Death of the Family

5.2 Reasons the Bat-Books Wrecked Us

Please ignore the raggedness and puffy eyes. It’s... it’s been a rough 24 hours following the events of yesterday’s BATMAN INCORPORATED #8. For those of you who missed it, we suggest you check it out immediately. We’ll wait right here.

Back? Cool. Here are some tissues and ice cream, and yes, that is REM’s “Everybody Hurts” playing in the background.

Tough stuff, huh? We know that feel. The brutal, tragic, heartbreaking loss of Damian Wayne hit us pretty hard but we can’t even begin to imagine what it must be like for the Dark Knight. Coupled with the recent events in “Death of the Family,” it’s safe to say that Batman’s in a pretty dark place right now. You know, as opposed to the sunny and chipper state he’s normally in.

However, he’s not the only one. The entire Bat-Family experienced some tough, gut-wrenching moments—and we were feeling the pain right along with them. In fact, here are 5.2 Reasons the Bat-Books Wreck Us!

1. Alas Poor Damian...

As painful and tear-jerking as the actual death itself was, the final interaction of Damian and Nightwing is what really gets the waterworks going. It’s a touching moment made even more emotional by the knowledge these were their last moments together—but at least they were spent being totally awesome. While you’re at it, be sure to check out the Batman & Robin Annual #1. Why? Because misery loves company, that’s why!

2. The Death of the Family

Grant Morrison may have taken Damian away from Bruce, but writer Scott Snyder pretty much took away everyone else. With the conclusion of “Death of the Family,” Batman finds himself not only in arguably the darkest place he’s even been but also all alone in it, with the members of the Bat-Family distancing themselves from the Dark Knight following his questionable decisions and secrets regarding the Joker. Talk about aptly your titled crossovers.

3. Closing of the Circus

It’s really no wonder why Dick Grayson won our recent Valentine’s Day poll as DC Comics’ “Most Dateable Super Hero.” He’s funny, he’s athletic and above all, he’s generally a really nice guy with a lot of heart—which is what made it all the more painful to see the Joker destroy the life he was building for himself at Haly’s Circus. There’s nothing more distressing than a sad-face Nightwing. You just want to give him a hug and a churro.

4. Poor, Poor Jason Todd

It’s in the heading, but it bears repeating: poor, poor Jason Todd, pretty much the Cousin Oliver of the Bat-Family. First the Joker beats you to death with a crowbar, then you went a little—okay, a lot—insane after being resurrected in the Lazarus Pits, and now we can’t even say, “Well, at least you’ve still got your boyish looks.” You just can’t catch a break dude. We’d give you some words of encouragement but at this point, we’re terrified that even the slightest bit of positivity toward you might cause the universe to retaliate by having your puppy killed.

5. Family Matters

There’s always one in every family—that sociopathic killer that could care less about others and who enjoys torturing and toying with their older sister. Okay, maybe not every family but definitely the Gordon’s. Already cautious of her younger brother, Batgirl learned the hard way that there’s no helping James and is now facing her brother in what could very well be their final confrontation.

5.1 Literally Right in the Heart, Morrison!

5.2 Reading Batman: Li’l Gotham Now Makes Us Sad

Thanks a lot, Grant! *Breaks Down Crying*

What were your favorite Damain Wayne moments? Just... like... let us know in the comments. We’ll check them out once we stop weeping like a baby.

Tags:

5.2 Reasons, Batman, Death of the Family, batman incorporated, Red Hood and the Outlaws, batgirl, nightwing, damian wayne, The Joker, talia al ghul, Sadness

Scott Snyder Reflects On “Death of the Family”

SPOILER ALERT: If you have not read BATMAN #17 yet, you may not want to continue reading this post until you’ve done so (potential spoilers ahead!).

Since October, The Joker has been on the loose and seeking revenge against the Bat-family in the acclaimed crossover event “Death of the Family.” Detailing the Clown Prince of Crime’s bloody and supremely twisted return to Gotham City, “Death of the Family” came to its conclusion in the eagerly-anticipated BATMAN #17, which hit stores yesterday.

