NYCC 2011: DC All Access: Batman Coverage

Our report on the DC All Access: Batman panel at New York City Comic-Con 2011.

By Vincent Genovese at 5:41 PM
October 14, 2011

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Credit: DC

Whether you're a long time reader or a curious beginner, there's no better time to be a Batman fan than right now. DC Comics, in conjunction with their New 52 initiative, spared no expenses when it came to their marquee character. Besides giving readers a wide selection of Batman titles to digest, the publisher also made sure the Dark Knight was put into the hands of a diverse, talented group of writers and artists.

Most of that batch of talent shared the stage today at the DC ALL ACCESS: Batman Panel. Speakers included Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo (Batman), Tony Daniel (Detective Comics), David Finch (The Dark Knight), Peter J. Tomasi (Batman and Robin), Kyle Higgins (Nightwing), Chris Burnham (Batman Inc.) and Lee Bermejo (Batman: Noel). In case you missed it, here's a rundown of the panel's highlights:

Writer Scott Snyder & Artist Greg Capullo - Batman

The team behind the highest selling comic of September, Batman #1, were the first to take the stage. Here are the highlights:

Scott Snyder said his aim was to write an 11 issue story arc, with a scope similar to Hush and The Long Halloween.
The story is coming off the events of Batman Inc.
The Court of the Owls is Batman's latest foes. Although they are new villains, they have a longstanding history in Gotham City.
Artist Greg Capullo gushed over his collaborator, stating that Snyder will be known as "one of the legendary writers in our business."
Snyder mentioned that Bruce will soon discover that Gotham City is not on his side, and that "the city belongs to the Owl and not the Bat."

Writer & Artist Tony Daniel - Detective Comics

Writing and drawing a monthly comic is no easy task. Luckily, Tony Daniel has the chops to pull it off. The creator of the shocking and controversial Detective Comics #1 was the next up on stage. Here are the highlights:

Tony Daniel stated that Detective Comics will feature "shorter, smaller stories" with a big context.
Regarding the shocking last page of Detective Comics #1, Tony said: "I was happy with the response. I drew it in two hours...and knew it was striking."
His run on Detective Comics will be "more brutal [and] gritty" with a "noir feel to it."
Daniel's new villain, the Dollmaker, will have a whole slew of allies; most of which are based on "weird, retro toys." One is inspired by the Jack in the Box.

Writer & Artist David Finch - Batman: The Dark Knight

David Finch, the creative force behind the wild, action-packed Batman: The Dark Knight, spoke next. Here are the highlights:

David Finch said Batman: The Dark Knight will have more of a "horror angle."
Finch has vowed to "pull out all the stops" and intends on bringing "every character" into the Batman universe, including "Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and the Flash."
Finch intends to shatter his reputation of being late on deadlines. He's looking forward to proving he could be on schedule.

Writer Peter J. Tomasi - Batman and Robin

DC Comics staple, Peter J. Tomasi, came up next to talk about his latest series, Batman and Robin. Here are the highlights:

Tomasi based the Bruce Wayne and Damian Wayne dynamic on his relation with his 8-year-old son.
There's a lot more in store with his new villain, Nobody.
Scott Snyder cut in to mention that he read the scripts Tomasi has handed in so far and that "they are great."
Tomasi stated that Issue #7 will feature a "major epic battle with Nobody." It will be an almost "all fight issue."

Writer Kyle Higgins - Nightwing

Next up to speak was writer Kyle Higgins, who has the honor of bringing Nightwing into the New 52 universe. Here are the highlights:

The Nightwing series will feature a "new villain for hire."
Storylines will tie into Dick Grayson's "high-profile time as Batman."
Kyle Higgins intends to "push the character further" than ever before.

Beyond the New 52

Artist Chris Burnham came up to talk about working with Grant Morrison on the conclusion of Batman Inc. While he couldn't get into too much detail, he stated the story will contain the trademark "controlled chaos" of Grant Morrison's work.
Writer and artist Lee Bermejo discussed his ambitious new project, Batman: Noel. He stated that it all "started with an idea of doing a children's book." Although it has strayed from his original vision, it will still be a far cry from his "dark, ugly, violent" book, The Joker.

After the panel let out, each audience member was given a nifty Wayne Casino poker chip. If only it could be cashed it in for some of the awesome Batman comics coming our way.