IGN Comics: Can you explain this world that you tried to capture in this story? There's an interesting meeting between the "hyper-realism" of the films and the more comic booky universe. How'd you decide to tackle Gotham from the angle you did?

Azzarello: Basically, I think that Gotham is all of our urban nightmares and fears made into reality. Instead of hearing footsteps from behind you while you walk down the streets, turning around and finding nobody there, there is somebody there. And he is gunning for you. [laughs] There is somebody around the corner. So don't go into the alleys at night!

IGN Comics: I want to talk about Batman's role in this book for a bit. Batman maintains an almost God-like presence in this book in that he seems to always be there even when he can't be seen on the page. He almost seems more God-like than Superman did in Man of Steel. What's your take on the Batman-Joker dynamic, and the Batman-Gotham relationship?

Azzarello: Well you're right. That's the way we played him – that he is a part of Gotham. He's always there. The Joker knows he's always there. Everyone knows he's always there. I don't think I played him more God-like necessarily. I guess the best way to explain it is, yes, Superman is always there, but nobody is paranoid about him always being there. With Batman, there's a certain paranoia about his presence, particularly in the criminal underworld. But it's funny – the criminals in this book are scared of Batman, but they're terrified of Joker.

IGN Comics: When you're doing one of these reality based takes on Batman's world, Batman himself can often be the most difficult character to integrate into the story realistically, or at least with that somewhat realistic slant. Were you aware of that going into this project, and did you decide to keep him on the sidelines for the most part because of that?

Azzarello: Well let's be honest – it's not realism. It's hyper reality. But if you play it correctly, and set up the boundaries, the reader will go with you as realism. And having Lee as the artist was perfect to pull that kind of thing off. I mean his work is hyper real. Some people would say his work is photo-realistic, but it's not. It's very, very hyper real. He turns it to eleven. [laughs]

To read the entire interview head on over to comics.ign.com