If you’ve already read the issue, how would you describe The Dark Knight’s “victory”?

“It is hollow ultimately, because he defeats the Joker and he trusts the family,” BATMAN writer Scott Snyder told IGN. “He says, ‘I have kept secrets from them and I approached it wrong. I approached it like, ‘I’m coming at you Joker, and I’ll get there faster and I’ll beat you at your own game.’’ But what the Joker is saying is that, ‘The rules of that game have changed. Now that you have this family, you can get to me as fast as you want, you can outwit me, you can have better tech, you can do anything and you can catch me, but as long as they’re out there, pieces of your heart are out there in the world and I can hurt you.’”

“In that way, I think by showing that and then shattering that relationship and doing things to the family that divide them but also proving to Batman that he would behave in the wrong way at first. That he wouldn’t tell them about the card in the cave and that he wouldn’t tell them how he’s going after the Joker and that he’s got Alfred. That he’d keep it from them to protect them. By doing those things, the Joker is strengthening his case that, “Deep down Batman only wants to fight with me alone; he loves me more than you.”

“And even if that’s not what Batman feels and Batman is saying, ‘I did it to protect you,’ he’s kind of digging his own grave with them in that way. I wanted to get into the complexity of that relationship and not have it be black and white, but have it all be a slightly darker and lighter shades of grey on one side or the other. You can say Batman won or you can say the Joker won, you know?”

For more from Snyder reflecting upon “Death of the Family,” check out the full interviews that ran this morning with the New York Times bestselling writer in MTV GEEK, IGN, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES, NEWSARAMA, COMIC VINE, AOL's COMICS ALLIANCE and GAMMA SQUAD.

To read what others have been saying about BATMAN #17, take a look at some of the reviews that have already run in places like THE GUARDIAN, IGN, CBS’ MAN CAVE, CRAVE ONLINE, PASTE MAGAZINE, THE EXAMINER, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES, NEWSARAMA, COMIC VINE and IFANBOY.

And as a special treat, below take a sneak peek at what’s coming next in BATMAN by getting your first look at a double-page spread from issue #18 by guest artists Andy Kubert and Sandra Hope.

Tags:

Batman, Death of the Family, scott snyder, Greg Capullo, andy kubert, sandra hope

COMIC BOOK RESOURCES Catches Up With Bob Harras and Bobbie Chase

In case you missed it, last month COMIC BOOK RESOURCES launched a new regular monthly column where they talk all things DC Entertainment with Editor-in-Chief Bob Harras and Editorial Director Bobbie Chase.

Yesterday, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES ran their second installment of B+B. Here are some of the highlights:

“I think the readers should pay attention to all the Bat books in the next few months, because a lot of things are happening. To say the old cliché, you ain't seen nothing yet! I think what we have coming up is really going to entertain, amaze and shock readers,” Harras teased about the events in the “Batman” family of books following the conclusion of the crossover event, “Death of the Family.”

“Continuing in the pattern the Annuals have in the New 52, where they really spotlight major events [and] major story points in the regular books, they kick off something with their characters,” Chase said of some of the new Annuals hitting shelves this spring. “A lot of the regular writers or writers involved in the projects are working on them.”

Head on over to COMIC BOOK RESOURCES to read the full interview, including the exclusive scoop on exciting new creative teams for BATWING, LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, SUPERBOY, and SUPERGIRL, new Annuals coming out for BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT, CATWOMAN, EARTH 2, RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS, and more!

