GKO: MADHOUSE
Here you will find our rambalings on all area's of Batman, interviews and speical features!
Newsarama: David, what's the idea behind the story for these two annuals?
David Hine: This is a two-part story, running through this year’s Batman and Detective Annuals, which follows through on the idea of setting up a branch of Batman Inc. in various locations around the world.
In this story we’ll see how that works in Paris. It’s an interesting location because there is traditionally a degree of friction between the French and American cultures. France is always resistant to the intrusion of American influence, politically and culturally, but at the same time, there is a fascination with all things American.
So I’ve explored that aspect a little. How does Bruce convince the French authorities to allow a US-sanctioned vigilante to operate in Paris?
Co-incidentally, Bruce is in Paris at the same time that a series of assassinations is stirring up civil unrest between various political elements. Paris is burning, and if Bruce can find the perpetrators and shut them down in time to save the city from complete chaos, he will have proved that his organization can be a crucial asset to international policing.
Along the way, we’ll be meeting Nightrunner, who may just turn out to be the perfect candidate for the French Batman. It will be cool to have a new French hero. I toyed with using The Musketeer, from the Batmen of All Nations, but I decided that France deserves a more modern hero. Nightrunner is a Parkour athlete. Parkour or Free Running originated in the deprived urban environment in France, so it’s an appropriate background.
Nrama: What's your approach to the Question? And how does she get involved in the story?
Hine: I’m in the process of writing The Question’s scenes right now. She’s going undercover, so we’re mostly seeing her as Renee Montoya. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, but we will be seeing her using the training in mental discipline that she was given in Nanda Parbat to prepare her for her role as The Question. I’m also re-reading all the back issues of Gotham Central. [Ed] Brubaker and [Greg] Rucka did a fantastic job creating a realistic, down-to-earth character, and I hope I’ll be able to recapture that personality.
Nrama: How does the setting for this story play a role in the plot? Did you pick that setting?
Hine: Yeah, the location was my choice. I have a lot of ties to France. My partner is French, our son is bi-lingual and goes to the French Lycée, and I’ve lived in Paris. So Paris seemed the obvious place to choose.
There are some great locations in Paris. We open with a chase over the rooftops of the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the gothic architecture provides a splendid backdrop for Batman – well two Batmen actually. We have both the Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne versions active in this story. We’re also using the Catacombs of Paris for a lot of the action. There are hundreds of kilometers of tunnels under Paris, some of them used to house 6 million skeletons disinterred from the city’s overcrowded cemeteries. It’s a powerful experience to walk for the best part of a mile through this Necropolis of passages lined with skulls and I’ve wanted to use the setting ever since I first visited it.
Nrama: How does Batman Inc. play a role in the coming issues of Azrael?
Hine: The current version of Azrael has a very troubled relationship with Batman. Michael Lane was one of the three cops trained by Dr Hurt to take over from Batman. That screwed with his head pretty badly, and Bruce Wayne has had visions of this Bat Ghost becoming a major threat in the future.
Then in the Azrael Battle for the Cowl mini-series, Azrael: Death’s Dark Knight, he fought Dick Grayson, and Dick ultimately allowed him to keep possession of the Suit of Sorrows.
Now Dick has to face up to his responsibility for the violence Azrael is using against the criminal element in Gotham.
Bruce would like to bring Azrael under the Batman Inc. umbrella, rather than have him running around as a loose cannon. But he will have to sign up to the rules of engagement. Batmen do not kill. Azrael has a different and more extreme mandate. He is God’s Avenging Angel. Expect some friction between Azrael and the Wayne/Grayson duo if Azrael doesn’t accept the offer to join Batman Inc.
Check out the entire interview here.
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