"Year of the Bat" Panel

Primal · Jul 15, 2005

"JL: My hand is tired! FROM DRAWING!"

CCI, DAY 1 - DC COMICS' "YEAR OF THE BAT" PANEL AT CCI
by Andy Khouri, Contributing Writer
Posted: July 14, 2005

DC Comics kicked off their weekend of Comicon discussion panels with Batman: Year Of The Bat, featuring Bob Schreck (Editor), Bill Willingham (writer, "Robin," "Fables"), Greg Rucka (writer, "Gotham Central," "Omac Project"), Joey Cavilleri (Editor), and a tardy but most welcome Jim Lee ("All-Star Batman & Robin").

The consistently jovial panel began with Greg Rucka's announcement of a forthcoming stand-alone issue of the critically acclaimed "Gotham Central" that will be illustrated by his "Whiteout" co-creator Steve Leiber. The second pairing of the two creators on the title, it will, believe it or not, tie in quite directly with "Infinite Crisis." "Four words," Rucka teased. "Shazam. In. Gotham. City."

Enthusiastic Bill Willingham invited audience members to confront him about his controversial "Robin" storylines. "So I can shift the blame."

The Year Of The Bat panel brought forth several announcements of Batman projects by creators not normally associated with the character. "Legends of the Dark Knight" editor Joey Cavilieri was pleased to announce an upcoming three issue story written by Will Pfifer ("Who writes everything else not written by Geof and Greg...") and illustrated by Chris Weston, as well as a special double-sized issue written by Eddie Campbell with art by Bart Sears. Even more enticing was Bob's Shreck's announcement of "Batman: Year 100," a prestige format four-issue miniseries starting early next year by writer/artist Paul Pope ("100%," "Heavy Liquid").

Schreck talked shop briefly before the Q&A, explaining that DC is no longer working in their traditional editorial structure. "It's an interesting switch-up of players," Schrek remarked. Previously, titles had been categorized into groups and were overseen by a Group Editor and his subordinates. "We're no longer in groups, but in two man teams. Pete Tomasi is editing 'Detective Comics' and 'Batman,' but has no purview over 'Robin' or the other Bat-titles. It's an experiment. Change is inevitable. Life is change, and if you don't know that right now... leave."

No Comic-Con panel would be complete without an exhilarating volley of questions and answers both probing and painful, and Year Of The Bat was no exception.

Q: In "Sacrifice" part two, Superman beats the sh--er, snot out of [Batman]. How is he going to be able to continue on? How will his beating affect the other books?"

GREG RUCKA (GR): How will Batman recover? He won't. His back has been broken and someone else will take up the mantle-- oh, wait...

Q: Where did Damien Scott go?

BILL WILLINGHAM (BW): He's at my house doing the dishes. They don't always tell me who's going in and out. They don't trust me not to blab it all over the place.

Q: Two words: Jason Todd.

GR: Next question.

When asked whether or not Willingham's "War Crimes" would affect "Gotham Central," Rucka answered that he didn't know, as he hasn't actually seen the story. Bob Shreck interjected, "What we try to do is put together stories so if you want to play, you can play with it, but if you don't you don't have to."

"One of the things we're trying to do with 'War Crimes,'" Willingham added, "is get a new Batman out of it. We've had the biff boom pow Batman, and for a long time we've had the grim n' gritty Batman. What we're trying to do is introduce the warm and hugging Batman."

"Come on, Joker! Let's hug it out!" Rucka joked.

Q: What are the plans for Oracle?

GR: Gail is not present, so it would be rude in the extreme for anyone to talk about what's going on in "Birds of Prey."

BW: Gail did not quite know we were blowing up the clock tower, When she found out, she gave me a little call... she pretty much blamed me for it.

BS: It was your fault!

BW: I only did it because you said we couldn't blow up the Batcave again."

Q: Will there be a "Fables"/Batman crossover?

BS: We have to leave now.

BW: I do have an idea, a Bigbie Wolf/Batman story. But with all this jumbling around, I don't even know which editor to bring it to!

The crowd became noticebly tense when one fan thought to ask about whether the One Year Later post-"Infinite Crisis" plot device would yield any new titles, and whether or not existing titles would be renumbered, similar to Marvel's events in the past. Renumbering critics can relax, as that will not be happening post-"Infinite Crisis." "To the best of my knowledge," Schreck said.

Q: Will the "All-Star" books affect the regular DCU [Batman and Superman family of] Titles?

