Tom King and David Finch discuss their new Batman series
Last spring, DC Comics started over again.
Under theRebirthbanner, the company relaunched its main books and reinvented its famous characters.
But where the New 52 had experimented with radical new directions for its characters (Superman dating Wonder Woman!
Credit: DC Comics
No sidekicks for The Flash!)
Its been a huge success so far, both commercially and critically.
Their arrival immediately shook up the status quo.
The introduction of Gotham and Gotham Girl was something Batman hasnt really dealt with before.
I was like, everyones always introducing something evil to Gotham.
Ill hit him with something good and see how that changes him or morphs him, King says.
I wanted to bring Batman a challenge that he couldnt defeat the way he normally defeats challenges.
He sees that these characters might be better than him, in a good way.
He sees a chance for them to succeed in ways he could never succeed.
By contrast, he deliberately aimed to make his Batman more pure fun and Finch was happy to help.
I was one of those kids who was kind of an outsider.
I was bullied, dealt with all that crap.
For those kinds of kids, reading Batman is the answer to a question you dont even know.
It gives you hope.
I dont think theres any comic that has the same potential for drama and visceral mood thanBatmandoes.
Thats what I love, Finch says.
There are artists who love light, airy things and thats never been me.
I like dark, gritty real world kinds of things, and just aggression.
1: I Am Gothamis on sale now.
