waller who was playing her own game with him. He eventually forgot what his purpose was, but soon he’ll remember, and that’s not going to be good for another Squad member.

Then we’ve got El Diablo. He’s been hearing the voices of what he thought was God, but it turns out it wasn’t God. It was someone else, and now he feels betrayed. He’ll start to accept the darkness within him and maybe realize that that’s the only place he can be who he really is. Black Spider was revealed to be a traitor, but the guy was a hero, and he had a really interesting relationship with Waller. Why did he betray her? What is his play? What does he believe? That’s all about to get fleshed out.

And of course, there’s the question of “Were Harley and Deadshot a fling, or was there something deeper there?” Deadshot always played it like he wasn’t interested. He just said, “I want to get my rocks off, and then get the hell out of my way. This was a weird situation, and I took it.” Now he probably wishes he didn’t. [Laughs] When’s the last time he had this situation where he wakes up and says, “What did I do last night?” only to look down and realize he’s literally got the girl from “Fatal Attraction” next to him?

And of course, there are questions surrounding Waller. We’re starting to see something from “Team 7” bleed into our story a bit and some ghosts from her past. All those relationships are still out there. There’s a lot going on. We’ve built up a program, and we cut off the hand of Resurrection Man. What are we doing with that hand? All of these plans are in the offing. There’s no lack of story lines to the book, and I think for the fans who have stuck with us, they’ll start getting next moves and conclusions.

Not to add another one onto the pile, but in the #0 issues one the of the big hints in both your book and “Birds of Prey” was that Starling has some connection to the Squad as a double agent. Is that something that will be showing up again soon?

Absolutely. I think us and “Birds of Prey” are on a crash course. I can’t promise when it’ll happen, but I will say that all our paths will cross.

(Scans courtesy of CBR. Original source HERE)

Greg Capullo Speaks Joker and Batman #15

Comic Book Art, Interview, Joker, new 52, Preview, Reviews No Responses »

Nov 152012

Our friends at CBR have scored another fantastic Joker article, with an interview with BATMAN series artist Greg Capullo where he talks about the current DEATH OF THE FAMILY story arc, BATMAN #15 as well as his takes on Batgirl and the Robins. Please enjoy it and for more information visit the site.

REMEMBER BATMAN #15 is on sale DECEMBER 12, folks!!

CBR News: At NYCC 2012, you spoke about how you see Batman as a single, solid silhouette. In “Batman” #15, the whole Bat family gathers together. How do you visually approach drawing them? Is it with that same eye for shapes and silhouettes you use with Batman?

Greg Capullo: No, because I see Batman as an entity onto himself. For me, what I’m trying to do is capture what I know of their personalities and maybe put that into their body language, their facial expressions, their hand gestures, what have you. But no, that monolithic shape is reserved only for Batman! Anybody posing next to him always has to look less than him, so that’s just the equation.

In the very first issue of the “Batman” New 52 relaunch, readers saw most of the unmasked Bat family together — at least all the Robins. That’s a big group of handsome, blue-eyed, black-haired guys. How do you approach depicting the personalities of each one in a visual way and differentiate between these sort of similar-looking characters?

Well, again, I try and make them a little bit different — it’s like when you look at the faces of models. They all sort of have the same features but somehow look a little bit different, it’s like a trick of nature I guess. But body language is a lot easier, especially when you have a character like Damian who’s just brimming with attitude. I’ve got a ten-year-old stepson at home and Damian’s ten, so I have some reference to what ten year olds are about — even though our kid’s nothing like Damian! [Laughs] So with Damian I’m giving him almost hip-hop poses in a couple of things, that gangster attitude in a couple of shots, because that’s more in line with his personality. It’s just more or less playing it up like that, saying, “How can I make it different?” Batgirl’s got a strong personality, so I try and make her stand a little bit proud. I try to play off those things and sometimes it’s small, whether it’s a tilt of the head or the way she’s bending her leg or whatever. I try to make it all natural.

“Batman” #16 leads into the big showdown between Joker and Batman — do you feel issue #15 is more of the calm before the storm, or is it more frenetic than that?

There’s some explosive stuff that happens in #15, it’s definitely not a sleeper issue! But things definitely get more macabre as we move forward into #16 because now we’re going into the Asylum; just by virtue of that things will get kooky! If you’re paying attention the Joker, he’s going to be taking over. He’s remodeled all of Arkham Asylum so it’s going to be Arkham Asylum like you’ve never seen it before. You’ll see some familiar faces and some — I don’t want to spoil things — but it’s big, crazy, off-the-wall stuff that’s been so much fun to draw. It took such restraint not to Tweet off a million pictures! [Laughs] It’s stuff that you would never expect to happen, there’s even animals, there’s everything in this issue! I’m telling you, Scott’s putting me through the paces on this one!

During “Night of the Owls” when Batman was in the Court’s maze you played with a lot of surreal visuals, like the image of Batman turned into an owl. For this story it sounds like the Arkham Asylum stuff is approaching that level of surrealism. Are things a little more abstract, a little more disconnected from reality?

