Writer James Tynion IV is no stranger to Gotham, having worked on such Batman titles as Detective Comics and Batman: Eternal. But in his new nine-issue story arc “Their Dark Designs,” Tynion is bringing an “action-horror” element to DC’s flagship book with gruesome new characters, and graphic death scenes.
Despite a long career writing stories within the Batman franchise, Batman #86 (on sale now) marks Tynion’s first time in the driver’s seat of DC’s flagship Batman comic. According to multiple interviews with Tynion as well the writer’s own newsletter, The Empire of the Tiny Onion, his “bat-book” will heavily feature the title character as an agent of fear, going as far as comparing Batman’s ferocious tenacity to that of horror icon Michael Myers.
Tynion explained his overall plans for the book in a recent interview with DC Nation:
Following Tom King’s gargantuan 85-issue run of Batman would be intimidating for many writers, but with nearly a decade of comic books under his belt (and legendary Batman scribe Scott Snyder as a former professor) Tynion seamlessly transitions from the aftermath of “City of Bane” into his own story. The Dark Knight’s life is that much darker with Gotham only beginning to recover from its occupation under Bane and his enforcers.
We’ve talked a lot about the tone we’re hoping to bring to Batman. I keep using the words ‘action-horror’ and I think that’s going to drive a lot of what we’re doing… Batman has always been a frightening character, and he uses his villains’ fear as a weapon to help him do his job. There are ways we’re going to push that and bring it into the world he’s helping rebuild around him after the last year.
This wouldn’t be the first time Bruce Wayne has had to rebuild his city after a major cataclysm, but with his longtime butler/father figure Alfred Pennyworth now tragically deceased, Batman has to fight against unstoppable odds while missing a core piece of his support system. In one tear-inducing moment in issue #86, Bruce momentarily forgets Alfred’s passing and instinctively tries hailing him over his cowl communicator. In short, Bruce… isn’t doing too well. Right from the start of the series, and his emotional baggage is turning his crusade to fix Gotham into a manic obsession.
But Batman won’t be the only boogeyman in Tynion’s series. In his first issue alone, Tynion introduces two new assassin characters, one of whom looks like he walked right off the set of House of 1000 Corpses. The issue also features two slow and gruesome deaths that will give anyone with septophobia goosebumps. Tynion would hardly be the first writer to inject horror elements into a Batman story, but for the seasoned comic book writer it’s more than just a gimmick. With Bruce in such a poor state of mental health following the tragic events of Tom King’s 85-issue run, Tynion is using the horror genre to spotlight the character’s emotional turmoil. While Gotham’s villains might be scary by themselves, an emotionally shaken Batman driven to his breaking point is by far even scarier.
Batman #86 is available now at your local comic book shop.
More: Morbius and New Mutants Crossing Over Into Horror Is Smart For Superhero Movies
Source: DC Comics
