Tuesday, July 13th, 2010
By Alex Segura
We promised big news. It doesn’t get much bigger than this.
When we announced superstar artist David Finch was going to be joining the ranks of the DC NATION, it was with the news that he’d be handling the covers on BRIGHTEST DAY and ACTION COMICS. But not only is Finch a all-star caliber cover artist, he’s a master storyteller. Fans got a taste of the compelling narrative Finch can create visually with the pages he did in BATMAN #700, paired with writer Grant Morrison.
But we can now add another credit to Finch’s vast resume: writer/artist.
Of an ongoing Batman series.
Starting in November, Finch will take the reins of BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT, a new ongoing Batman title featuring the hyper-detailed and kinetic artwork Finch has become known for plus his unique and yet classic interpretation of the Caped Crusader. The series will also see him paired with legendary inker Scott Williams.
Can’t wait until November? The fun begins in October, with BATMAN: THE RETURN, a one-shot featuring Finch’s masterful pencils and words by Morrison, kicking off a new era for the Dark Knight and giving fans a quick taste of what’s coming up for Batman.
So what does Finch have in store for readers, both art-wise and as the writer? We caught up with him to get the lowdown on the new book:
“I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’ve wanted to draw Batman for a very, very long time. Batman and his world embody everything that I love about Superhero comics, and I could not be happier that I’ve gotten this opportunity!
Maybe the greatest thing about Batman is his versatility as a character. He can be so many things to so many people. For me though, the Neal Adams, Denny O’Neil issues from the early 70’s are the most definitive. That work casts a very long shadow over every Batman book that has come out since, and I think its a testament to it’s strength that close to 40 years later it remains modern and vital. Batman is at his best with his hands dirty, chasing the worst of the worst with everything on the line. He’s a detective, first and foremost. But he’s also the enforcer. Nobody gets away with crime under Batman’s watch, and he makes sure they think twice before they step over the line again.
The Dark Knight takes Batman outside what he knows, into a world of demonology, dark arts, and mystery. He’s the ultimate detective, faster, stronger and smarter than any villian, but now he faces creatures to whom logic and mortality don’t apply.
I want Dark Knight to be true to Batman’s street level, crime fighter roots. He’ll face a rogues gallery that we’re all familiar with, but this book will take him on a darker path where he’ll be stretched to his physical and psychological limits.”
BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #1 hits in November.
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Tags: action comics, Batman, brightest day, dark knight, david finch
52 Responses to “David Finch takes on BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT as writer/artist”
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Wow. Definitely interesting.
Attention DC: No one care about David Finch. Really, he’s not that big a deal.
YES! A “darker path” for Batman! He’s been far too cheery lately.
Gotta admit, that’s pretty ballsy putting an artist with little or no writing experience on a newly launched Batman title. I’m intrigued, but not enough to lay down my hard earned, recession-squeezed money. If you’d announced that Paul Cornell was writing the series, then you’d have my attention.
If this title contains mostly demonology, dark arts, and mystery then it almost sounds like a Vertigo title. I’d always wondered what Batman would be like in the Vertigo world as opposed to the DC one (even though Death is making an appearance in Action comics vs Lex soon).
This would almost be a glimpse of what it would be like if Batman switched to the Vertigo Imprint. Sometimes I find it weird that with his gloomy mansion and Batcave and urban legend M.O, he’d work better amongst the pathos of Vertigo than fighting alongside Kryptonians and Amazons in the DCU….
I’m looking forward to this title. But DC seem to be flogging the one shots with Batman: The Return along with the 8 one-shots with Bruce Wayne: The Road Home as well….
I disagree mambazo, I think he’s amazingly talented, perfect for Batman, and I’m really looking forward to this!
I care and this will be excellent.
I care, too — this is fantastic news!!!
Love the work Finch has done so far. He’ll be appreciated by us DC fans because regardless what you think, the guy is a superstar artist. I’ll be picking this one up. Loved his cover of BATMAN#700 too!
mambazo, if you cannot make a positive comment keep it to yourself. Professionals and fans alike realize David is one of the top professionals. He absolutely knows what he is doing. I look forward to what he will put out with Batman.
Let me rephrase that, no one with a modicum of taste and sense cares about David Finch.
People were bitching about how “unnecessary” a Knight and Squire book is, but apparently another awful Batman book written and drawn by a 90s reject is just what the doctor ordered?
Give me a break.
Oh my, another Image artist turns to writing, so unexpected… thought they learned their lesson in 90s. Probably it’s Bendis and Loeb fault - after work with those hacks anyone starts to believe their crap couldn’t be worse than that of “professional” writers.