I don’t know if I would call it that or define it quite that way. I mean, some crazy stuff is happening, for sure, but Batman is not on acid this time and so he’s not having such crazy hallucinations. He hasn’t been starved of food so his mind is not quite degraded to the point where we’d see some of that crazy surreal stuff. But the setting itself — some of the things Joker has set in place for Batman and I came to enjoy — are quite surreal just by virtue of what they are. There’s no need to play it kooky. You don’t have to bend the angles or give it a fish-eye lens on the scene, just what is in the scene is crazy and disturbing enough. You could do old-school Jack Kirby six-panel grids and the content is just messed up, the content itself delivers the goods!

Preview page 11:

Going into issue #15 and #16, were there any definitive Joker artists or ways Arkham has been portrayed that influenced or inspired the way your Arkham and Joker look?

Not really so much. Certainly, Scott was inspired by certain stories or what have you, but for me it was a conversation with Scott. Scott said the Joker’s face was cut off. Wow! Ok, I missed that one, what do we do? One of the things he mentioned which was pretty much the only prerequisite is he said, “I want the skin to be stretched really tight so that he’s got the biggest Joker smile that we’ve ever seen.” That was one of the directions he gave me to go on, so I said, “Yeah, alright, we can do that, we’ll have some hooks and stuff we’ll pull it real tight!”

What’s great now is he’s not a one-trick pony — there’s a scene where Batman punches Joker and it busts loose! So then you got a character that, like how you adjust your necktie or fix your hair, he’s got to actually fix his face. And not like women fix their face, he’s got to reattach hooks and stuff! It provides a lot of expressions you could never possibly achieve without this vehicle. Also, even though you have all this fear and dark stuff, you have this black humor. To me it’s funny when he’s fixing his face! It’s kind of sick because it’s his skin and it’s falling off his face, but it’s funny at the same time. But maybe I’m messed up because I laugh at that!

As the artist on the flagship Bat-book, do you talk to the other artists and architect the crossover in a way similar to the writing process?

No, [editor] Mike Marts has me usually provide some art so I gave them my looses sketches, nothing finished, and I go, “Here’s how the face works and here’s where the hooks are and here you go, have at it.” The Joker at some point will don some familiar apparel and some of those artists are ready to roll with that but I’m not, so I set aside some time and put together how I plan on doing that look to shoot that over to them. Being the lead guy, so to speak, I have to provide for the guys, “Here’s what this is going to look like,” when I get to it so we keep up continuity.

Back in “Batman” #1 we actually saw a version of your Joker — albeit really Dick Grayson in a disguise — before he took off his face. How had your concept for the villain changed or stayed the same from then to when you and Scott began talking about “Death Of The Family?”

Again, Scott really wanted him to look less wooden dummy-ish with the big nose and the big chin, because that’s not so much the guy you’d expect to ever really meet. In that respect I both trimmed back and the chin and the nose, and as far as from my own perspective based on what I heard from issue #1 I said, “No way is he going to have that hair-do! I’m just going to give him straight-forward, time-tested, fan approved hair!” [Laughs] And that’s how I kept it! So the only cognizant thought I had was to not do the Heath Ledger hair — I don’t want to get stoned by fans while I’m at conventions!

Not only are you doing the interior art, you’re also doing the covers, each one showing a sort of faceless or shadowed Joker. Do the ideas from the covers spring from the themes of the issues or are these images you’ve had in mind for a while?

Usually what happens when there’s a cover the first thing is to find out what’s going to be taking place in the issue, so I’ll say to Scott, “Got any suggestions for the cover?” He’ll say this, this or this, and sometimes I’ll throw all that away but it inspired something else entirely different. Or I’ll go, “That’s awesome! I really want to do something with that!” The one where he’s wearing all the different [Bat allies’] apparel, I think that might have been Scott’s idea, saying “He’s wearing so and so’s this, and so and so’s that,” and me going, “Yeah, that’s cool, man!”

The last cover, issue #17, which I am very happy with the way it came out, he had a completely different idea for it. I like to make iconic, simplistic designs for covers and the other thing would have been more like an illustration for the interior, I didn’t really want to do that. So I go, “How can I take the essence of what Scott is saying and make an image out of that?” That’s how I came up with him dancing with the burned-out Batman costume. It’s “Singing In The Rain” and it’s sort of like “Clockwork Orange;” I want it to be something messed up and twisted like that. And the whole lesson we’re learning through all of this is the Joker is madly in love with Batman! So I think that’s even there as he so lovingly dances around with this thing, it’s so messed up! But anyway, that’s how it happens — we come up with ideas and put them through the blender. Sometimes we use them and sometimes we discard them, and come up with some kind of image that will hopefully last more than five minutes after the viewer has seen it.

As you said earlier, Scott’s certainly got a couple of favorite Batman stories he’s drawn inspiration from. What is your favorite definitive Joker or Batman story?

