He is vengeance. He is the night. He is Batman, and he's 75-years-old! The Dark Knight made his very first appearance in 1939's DETECTIVE COMICS #27 and since then he's become one of the world's most popular characters. Throughout the eras, Bruce Wayne has undergone several changes as different creative minds put their own spin on the hero. To celebrate the hero turning 75 years-old, DC created a panel to reflect on the hero's history. The panel consisted of John Cunningham, Neal Adams, Greg Capullo, Kevin Conroy, Geoff Johns, Jim Lee and Scott Snyder. Let's get right to what they had to say about Bruce's history!
- Favorite Batman villain? Geoff: "you can’t go wrong with Joker, I think Joker’s the best one." Kevin: "I’m very biased towards Joker because of Mark Hamill." Neal: Ra’s al Ghul. Neal joked he’s tempted to pick Joker just because Ra’s is tough to pronounce. Greg: humorously said Doctor Doom, but then sides with the Clown Prince of Crime. "Everybody loves monsters, and Joker’s like a monster clad in human flesh. Plays off Batman perfectly." Scott: picked the Joker as well. "He’s not crazy, he’s just evil. Endlessly interesting". Jim: selected Catwoman. Big fan of Newmar's Catwoman; has Fond memories of the TV show.
- First memory of classic Batman show? Jim: he watched it as a kid and took it very seriously. "Joker horrified me because he has that mustache underneath his makeup." Greg: "the very first superhero drawing I did of Batman and Robin is from the intro to the TV show." Chatted about the hilarity of Batman doing detective work with alphabet soup. Neal: when someone fell while dancing and Batman said, “what a way to go-go.”
- Frank Miller'sTHE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS is then brought up. Greg: "that is the go-to book for me. Anybody who’s never read a comic book, that’s the one I give to them." He then joked about how he made his son read it and he'd quiz him about it. Scott: "it’s my favorite book, not just my favorite comic book." He has the original 4 issues and explained that TKDR was an extension of the way NYC was back when he was growing up there. "It was the world you knew and Batman suddenly was real." That moment made him understand he might want to write comics. Jim: it was his inspiration to become a comic book professional. His favorite scene is when Bruce Wayne is taking a shower and he just realizes he shaved his mustache off. "Like the force of Batman has taken over and is calling him out. Every time you read it you find new connections, new levels, and new themes that he [Frank Miller] laid in there." Geoff: "the moment when Harvey Dent gets surgery and he says they fixed the wrong face."
- The discussion then moved to a little show called Batman: The Animated Series. Kevin: "I had no idea what I was getting involved with." Stated that Bruce Timm and Paul Dini had to explain Batman's background. Kevin added he only knew the Adam West series. As for the unforgettable voice, he said that he went to "the darkest, deepest, place" he could go to meet the show's tone.
- When asked about the lesson of Batman, Conroy believes it's "to never ever, ever give up."
- Switched to Hush. Jim: "[Jeph] Loeb made the script to touch upon all the highpoints in Batman’s mythology." His work was heavily influenced by Frank Miller’s take at the start. Buff at first, but more acrobatic by end. The change was a "direct result of going back and looking back at all the great batman stories." Added a lot of influence came from Neal’s work. Jim commented that Hush was his pet-project and a loveletter to the creators that touched Batman before.
- Lee and Miller's ALL-STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN is then addressed. Jim: "a dream come true to work with Frank." The artist said he could imagine how Frank would draw it, but then kept having to remind himself to do his own take and he was the one hired to craft the visuals.
- Discussion moved to BATMAN: EARTH ONE. Geoff: it was "really intimidating because there’s been so many amazing batman stories." Said to Gary Frank that if they’re going to do Batman, they need to do it differently. Johns pitched the idea of Batman messing up a jump and suffering an embarrassing fall. States that Gary said, “that’s not Batman.” Johns replied, “exactly.” Commented the series is before he’s the greatest detective. "He just wants to catch the man he believes is behind the death of his parents." States part of the fun is their different Alfred Pennyworth. “A bit less of a perfect role model for Bruce.” Presented art from volume two of Killer Croc and Batman fighting. “Bruce and Alfred have decided they’ll build a myth that can help Gotham City.” Second volume's about Riddler and the theme of identity. Batman learns to be a detective though working with Jim Gordon. A "really different take on Croc; plays a significant role." Emphasized it's a "super different take on Batman. We’re very proud of it and we have plans for several more after this.” Praised Gary Frank’s work, claimed this is the best work he’s ever done.
- Snyder remarked that Batman: TAS is his second favorite Batman thing (first goes to TKDR).
- Panel concludes with a brief discussion of Gotham. Johns said Oswald Cobblepot's his favorite character in the show.
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