Why not just rename DC Batman and be done with it. How many Batman books is it now? @mambazo: I actually agree with you for once! Note it buddy - it will never happen again
I have been doing this since I was a kid, I can understand storytelling and knowledge of figures and art. He really nails it. Whatever your issues with his work are, they are from a standpoint of not really fully understanding what it takes to do this. The negativity and form in which you express yourself speak loudly as the type of individual you are.
I have mixed feelings with this news. I’m hoping that Finch’s writer/artist work is as great as past work by Byrne, George Perez, Jurgens, and Alex Ross.
I’m a little worried here, because DC Comics typically cans an existing title to launch a new title–to cap a limit to the number of monthly titles DC Comics produces. So, which existing DC Comics title is getting cancelled for “Batman: The Dark Knight”? I think this also signals that DC Comics is ditching titles that appease a small fan base, and are going for new titles that reach out to a wider fan base and non-comic people.
Maybe DC Comics will let retailers trade-in unsold Wonder Woman #601 and #602 issues to get a special variant cover edition of Batman: The Dark Knight #1?
Is this Bruce? Is this in main continuity? And as long as DC is flooding the market with Batbooks, why can’t we get one clear announcement on a Dick Grayson title for the future?
to wildclaw, I can understand your point of view but the fact that DC put out another Batman book is not David’s fault. As long as DC is generating cash from producing more titles they will keep making them. It’s a Business. Supply and demand.
@wildclaw if other characters sold as much as Batman than I am sure they would have more than one book they see success and replicate it. Geoff Johns can be debated as a good writer but he sells and is given multiple books because same with Batman.
At least it means Paul Dini will keep writing Streets of Gotham and DC and Batman will still be safe from this sort of book. Not very much interested.
Back again, because I just noticed something with the preview art. I think the unconscious guy has someone else’s arm stitched to him.
Looks like Finch’s first story–or story arc–deals with severed and reattached limbs…and could be delving into zombie land.
@ Kooster
I think the mark on the unconscious guy’s arm is just a tattoo, like tribal or celtic knots etc, not zombies, though this is going to have demonology etc which is ace.
Yes I love Streets of Gotham and all the Bat titles I already buy. It is my favourite Batman book. Noone does it better than Paul Dini. I just feel that Superman is currently only in two books and the rest of the DCU is getting the bums rush. I love Batman but how is one meant to buy all of his titles. I shan’t be buying this. I do wish David Finch the best of luck because he is quite a good artist. This could either go well (Alex Ross) or bad (Felicia D. Henderson)
I don’t understand why of late people are bagging new DCU titles or ideas before giving them a chance. Close-mindedness and negativity isn’t cool. At least read 5 titles in or so before you make up your mind. If you love Batman, more should be better.
I’d be more excited about this if they were announcing that Finch was replacing Morrison on writing duties. Still, I’m looking forward to buying a Batman book where I understand what the heck is going on!
Oh, and it’s not even week after laughably amateurish Neal Adams writting debut. Totally wrong time for that kind of anouncements.
@Samurai36 I always speak for myself of if there are people on here who say they agree with me i will lump them into my posts. I stand by what I said there are to many bat books and it keeps growing but yet Wonder Woman has one and now being done over, Superman has 3 but is only appearing in one, JSA has 2 but those are 2 totally different teams. other then u have batman and its a mess none of them connect except they have the bat in them no interconnecting stories no cohesiveness. That MY opinion but I am not the only one with that opinion.
Wow, yet another Batman title! I wonder if this will replace one of the other titles. Now that Bruce is back, will Morrison continue Batman and Robin? At some point, the run of that series will have to come to an end. On the other hand, Bruce’s return means we are going to have 2 Batmans. I wonder if Dick Grayson will continue on one the current ongoings. Regardless, starting November we are going to have 5 Batman solo titles in current continuity (6 if you count Batman Confidential). Break out the wallet!
@mambazo,speak for yourself, if you don’t care for Finch then you do not have to buy it.
I dont get the fuss about another Bat book. He’s DC’s flagship character and is their biggest seller. This is business and if Bat books are flying off the shelves, DC is meeting demand. For all those complaining about WW having one book etc., until she can comfortably sell that book and there is a demand for more, you can keep screaming all you want and nothing will change. As ppl like Didio will tell you, talk with your wallet.