I’ll tell you, and I say it all the time, I loved “The Dark Knight Returns” by Frank Miller. I could shove that in anybody’s hands, it’s like the first thing you’ve got to check out. Actually, my whole Batman cowl design is borrowed from the scene where Batman’s armored up to fight Superman, wired up Gotham City for power and he’s got that flat helmet. I can’t do that because I have to give a little more shape but I just love that look. If I could and get away with it, I’d make Batman’s face just as flat as that: a forehead that goes straight to the nose. There’s just something badass about it! It’s appropriate because he’s the Dark Knight and it’s like a knight’s helmet, just flat with the eyes. That’s one of the very biggest sources that has inspired me and I love it to this day. I just think it’s genius!

(Pics courtesy of DC COMICS Blog. Original article can be seen HERE)

NYCC Day 4: BATMAN PANEL–“Death Comes to Gotham”

Comic Books, Conventions, DCU, Interview, News, Preview 1 Response »

Oct 152012

I was going to tell my on impression of the panel, but found a much more detailed recollection of the events that transpired in the panel. Here is CBR repor which is basically a transcript of the panel. My insights are indicated in bulleted items in italics:

In the last day of the Comic Book Convention in New York DC brings the creative teams of most of his Batman titles for a summary of where it is heading with the Joker return and the future of the titles.

At the New York Comic Con DC Comics: Batman — Death Comes To Gotham panel the writers and artists behind the Batman family of titles at DC Comics gathered to speak to fans about the books and the Joker “Death Of The Family” storyline begun with “Batman” issue #13.

As scores of fans bearing Batman and Court Of The Owls masks poured into the crowded convention hall, Moderator and DC Entertainment SVP of Marketing John Cunningham began the panel by introducing the panelists: artist David Finch (“Batman: The Dark Knight”), writer Kyle Higgins (“Nightwing”), writer Gregg Hurwitz (“Batman: The Dark Knight”), writer Grant Morrison (“Batman, Incorporated”), writer Scott Snyder (“Batman”), artist Greg Capullo (“Batman”), colorist FCO Plascencia (“Batman”), inker Jon Glapion (“Batman”), writer Peter Tomasi (“Batman & Robin”) and writer James Tynion IV (“Talon”).

“Don’t kill Nightwing!” fans from the audience yelled at Higgins as the panelists sat down.

“Why does Nightwing have to be Dick?” Higgins countered as the audience laughed and gasped.

Snyder then showed the image for “Batman” issue #16 where Joker grinned at the audience, festooned with costume parts from Robin, Batgirl and all the other Bat allies. Snyder said Joker believes that he truly is Batman’s jester and it’s his job to challenge Batman because “He believes if Batman survives them he comes out stronger, he’s a better king,” Snyder said.

“A year ago he allowed his face to be cut off…and he also has a secret on Batman that’s going to come out later on,” Snyder said adding, “Joker [says to the Bat allies], ‘You don’t deserve him….I’m going to show you how he loves us more than you and he wishes you dead, and then we’re going to make you dead.’”

Joker wants to involve all the other Bat-foes, because he sees them as he sees himself, serving society by securing the strength of the Batman. It is the foes duty to make sure the king is strong and so be the best Bat-king he could be

In Joker’s mind: “My doings will make him [Batman] stronger”

Joker is convinced that the Batman has gone astray and the presence of the Batman family is a mistake that has made the Bat-King weak, and sees the need to eliminate the whole family so this ‘wrong’ could be righted and his king could regain his strength and be the Bat King he deserves and his city deserves

Capullo then admitted he read the internet buzz over the comic and asked the audience if they thought “Batman” lived up to the hype, smiling as the audience screamed back in unison, “Hell yes!”

“He’s so nice…but behind that mask, he’s got this deep, dark black well that’s a very frightening place — I’m afraid of the guy!” Capullo joked about Snyder as the audience laughed.

“I’ll call him about what the Joker should do…and he’s like, ‘Hold on, I’m at a soccer practice. I’ll be right there, kids! So he’ll cut off his own face,’” Higgins said as the crowd laughed again.

Cunningham then brought up “Batman Incorporated” writer Grant Morrison and artist Chris Burnham as the audience cheered.

Talking about “Talon” Tynion told the audience he didn’t want to spoil too much about the storyline but promised, “new characters, brand new corners of Gotha’s history to explore,” Tynion said.

The audience gasped as Higgins brought up an image of “Nightwing” wearing the Joker’s makeup and grinning like the Joker under his mask. “I was walking on the show floor and people are building the sticks from the Gotham City game…the fact there are things people are making from a character I’m working on is awesome,” Higgins said.

“I don’t want to get into what the Joker perceives about Nightwing’s [fears]…but it ties into and dovetails into everything we’ve been doing for the first year and a half now, with Dick’s nest in Gotham,” Higgins added.

Batman group editor Mike Marts took to the podium and asked the audience if there was any better group of creators at the con, to which the audience screamed in unison, “Hell no!” He then showed cover images for “Batgirl,” “Red Hood” and “Teen Titans,” all also looking like Joker.

