James Tynion IV Talks BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL, Creating a New Villain, and Bringing Back Cassandra Cain

Last week we talked to Tony Daniel who will be doing some art and covers for the upcoming weekly BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL #1. We just had the chance to talk to James Tynion IV, one of the "showrunners" for the twenty-six issue weekly series. We'll be seeing a new villain that ties into Batman's past along with the re-introduction of Cassandra Cain to the DCU.

(Art credits: Pencils by Tony S. Daniel, Inks by Sandu Florea, Colors by Tomeu Morey).

COMIC VINE: What made you decided to come on board another Batman weekly series?

JAMES TYNION IV: It’s a pretty simple answer. I loved doing the first one. A weekly series like this, it’s pretty unique in the fact that you get all the toys in the toy box. You get to play with all the biggest characters in a certain corner of the DCU. You get to tell a story with huge major repercussions. Honestly, I couldn’t say no. Scott [Snyder] and I had some ideas coming out of the first BATMAN ETERNAL. We knew we had stories we still wanted to tell. It’s really exciting to be back at it again.

CV: I’m excited too.

JAMES: Alright.

CV: How were all the different writers selected?

JAMES: We wanted to bring in some new blood in this story and give a few people who haven’t had a chance to tackle the Batman mythos before a big in to the story. Ed Brisson, Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly are making their Batman debut on this story. And then we’re bringing in some people who are making the Batman books great across the line right now. We have Steve Orlando from MIDNIGHTER, Genevieve Valentine from CATWOMAN, and we have Tim Seeley, from the first BATMAN ETERNAL and GRAYSON. Tim is very important for this series because this story features Dick Grayson up front and center. Having a member of the GRAYSON team, especially someone I had such a great time working with the first time, was absolutely key.

CV: What can you tell us about the old Batman case that brings about this story?

JAMES: The biggest thing that excited us about telling a story like this is right now we’re in a very strange moment in Batman continuity. Bruce Wayne does not remember he was Batman. Jim Gordon is currently running around Gotham City as Batman. Imagine there was a villain—someone so huge and terrifying that in Batman’s early years, no one else…this is the big bad. One of the worst people he’s ever faced. It got to the point that the things he had to do in order to defeat that person, are things that have weighed on him for years. He thought they were gone. If a figure like that comes back in the present and Bruce was the only one who really knows who this person is and remembers that mystery.

This is something where they don’t have the pieces in order to defeat what they’re up against. It’s a case that goes right back to the era that Dick Grayson was Robin. That is also key in our story. The reason that Bruce kept this case from Dick, that’s central to the mystery that we’re telling. This is a story about the nature of the relationship between Batman and Robin.

CV: With Dick being in this story, is the rest of the Bat Family going to discover he’s still alive?

JAMES: This is a seed you might actually see play out in GRAYSON, right before the launch of this. Stay tuned there. This is the big Batman story that brings Dick Grayson back into the Bat Family. Without Bruce at the center, it’s Dick really stepping up to be the center of the Bat Family, in this strange new world.

CV: What can you tell us about Cassandra Cain’s role, besides what you said at San Diego with her having a “central role”?

JAMES: I want to hit that note again. Cassandra Cain is one of the key characters to this story. She will be in the story from issue #1 on and at the heart of the mystery of what happened in the past and what’s happening in the present. That’s also one of the frustrating things because she’s not someone that can straight up sit you down and reveal exactly the machinations of the big villain that was building in the past.

It’s very very exciting to get to play with Cassandra Cain again. I grew up on Cassandra Cain stories and she is one of my all time favorite Batman characters. This is the story that’s going to bring her back in a huge way. There are going to be things that’ll be a little different. This is going to be us introducing a generation to Cassandra Cain. It’s not us bringing back the exact same Cassandra Cain that walked out of continuity after the events of Flashpoint when we launched the New 52. The people out there who have been loving Cassandra for years and years and years and have been wanting her back, we want to do the character justice by them. We also want the number of Cassandra fans to be quadrupled by the end of this so that everyone demands she stays in the DCU here and far into the future.

CV: Will she have a costume or codename?

JAMES: …That’s something you guys are going to have to wait and see. We’re not bringing her back in the Batgirl role. She’s going to be there as Cassandra. What we’re building her towards is something you guys are going to have to wait and see over the course of the twenty-six issues.

CV: I think I recall you saying in the past that Tim Drake was your favorite Robin. Is that still the case and will he have a big role?

JAMES: Yeah. All of the Robins are going to play into this story. Right off the bat, Damian Wayne is off on his adventures in ROBIN SON OF BATMAN. He’ll come into the story a bit later on. Right now, the first three Robins, Dick, Jason, and Tim, are going to be up front and center in this story alongside the new addition of Cassandra Cain and Harper Row. Harper will also be absolutely central to this tale.

CV: What are you most excited about in BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL?