Anyway, IIRC Batman & Robin is ending with Issue 16 in October right when Bruce gets back so Dark Knight is probably replacing it in the monthly schedule. Another book likely to get the axe in the Bat world is Azrael especially with Nicieza now writing Red Robin.
Current Bat Books
Confidential (which IMO should have been cancelled a while back)
1) Batman
2) Batman & Robin (ending with #16)
3) Detective
4) Streets
5) Gotham City Sirens
6) Red Robin
7) Azrael
Future
Batman: Dark Knight
Prediction
Nightwing (new vol.) - Probably with Dick and Damien & probably replaces Azrael in the monthly schedule.
I dont see the big fuss about Finch especially when Tony Daniel showed that after a bumpy initial story (Battle for the Cowl), he could tell and draw a fantastic story (recent Black Mask storyline).
I’ll reserve judgement until I read it.
@wildclaw: If we’re to go by ongoings actually starring Batman instead of finite series that will end, it’s five. That’s if you want to include Detective Comics, which is having something of an identity crisis lately. The thing is that I’m okay with the number, considering DC’s managed to make it that most of them have my attention. As long as they’re good, I could care less how many there are. If they’re not I skip ‘em. I tradewait anyways.
Though, while I don’t share the concern - after all, no one’s being forced to buy all these books and if people didn’t, they’ll be canceled and the number brought back down - I can understand it.
I’d rather have one good Batman book than half a dozen utterly forgettable ones.
@choob
You really count Azrael as a Batman book? It’s set in Gotham, but that’s about the only connection. I couldn’t get past the first issue.
And I agree with Confidential needing to be canceled. Perhaps it’s getting dropped for The Dark Knight. That would be a fantastic trade up.
I’m sold on the art alone, Finch did an amazing job on Batman #700, and this preview looks like it could be even better. Can he write? We don’t know, I imagine it would have taken a pretty good pitch for DC to hire him for a new ongoing book, either way I’ll definitely be picking up The Return, if I’m impressed I’ll be adding The Dark Knight to my pull list.
Congratulations to David Finch! The guy can definitely draw. Now he has to prove he can also write! I hope he succeeds!. Exept for Batman & Robin I haven’t been buying any Batman books lately. With Jim Lee soon back on Batman and Finch drawing Dark Knight I’ll definitely be buying those books, along with Neal Adams Batman magnum opus: Odyssey, of course!
And let’s not forget JH Williams III on Batwoman, soon! Bravo DC!
@ fizberry
It depends on how you view it but i’m going based on how the stuff is solicited. You could say the same about books like Sirens and Red Robin. If we are going simply by books Batman headlines then you have
Batman
Batman & Robin
Detective (for the most part)
Streets of Gotham
with Dark Knight replacing Batman & Robin in Oct/Nov
Wha? Drooling! I don’t have money but If Batman&Robin do ends, I’m picking this up!
What I STILL collect since after I lost my job:
Batman
Batman & Robin
Batman: Return of Bruce Wayne
This seems all together rather unnecessary in this financial climate.
Oh, and…
“I’d be more excited about this if they were announcing that Finch was replacing Morrison on writing duties. ”
GTFO. Now.
Love it. Finch can really pack a page, I just wish his panels weren’t so… claustrophobic. Still, I’m interested and I’m gonna buy it and any variants that come with it. So…. so there.
thephylemon@ “Still, I’m looking forward to buying a Batman book where I understand what the heck is going on!”
hahaha It’s not that hard to understand buddy. Try Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
Is Baatman & Robin really going to end with issue 16??? I thought this title was an ongoing.
Where have all these rumours about batman & robin ending with issue 12 sprung from?
This im looking forward too, but then again, all you really have to do is string the words ”new” & ”batman” together in a sentence to have gained my attention. So if this is Bruce as Batman, which of the bat titles are to feature dick as batman(other than j.l.a)? We all know DC is going to have the 2 batmen running out, but it would be interesting to see how they are going to distinguish the 2.
REAL smart( sarcasm) marketing technique in name the title ”Batman:The Dark Knight”-BLATANTLY trying to cash in of the movie’s success! Whilst I don’t have anything against the name as such, it doesnt really fit with the whole demonolgy aspect. I mean, if you ARE going to have a batbook titled the dark knight, surely it deal with staight up grounded crime like the movie of the same name? Speaking of, when will I get a straight up ”grounded” batman comic? Don’t get me wrong, I think batman works great with this demon stuff, the light hearted stuff, traditional superheroics & the more modern superhero stuff, but seeing as the point of all these different bat titles is to appeal to everyones type of batman, surely they should have the grounded crime book aswell?
