[SDCC:] BATMAN: NO REST FOR THE DARK KNIGHT

July 25, 2008 on 5:24 pm | In San Diego Comic Con | No Comments

The San Diego Comic-Con 2008 No Rest for the Dark Knight panel kicked off with Batman comics Editor Mike Marts introducing the panel’s guests: Grant Morrison, the legendary Jerry Robinson, Dustin Nguyen, Brian Azzarello and Paul Dini.

Each creator gave a little info on what they’ve been doing presently and in the past with the Caped Crusader.
“I’m just finishing up Batman R.I.P,” said Morrison. “And I’ve been working on the last episode and Bruce is in trouble. That’s all I do. Think about Batman all day.”

Robinson said he traveled to China recently to an artist convention where he gave a speech. He also managed to travel to London to see the filming of the “Dark Knight.” He also mentioned a secret project he’s working on involving the reunion, which he said will be a reunion of sort after 65 years.

Nguyen said his involved extended to drawing pages on Detective Comics.
“I don’t know what I’m doing up here, either,” joked Nguyen. “These guys are all pretty new to comics, so I’m up here to…”

Azzarello talked about his involvement in the “Gotham Knight” DVD and an upcoming Joker project he’ll be working on.

Dini said he’s working on plotting out the last two issues of the Hush storyline, leading up to issue #850, which will be a double-sized issue.
“I’m having a lot of fun because Hush is a sick bastard.”
Dini also said he’s writing an episode of the Brave and the Bold Batman animated television series.

Questions then opened to the audience

A fan asked where Morrison’s inspiration came from
“When Pete Tomasi asked me to do Batman, it was the first story idea I came up with,” said Morrison. “It was about taking Batman to the limit. What’s the biggest, most twisted bad guy we could use against Batman? And no one’s guessed him yet.”

Another fan asked if the Joker was difficult to write.
“I think the Joker is the most violent book I’ve ever written,” admitted Azzarello. “It’s just completely bleak and is just the ugliest story. It fits that character like a suit. If you try and tell a Joker story, you’re not going to tell a story with a happy ending. It’s impossible. I don’t think he’s funny, for one thing. I think he’s one of those guys who thinks he’s funny.”
“I wouldn’t call the Joker easy to write,” said Dini. “I always think of the Joker as the ultimate bully.”
“The Joker is great to write because he changes all the time,” said Morrison. “He’s really cool. He never smiles and when it smiles it’s really scary. He’s the guy in the subway who sits besides you and starts reading your book and talking to you.”
“You don’t think when you write the Joker,” added Azzarello. “You put him in the scene and wait for the characters to react. He’s completely in the now, like a dog.”
“He’s pretty easy for me to write,” joked Nguyen.

Another fan posed the question of the Joker’s origin, and whether Robinson ever intended to give him one.
“We didn’t even explain his whole being,” said Robinson. “I took from the playing card. It was my first inspiration for the visual. I thought it’d be really cool to make him really white and not give an explanation. I don’t think we would have ever explained it. We discussed it and decided not to, to give that aura of mystery to the Joker.”
“I think the moment you give him an origin, you take away from the character,” said Azzarello. “We know where Batman comes from. We know what drives Bruce. We don’t know what drives Joker to be Joker.”
“That was the approach we took on the animated series,” said Dini. “We thought if we gave the character and origin story it would make him too sympathetic.”

“What would you guys have done if we gave him an origin story to begin with?” questioned Robinson.
“We’d have to deal with it,” said Morrison.
“I wonder if he’d still be around,” pondered Azzarello.

A fan asked how each of the panelists related to Bruce Wayne and Batman.
“Oh, well, I’m a millionaire playboy,” laughed Morrison.
“Yeah, I’d much rather be Bruce Wayne than Batman,” said Azzarello.
“I have a string of young wards back at the house,” joked Dini.
“Let’s stop right there,” said Morrison.

A fan asked which villain should star in the next Batman film.
Morrison said Man-Bat and Catwoman would be good choices.
“Catwoman seems a bit logical now that the only female character they established in the mythos is dead, so they need a new one,” said Azzarello. “Also, if Harvey Dent is dead and was dead, he’s not dead anymore.”
“I was asking myself that the other night and they seem to be setting up the police versus Batman,” said Dini.
Nguyen also agreed that Catwoman would work well in the next film.
“Bruce needs some loving,” laughed Morrison.

Another fan questioned Robinson on what he thought of the recent intrepreation of the Joker and how it differs from his original intent.
“I think the Joker has gotten more sinister than we invisioned—more psychotic, obviously,” said Robinson. “I think it broadedthe story potentional and the excitement of it. What was exciting in 1940 or 1942 may not seem so exciting today.”

One fan asked if Batman should ever use a gun.
“No,” said Morrison firmly. “That what makes Batman cool. He doesn’t use a gun and he still kicked ass. That’s his psychology.”
“Sit down!” joked Azzarello.
“If Batman kills anyone he’s just another soldier,” added Morrison. “There’s a million soldiers. We don’t need another one. We need a Batman.”

One of the final questions asked about Joker’s sexuality.
“The Joker sees everything as a weapon, including sexuality,” said Morrison. “He will be whatever makes you uncomfortable.”

The final question asked the panelist if they liked what Morrison has been doing in Batman.
“Everyone hates me,” joked Morrison. As the rest of the panelist gave sarcastic joking answers, the fan continued to ask his question.
“Come on, dude, I’m sitting here,” said Morrison throwing up his hands in frustration.