Talking to IGN Comics writer and artist Tony Daniel has discussed his upcoming work on Detective Comics #1, dropping some revealing new details and finally shedding some light on the Joker of the DCnU. Below are some brief excerpts from the interview, but be sure to click on the link below to head on over to the site where you can find much, much more.
On What Will Single Out Detective Comics From The Other Batman Titles:
I knew pretty quickly how I wanted to tackle the book and what my take would be. Whereas in my Batman run, I had to keep in mind Dick Grayson's lighter character when working on fight sequences and character beats, I have a sense of freedom on Detective that allows me to write the Batman that I've always wanted to write. The tone will be more serious, darker. And deeper. We'll be seeing Batman facing challenges and new foes (as well as old) that will test his limits as both a detective, and a man. I think Detective gives me the chance to do something different than what I was doing on Batman, so I think that's a good thing.
On The Cast Of Characters We'll See In The Series:
At this point I'm keeping the cast of Detective very tight. I want the focal point to be Bruce Wayne/ Batman. I'm working with only the essentials here. Commissioner Gordon and Alfred. Of course there could be a cameo appearance once in a while, but this is really the Dark Knight and these puzzling, strange, horrific and sometimes weird, detective stories.
On This Interpretation Of The The Joker And His Place In The Series:
The first issue has a lot of Joker in it. But there's a bigger story, and we'll find at the end of issue one, we've only just peeled back one layer of multilayered crime story. My take on Joker sort of merges Grant Morrisson's and my interpretation from R.I.P with more of a classic Joker. We hit the ground running, so we won't see this as a new introduction to the Joker, but we still get the sense Batman is still learning what makes this guy tick.
On The New Love Interest For Bruce Wayne:
Well, we're early in here on when Batman even exists, so naturally we're at a point where Bruce still might have hope for some sense of normalcy when he's not breaking kneecaps as the Dark Knight. Her name is Charlotte Rivers and she is an investigative reporter who challenges Bruce Wayne. And Bruce Wayne is a challenge for her and seeing that she's a smart cookie, she knows there's more than meets the eye with her lover. But it makes good drama and conflict to see how a romantic relationship tries to work out with all the odds stacked against it, forcing it to fight for its survival.
On The Future Of The Title And The Chances Of Seeing More New Characters:
Aside from Batman's trusted few in his inner circle, I would say we could look forward to seeing some new characters introduced into the mix down the road. Batman has one of the best rogue's galleries in comics and that really is a cool tool to have when you're thinking of stories. But I also want to create new villains. I think that opens the doors to new and unique challenges Batman hasn't faced before. This is all about telling compelling, driven stories that will keep you biting your nails in anticipation for the next issue.
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