Tomasi showed the image for “Batman and Robin” #16 where Joker-faced Damian and Batman fight each other. “It’s been great to explore this cool character Grant created and take him to some hard places emotionally,” Tomasi said of his book.Tomasi also told the audience there was a “kick-ass” cover by Andy Kubert coming out soon for the “Batman and Robin” annual.

Marts labeled the “Catwoman” Joker tie-in as, “Lots of fun,” adding that seeing Ann Nocenti’s Catwoman take on the Joker.

Catwoman has always dancing between good and evil, and now she will dance the real prince of evil and this will affect her deeply.

In the JLA panel was revealed that Catwoman will be part of the newly developed JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA along with Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, and other new and old characters.

An image for “Batman Incorporated” issue #7 came up on the screen and Morrison told the audience, “We’re not part of ‘Death Of The Family’ but we do have family and there will be death!”

Labeling the issue as the wrap-up of everything he’d been working on and that issue #5 would revisit the future Damian world. “There’s things I’ve never done with Batman before that I’m doing in this storyline,” Morrison added.

“Batman: The Dark Knight” issue #15 was the next image teased showing Scarecrow and Batman. “This story just gets bigger and darker and enormously grand in this huge scope,” Hurwitz said. Marts showed an image of new “Dark Knight” artist Ethan Van Scriver’s beginning of Batman showing Batman climbing out of the Mad Hatter’s hat.

“The one guy I wanted more than anybody else was Ethan,” Hurwitz said, adding, “I called and…the first thing he said was, ‘Hey I’ve been looking into you all morning because I heard Finch is leaving the title!’”

Fans then rushed to the floor microphone as Cunningham opened the floor to audience questions and Marts told the first fan questioner that there were no plans to involve Huntress in the “Death” storyline.

“Harley has a really big story in Suicide Squad with Joker,” Snyder told the next Harley Quinn fan, adding that readers will see more of the Red Hood gang after the Joker story, before launching into the next arc that may involve the Riddler.

A Scottish fan asked what Morrison thought of Snyder’s work and vice versa.

“Grant’s probably the greatest influence on me as a writer…his fearlessness, issue to issue and to take these visionary ideas…seeing that play out is something that, even though our writing is different, challenges me,” Snyder said.

“Scott Snyder who?” Morrison joked as the audience laughed. He then told the audience more seriously, “Having to keep up with him is great, it’s inspiring me to do better work…this is the best time to be a Batman comic fan, and a Batman movie fan.”

A fan who Morrison advised to try magic out four years ago told him, “It worked!” He then asked if what the Bat group was working on would actually change things forever.

“Yes, it will,” Snyder assured the fan, explaining that the Joker idea organically arose from the writers. “It’s not like there’s one big death and that’s it…each book is changed because the Joker challenges the characters in each one of those books…and that will have massive ramifications,” Snyder added.

Higgins told a “Nightwing” fans that there was no Titans cameos coming up but Dick had adventures with some of the old Teen Titans. The audience then cheered and whistled as the fan pleaded for a Tim Drake solo book.

The next audience member to the microphone wanted to know if there were plans for Bat Cow. “We’re taking Bat Cow on the darkest journey he’s ever been on,” Morrison joked.

“I just called Bat Cow him, but he’s a lady!” he added as the audience laughed.

Snyder stated that in his mind the Batman continuity stood, but he didn’t want to trip up fans with trying to talk about every single detail of the past decades. “We’re moving forward with him as a character who has a rich history,” Snyder added.

To a fan who labeled himself a Damian fan Morrison asked the audience, “Do you remember when people hated Damian?”

“It’s a likeable hate!” Tomasi said as the audience laughed.

The panelists stated what they loved about Batman, all of them citing the fact that he has no superpowers — he’s a man yet has to tackle “his inner demons” to fight for good.The next audience member told the panelists he loved how each one had such a distinct tone.

“No one’s ever mistaken me for Grant Morrison,” Higgens joked.

“Who wants to watch me shave Kyle Higgins?” Morrison asked as the audience laughed.

A man dressed as Starro ended the panel by asking what Joker though what Batman’s mission was and why he wanted to make them stronger. “Joker sees himself and the villans as Batman’s real family and having the family is forsaking his family…he doesn’t see it as Batman as serving his mission, he sees it as being abandoned,” Synder said, closing the afternoon’s panel.

ADITIONAL COVERS

(The panel is reprinted from CBR transcritp posted HERE today)

Gail Simone talks BATGIRL in “DEATH OF THE FAMILY”

Comic Books, Interview, Preview 5 Responses »

Sep 202012

Newsarama contributor Vaneta Rogers sat with BATGIRL ‘s writer Gail Simone to talk about some aspects of the title. Among them they spoke of the effects of the upcoming DEATH OF THE FAMILY Joker storyline in the Batgirl storyline. Here are just some highlights of the interview. You can read the whole interview HERE:

coverbatgirl14 Batgirl #14 will begin the title’s “Death of the Family” tie-in, with Joker and Barbara Gordon colliding for the first time since the villain brutally attacked and injured her.

