I contacted Mr.Dixon via his facebook page where I requested an interview which he was very kind to take par. Here is the full interview with Comic Book Writer Chuck Dixon, answering question about the man who broke Batman!
Q: First I would like to express my gratitude for taking the time for this interview, it is a great pleasure and a great honor to be able to talk to the co-creator of one of the most famous Batman villains that has been created since the 40's, this is the first real interview I've done. I am not sure how this is done, so I am sorry if I am being to much of a rookie. The first question that is an absolute is now that we've seen and heard Bane from The Dark Knight Rises what are your thoughts on it and as a reinvention of the character you and Doug originally developed?
Chuck Dixon: Well, I know more from the interviews with Christopher Nolan than I do from the little I've seen of the movie. Nolan has read and appreciated the comics featuring Bane and clearly intends to make him what he was created to be: Batman's intellectual and physical equal. My biggest fear was that he would be portrayed as a musclebound thug rather than a musclebound criminal genius. It also helps that actor with Tom Hardy's talent will be playing him.
Q: Hardy is certainly a very inspiring choice, and controversial because of the characters background, do you feel that there was ever an obligation to search for an actor with a closer Latin ethnicity to match Bane or was there more of an obligation for them to cast an actor who was as intelligent and versatile as Hardy?
Chuck Dixon: I would have been happy if they'd chosen a Hispanic actor. But they decided not to. Nothing I can do about that. Perhaps DC will someday do an animated DVD of Knightfall.
Q: The last time mass audiences saw Bane was in the infamous Batman and Robin film, played by the late Jeep Swenson, since then do you feel that his image has been tarnished with that characterization or has it been long enough for audiences to see the character with a fresh perspective?
Chuck Dixon: Well, a LOT more people will see this movie than saw Batman and Robin. Also, bane has been seen by millions in the cartoons and video games where he's portrayed closer to his original incarnation.
Q: Bane has certainly proven to be Batman’s equal in physical and intellectual manners, which is one of many reasons he’s an appealing character, something I find interesting is as different as they are, they also have in common a fear of Bats and had expressed the fear in different ways, was that something that came up between you and Doug sub-consciously or was it a very deliberate action so the reader’s views would further enhance the reflection of one another?
Chuck Dixon: There wasn't a lot of collaboration between Doug and I on the origin of Bane. I was assigned to come up with all the details and the story of Bane's beginnings and did most of my collaboration with Graham Nolan. I didn't necessarily give Bane a phobia of bats. It was more like a recurring dream or nightmare about bats that resonated deeply with Bane when he encountered Batman. Whether it was fate or coincidence is a question only Bane can answer.
Q: The announcement of Bane having a dominate appearance was certainly a shock to fans, did it have a similar affect on you? Were you and Doug informed ahead of fans or did you find out at the same time as fans?
Chuck Dixon: I learned when everyone else learned about it.
Q: Bane is a character with many strengths; an expert in military tactics, fencing, chess, and literature, hand to hand and armed combat, with such rich character what would you say is his best or most attractive quality as a character?
Chuck Dixon: For me, the most interesting aspect of Bane is that he believes himself to be innocent. He is a victim of fate, certainly. He was condemned to prison before he was born, after all.
Q: Last but not least comic book fans will want to know, are you going to post a review of Christopher Nolan’s Final Batman film or give a comment once you see the final product?
Chuck Dixon: Oh sure. I'll probably post an extensive review on my site!
You can visit Chuck Dixon at his site: www.dixonver.net and http://comicspace.com/members/chuckdixon