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Batman #15 Preview

Comic Books, DC Universe, DCU, Joker, Preview No Responses »

Dec 072012

The Guys at EW.com have gained access to a nifty preview for the upcoming issue of BATMAN #15 coming next week. Here is is for your enjoyment:

SUMMARY:

The Joker’s attacks have taken their toll on Batman and his allies, and now they have to face the impossible.
The final madness of The Joker’s plan revealed here! Why is he more dangerous now than ever before?
Plus: In the backup feature, witness The Joker’s confrontation with the Riddler as the horror of The Joker’s plan is revealed.
On sale December 1 2, 2012

COVERS

PREVIEW:

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(Source: EW.com and CBR)

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.

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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)

FIrst Look: Batman #14

Comic Book Art, new 52, Preview 2 Responses »

Nov 092012

The guys at Comicvine and the BUZZFEED have shared a nice preview of the upcoming BATMAN #14 that continues the “DEATH OF THE FAMILY” storyline. Thanks to “G-Man” Guerrero and BUZZFEED’s Donna Dickens for the preview!!!!

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Plus: In the backup feature, The Penguin is running out of options as he’s confronted by The Joker!

(Pictures courtesy of BUZZFEED and DC COMICS)

Preview of Catwoman #13: “DEATH OF THE FAMILY” Prelude

Comic Books, DCU, Preview 3 Responses »

Oct 152012

The guys at CBR have a nifty sneak peek at the upcoming CATWOMAN #13 (a prelude to the Joker story arc in the Bat-titles), an issue that helps set the gears in motion for Joker’s confrontation with the Feline Femme Fatale. Without giving much away of the preview, I like the way the mystery is woven at the beginning. A memory that ‘was taken away from Selina”? Really? What secret does Joker know about Selina to force her to her knees and surely out of the Batfamily??

I guess we’ll just have to read the whole issue that goes for sale this WEDNESDAY (October 17) at your local comic book shop. Please click on the picture below to be taken to the preview at CBR.

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)

BATMAN 13: First Impressions

Comic Book Reviews, Comic Books, DCU, Harley Quinn, Joker, Reviews 7 Responses »

Oct 112012

nyccbat13-1 It was past midnight and could not help myself. Even when I have a few copies of BATMAN #13 reserved and waiting for me at home in Fla. I had to read it so I bought a digital copy and OMG!!!

You have to start reading this Joker story arc. I was a little concerned with the characterization after all the radical changes they have made to Joker since his reboot, but after reading BATMAN #13 I guess I can put my fears aside because Joker seems to be in good hands with Snyder and Capullo.

This is definitely no pre-52 Joker but is not a Ledger Joker remake either (thank God for that). Like Snyder had promised, this Clown is all Joker at the core but reinvented with a nightmarish twist and so far I am pleased with wha I’ve read in this first issue.

SPOILERS AHEAD…BE WARNED!! SPOILERS AHEAD…BE WARNED!!

1. It is a normal day in GCPD until a “Forget Me Not” delivery truck arrives with a very special package…

Truth be told. Joker’s wa arrival to GCPD was quite theatrical. From theirony in the name on the truck to the whole set up, it is all just a big performance for the Clown. He enters GCPD and delivers his own brand of mayhem and death leaving corpses behind and torturing Gordon along the way. This Joker is much more personal as he asks “How is Barbara?” and teases Gordon with a hide and seek game.

2. Everything returns to the begining.

And when I say the beginning, I mean the 1940’s beginning, as Joker announces he’s going to take down the mayor in a scene that reminds readers a lot of Ledger’s “Are You the Batman” video scene from TDK. The Joker has spoken, but that does not mean he has to follow the same old script he did so many years ago. This Joker is improvising, renewing his act andthis time it is not the Mayor, but the Mayor’s protective escort who get snuffed. Batman is left in the fog, as he himself realizedhis was not what he has expected. The Clown has become really unpredictable.

3. Harley as the Red Hood…just delightful.

She’s wearing the clothing, but she’s not the heart. It is the Joker’s voice all through the re-enactment at the ACE Chemical company. Joker is bringing everything back to the beginning and Harley serves as messenger that things are now very different as she stated…”this is not my Mr. J” anymore. This scene makes much more sense after reading the backstory which is Joker’s reunion with Harley…and the new chemistry that comes between them. Now if this is not Joker….where the hell is the Clown?