GR: I think DC is a remarkably brave company. We have the characters with the longest supehero legacy. DC has to preserve those legacies, but at the same time does really courageous stuff. [With the "All-Star" books] everyone can get the Batman they think of. With that freedom, over in the main DCU, that will allow us to test the boundaries a little more. Some writers bitch and moan about this, but these are not our characters. They are licensed characters. They are far bigger than any writer here.

Q: So, about Jason Todd?

GR: I got nothing. I got nothing. I got nothing. It's a great big... there's a bunker with razor-wire and men with machine guns and they all look like Judd Winnick.

Q: How do you feel about Ra's Al Ghul in the Batman movie?

GR: I think they might have got his name wrong!

Jim Lee arrived to tremendous applause, proclaiming that he had just finished issue 5 of "All-Star Batman & Robin." "No, really!" the artist said. "I started at midnight last night and finished at 7am this morning. I sent it in but if the file is corrupt, just let me know and I'll resend it... in a couple days." Bob Schreck seemed particularly receptive to that joke, while Rucka praised Lee for his ingenious ass-covering.

Predictiably, Rucka was asked if he holds any ill-will towards Keith Giffen and his much-beloved run on the "Justice League" family of titles in the 80s and early 90s. "In all honesty, I love those characters," Rucka answered. "I love that run. But I'm of the school that says you never kill a character you don't like. As much as you might hate it, there is one person out there who lives and dies on that character. You only kill the ones it hurts to get rid of." Rucka went on to say that only a few months ago, he was complaining to an editor that not only fans would get the idea that he disliked Giffen's JL run, but that he truly feared Giffen himself would be offended. But Keith Giffen, upon hearing of Rucka's distress, placed a call to the guilt-ridden writer.

"KILL 'EM ALL! OF COURSE MAX WOULD DO THAT!"

Q: Any plans for a new, better "Checkmate" series?

GR: Actually, a stunningly mediocre "Checkmate" series in development right now. C-list talent, C-list art on crappy newsprint paper.

Q: Are you trying anything on "All-Star Batman & Robin" that you wish you'd tried on "Hush?"

JIM LEE (JL): Not really. It's hard because the first time around, you don't say, "I'm going to hold back and come back in a couple years and really kick ass!"

Q: About that beautiful image of Vicki Vale, where did that image come from?

JL: I use myself as a model for both the guys and the girls. But it's really hard finding lingerie that fits. It's pretty sad. You'd think I could hire some models or something.

Q: Jim, you've worked on Superman and Batman. Is there any other DC character you're interested in?

JL: I'd love to do Blue Beetle BUT.... seriously, maybe Legion of Super-Heroes. But it would have to be a single character book.

Q: Any plans to give Batman a serious love interest?

GR: NO!

BS: Read the "All-Star" book. He's a real player.

JL: My hand is tired! FROM DRAWING!

One poor audience member began his question by explaining that he lives in a national park, and that as such, he only gets new comics every Christmas. "WHAT IS UP WITH JASON TODD!?"

"NO COMMENT!" Rucka yelled.

Q: What kind of impact has Frank Miller had on your art?

JL: The first pages took a long time, because I could feel Frank's eyes behind my back. I read the script and could completely visualize him draing it. Then you draw your panel ad you match it up with what you see him doing in your mind. Then you start over. There is a whole completely variant first issue [of "All-Star Batman & Robin"]. I got over it, though. When Frank saw the first issue photocopies, he sent me a very nice letter. This is a guy who inspired me, who got me into comics when I was 21. Exhilterating and inspiring me at the same time.

Q: Will Bruce Wayne always be Batman, and if anyone else could be, who would you say it is?

GR: Bruce Wayne will be Batman until the day he dies. But if it had to be any one else, then it's Tim Drake. After "Identity Crisis," it's a no-brainer.
Click to expand...

View:
"All-Star Batman & Robin"
"Batman: Year 100"
Source: Comic Book Resources

j3 · Jul 15, 2005

I love all the Jason Todd inquiries.

dlobro1080 · Jul 15, 2005

I have an important question: Is Batman's current costume black and grey or blue and grey? It seems to change constantly.

Wingwolf77 · Jul 15, 2005

dlobro1080 said:

I have an important question: Is Batman's current costume black and grey or blue and grey? It seems to change constantly.
Click to expand...

Hasn't it always? It seems that through Batman history they can never make up there mind on this.

CripNite · Jul 19, 2005

Batman has several suits of varying styles. He rotates through them.

Wreckgar · Jul 19, 2005

CripNite said:

Batman has several suits of varying styles. He rotates through them.
Click to expand...

That explains all the various figures.

I honestly think the costume is Gray and Navy with a Black cape and emblem. I think a lot of people color it black because of lazyness and shadow effects. A dark navy can definately look black.

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