(…)

Nrama: Now that readers have been introduced to Barbara’s status in the New 52 and you’re finishing up your first year of issues, how would you describe Barbara now, in comparison to her debut in issue #1? How do you think she’s grown, and how do you think she’s still dealing with some of the same issues we saw in her introduction?

Simone: I spent a lot of time speaking with specialists and survivors about this, and one thing we saw with trauma survivors over and over was, the nightmares often go on even after the body heals. It’s not weakness, it’s not self-pity, it happens to the bravest people on Earth; soldiers, police, on and on. And Barbara being who she is, she finds herself wondering why she is regaining her mobility when so many will never have that option. Because of her experiences over the first year, she’s having to grapple with it. But again, she’s Barbara Gordon, she will find a way.

Nrama: Looking back at the first few issues of your run, the events of The Killing Joke played a big part in Barbara’s introduction as Batgirl in the New 52. Why did you feel like that was important to incorporate that into the title after introducing the character in #1?

Simone: Here’s the thing, Barbara has always been about inspiring people. She may have been created to boost ratings or whatever, but, the sheer force of having a brainy woman kicking ass in the comics and on television can’t be overstated. And of course, Kim Yale and John Ostrander turned lemons into the best lemonade ever by giving Barbara a purpose and glory after the Killing Joke. I didn’t want to do the book if that element, that inspiring quality, wasn’t part of the mix. I get that not everyone agrees, but we have had endless lines of people who have experienced some massive trauma who found something to believe in with Barbara’s story. In the end, it’s supposed to be entertaining, first. That’s still the primary goal. But heroes who struggle are so much more meaningful to me. Most of us have struggled, but we don’t often see that portrayed as comics move more towards big stories and spectacle.

Nrama: Her emotions over the events of The Killing Joke still don’t feel completely resolved, because she hasn’t had to deal with the Joker again. Since we’ve heard about the return of Joker in “Death of the Family” in the Batman title, and DC has implied it will touch other members of the Batman family, will Barbara be confronted more directly by the villain in your title?

Simone: “Resolved” is kind of a tough word, here. There’s definitely a feeling out there regarding this stuff that someone is fixed or not fixed, like an on/off switch. It’s not that binary, but she is facing this stuff head on. And I am pretty sure a Joker/Batgirl story is inevitable, but I can’t say more than that. Think of two trains on the same track facing towards each other…there’s nowhere for either of them to go but towards collision.

Nrama: And that collision occurs in your “Death of the Family” tie-in to Scott’s Batman story?

Simone: Yes. It is the once-and-for-all confrontation between the Batgirl and the man who shot and paralyzed her. It does not go as he expected. This story starts in issue #14, and I have to say, it’s pretty shocking. That’s all I’ll say right now, however.

Joker brings dramatic changes to Nightwing’s World

Comic Books, Interview, Joker, Preview 7 Responses »

Sep 202012

In a recent interview with NEWSARAMA contributor Veta Rogers, Nightwing’s writer Kyle Higgins reveals that the confrontation of the Clown Prince of Crime and the former Boy Wonder will “be a monumental yet emotional showdown between Dick Grayson and Joker.”

After a short hiatus from the series, Higgings and artist Eddy Barrow’s join the tittle once more just in time to join the DEATH OF THE FAMILY story arc and it seems that Joker will be rocking the young hero’s world out of balance. Here are the the DEATH OF THE FAMILY highlights from the interview. You can read the whole interview HERE

nwing15cvr2 (…)

Nrama: As you mentioned, there’s a two-issue story arc by Tom DeFalco. Why is he filling in for a couple issues?

Higgins: Because the Joker issues are so important and so big, the decision was made to give me a chance to get ahead on them and jump forward and set some things up, as well as develop pretty in depth what’s coming after the Joker story.The Joker story is really a huge turning point and changes a lot of things. When you see what happens during “Death of the Family,” it will be much clearer why there was a need and a desire for me to jump forward and spend a lot of time developing everything coming out of that.

Nrama: In the New 52, what is the mindset of this Dick Grayson toward Joker. And who is Dick Grayson or Nightwing to the Joker?

Higgins: Who Nightwing is to Joker is an interesting question. And that really taps into what Scott is doing in Batman, and what all of us are doing in our books. The Joker has a very specific opinion on the Bat-family. As that relates to every individual member of the family, there are slight twists on it. I know I’m being quite cryptic. But I’ll just say that the Joker has a very particular opinion of Nightwing, but I don’t want to get into what it is, because it would give a lot away. But Nightwing’s opinion of Joker is pretty much what you would expect and what’s been seen before. He recognizes that this is probably the most deadly and threatening villain in Batman’s rogues’ gallery. So he’s not taking the Joker lightly.And the second that Nightwing hears that the Joker is back, it puts him into a Defcon-5 mode to expect the unexpected. Like I said, he’s not taking it lightly.

Nrama: Are you working pretty closely with Scott Snyder on “Death of the Family?”

