Check out the press release below that DC Comics sent to BOF, and I’ll comment on the news afterward. – Jett
BURBANK, CA, and NEW YORK, NY (September 21, 2019) – All the excitement and celebration surrounding Batman Day and the Dark Knight’s 80th anniversary received an added boost of adrenaline today as a new creative team was announced for DC’s bestselling Batman comic book.
During a book signing and panel discussion at New York’s Barnes & Noble Union Square, DC Publisher Dan DiDio revealed to fans in attendance that in January 2020 the new ongoing team for BATMAN will feature New York Times bestselling writer James Tynion (pronounced “Tie-Nun”) IV (Justice League, Justice League Dark, Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen), penciller and main cover artist Tony S. Daniel (Batman, Deathstroke), inker Danny Miki (Superman: Year One), and colorist Tomeu (pronounced “Toe-Meh-Oh”) Morey (Batman, Detective Comics, Catwoman).
Tynion is no stranger to the world of The Dark Knight, having thrilled fans with his work on series such as Detective Comics, Batman Eternal, in addition to Batman and Robin Eternal, and is eager to continue in the tradition of great modern Batman storytellers like Scott Snyder and Tom King.
“I loved writing stories for [Batman] Eternal, Detective Comics, and even Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but my desire to tell a Batman story, one focusing solely on Bruce Wayne instead of an ensemble, is what drove me back to the Batcave,” said Tynion. “I want to dig deep into the Bat himself and tell an epic story that pushes him to his absolute limits. I want to tell a Batman story like the kinds I grew up loving, one that embraces the horror and gothic elegance of Gotham and dives deep into Batman’s greatest villains.”
For the last ten years, penciler Daniel and colorist Morey have been a formidable art team, especially when it comes to Batman. The team launched the “City of Bane” story arc with writer Tom King, which concludes in December.
“I’ve been fortunate to have contributed quite a bit of my work to Batman over the last twelve years, from working with Grant Morrison on ‘Batman R.I.P.’ to writing Batman myself to working with Tom King over the last year,” said Daniel. “Each run was amazing and special in its own way. I’m super excited to work with James Tynion IV, and I’m even more excited about what we have in store for Bat-fans everywhere this January.”
“I am very excited about this new stage for Batman and about being able to work with the entire creative team,” said Morey. “Tony manages to create iconic images of Batman that, along with Danny’s inks, will remain memorable to fans everywhere, and I can’t wait to work on stories with James. It’s a great challenge to live up to so much talent, but great motivation, too!”
“I’m totally excited about reuniting with Tony Daniel and Tomeu Morey,” added Miki. “I’m looking forward to returning to Gotham after Batman stories such as ‘Zero Year’, ‘Endgame’, All-Star Batman, ‘I Am Bane’, and others. Getting to work on Batman with along with Tony, Tomeu, and James is going to be a great ride! Gotham City is my home and it’s good to be home.”
Tynion, Daniel, Miki, and Morey make their debut with issue #86 of BATMAN, on sale January 8, 2020.
Here are my thoughts on this news…
I have no issue with this new creative team at all. I — like many others — have grown a tad tired of Tom King’s overall story in BATMAN as it moves along as fast a molasses in the winter. With that said, I’ve enjoyed King’s run overall and I’m looking forward to the conclusion of “City of Bane.”
Speaking of “issues,” what I do have an issue with is that it’s rumored that BATMAN will yet again reset the numbering of its issues back to #1 with a fourth volume of the title come Summer 2020.
At that time, this new creative team will bow out to yet another new one and we will — yet AGAIN — get another “Bruce Wayne gives up being Batman and a new dude will be under the cape and cowl” storyline.
In this case, it’s said to be Lucius Fox’s son, Luke.
*yawn*
RELATED: BOF’s BATMAN Reviews by John Bierly
I’m sorry, I’m just not interested in this very tired and stunt storyline to be rehashed yet again.
We all KNOW how it’s going to turn out as Bruce Wayne will return at some point and become Batman yet again!
How much y’all want to bet that Bruce Wayne returns and becomes Batman again (Is Bruce Wayne ever not Batman, anyway?) about the same time as Matt Reeves’ THE BATMAN starring Robert Pattinson is released in June of 2021?
With that, I shall digress.
So, what do y’all think of this new BATMAN creative team?
Do you want BATMAN to reset it’s numbering back to issue #1 yet again? (I was kinda hoping they’d return to legacy numbering like DETECTIVE COMICS.)
And, how do you feel about Bruce Wayne giving up the mantle of the Bat to someone else for the 126th time (Yes, I’m exaggerating) in the last 30ish years?
Post your thoughts in the comments section below! – Bill “Jett” Ramey
