Creating Batman: Battle for the Cowl - IGN

IGN Comics: Let's start by talking a bit about your career: Although those familiar with it knew you made a name for yourself in the industry as a writer/artist on The Tenth, I think most fans were surprised to hear you'd be both writing and drawing Battle for the Cowl. Were you at all surprised to find out that DC was handing you the keys to such a huge event?

Tony Daniel: Was I surprised? Yes and no. I agreed back in the summer to be the artist for Battle for the Cowl so I knew I was working on the art. Initially, it was going to be a six issue mini-series going bi-weekly for three months. But we still hadn't nailed down who would write it. Then Mike Marts and I were talking about the project and I told them some ideas I had on how to make this big and exciting. My ideas just so happened to be very similar to what he was thinking too. I remember jokingly telling him, "Hey, you ought to just let me write it." And there was a silence on the other end of the phone (laughs). But I guess I got Mike's wheels turning and as we continued our conversation about the story, I just started getting pumped up and excited and all these ideas were starting to spill out.

That was on a Friday. Over the weekend, I started to really get excited about taking on the writing of the project. On Monday, Dan DiDio called me and told me regarding a discussion he had with Mike Marts and by then, I had a more structured plan in my mind about the story. So I was prepared, even though I didn't expect the call. I told Dan what I wanted to do and I gave him a safety net. I said basically, "Let me hammer something out and you can make a decision based upon the strength of my work before there are any commitments." The rest happened pretty quickly and next thing you know, here I am.

IGN Comics: For those fans that are unfamiliar with your writing, what can you tell us about your interests and sensibilities as a writer? What do you think marks your style as a writer, and do you have any influences that inform your approach to storytelling?

Daniel: Well when I began The Tenth, I really wasn't a seasoned writer at all. I was just pretty much a kid with a big toy box and it was creator-owned and I could do whatever I wanted. I took to writing immediately, and it felt natural to me. The most important part is that I knew I was enjoying it as much as I enjoy drawing or painting, even more so maybe. I think my strengths as a writer are character development and dialogue. Since The Tenth, I've written several other books like Adrenalynn, F5, Humankind and Silke. Two of those I sold to Hollywood – Adrenalynn and F5. And that's when I really started to concentrate on being more of a writer. I took some time off in the early 2000's – around 2001 and 2002 – to concentrate on my writing. I learned how to write screenplays, and I got involved with a writing partner, James Bonny, who sold many scripts including one to Steven Spielberg, and he helped me a lot early on. And we still work together, so I haven't had a chance to grow any rust.

What I took out of all my experiences over the last several years is learning how to structure a story, learning how to create interesting characters, natural sounding dialogue, a lot of things I can bring to the table now that I'm back to comic writing. So I'm a completely different writer now than when I started The Tenth. So the approach and execution is much, much different and much more planned than anything I've done in comics.

Daniel: I think I'm a visual person, obviously, so when I'm writing a script, I see it in my head. I'm not consciously doing it, but just naturally I'm writing only scenes and character moments that I think will be interesting visually. But I'm writing it the same way I'd write if someone else is drawing it. Not just so DC can see it clearly but also so that I remember the spontaneity of the moment when I was writing.

IGN Comics: As a writer, you're up against a pretty monumental task in two regards: the first is that you're the writer tasked with following up directly on Grant's RIP story, and the second is that because you drew RIP, it'll be even easier for fans to compare the two works. How are you going about continuing Grant's Batman saga while making sure to bring your own strengths and sensibilities to the work?

Daniel: Well I'll be bringing my own strengths mainly because it's a different kind of story. Whereas Grant's story was a very long mystery, and he had room – two years – to develop plot points that he could begin one issue and then five issues later have a pay off. My story is a lot more straightforward and happens over a shorter amount of time. Of course there's some mystery, but not on the same level as RIP. Fans, I hope, shouldn't expect too much of what Grant did to have rubbed off on me, even though I learned a lot while working with him. But he and I were very much in synch after the initial few issues. He's a very unique writer with his own voice.

IGN Comics: Grant's style of storytelling in RIP and throughout his run with you was very different from pretty much anything fans have seen from a Batman story, and it seemed to call for you to put the emphasis on the fractured, nightmarish psychological aspect of the story. From a visual standpoint, how will your storytelling and artistic style differ in Battle for the Cowl? The premise of the story seems to call for an emphasis on more straightforward, high-octane action.

Daniel: Right. We won't see any flashbacks in the three issues. So visually, you won't have that creepy, nightmarish aspect. Which I like, but there's just no room for it in what I'm doing here. The story plays out over a short time-frame. So I'm approaching it much like I would a movie script, with three acts. The first issue is acts one and two, the set up. And issue two and midway through issue #3 is Act 2 and then the resolution in the second half of the third issue. So it should read like a typical 90-minute, action film

IGN Comics: But from a visual standpoint, what kind of approach are you taking to panel layout and page layout? Seeing as how you're free to carry out your vision as you see fit, what should fans expect the book to look like?

