TALKING BATMAN R.I.P. WITH TONY DANIEL

[MattBrady]

by Vaneta Rogers

Tony Daniel is no stranger to high-profile stories. After his recent stint on Teen Titans with writer Geoff Johns, he penciled three issues of The Flash for an arc that ended up being a pivotal story in the history of Bart Allen.

Since then, Daniel has been working with Grant Morrison on Batman, bringing back Ra's Al Ghul, helping to establish that Bruce Wayne has a kid named Damien, and laying the groundwork for this summer's Batman R.I.P. storyline, which starts this week with issue #676.

When we previewed a few pages from this week's issue, Daniel's art got a pretty enthusiastic reaction from Newsarama readers. So we contacted the artist for a chat about his work on the storyline.

Newsarama: What's it been like working on R.I.P.?

Tony Daniel: It's been terrific. I had a chance to really put my stamp on things beginning with this arc. Besides drawing up a brand new Batmobile and helping Grant develop a bunch of new rogues for Batman, I was asked to redesign a new Batman suit as well as a new Robin suit. I think that those requests subconsciously helped me break through a few barriers and enable me to really let loose with my art. So beyond a new and life-changing arc for Batman, it's a new chapter for me as well. I always try to time any changes to my philosophy on art to new story lines, to give each story its own visual identity. I find that that keeps me happy and forces me to think of ways to keep moving up the ladder in my own abilities.

NRAMA: Obviously, you're doing a pretty ground-breaking story here, aren't you? I know the gravity and importance of the story in Flash made you want to do a good job on Bart Allen's death. Do you even think about that when you're working on this story?

TD: Well, with Bart, it was a little harder. I knew he was going to die, see? I also knew I had only three issues in which to do my work. But the real difference is that I came in to help out, sort of last minute, and I had three straight issues of crunch time. It was hard to enjoy the experience because I was going so fast. Too fast for me to be happy with the end result, so...I feel much less pressure, having already drawn five issues of Batman, and having six issues to draw the arc. I have a tight, four- week deadline with each issue, but I think I fit much better with Batman than I did with the Flash, and I'm able to handle the rigors of my 12-hour days better, simply because I love the character and it feels so natural to me. I think I can be dark and moody in my art, just like Batman is supposed to be portrayed.

NRAMA: You talk about dark and moody. Is that the feeling you're trying to achieve for this story? It looks pretty cinematic from the preview. Almost like storyboards.

TD: Well my number one job is always to make the writer happy. He comes first. Grant describes in his scripts what he wants and then I guess what's in my head is finding its way onto the paper pretty easily. I have done a lot of storyboard work over the last few years, so maybe that's somehow morphed into my skill set. Of course, the second guy I want to make happy is myself. I know my limitations, and mostly they're time-related, but I'm really making an effort for each page to be as powerful, gripping or well-designed as possible. I don't want to see any articles about R.I.P. that doesn't mention who drew it.

NRAMA: Any secret behind how you're achieving that?

TD: I'm just envisioning things from a fan's perspective. This is the way I'd like to see the story told if I were reading the book as the reader. As far as particulars, I'm lucky enough to have an inker, Sandu Florea, who brings a very natural look to my pencil work. It's so close to what my pencils look like it's uncanny. I also go over the colors with notes beforehand and notes after they're colored, by colorist Guy Major. So any preferences I may have are implemented. So it's as much control over my vision that I could get without inking and coloring it myself.

NRAMA: We've seen a few of the villains in the preview who appear to be part of the group that is wanting to take Batman down. Some have appeared before, but some didn't. Did you have to dig into past references for these characters? Or did you create any of them from scratch?

TD: Grant gave me direction with the characters. He had specific looks for them and drew up some cute little sketches, and I took it from there. We were both on the same page with the looks of most of them. I played around a bit to see if I could make us both happy and that ended up being the case. I'm pretty sure most of these guys have never been seen before.

NRAMA: What were some of your more obscure references for this arc?

TD: Grant can go back in history quite a ways. Luckily have most of the stuff he's referencing. But the most obscure reference that I needed was for a villain known as the "Rainbow Creature."

NRAMA: We've seen Dr. Hurt before. How did you develop that character, and did you have any idea at the time he'd become so important? What's important to portray about that character in these scenes?

TD: I just modernized Dr. Hurt from his first appearance, in the "Space Medicine" story line from the sixties. I made him a little older but that's it. I like to be as true as possible to pre-established characters. Unless they were made in the '80s or '90s, where you can't help but look dated. I knew what Grant was intending on doing with Dr. Hurt over the course of the next arc, but he looks like an average guy.

NRAMA: Fans have identified several of the characters as Gaucho and Musketeer villains. We think we have Charlie Caligula, the Murder Mime, El Sombrero and King Kraken here. And of course, the Hunchback and Dr. Hurt. Can you confirm we at least have those right? Can you tell us the guys we missed, or anything new about these characters?



TD: I'll give you Pierrot Lunaire as the murder mime's name. But only because I've seen that some fans have him figured already. I think I can also give you "Scorpiana." The one with the hot legs and buns of steel.

NRAMA: Is there anything about the image we should be noticing?

TD: Well, let's see. There's eight all together, right? Including Dr. Hurt. So other than that, nope.

NRAMA: What's been your favorite character to draw in this story so far?

TD: Villain wise I'm really enjoying Pierott Lunaire. I love that creepy dude. If I was a serial killer, I'd look like that. And Scorpiana. I love drawing sexy ladies and it's been a while, so yummy. But of course Batman is the most fun for me.

NRAMA: What about drawing Batman R.I.P. do you enjoy most?

TD: I enjoy interpreting Grant's scripts the most. I love reading through the script and imagining what the scenes will look like in my head. I feel pretty lucky.

NRAMA: And what's been the biggest challenge?