Tags:

bob harras, bobbie chase, batwing, legion of super-heroes, superboy, supergirl, batman: the dark knight, catwoman, Earth 2, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Death of the Family

Scott Snyder Talks BATMAN #17 and the Conclusion of “Death of the Family”

Since its launch this past October, “Death of the Family” has been shaping into one of the most terrifying crossover events in contemporary comics. A classic-in-the-making, this story finds The Joker on the loose and seeking revenge against the Bat-family. Observing them from the shadows for a full year after his face was removed at the end of DETECTIVE COMICS #1. Gotham’s Clown Prince of Crime has been planning a grand finale for all the members of Batman’s extended family, including Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Red Robin, Red Hood, Alfred, and more.

Yesterday, BATMAN #16 hit stores, leaving the jaws of fans on the floor as they wondered what can possibly happen next. After all, next month’s BATMAN #17 will not only reveal The Joker’s full, twisted plan, but will tie together all of the various stories involved in “Death of the Family” in one unforgettable conclusion that will change the Bat-family forever.

"Well, I can tell you there are definitely some insane moments in the conclusion and some crazy things happen so, I've always been braced for it as something that isn't designed to just shock for the sake of shocking, but is the culmination of the story in a way that feels organic and surprising,” BATMAN writer Scott Snyder explained to THE HUFFINGTON POST. “I can't remember who it was, but I had a teacher that gave me a writing quote when I was a student that said 'Every ending should be both inevitable and totally surprising,' and I completely believe that. Hopefully this is an ending that feels organic to the story we've been telling, and when you get there you'll say 'I can't believe this just happened,' and at the same time, you'll feel that it's a cumulative, horrible thing out of everything that's been going on."

“Joker is coming at Batman from a place of very personal terror for me. And a place of personal guilt, and also a place of great personal anxiety,” Snyder continued to POPMATTERS. “So I think he is coming after Bruce in a way that is getting at a very, very personal story for Bruce. Because as much as Bruce loves the Family, you could make the accusation that in some ways he wishes he could stop worrying about them. Does that me he wishes they didn’t exist? Of course not. Does that mean he doesn’t love them? No, of course not. But that’s the way the Joker interprets it. The Joker says, ‘You’ve become slow and weak, and you’ve become nothing of the Batman I used to know. So deep down I know you’re unhappy. And I’ve heard you think this almost (not in a supernatural way, but just in a kind of figurative way),’ So he says, ‘Let me grant you your wish, because I’m here to serve you. And we’ll have so much fun afterwards.’”

To read more about BATMAN #17 and the conclusion of “Death of the Family,” check out the full interviews with Snyder than ran this morning on THE HUFFINGTON POST, POPMATTERS, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES, NEWSARAMA, COMIC VINE, IFANBOY and GAMMA SQUAD. And be sure to visit all seven outlets for sneak peeks at Greg Capullo’s terrifying interior art for BATMAN #17, which flies into stores on February 13.

Tags:

scott snyder, Greg Capullo, Batman, Death of the Family

5.2 Reasons to Look Forward to 2013 So Far

Happy New Year and welcome to the first edition of 5.2 Reasons in 2013! After taking a week off for the holidays, your favorite DCComics.com number-and-decimal-based weekly column is back and ready to list the heck out of things!

We all survived the impending apocalypse, drank copious amounts of eggnog, stayed up all night to watch the ball drop, and then passed out for 12 hours out of sheer exhaustion and enthusiasm over counting down the numbers (the Count and us need to hang out more often). But now we're awake and excited for the brand new year! Why? Well, we're about to tell you.

Last year was a great year for comics, with some all-around fantastic moments. But as awesome as 2012 was, 2013 is already shaping up to be a great one, which is why we're giving you the 5.2 Reasons to Look Forward to 2013 So Far!

1. Joker's Last Laugh
Writer Scott Snyder simultaneously put a smile on our face and a scream in our throat when he brought the Joker into the spotlight and kicked off the "Death of the Family" crossover event running through the various Bat-books. Systematically and psychotically, the Joker has personally attacked every member of the Batman Family, striking them at their deepest core. However, that was all the setup to the punchline that finally plays out in BATMAN #17.