JAMES: I’m really really excited about the opportunity to build a new A-list villain for Batman in the DCU. It’s an opportunity that writers rarely get to take. The character we’re building, Mother, she’s one of the most frightening concepts I’ve ever had. I am really really excited to introduce her to the DCU and scare the universe with her as much as much as she scares me.

Don't miss the BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL SPECIAL EDITION #1 available free on Batman Day, September 26. BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL #1 is on sale October 7.

She's back, She's back :):) and as expected with a new New 52 twist.

I'll be honest, I don't get why things need to be changed in the New 52 if they were working perfectly well before.

@outside_85: @animehunter:I trust these guys to do her justice. It sounds like they have to take a couple steps back to re-introduce her but she probably won't lose the core essence of who she was. She's not Batgirl and this is before she could talk, I'm assuming.

From the first issue solicit:

And who is the deadly, silent young woman in black who’s come to Gotham City looking for Batman?

Finally a confirmation that Damian will also be a part of this story. Its a bit dissapointing that we will have to wait quite a few issues for him, though.

Gorgeous art

Can't wait to see Cassandra back in the DCU. Kinda wish they would bring Stephanie in to this story as well. You know to get her more accumulated in the Bat family

Hopefully they get her right. But I don't generally have any faith in DC as an entity to make these kinds of changes anymore, not without nearly destroying the parts people had come to like about them

...........But what about Spoiler?

Dick as the central character with Cassandra, Tim, Jason, Damian...damn I can't wait for this. Got every issue of Eternal and really enjoyed it. The last thing I need is another title every week but I will very gladly fork out an extra 3-4 bucks for this.

I am excited for this book but it seems like nothing that different from what Snyder and Tynion IV have delivered us already.

Dick as a central character has me sold

Since you do, I'll place my trust in them as well

I'm definitely on board.

Steph appears in this comic:

http://www.comicvine.com/forums/batman-286/tony-daniel-talks-batman-and-robin-eternal-batman--1708547/

In the two last images(same imagen in black/white and in color), Spoiler appears..

She already came back in Batman Eternal, he-he.

I know I'm beating a dead horse at this point, but I really hate the New 52. The overall quality of stories is the same as it ever was, but it just kills me that they wiped out twenty-five years of continuity just to have a fresh slate which isn't really all that fresh. I know that old school DC fans point out this is the exact same thing that happened with COIE, and to a certain extent, that's true, but a lot of history pre-COIE was less integrated into a cohesive continuity and more geared towards one shot adventures. I do realize that they were starting to do some longer form stories towards the end of the pre-COIE era, but still...

It just makes me sad. I'm sticking to the older stuff. I'll catch up on New 52 stories when the price comes down in a few more years.

Oh, I will say that I also like James Tynion IV. Other than his run on RHATO, he's done high quality work.

Maybe they'll bring back David Cain aswell, since Cassandra is coming back. Maybe he has something to do with the mystery villain Batman had to face.

Cassandra is the girl in the pixelated image under the childrens photos?

That’s also one of the frustrating things because she’s not someone that can straight up sit you down and reveal exactly the machinations of the big villain that was building in the past.

Is it me, or does it sound like Cassandra will be at the point where she couldn't speak or write like she was when first introduced?

wait so what happen to gordan as batman

Finally, a Dick Grayson story.

Can't wait! Crossing fingers for a Cassandra vs. Damian fight!

@g_man I would of liked it if you Focused more about the robins and what they'd be up to?

Why does Damion look 7 years older?

CV: I think I recall you saying in the past that Tim Drake was your favorite Robin. Is that still the case and will he have a big role?

JAMES: Yeah. All of the Robins are going to play into this story. Right off the bat, Damian Wayne is off on his adventures in ROBIN SON OF BATMAN. He’ll come into the story a bit later on. Right now, the first three Robins, Dick, Jason, and Tim, are going to be up front and center in this story alongside the new addition of Cassandra Cain and Harper Row. Harper will also be absolutely central to this tale.

I really hope Tim and Jason will get a better treatment than in "Batman Eternal" (that was damaging for their image), and that they don't let Cass (and Harper) overshadow them.

"This is the big Batman story that brings Dick Grayson back into the Bat Family. Without Bruce at the center, it’s Dick really stepping up to be the center of the Bat Family, in this strange new world."

Excellent.

Please don't ruin her DC. She suffered enough with the whole villain fiasco and the bad writing.

Hmm but is she still related to Shiva?

I vaguely recall a Zero issue a couple years back where Dick had a flashback to that fight which happened early on in his time as Robin....could this be linked to Shiva's presence back then?

Gotta love more Dick stories

LMAO @

JAMES: *Explaining why he returned for the Eternal sequel*

CV: I'm excited too.

JAMES: Alright.

Haha, cool response Comic Vine.

I can't wait for this to start!

And thats why I hope that they make it better this time.

And Jason didn't had an arc, he was mostly Babaras support char in her arc (and it was basically the same with Tim who was more Harper support than the other way arround).