Daniel: Strangely enough, there will still be the same amount of panels. I always wanted to do fewer panels per page, because I think my strength as an artist is when I work bigger. But I found that given the fact that I only have three issues to tell the story – and even though they're thirty pages, which make it more like four issues – there's still a lot of story that has to take place. So I had to pick my moments wisely wherever I wanted to open it up with some big imagery.

IGN Comics: When you look at what's going on with the whole post-RIP landscape and what's in store with Battle for the Cowl, there are a lot of basic similarities with the big post-Knightfall saga from the '90s. Bruce Wayne abandons the mantel of Batman for whatever reason, and then an assortment of characters vies to step into his shoes. With that being the case, did you go back and look at stories like Prodigal and Knightsquest to see what worked and what didn't work?

Daniel: I spoke with Mike Marts about any similarities with Knightfall, and we felt that there weren't enough to warrant worrying about. As far as research, I've read enough Batman to have a good enough grasp on all the characters, and having read plenty of back-story, I feel like there's enough room for me to add my own layers to certain characters and still work within their personality. So the research is great to get an idea of a character's traits but you can't let it stifle you creatively either.

Daniel: One of the biggest elements beyond character, I think, is the city of Gotham. Gotham is a character in itself, in a lot of ways. We see just what Batman did for Gotham, and we see what has happened to it in his absence. And we get to admire him even more, and his partners realize just how important he was. Not that they didn't realize he was important, but with him being gone, they realize just how much he really accomplished, and it's mind-blowing what one man's presence in the city did to keep some sort of order. Because now it's really out of order. That being said, we're going to add turmoil within the police ranks. Jim Gordon is under pressure, people are questioning whether or not he's lost his grasp on Gotham and should just retire. Gotham's streets are flowing with blood from the gang wars. And an old foe resurfaces to take advantage of Gotham's vulnerability. That's the backdrop for this story, besides the conflict going on with our heroes.

IGN Comics: Other than the central premise of Batman's closest allies vying for the chance to fulfill Batman's legacy, how much of a sequel will this be to RIP? Will you be dealing with any of the villainous characters or even the themes of RIP in the Cowl story?

Daniel: One thing that you'll see is that Dick finds it necessary to call in for help, and we hit the ground running with issue one and see who he's enlisted. I'm calling them the "Network" and they consist of people like Wildcat, who trained Bruce in his early days and also Batgirl. We'll see characters like Huntress, Oracle and Black Canary. Lynx, Spoiler, Man-bat, Catwoman and others too. Robin suggests they also bring in the Squire and the Knight to help, so a couple of the League of Heroes are involved, and they've been fun to include in this. So it's not a sequel, but some of the elements of RIP, character-wise, we'll see. And obviously, with Bruce being gone, we have RIP undercurrent rippling through.

IGN Comics: If you ask the fans, I think nine out of ten of them assume Dick Grayson will wind up with the Cowl. You and Grant even played with that notion with that iconic panel of Nightwing holding the cape and cowl at the end of RIP. Are you going to be playing with those fan expectations within the Cowl story? As a writer, how do you go about subverting those expectations?

Daniel: Well it's not going to be so cut and dry, and a lot of the characters don't necessarily agree that there should be anyone to take the place of Batman. But we see what it's like without a Batman, and that's the conflict of the story. But more than one character dons the cape and cowl through this series and be the end of it we'll get an understanding of why the victor deserves it.

Daniel: Damian believes that he's the heir to the Wayne fortune and all that comes with it. You already saw him take the Batmobile for a ride. He might be overstepping his boundaries because he feels like he's entitled. He's more of a pest and feels like it and maybe overcompensates by stirring up trouble to feel important. But we're going to see some real character development with him.

IGN Comics: How about Tim Drake? We've seen from a number of different storylines in the past that Tim Drake never wants to give himself over to such a singularly driven existence as Batman's. That said, we've also seen his life grow darker and darker as the years have gone by. Would Tim ignore his own resignations and step into the role just to protect it from others? What's his take on Batman's legacy as the story begins?

Daniel: With Tim, he feels the pressure mounting because of Batman's absence. He's concerned that the dam is cracking, and when one hole is repaired, three more sprout up. He'll do whatever it takes to achieve that. Right now, our heroes are very much backed into a corner.

IGN Comics: What else should we know about Battle for the Cowl moving forward?

Daniel: There will definitely be a new Batman when this is all said and done. And it wont just be out necessity, but out of desire to be the new Batman.

IGN Comics: Interesting. One final question, which I think is on a lot of people's minds, because you can count on one hand how many writer/artists have handled an event like this by themselves: how's the scheduling looking?

Daniel: I actually work at a pretty decent clip as an artist, and hopefully the other issues are approved and we'll get moving steadily ahead. I don't anticipate any delays. So the blame falls squarely on my shoulders if the book's late, but I will guarantee the book won't be. Maybe it's from reading too much Batman, but I'm prepared (laughs).

IGN Comics: Tony, thanks so much for taking the time.

Daniel: Thank you, Dan. I really appreciate it.