Higgins: Yeah. I flew out to New York back in May, and we had a little powwow in the DC offices between myself and Scott and Pete Tomasi and James Tynion IV, who’s doing all the back-ups in Batman as well as launching Talon. And then Gail [Simone] and Scott Lobdell were conference called in. And we all worked pretty closely developing this story and what the particular pieces were going to be. Even coming out of that, I’ve been working pretty closely with Scott, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s a lot of fun. That said, Scott’s given me a ton of freedom — as he’s given all of us really — to make this a story unique to Nightwing. His only mandate was: Make it the scariest, most impactful Joker story that you’ve ever seen for your character. What’s so exciting for me is, aside from a couple instances, I can’t think of a really big Nightwing/Joker story. The moment that comes to mind would be during, what Last Laugh by Chuck Dixon. It was a big crossover where Nightwing killed the Joker.

Nrama: Yeah, yeah, and Batman brings him back.

Higgins: Yeah, so that’s only big one in recent memory that I could point to.

Nrama: Are you having fun writing the Joker as you delve into your “Death of the Family” issues?

Higgins: Yeah, and I have a very specific version of the Joker that I like, and so it was fun to start working on that. And I plan to tell a huge story that will be lasting. I know it has big ramifications. But I hope that, when people think of Nightwing versus the Joker, this is the one that they’ll think about.

Nrama: How many issues is your tie-in to “Death of the Family?”

Higgins: It’s two issues: #15 and #16. And issues #13 and #14 have some set-up and development for my Joker story. I coordinated with Tom a little, giving him a heads up about some of the plot points I needed set up for the Joker story. And then there will be some fall-out for several issues afterward.

Nrama: That sounds dire.

Higgins: That is certainly one word you could use to describe it.

(….)

Higgins: There will be seismic shifts coming out of the Joker story. Big things are coming for Nightwing [in 2013], and there will be big changes ahead for Dick Grayson.

Meet the Joker: “BATMAN LIVE’S” Mark Frost

Interview, Joker, Preview 3 Responses »

Sep 182012

batmanlivescast

Our friends at CBR have a very nice video interview with MARK FROST, the actor who portrays Joker in the play BATMAN LIVE! that is now touring the US. Starting in California this Septerber, the show is supposed to tour the whole US by next year. Here what Frost himself has to say about his character:

“I think the Joker…brings a bit of fun and a bit of creativity to the proceedings. I certainly get as many wonderful toys to play with, I get as many interesting and surprising entrances and exits. You never quite know what he’s gonna do next.”

And here is the video. Just click to watch:

Have to admit, when I first heard of this play I thought it was the most ludricuous idea ever…I mean. With all the special effects needed, how were they going to translate the Caped Crusader into the stage…RIGHT? Well, as I saw more footage of the stage show, the more intriged I became on what this theatrical company have been able to achieve for this show. I would even go to one of their shows…just for the heck of it…and to see me some Joker OF COURSE!!

For more information on schedules of their presentations here in the US, please refer to their website BATMAN LIVES

(Originally reported by Stephen Garding editor of CBR, HERE)

TDKR Joker voice finally unveiled (and about time!)

Interview, Joker, News, Preview 2 Responses »

Sep 052012

According from reports by TV GUIDE and CBR, actor Michael Emerson (Lost, Person of Interest) will take on the role of voicing the Joker in the upcoming direct to video part 2 release of Frank Miller’s classic tale. (TDKR part 2 will be realesed in early 2013).

jokersvoice

According to the reports:

Michael Emerson‘s latest gig is no joke. The man best known as Lost’s über-manipulator Ben Linus and Person of Interest’s calculating Harold Finch is taking on one of pop culture’s most iconic villains, the Joker, in the upcoming animated DVD-movie Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2. In the film, a harrowing adaptation of Frank Miller’s seminal 1986 DC Comics series, the depraved Clown Prince of Crime renews his rivalry with an aging Batman, who has just reemerged in Gotham City after a decade

I have to admit, I was nerver a fan of the LOST series and don’t recall seing any of Emerson’s work before, so I had to do a little net research to grasp an idea of what this actor can bring forward to the character.

Emerson, who started as a performer in Broadway (in lighter comedic roles), made his turn in the dark side portraying a sinister serial killer for the series THE PRACTICE (2001), role for which he earned an Emmy.

Since then he has been seen in shows like THE X-FILES, LAW AND ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT and movies like THE LEGEND OF ZORRO and SAW.

In 2006 he took part of the LOST series, portraying the enigmatic Henry Gale, a character who lied to the survivors. His role in the series was praised and earned him anonther nomination for an Emmy which he unfortunately lost.

I was amazed by his acting background and his turn to the darker, creepier character has definitely not diminished the quality of his work, knowing how hard it is to portray a believable, compelling heavy on TV or stage. Villains are never easy. But what most surprised me was his vision on the Joker, that he seems to understand very well as a character:

“He’s one of those great villains that an actor like me likes to play because he has layers — he has a face for the world and a face for himself,” the Emmy-winning star of CBS’s “Person of Interest” told TV Guide. “He is, in a way, a villain who is a natural actor. All of that is that is delightful and confounding at the same time.”