4. The ending… totally AWESOME!

Joker makes a visit to the Wayne Manor and finds Alfred Pennyworth an unwilling victim. Makes you wonder if Joker DOES INDEED know Batman’s identity or he’s simply selecting random victims he knows are somewhat related to the Batman…

5. The backstory…literally terrifying.

Forget the Harley-Joker chemistry of the BTAS, this is just humilliating and taunting. Joker plays with Harley in every level possible, beating on her emotionally and mentally…all this without a single punch or push. Joker reminds Harley HE MADE HER to his image, and that there was no emotion or physical attraction in the process of creation. Joker is totally detached from any emotion as he focuses on Harley as part of a plan, much like a wheel is part of a car. I am sorry for those of you who were expecting a…more romantic reunion, but I think this Joker is more attoned to his reality within the comics. I am not saying they should not be together…is just that this Joker has become much more than one can really handle, even Harley.

I personally think that Snyder and Capullo have been able to bring forth the best of all posible worlds (comicverse, Nolanverse, Arkham City, maybe even more) and mix it in a pot to reinvent a Joker that respond to his surrounding world with such a violence that I don’t know if even Batman knows what he has in his hands. And it promises to get even more personal.

It is really early to say if this story arc is going to be successful or not since many Joker stories started with so good intentions only to disappoing on the execution and conclusion, but while speaking with Mr. Snyder briefly during a signing today, he promised that there is much more to come. That Joker’s revenge has just started and that the Clown’s mind was a “strange and dark place to be”. From previous interviews and what I have just read in this issue, I think he does have a grasp of the Joker’s psyche, and this might just be one of the most interesting exploration of the most iconic villain of all times, and this might change Batman deeply as he is unable to keep Joker far, but instead…like a cobra, the clown keeps hissing and attacking at the Achilles’s tendon of his enemy.

I am willing to follow Snyder and Capullo on this journey so far.

Can’t wait to read what happens in the next chapter….oh, and don’t forget the tie-ins! Let’s see where all this takes us.

BATMAN #13: EARLY REVIEWS

Comic Books, DCU, Joker, Reviews 1 Response »

Oct 102012

#1

Ryan K Lindsay had the great honor of reading BATMAN #13 and shared his insight with the crew at CBR this week. His assertive comments makes my anxious self calm down a little, maybe this will not be a flop, but the beginning of a new chapter in Joker characterization and writing.

WARNING!! SPOILERS AHEAD!! WARNING!! SPOILERS AHEAD!!

“Batman” #13 kicks off “Death of the Family” as Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo introduce their take on the Joker. After a year’s absence from the DCU, the Clown Prince of Crime returns to bring his deadly humor to Gotham and the Bat family. Joker is the obvious choice for a Bat villain and most “Batman” creative teams take a shot at the character. With this weight behind them, Snyder and Capullo manage to craft an intensely horrifying and delightfully creative set up for an amazing Joker story.

The issue opens with a worried Jim Gordon, whose fears come to gruesome life when the Joker suddenly appears in Gotham City Police Department as the lights go out. Snyder’s densely structured action makes readers feel the palpable tension and violence of the moment. Pages run up to twelve panels to slow down each beat of the Joker’s maniacal plan within the darkness around Commissioner Gordon. Snyder emphasizes that while the Joker’s presence is one of brutal violence, the true underlying terror comes from knowing the psychological manner in which he destroys his victims. It’s a shiver-worthy moment when the Joker reveals how close he is to his marks.

Snyder offers a familiar and comfortable, yet completely new, take on the Joker and keeps the brutality on a high stakes level. The scene of the Joker on television re-enacting his first threat to Gotham is delivered in a terribly dastardly way — a testament to Snyder’s handle on the character’s voice.

Over the past year, Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion have demonstrated their profiency in the world of Batman. Snyder’s story allows them to depict an even darker edge of Gotham and they bring the horror. Brilliantly, the art doesn’t try to revel in the goriness of the danger, but rather the underlying visceral horror of the mind. Capullo and Glapion give a peek at how the art team renders the standard Joker in an early panel, which makes the shocking reveal at the end all the more frightening.