2. Jeff Lemire Goes Green
Since the launch of DC COMICS—THE NEW 52, writer Jeff Lemire has been dealing with the Red in the pages of Animal Man. Starting in February, he'll be adding another color to his repertoire by picking up the bow as the ongoing writer on Green Arrow. We've long been fans of Lemire's work, so seeing him take aim with Oliver Queen gets us all aquiver. Oh, also, yadda yadda yadda, something about a bulls-eye. (We're required to do that whenever we talk about archery.)

3. The Wrath of the First Lantern
First introduced in the GREEN LANTERN ANNUAL #1, the mysterious First Lantern enters the galactic playing field in a big way following the conclusion of the "Rise of the Third Army" crossover currently running through the various Lantern titles. Not much is known about the "Wrath of the First Lantern" arc, which begins in GREEN LANTERN #17, but if Johns' previous work is any indication, it's sure to be game-changingly brilliant.

4. Morrison, Exit Stage Awesome
In a very, very bittersweet moment, writer Grant Morrison wraps up both his Action Comics run and his Batman magnum opus in 2013. While we greatly look forward to seeing how his two epics—starring the two biggest characters in comics—conclude, we're even more excited to be able to go back and read both from start to finish in what is sure to be one mind-bending, awe-inspiring sitting. We can only imagine afterward that it will be like in "2001: A Space Odyssey." Only, instead of stars, it’ll be, "My god. It's full of awesome."

5. Justice League of America
Geoff Johns brought together the World's Greatest Heroes in the pages of Justice League. Now, he's bringing together another team, consisting of heroes like Green Arrow, Stargirl and Green Lantern, along with some other characters with more questionable moral standards (we're looking at you Catwoman—really, who could blame us?). The reason behind this new team and the role they'll play remains an enigma for now, but the cast of characters and the teaming of Johns with artist David Finch already has us intrigued.

5.1 Anyone Else Notice SHAZAM! in This?

5.2 Vibe. Clearly.

Seriously though, we're actually pretty excited to see what Geoff Johns and Andrew Kriesberg can do. What are you all excited for this year? Let us know in the comments below!

Tags:

5.2 Reasons, Batman, scott snyder, Death of the Family, Green Arrow, jeff lemire, Wrath of the First Lantern, grant morrison, action comics, justice league of america

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS and TEEN TITANS Join “Death of The Family”

This winter, The Joker is on the loose and is seeking revenge against the Bat-family in the acclaimed comic book event, “Death of the Family.”

Fans have already seen the beginning of this crossover’s impact on series such as BATMAN, BATGIRL, CATWOMAN, SUICIDE SQUAD, DETECTIVE COMICS, BATMAN AND ROBIN, and NIGHTWING. This week, RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #15 will feel the consequences of the Clown Prince of Crime’s bloody return to Gotham City. And on January 2nd, TEEN TITANS #15 will become the first issue of the series to be an official tie-in to this horrifying crossover event.

“I think that the readers are going to be as surprised as the Joker is, to discover that his usual bag of psychological tricks that in the past that he has played on Jason no longer work they way he wants them to,” writer Lobdell teased to MTV GEEK about RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #15. “And I think most of that has to do with Jason's relationship between Roy and Kori over the last 15 issues. The Jason that the Joker faces off against here isn't the same angry young man who was lashing out over issues related to Bruce and Joker. And part of that is because he's actually developed these strong relationships with the two outlaws who have been close friends and confidants since they've started hanging out together. Unfortunately what that means is that the Joker has to dig even deeper into his bag of psychological tricks -- and what he comes up with will shake Jason to his core!”

“The Teen Titans show up in Gotham to try to rescue Tim when they discover he's been kidnapped,” Lobdell continued to COMIC VINE about TEEN TITANS. “The Joker, who is generally not a character that plays well with metahumans, rather than try to deal with them himself while he has all the Bat-Family encounters going on, has set up a situation that is going to keep both the Teen Titans and the Outlaws very busy. They won't have the time or resources to track Tim and Jason. Joker's set up a scenario that's pretty ingenious.”