Playing the unbridled fervor of the Joker was a switch from some of the more emotionally controlled roles on Emerson’s resumé. “It’s freeing because of the largeness of it,” he says. “When he laughs, there’s nothing subdued about it. When he screams in rage, there’s nothing controlled about it. The amp is turned to 11 at all times.”

I think Mr. Emerson has definitely gotten a grasp of what moves the Clown to be Joker. Maybe for once we have found someone that can portray this character with the dignity he deserve and become as legendary as other actor voices befor him. I still have to hear him and see if he can transport me to that space were I can “flesh” out the Joker just by listening to him, but I have a hunch that the character might be in good hands.

Now I understand why my friend Jason Marnocha, a young talented voice actor who has had his deals with the Joker’s voice himself (very successfully I may add) was so pleased with this choice. I trust your judgement, Jason…I also aprove of this selection for the Joker’s voice…for now.

If you want to know more about Michael Emerson; you can watch this interview from PBS I am including here.

. See more fm Tavis Smiley in his site: MEET MICHAEL EMERSON

Greg Capullo warns about Joker’s new Look (and my humble opinion)

Interview, Joker, News 3 Responses »

Jul 212012

In an article written by Vaneta Rogers for Newsarama, Greg Capullo has a warning for Batman readers about the Joker storyline he’s writing. Here is the report in question…

Before reading the intense, horrific scenes in the “Death of the Family” storyline that begins in October, readers with health problems might want to check with their doctor.

Capullo is one half of the creative team behind DC’s best-selling title Batman, working with writer Scott Snyder on the book ever since it relaunched last year as part of the publisher’s New 52 initiative.

In the title’s next storyline, which begins in October, Snyder told Newsarama that Capullo gets to tweak the Joker’s look thanks to his last appearance. In Detective Comics #1, The Joker had his face removed, severed from his body, allowing the next artist to give the character a new visual interpretation.

“He really is going to, obviously, have a new look,” Snyder said. “At the same time, we want it to echo his iconic look. So it’s Joker in a much more horror movie fashion. But, without giving too much away, you will see the iconic face and the grin, and he might look a little bit different and scarier. But you’ll find that he’s still himself at his core. And he’s really here in his blood-stained clothes going to work.”

Titled “Death of the Family,” the Joker story will run for five issues beginning with October’s Batman #13. The final issue of the Joker storyline will be oversized, and Capullo’s redesign of the Joker will also be featured within tie-in comics in titles like Batgirl, Batman and Robin, Suicide Squad, Nightwing, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Catwoman, and Teen Titans.

With last week’s issue #11, Capullo and Snyder just finished their debut story, “The Court of Owls.” Capullo will now take a break for one issue (as Batman #12 features guest artist Becky Cloonan), but will return for September’s Batman #0 before the Joker storyline starts.

Snyder told Newsarama in June that Batman #0 issue will tell a still-unseen part of Bruce Wayne’s past.

“[Batman #0] will give you an important slice of Bruce’s life from when he first gets back to Gotham after his travels,” Snyder told Newsarama. “It will happen within the shadows of Batman: Year One, taking place in a moment of time that you haven’t seen. And I think it will be very surprising to people and exciting. You’ll see some things that will catch you off guard and will get you excited to see what’s coming.”

In the first installment of a two-part interview with did with the Batman artist, we asked Capullo about his plans for the title’s #0 issue and what readers can expect from his Joker.

Newsarama: Greg, now that Court of Owls has finished up, you’re taking a break for issue #12 before doing issue #0, right?

Greg Capullo: Yeah, it’s the only opportunity I’ve had to take a break. I had initially wanted to do it all, but it just wasn’t feasible, so I had to make a choice. And the choice was, do I break off at #0 or do I break off at #12? And I just thought, “I really want to do this origin in #0.”

So that’s what I’m working on while someone else handles #12.

Nrama: In issue #0, what’s different about the Bruce Wayne we’ll see? He’s younger and more inexperienced, right?

Capullo: Yeah. This is definitely pre-Bat. He’s not staying in Wayne Manor yet. And we don’t have the imagery of the Bat yet.

So this issue is more like Mission Impossible or James Bond, in the sense that he’s got all the cool tech, so you get all that, but without any of the pointy ears or cloaks, you know? So that part is kind of cool, because it’s definitely a different slant.

All that is suddenly familiar, for me, drawing Batman, is gone. So that was a little bit of a challenge, you know?

But it’s kind of cool because Bruce is not the very even-keeled guy who’s methodical and doesn’t get riled. He’s not to that point yet.

Because of that, he can have a knee-jerk reaction. He’s got a lot of temper that’s not quite simmered and under control yet.

So you see some of his impetuous behavior in the book. In what I’m drawing right now, I have Bruce in a very, very bad situation. So it’s interesting to see him handle that in a little different way because it’s so early in his career.

Nrama: Have you gotten to draw earlier versions of some of the villains of that era around Gotham City? And has that been a challenge to update them for the New 52?