The back up co-written by Snyder and James Tynion IV with Jock on art is superb. It’s difficult to compare a six-page tale to the 20-page main feature because each is structured to do something different. The bulk of this issue starts an arc and sets all the pieces in motion. The co-feature is like a deleted scene presented for more character background. It’s set between the raindrops of the main title, which means the reader knows what is going to play out, but the story is more about how it all takes place. “Tease” is about the Joker bringing Harley Quinn into his plan with a pace and razor edge tension that creates an example of a perfect back up. It adds more to the main tale while not being overtly necessary. This is a perfect vignette in every single way.

“Batman” #13 is the sort of introduction every story deserves. The Joker is dramatically presented and reintroduced across multiple scenes. Snyder and Capullo deliver some excellent sequences of terror that cut to the quick of the Joker as a real threat. Apart from a few slower pages, this issue zings along with threats and terrible moments of sheer glee at a villain being the worst. The Joker is out to kill the whole Bat family — and this issue makes it feel like he might be able to pull it off.

Man….I can’t wait to read this issue now!!

(Orignal aticle appeard in CBR HERE. Pictures courtesy of Comicvine)

#2

Another great review from Newsarama’s own David Pepose adds to the anticipation of the release of BATMAN #13 tomorrow. Check this one out…David gives it a 10 out of 10!!! I am intrigued indeed:

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s first arc was to bring back the Bat — to show that he was the top dog, the biggest badass of the DC Universe. By the end of “Night of the Owls,” that mission was handily accomplished. And now, for their second epic on Batman, Snyder and Capullo are upping the ante even further.

You can almost hear the sick chuckle. The Joker has returned to Gotham City — and like any good showman, his entrance is pitch-perfect.

While I enjoyed Scott Snyder’s plotting and pacing during “Night of the Owls,” there was always a part of me that felt that it was Greg Capullo that really made that story, that it was a hit more because of the stellar art rather than just the writing.

Well, Scott Snyder is making me eat my words right now — his Joker is downright terrifying, a monster in the shadows that very much evokes Heath Ledger’s guttural anarchist from The Dark Knight. “Stop me if you’ve heard this one before!” Snyder’s Joker is a shark, a force of nature that by his very gravity pulls in the rest of the Batman family in his wake. For better or for worse, he is a member of Bruce Wayne’s nearest and dearest — in Snyder’s hands, the Joker gives everyone else context.

And that’s just the exposition. There’s plenty of suspense and action to this book, with Snyder and Greg Capullo really knocking it out of the park. I love the strobe effect Capullo works in as the Joker begins picking off victims in a darkened room. Capullo’s edgy lines also really bring up the heightened tension as Batman shouts his frustrations — and his fears — into the darkness. There is one moment near the end where the storytelling does take a hiccup, but a second reading will only heighten the danger Batman finds himself in.

Since the New 52, Batman has been blessed with an indomitable winning streak, thanks to Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo. But it’s even more exciting that this issue is their best one yet. The Clown Prince of Crime might be at his most murderous, but make no mistake — he’s going to put a smile on your face.

(Review originally appeared HERE)

PREVIEW: Capullo’s DIE CUT COVERS for “Death of the Family”

Comic Book Art, Comic Books, DCU, Preview, Scans 3 Responses »

Oct 012012

CBR announced to day that artist Greg Capullo will be issuing DIE CUT COVERS for the multititle story arc “Death of the Family” that launches with BATMAN #13 in October 10th. Here is the CBR report:

When Batman’s arch-nemesis makes his return to the Dark Knight’s world this fall, the Joker will be coming with a horrific new “face mask” made up of his own torn off skin. And to help accentuate the frightening feel of the “Death Of The Family” event that kicks off with October’s “Batman” #13, DC Comics has tapped series artist Greg Capullo to draw a series of special die-cut covers featuring the faces of Batman’s closest allies.

Below, CBR News has an exclusive first look at Capullo’s art for the covers. Capullo’s art graces “Batman,” “Batgirl” and “Catwoman” #13 in October, “Suicide Squad” #14 in November and “Detective Comics,” “Batman & Robin,” “Nightwing,” “Red Hood & The Outlaws” and “Teen Titans” #15 in December.

When he spoke with CBR earlier this month, Capullo called the cover creating process “a bit of a challenge. The die cut itself had to have straight edges. The other challenge was working within the limitation of using only have of a characters face and reusing the same angle for all. Trying to show individual personalities within these confines. I think I pulled it off.”

(Original article by Kiel Phegley. To see full size pics, visit CBR HERE)

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