TD: The challenge for me is always the time constraints. I want to be a monthly artist, and I take pride in meeting my deadlines. I'm sort of old school that way. But I can only do such much within the time I allow myself. I think that's why I'm never happy. I know I could be 10 times better if I slowed it down. So my aim is to be as good as possible within a monthly deadline. There's at least some happiness in that.

NRAMA: As you've been working with Grant on these issues of Batman, do you think you've grown as an artist?

TD: I think I'm certainly in the process of evolving as an artist. Each day, I try to be better than the day before. I set the bar pretty high for myself, and I put a lot of pressure on myself. I really believe that there's a destination for me as an artist, and I think one day I'll reach it. I want to be the best and I think I'm capable of it. I know art is subjective and there's no such thing as "best," but I have to define "best" for myself.

NRAMA: Do you know how Batman R.I.P. is going to end?

TD: I honestly have been told different things and at this point I really don't know what's going to happen. I'm sort of glad I don't know because I'd like to find out for myself in Grant's script. So if anyone knows, please don't tell me.

NRAMA: What can you tell fans about what you have coming for them in your art on Batman R.I.P., and what should we brace ourselves for as we read it?

TD: I would say that the book will continue to get better and better as we get deeper into the story. There are things I've drawn so far that I thought I'd never have to draw or see as a fan. So brace yourself for the unexpected. And prepare to be unprepared for what you thought you knew! Vague as hell? Why, of course!

[HartyPotter]

pretty good art. The story should be good too. Probably a trade pick-up for me.

[freakybatman]

first comment !!!!

i love his art

[drakeon]

who is/was Dr. Hurt in the original stories?

[MattMorrow]

i hope this doesn't disappoint.


and by that, i mean PLEASE DON'T FREAKING KILL BRUCE.

[Chitty]

Yum. Can't wait.

[Saintv1]

That batmobile kicks ass. I look forward to seeing Daniels' redesigned Batman and Robin costume. I wonder if they're meant to be used long term, or just for this arc?

[Clem]

Do Batman and Robin need redesigning?

Batman barely changes his belt his look is so perfect. And Robin just got that nifty black and red number.

Also, i second the guy who said "DON'T FREAKING KILL BRUCE".

[johhnypanic]

Great interview! Daniels sounds like a cool guy and his art is, as everybody, even himself has said, is always getting better and better. I really missed out, I picked up the book when Morrison first came on board and then I feel out of it. I have to go back and get the single issues to catch up to R.I.P. Again Awesome art, great interview!

[Ragnarokker]

I don't know why. But, I feel his pencilled art is better than the inked and colored stuff.

[POWRSURG]

Robin
In
Prison

[caats19]

i wonder how long the redesigned batman and robin are gonna last

[Jeremy288]

I love Tony Daniel's art, it kind of reminds me of a Neal/Lee Batman type. I can't believe he has 12 hour days and also actually tries to be on time . It's a dream come true for me because he actually wants to stay on Batman for a long time and it might actually happen(especially since some of the other comics I collect either don't come on time or the teams change like the months in a year >.< ). Good Luck and I can't wait for Batman R.I.P. to come out on wednesday!

[Grievous]

looks great, and I am thrilled tony's favourite villain to pencil is pierre lunaire the murder mime, wow that is one creepy villain i want to see more off

Loving the new batmobile as well,

I said it when he done a fill in issue of superman before and then worked on teen titans with geoff johns, This artist was going make it big time at DC.

Trivia time: The reason(one of them anyways) johns left the teen titans was because tony daniel got moved on to another book.(The Flash)

[caats19]

its "batman" rip, not bruce wayne. he retires or something

[comic lounge]

Originally Posted by Ragnarokker

I don't know why. But, I feel his pencilled art is better than the inked and colored stuff.

I totally agree!

[Robb Welch]

Been a fan since the second issue of 'the tenth.' he keeps getting better.

[HartyPotter]

Originally Posted by freakybatman

first comment !!!!

i love his art

How is that first?

[protege]

So, is that the club of villains on the bottom? I'm really not sure what to make of them.

[moocat]

Originally Posted by Ragnarokker

I don't know why. But, I feel his pencilled art is better than the inked and colored stuff.

I've noticed this for a while. I think it's because he's gotten so good with the way uses the shading and the gradients of the graphite that when it's translated into black and white (and then color) it loses a lot of the feel and subtlety that the original pencils had.

His art suffers without the right team of inker and colorist.

[TheMightyGeek]

Tony Daniel deserves every fan he gets. I've seen so much development in his art since Spawn: Requiem, it's amazing.

And those 12 hour days, I'm sure, are what's going to enable him to take his art to the next level. As long as he doesn't burn himself out (you hear that, Tony? Take care of yourself!!), I believe history will put Tony Daniel into the ranks of the big guns.

[TellarHK]

If, as we've been led to believe, Tim becomes the next Batman - even if temporarily - who would the next Robin be? Damian?

[moira]

Originally Posted by drakeon

who is/was Dr. Hurt in the original stories?

Dr. Hurt is the re-imagining or reinterpretation of the scientist Professor Carlson who conducted the space medicine experiment in the original story (now being re-imagined as a possible false memory for Batman of what really happened) that appeared in Batman #156.

The story was "Robin Dies at Dawn".

Actually, "Dr. Hurt" as drawn by Tony, does look like the original Professor Carlson.

[Beefkiller]

Yea this one looks like a great buy.I think I will be in. Great art work and nice lookin batmobile.

[batmansgirl]

Originally Posted by MattMorrow

i hope this doesn't disappoint.


and by that, i mean PLEASE DON'T FREAKING KILL BRUCE.

I hope this doesn't diappoint either. And I can think of something far, FAR worse than killing off Batman - giving him superpowers. Ugh!