Capullo: Yeah, I have, and I’ll tell you the biggest challenge is drawing the Red Hood gang, and having to make some pill helmet look cool and look bad-ass. You just go, “How do I make that one tough?” You know? So that’s a big challenge.

And then there are a lot of guys wearing masks, so another challenge is portraying emotions, because emotion has to be solely relying on body language.

It’s a great exercise for young artists, if they want to figure out how to portray emotion without faces. Keep the face out of it. Then how do you sell how a guy’s feeling and thinking, just through his mannerisms and the way he carries himself.

This scene that I’m doing right now in Batman #0 is coming to a final shoot-out scene. So even though it’s early stuff in Bruce’s life, it’s still got action and is still great fun.

Nrama: Let’s talk about what’s coming up in October. When you heard you were drawing The Joker for your next storyline in Batman, what was your gut reaction?

Capullo: Well, as soon as I heard, my pants got very tight and my nipples stiffened. It was just a fabulous reaction. And I just said, “I have to do this.”

This is, like, super-exciting. Super-thrilling. I mean, what artist doesn’t want to touch The Joker? He’s just the coolest and the most badass, the most evil, the most insane, and so there’s so much to play with.

And the fact that so much has happened to the Joker prior to where we’re picking him up, with the severed face, we’re going to be able to run with that now.

Nrama: So did you and Scott talk about the best way to handle that severed face? We’ve only seen the cover, which is kind of a tease that his face is different now.

Capullo: Yeah, Scott and I are working on the details now of how we want to handle that. We’re putting together some visuals for the story now. It’s going to be very different than what people have seen with The Joker prior.

Nrama: Are you at all disappointed that he looks different? Or are you still able to portray enough of that Joker look that it’s still the character we know and love?

Capullo: You know, I’m happy to be doing this because I look at it as an opportunity to have fun. So no, this is going to be a blast.

Let’s put it this way. I would have put my own slant on the way the Joker looks traditionally anyway.

Now I can go down the road of, like, Texas Chainsaw Massacre stuff.

And I’m a heavy metal guy, so stuff like Slipknot pops in my head, you know? So I’m going, “Yeah! Something really, really dark and creepy!”

It amplifies it. We’re turning the Joker up a notch, you know? If you can turn the Joker up any higher.

Nrama: It sounds like you don’t have the exact look ironed out yet and I’m sure it’s early in the process of you drawing the story, but what can you tell us about the ideas you two have for The Joker storyline overall?

Capullo: Well, you know, Scott takes everything to 11, as do I. So it’s going to be over-the-top, over-the-edge Joker stuff.

I mean, everybody saw what we were able to do in the first Batman story. And this will be even more dark, more twisted, more violent.

I guess after so many years of doing that kind of stuff, I guess, in a way, I enjoy it a bit. So it’s going to be great to get my hooks into that stuff.

Nrama: Then before we talk about last week’s finale for Court of Owls, what do you want readers to know about the Joker story that you and Scott are doing for “Death of the Family?”

Capullo: I would say that if you have any kind of heart conditions, or any kind of medical issues that could cause seizures or what-not, that you should check with a doctor prior to buying this story arc, because we don’t want to be responsible. DC does not want to be responsible for any fatalities or hospitalization or young or old people who may encounter this story and it just simply be too much for their system.

So I would say, check with your doctor prior to picking up Batman #13.

(original article posted HERE by Newsarama staff contributor Venata Rogers July 17).

Remember Batman #13 goes on sale October 10, 2012!!!

Scott Snyder keeps teasing us: Joker comments at Comic-Con

DCU, Interview, Joker, Preview 1 Response »

Jul 182012

Man, I’m trying to takes things easy. Put my expectations so high for the new Joke story arc that Snyder and Capullo are brewing is not something I want to do now. Not because of them, but because of the other writers before that promised so much and hardly delivered half of what they promised.

But Snyder keeps throwing snippets of information that just peeks my curiosity even more. I am really looking for the october issue of Batman to see what they have concocted for the Joker fans out there that miss the o’l Clown. Here’s Snyner’s latest tease from a panel at SDCC:

Some preview art was displayed of an upcoming Joker arc. Snyder told the crowd that it’s been too long since there’s been an epic Joker story. He asked the crowd to shout out the last great Joker story they remembered. Most answers were older books, like “The Killing Joke” and “Arkham Asylum.”

“What I’m asking you is, why hasn’t [Joker] been in comics in fucking 10 years? Besides movies and animation? Where is the great, big Joker story where he says ‘F-U Batman, I’m back?’ Where has that been?

If we do the Joker, it’s got to be the biggest, baddest blood-on-the-floor story,” Snyder said, to applause. “No one will want to touch him for another 20 years.”

Snyder said his take on the Joker is essentially that the Joker thinks he serves Batman. He brings Batman’s worst dreams to life.

“And if [Batman] doesn’t respect that, and you get fat and slow, I’ll have an axe to grind, and I’ll come after you,” he said.

MAN! I CAN’T WAIT FOR BATMAN 13!!

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