barbara gordon | DC Comics

“It's a run I couldn't be prouder of.” – Scott Snyder

In the gripping final issue of Scott Snyder, Jock, and Francesco Francavilla’s critically acclaimed run on DETECTIVE COMICS, all bets are off. We caught up with series writer Scott Snyder to discuss the epic finale and what the experience of working on this book has been like for him.

“881. I can't believe we're here... The end of our 11-issue run. It's so strange,” series writer Scott Snyder told us. “It was literally a year ago, at San Diego Comic Con 2010 that -after introducing myself on the phone a week earlier- I tracked Jock down in person (I'd never met him) and told him how I thought he'd be perfect for the run. He suggested we talk story and we headed to a bar near the convention center with Dave Baron (our great colorist). I explained the entire run to them both: this notion of Gotham being a Black Mirror to its heroes, the inclusion of James Jr. and the Joker finale. Jock and Dave Baron couldn't have been cooler or more enthusiastic about the ideas and the story. I, for one, was so excited I went back to my hotel room, typed an email to Mike Marts (our editor) that said "I had a great meeting with Jock and Dave B. I think they're in!"

As for Francesco Francavilla, I knew he was perfect for the Jim Gordon parts of the story and so I pushed him hard to Mike Marts. Mike (being the great editor he is) was receptive, but Francesco was also less of a known quantity a year ago, and so he asked to see some pages. In response, Francesco sent this:

And the rest is history.

Anyway, from that suspicious start came our "Black Mirror" run. And it's a run I couldn't be prouder of. It's about something that's at the core of my love of Batman - Gotham, and the way it generates nightmares for Batman and his allies: the way it creates villains and events that speak to their personal greatest fears, trying them by some kind of holy fire over and over again. And more than this, I'm proud of the work my teammates on this book have done. We've all become friends over the past year, and it's been a joy and a constant inspiration working with these guys. They worked around the clock for double ships, they did covers, they did everything and then some - because they believed in the story, and I can truly say this is our book, something we made as a team, in contact and collaborating every step of the way, and so I want to thank them - Jock, Francesco Francavilla, Dave Baron, and Jared Fletcher too.

But most of all, I - and we - want to say thanks to you, the fans. The comments and reviews and discussions we've gotten from you have been an inspiration to us all. For those if you who've been there with us from the start - thanks for taking this journey down the dark, and twisted rabbit hole with us. And for those of you just now picking us up, thanks for giving us a chance. The truth is, we're Batman- super-fans, too, and just hearing that you think we did Batman (whether Dick or Bruce) justice, means the world to all of us. Can't thank you enough. This has been a dream from true for all of us. Now, to our crazy finale!

Jim Gordon's estranged son, James Jr. has poisoned his mother, framed the Joker, all to get to his half-sister, Barbara (Oracle). At the end of the last issue, he attacked her, and now, at the start of this issue, no one knows where he has taken her. All they know is that they're dealing with someone very deadly. And that they're running out of time. So, to Gotham!”

DETECTIVE COMICS #881, the follow up to the sold out DETECTIVE COMICS #880, goes on sale this Wednesday.

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Tags:

barbara gordon, Batman, Dave Baron, detective comics, francesco francavilla, James Jr., jim gordon, jock, scott snyder

“Joker is Bruce's greatest foe, but he's also Jim Gordon's.” – Scott Snyder

SPOILER WARNING: If you have not read DETECTIVE COMICS #879 and do not wish to know what happened, do not read any further.

In the gripping conclusion to DETECTIVE COMICS #879, Jim Gordon was forced to come to terms with the fact that his son really is the cold-blooded monster that Barbara feared he would be all along. And while he and Barbara unmasked James Jr.’s devious plan to destroy Gotham City, The Joker made his way out of Arkham Asylum.

It’s no secret that The Joker has been the catalyst for most of the suffering in Jim’s adult life. Now, with him out of prison, Jim must race to protect his loved ones. But to what lengths will The Joker go this time? And will Jim be able to lock him back up in time to save Gotham from his own son?

“I can't believe we're finally here - the start of the big finale to our story!” said series writer Scott Snyder. “Last issue Jim Gordon finally learned that James Jr. really is as bad as Babs always suspected. When he rushes to James' boarding house where James is staying, though, he finds James gone. Even worse, while Jim was going after his son, the Joker managed to escape from Arkham. Yes, this issue starts with the Joker on the loose, and everyone - Batman, Babs, and especially Jim Gordon - desperate to find him. As for the writing of it, I really wanted to give Joker the frightening respect and hatred he deserves from Jim. Joker is Bruce's greatest foe, but he's also Jim Gordon's. He maimed his daughter in front of him, killed his wife Sarah - he has tortured him countless times over the years. In a lot of ways, he's as much of Jim's boogeyman as Batman's.