It seems awfully dangerous to let so many artists become writers. In the case of guys like JH Williams III it makes a lot of sense, because the work he’s doing is so far beyond mere ‘drawing’, becoming true ’storytelling’, ‘pacing’ and ‘design’ and ‘conceptualizing’…well, the evolution is a natural one.
But to give someone like Finch, who has zero writing experience, the opportunity to launch an all new Batman ongoing? That’s insane to me. Almost as insane as giving Tony Daniel the Batman title.
It pays off sometimes, I know. It paid off with Walter Simonson like no other, for instance. And Byrne, and Perez. And I believe Jeff Parker used to be an artist, and he’s great. But DC’s track record - With Scott Kolins and Tony Daniel - has been pretty bad, IMHO.
Oh well, I’m not in the market for another Batbook anyway.
@jolwist: Morrison himself has stated on a couple occasions that the story and series was initially slated to end at #12. He since changed his mind and extended the story to #16. The title’s not going to end at #16, though, it’s just the finale to Morrisons long form story. He’s sticking around afterwords. Also, if Batman & Robin was ending at #16, it would have had a “FINAL ISSUE” byline like all ending comics.
@dl316bh(interesting name btw lol)
Yeah that’s exactly what I heard, and why I have been confused so much about this whole series ending thing. Wish people could get their facts right.
Could be good. But I’m not real thrilled with the “Hot Artist becoming a Writer because that’s one of his demands” thing. But hey look on the bright side, after his initial arc is over somebody good may take the book over!
At the moment i’m enjoying most of the bat-books. You can’t go wrong with a Paul Dini bat book. Grant Morrison is redifining the bat universe in an awesome way (those who don’t like it, just don’t understand complex stories, stick to Batman: brave and the bold.) Tony Daniel is really coming through, his art is a perfect match for batman and his Black Mask story was great. The good thing about one-shots is that you don’t have to get them all. I myself had to cut back on my pull list so I cut Red Robin. I never really liked Azrael so I didn’t pick it up, I did get a few batgirl issues and dropped it. as far as Batman: The Dark Knight, David Finch is an awesome artist I’ll admit, but his writting will be judged by me after his first arc, not after a single issue since one issue doesn’t tell an entire story in an arc.
Bat titles for me to buy:
1) David Finch’s Batman: Dark Knight
2) Jim Lee’s Dark Knight: Robin
3) Neal Adams’ Batman: Odyssey
4) JH Williams III’s Batwoman
That’s all, for now until further new announcement.
I’m picking up Dark Knight: Robin, just to see how the story ends. As for the other bat-titles, I’m enjoying Batman& Robin. If this book ends in favor of the Dark Knight I will miss it. I am also keeping anything with Paul Dini or David Hine at the helm. Contrary to most I enjoyed Tony Daniel’s run, finally a book that acknowledges The Long Halloween, Dark Victory stories happened, and the Arkham Reborn companion title was just delightfully sick. I’m getting all of David Hine’s books now. Demonology, Dark Arts and Mystery? Now I need to find the Dark Knight, Dark City storyline All in all I’m loving the Bat-titles (Batgirl was better than I thought. I haven’t laughed so much while reading a bat-book in like ever) I hope Paul Dini stays onboard for a very long time and I can’t wait to see what’s next.
P.S. @wildclaw: DC is already called Batman. DC is Detective Comic’s initials lol.
It’s DARK! It’s got Bruce! You got me right there! Sold.
@severusdent22: Ya I know. But I think they should go all the way and just call it Batman lol!
A relatively standalone Batman mystery set loosely in modern continuity.
Harkening back to the detective roots and gothic tone of the classic Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams run.
Drawn by David Finch.
Wow! Now **that’s** the kind of Batman story I want to read. Asuming the writing holds up, this may become my favorite Batman book.
HI, IT WAS A MATTER OF TIME FOR BATMAN TO BE DEALING WITH THINGS LIKE THIS, IF ANYONE CAN REMENBER THE EPISODE OF THE ANIMATED SERIES OF BATMAN:GOTHAM KNIGHTS, WHERE APPEARED ETRIGAN, THAT WAS AN EXCITING EPISODE AND SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN WAITING THIS TO HAPPEN TO BATMAN WORLD.
I hope Finch’s writing turns out better than the train wreck that was Neal Adam’s Odyssey #1 or isn’t him failing to mimic Morrison like Tony Daniel’s current solo run (although the last arc did nearly glimmer some hope… but not really).