This past Saturday (September 21st) was Batman Day. It also happened to be the celebration of 80 years of Batman, and what's a celebration without a surprise. Fans were treated to the announcement of the new creative team for the Batman ongoing. Perhaps the best news of all? These names are very familiar.
Starting with Batman #86, which comes out January 8, 2020, the creative team will be writer James Tynion IV, penciler Tony S. Daniel, inker Danny Miki and colorist Tomeu Morey. Daniel will also serve as the main cover artist for the book. Tynion IV, for his part, has a tremendous history of writing great Batman stories. His work on Detective Comics alone speaks for itself. You might also want to go back and rea d Batman Eternal, because he was a part of that as well. Speaking of which, Daniel also worked with Tynion on Batman & Robin Eternal, and also added pencils to some of Tom King's City of Bane recently. Miki provided inks during some of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's best Batman issues.
Fans and comic book creators alike have taken to social media to express their excitement over this superstar team. Current Batman writer, Tom King, also offered up his enthusiastic endorsement:
This is the best thing. As soon as DC suggested James, I shouted yes. No one loves or knows the character more. And teamed with my brothers @TonyDanielx2, @DannyMiki_ and @tomeu_morey...this is going to be pure 🦇🔥 https://t.co/nZn1HjzQp0
— Tom King (@TomKingTK) September 21, 2019
For me personally, there are a few names I trust when I see them on the front cover of a Batman book. James Tynion IV is one of the names near the top of that list. There is a delicate balance between honoring legacy, and exploring new stories, that Tynion always seems to bring out in his Batman stories. It's hard not to be excited and passionate about writing Batman, but based on his past work alone, I feel like Tynion will take excellent care of The Dark Knight. Just take a look at the statement he released through DC: “I loved writing stories for [Batman] Eternal, Detective Comics, and even Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but my desire to tell a Batman story, one focusing solely on Bruce Wayne instead of an ensemble, is what drove me back to the Batcave,” said Tynion. “I want to dig deep into the Bat himself and tell an epic story that pushes him to his absolute limits. I want to tell a Batman story like the kinds I grew up loving, one that embraces the horror and gothic elegance of Gotham and dives deep into Batman’s greatest villains.”
We all get to begin that deep dive with Batman #86 on January 8, 2020.
Photo Credits: DC Comics