Also, I just wanted to offer a huge thanks from all of us on the book right now. I can honestly say that we're all having the time of our lives working together on the final chapters of this story, and we can't thank you enough for following us down this dark, twisted path.

These are the events we've all been dying to get to for months - the events that will bring everything that has happened so far together big and shocking ways. So take a look... Come see what Joker has made for for Jim Gordon - and for you...”

DETECTIVE COMICS #880, by Scott Snyder and Jock, hits stores tomorrow.

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Tags:

arkham asylum, barbara gordon, Batman, detective comics, James Jr., jim gordon, jock, scott snyder, the joker

James Jr.’s Plans Revealed

For years, Jim Gordon tried to deny to himself the possibility that his son, James Jr., could be a cold-blooded serial killer. But when Barbara Gordon figures out her brother’s dark plan, Jim will have no choice but to accept his son’s identity and stop him before he corrupts Gotham City from the inside out. And with The Joker managing to break free from the chains locking him up, Gotham City is in need of a hero more than ever before.

Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Francesco Francavilla, DETECTIVE COMICS #879 lands in stores on Wednesday.

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Tags:

barbara gordon, detective comics, francesco francavilla, gotham city, James Jr., jim gordon, scott snyder, the joker

Superman and Batman claim the top two spots on IGN's list of the Top 100 Heroes in Comics

Last week, we were following IGN's countdown of the top 100 heroes in comics all week on THE SOURCE. They've now posted the top twenty selections--and DC's secured eleven of those spots, with Wonder Woman landing at number five and Batman and Superman claiming the top two spots.

Here's the breakdown of the DC heroes who crack the top 20:

20 - Catwoman

19 - Jim Gordon

17 - Barbara Gordon

16 - Rorschach

15 - Dream of the Endless

11 - Dick Grayson

8 - Wally West

7 - Hal Jordan

5 - Wonder Woman

2 - Batman

1 - Superman

Head on over to IGN for the full rundown.

Tags:

barbara gordon, Batman, catwoman, dick grayson, dream of the endless, hal jordan, IGN, jim gordon, rorschach, Superman, wally west, wonder woman

Cliff Chiang talks BRAVE AND THE BOLD #33

Happy Monday, Source gang. Hope the weekend was pleasant and restful.

Let me be realistic here: We read a lot of comics on a day-to-day basis. Lots of great, exciting stories involving our favorite characters and some new and engaging ones as well. Every once in a while, you come across an issue that really cuts to the core of what made you get into comics -- and what kept you reading. THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #33 is one such comic.

JMS crafts a fun, poignant and entertaining story into one issue, masterfully illustrated by the very talented Cliff Chiang.

Sometimes it's easy to lose titles in the shuffle, with so many books coming out every week. But we wanted to steer you back to this one, because it's certainly a treat. We caught up with Cliff to share some of his thoughts on the issue and he was kind enough to share some of his pencils and inks.

Be warned, though. Some spoilers below. But why not just run out and pick up the issue? We'll wait. Click below for some lovely Cliff Chiang artwork and insight...

I really enjoyed drawing Batgirl in her original black and blue costume, and using the George Perez design for Wonder Woman. The story needed to feel classic, iconic, and somewhat timeless in that regard. However, JMS smartly updated a lot of the references so it's not a "flashback" issue per se. I like the idea that comics continuity is constantly happening and refreshing itself.

I was really looking forward to drawing the women in their civilian clothes; you never see enough of that in comics! Fashion is such a specific thing, and in a case like this, you can't just wing it. Unlike the costumes, the fashion had to be contemporary, or you risk it just being fake and bland. My fiancée was kind enough to round up a great selection of au courant dresses, and I picked the 3 that fit their personalities. So Wonder Woman, Zatanna and Batgirl are actually wearing designer dresses and shoes.

In a story like this, you can really go wild with little touches. Given the "Sex and The City" vibe of the script, I tried to inject as much of the

feeling of my hometown of New York as I could. From the taxis and the advertisements, to the karaoke bar, to the diner with the foil covered plants -- these are some of the things I associate with New York nightlife. On their own the details are minor, but the cumulative effect is a fully-realized, believable world, and you can allow yourself to be carried away by the emotional story.

The penultimate scene was probably the most intimidating for me to draw. I had to remind readers of Brian Bolland's brilliant work on "The Killing Joke" despite our vastly different styles, as well as inter-cut with flashback panels. I borrowed a trick I saw from a John Romita Jr. comic and staggered the panels to give a sense of the "camera" switching back and forth. I rarely do much rendering or cross-hatching, but for the double-page spread, it felt right, to help shock the reader with a different kind of reality. I'm really proud of how the book turned out and hope the readers feel as strongly about it as I do.