For more inside scoop from Lobdell, check out the full interviews with him that ran this morning in MTV GEEK, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES, NEWSARAMA and COMIC VINE. And don’t forget to visit all four outlets for a special preview of RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #15 and for sneak peeks at the interior art from TEEN TITANS #15.

(A sneak peek at the interior art for TEEN TITANS #15 by Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund and Andrew Dalhouse)

Tags:

Red Hood and the Outlaws, teen titans, Scott Lobdell, Death of the Family, brett booth, norm rapmund, Andrew Dalhouse

This Just Happened: The Joker Recruits The Riddler

SPOILER ALERT: If you have not read BATMAN #15 and do not wish to know what happens, stop reading this post now (major spoilers ahead!)

From the creative team of co-writers Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV and artist Jock, “Red Light, Green Light” serves as more than just the back-up story to BATMAN #15. It also marks the return of one of the most infamous members of Batman’s rogue gallery: The Riddler!

In “Red Light, Green Light”, Edward Nigma aka The Riddler witnesses The Joker’s “remodeling” of Arkham Asylum firsthand. But when the Clown Prince of Crime makes a personal visit to Nigma’s cell, he discovers the horror that The Joker has in store for Gotham. Will The Riddler play a role in The Joker’s grand scheme or does he have plans of his own? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments section below!

“The fun thing about the backups is that they're where James Tynion and I can take a little time to slow down with Joker and explore his relationships with the other rogues (even as he enlists them in whatever it is his bigger plan may be),” Snyder exclusively told THE SOURCE. “In this one, James and wanted to push the story forward, giving hints of the terrible things coming in #16, but also to take a moment to play the Riddler against Joker, to see what they think of each other. For us, the Joker is the devil's tongue to the heroes, he's all about whispering your nightmares to you, making them come to life. But with Riddler, it's very different. Riddler is someone Joker respects, or wants to respect, if that makes sense. He wants to see Riddler be the scariest villain to Batman he can be, and in doing so, make Batman stronger. And the way Riddler can be stronger, according to Joker, is to challenge Batman's intellect - no one can best Batman in smarts like the Riddler. It’s his job, then, to keep Batman sharp as a blade. It was a blast writing this one - and Jock and David's art is perfect for it: unsettling, kinetic and scary. I hope you enjoy it.”

Stay tuned to THE SOURCE for more about “Death of the Family” and BATMAN in the coming weeks. But in the meantime, check out The Joker and The Riddler side-by-side in the last page of “Red Light, Green Light” below and be sure to pick up a copy of BATMAN #15, in stores now!

Tags:

Batman, scott snyder, James Tynion IV, jock, Death of the Family

TALKING NIGHTWING #16 WITH KYLE HIGGINS

This winter, The Joker is on the loose and is seeking revenge against the Bat-family in the horrifying “Death of the Family.” And this time around, his vendetta is personal.

Next week sees the release of NIGHTWING #15, which is the first issue of the series to be an official tie-in to this acclaimed crossover event. But while issue #15 sees Dick Grayson facing The Joker, the impact of “Death of the Family” will change the course of NIGHTWING forever in issue #16.

“I guess the only thing I can say is, it's kind of my ‘opus,’” writer Kyle Higgins teased to NEWSARAMA about NIGHTWING #16. “Everything that spins out of NIGHTWING #16 is my big, huge, epic Nightwing story that I've been planning for a long time. But it all begins in NIGHTWING #16.”

“The Joker is going for the jugular with all the Bat allies -- so, all of their greatest fears, all of their perceived weaknesses, these are the aspects of the characters that the Joker is targeting,” Higgins continued to COMIC BOOK RESOURCES. “As that relates specifically to Nightwing, someone who is arguably the most outgoing, social character in the DC Universe, there are a lot of ways to get to him, to whether it be through friends in Haly's circus, whether it be through potential love interests. If the Joker does know Nightwing as well as he claims to know him, that's pretty terrifying. Based on that reveal at the end of BATMAN #14 of the Joker knowing everything, I think if I were Nightwing I'd be quite concerned!”