@teerack: I think that's Dick.

crying

Also, its unbelievable. 26 issues with Cass has been more than what we've ever got since 2006(aside from Gates and random appearances here and there). Going from nothing to this is...>< Its too good to be true.

Meh,Eternal was mediocre imo and honestly speaking Tynion and Snyder should get a Bat book set in the past, because at this point the whole "everything you knew was wrong" approach is getting silly.

One of the problems I had with Eternal was that Steph was introduced with a lot of hype,yet it all amounted to nothing. Also Steph knew the secret identity of the villain and the plan but she refused to divulge that plan to Batman or the heroes, looks like we're going to get the same with Cass,except this time her inability to communicate will serve as the desired excuse to keep the plot meandering.

I look forward to Dick's role and his time as Robin,not looking forward to Harper.

Couldn't they just tell Harpers story in one of the regular Batman series or give her miniseries, instead of using a crossover events to do it?

It's bad enough that they are using a book that should celebrate Dick and the other Robins to bring back Cassandra.

@aahz: As if they weren't already celebrated well enough? Go rain on some other parade.

The creators have already stated that this book is being published to commemorate Robin's anniversary... and yet of the 3 characters that will be getting a major role only one is a Robin. I hope one day we get a Batgirl Eternal series that focuses on Batwing,Jean Paul Valley and Betty Kane,I would love to see your reaction to that.

Snyder should be telling Harper stories in his own book, the fact he's not clearly shows that he has no larger interest in the character himself,I cannot fathom why DC expects the fans to show interest in this character when her own creator has made no meaningful contribution.

Cool.I have faith in DC.

How? This whole Jason/Barbara and "You are no Dick Grayson" thing didn't helped Jason as character. The whole arc was about Barbara finding out who framed her Dad, Jason was just there to help her and he didn't had one scene where he looked good in it. Just look at the first scene were Jason and Barbara met, Jason says something like that she couldn't take him down, and on the next panel you see Barbara pinning him on the ground.

And than you have Jason endlessly speaking about how much any Robin envied Barbara because she was so much better then them, him being used as a punching bag, as a a thug who is just good enough to be the backup or to make a lot of noise and as a damsel in distress that needed to be rescued... yeah, that defiantly propped up Jason.

Thats why I rather have Dick, Jason and Tim teaming up to take down the main villain, than a sub plot about Harper Rows parents.

I never read Batman Eternal, but I always kinda wanted to. And now I'm interested in this series, so I guess I should read Batman Eternal, huh?

*Edit* Does anyone know if the collected Batman Eternal features the covers? Either the Digital or Physical collection. I have a thing for cover art...

Batman Eternal did nothing to help either Jason Todd or Barbara Gordon as characters.

That was more Barbara looking bad than Jason looking good in my opinion.

It's not about Jasons newest super powers (and by the way it was Tynion who wrote Jason directly before Eternal and gave Jason most of this powers not Lobdell). He is supposed to be a highly trained assassin and on a similar level than Dick (and that was allready established under Winick), him suddenly being inferior to Barbara (who is nowhere near this level in the new 52) is wired.

And I rather don't have them in there if they are written like the last time. But I would like to see them written good in it.

Despite this even the last time, they didn't manage to include what happened in Batman and Robin, in what happened in eternal and Endgame.

@slapfish812: That's what I am saying,if Harper is effectively owned by Snyder, shouldn't she be showing up in his book? part of the reason I was initially excited for this book, back when it was just a rumour was that there was a chance of Tomasi and Seeley being the head writers. Snyder has a book,he should be telling his stories and implementing his ideas in his own book. Already they are starting off with the typical Snyderissm of something"that happened in the past but you never knew". I want to read something different not Batman 2.0.

Pretty much,if it weren't for Dick I would've passed on this volume altogether.

This are great news! for the first time in many years, i'm really excitted to read a comic!

Not only Cass is back, but this "mother" character, has my interest already.

I'd say good days are coming.

No disrespect for Damian, but if this new version of Cass is anywhere near her Pre-New-52 level of skill, a fight between them would last a panel or 2...unless Cass held back massivly for some reason

Lol, i don't even know what to think about this...

So, let me get this straight...The New 52 continuity, its already 4 years old, and unlike many bat-related characters, ALL Robins have had the fortune of being around since pretty much day one, (just to get the titles where they appeared on, cancelled due to low-sales, ex: RHATO, Teen Titans, etc) they have had solo-runs (Dick, Jason, and since june Tim and Damian have one each as well, plus appearences on other books, and even team leadership status (Tim Drake on the Teen Titans)...Now Cass is about to FINALLY make her debut appearence, and you're worried, that she might take too much space away from some of the mary-sue's of the New 52? give me a break!

The thing is, Batman Eternal was an "all things Batman" event, and it was labbelled as such by DC...and Batman and Robin Eternal it's (literally) Batman Eternal season 2, or year 2, this has been stated multiple times by many people from DC.

So, it's not just about the Robins, it's about all bat related characters that the writters can bring in for the intended story.