To read more from Kyle Higgins on “Death of the Family” and to see sneak peeks at the interior art of NIGHTWING #16, check out the full interviews with the writer that ran this morning in MTV GEEK, IGN, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES, NEWSARAMA, and COMIC VINE.

NIGHTWING #16 trapezes into stores on January 23, 2013.

Tags:

nightwing, kyle higgins, Death of the Family

BATMAN AND ROBIN Joins “Death of the Family”

This winter, The Joker is on the loose and is seeking revenge against the Bat-family in the acclaimed comic book event, “Death of the Family.”

Fans have already seen the beginning of this crossover’s impact on series such as BATMAN, BATGIRL, CATWOMAN, SUICIDE SQUAD, and DETECTIVE COMICS. This week, another title will feel the consequences of the Clown Prince of Crime’s bloody return to Gotham City: BATMAN AND ROBIN #15.

“At this point everybody is out and about dealing with their own kind of private hells with The Joker and Batman is out there looking for Alfred and dealing with the Joker himself,” writer Peter J. Tomasi teased about the issue to MTV GEEK. “At this point in time, Damian has been sequestered to the Cave and Bruce has said, ‘you gotta stay in the cave.’ He’s got a ransom on his head from Talia as we’ve seen in BATMAN, INCORPORATED as well as BATMAN AND ROBIN in the last couple of months. But Damian being Damian decides he can’t just sit idly by and not go out there and look for Alfred. So he takes it upon himself to go looking for him and it points him in a direction that leads him to the Gotham Zoo and the horror that unfolds there with the Joker is pretty intense.”

To read more from Tomasi, check out the full interviews with him that ran this morning on MTV GEEK, IGN, NEWSARAMA, and COMIC VINE. And don’t forget to visit all these outlets for a preview of BATMAN AND ROBIN #15, which flies onto shelves this Wednesday.

Tags:

batman and robin, Death of the Family, peter tomasi

DETECTIVE COMICS Joins “Death of the Family”

This winter, The Joker is on the loose and is seeking revenge against the Bat-family in the acclaimed comic book event, “Death of the Family.”

Fans have already seen the beginning of this crossover’s impact on series such as BATMAN, BATGIRL, CATWOMAN, and SUICIDE SQUAD. This week, another title will feel the consequences of the Clown Prince of Crime’s bloody return to Gotham City: DETECTIVE COMICS #15.

“It’s weird because when I came on, I didn’t know about ‘Death of the Family’ and I had this Penguin-oriented story and then the Snyder stuff got presented me, and it actually really worked with what I needed to do,” writer John Layman revealed to POPMATTERS. “Penguin has to be at a certain place for my story to work. And it was just sort of synchronicity that I could hand him over to Scott.”

“What I do with the next two issues is tell a story that's all about ‘This is Gotham when Joker's in town,’” Layman continued to COMIC BOOK RESOURCES. “Yes, it's got some specifics to ‘Death of the Family,’ but if for whatever reason, if you can only buy DETECTIVE, I still want to give you something satisfying on its own. This shows how the city is affected when Joker's in town, and it doesn't necessarily have to be ‘Death of the Family’ specific, although it is."

“Drawing the Joker has been pretty great, but honestly, John Layman has come up with a really awesome and unique spin for our Joker themed issues. I can't say much about it, but the stories for these books are simply incredible,” artist Jason Fabok teased to NEWSARAMA.

To read more from John Layman, check out the full interviews with him that ran this morning on POPMATTERS and COMIC BOOK RESOURCES. To read more from Jason Fabok, read the complete interview the artist conducted with NEWSARAMA. And don’t forget to visit all three outlets for a preview of DETECTIVE COMICS #15, which flies onto shelves this Wednesday.

Tags:

detective comics, John Layman, Jason Fabok, Death of the Family

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