Post by /\/\att on Sept 9, 2006 3:47:48 GMT -5
The sophomore Batman Strikes effort from writer Jai Nitz is due in comic shops this next Wednesday, September 13th! The Batman Strikes #25 will deal with the origins of Killer Croc.
Legions of Gotham sat down with Jai to discuss this latest issue, Killer Croc and of course, Batman!
***********************
LoG: Batman Strikes #25 will be your second time writing for the title...did you learn anything the first time around that you're applying to this upcoming issue?
Jai Nitz: Yes I did. My first issue, the Bane story, had a lot of backstory that had to be told very quickly and economically to make the rest of the story work. The "hook" of the story happens in the fourth panel of page one; it kicks off immediately. That said, I had to get a lot of backstory and set up done in the first few pages. I learned that you have to get a lot of story in quickly to engage the reader and set up your payoffs at the end. I also learned that I was trying to cram too much in! I was killing poor Chris Jones with my storytelling. I'd have waaaaay too many panels on a page and it was murder on him. With my Killer Croc story I boiled everything down even further to make the most of the story with the least amount of panels. Less is more.
LoG: Batman Strikes #25 will be your second time writing for the title...did you learn anything the first time around that you're applying to this upcoming issue?
Jai Nitz: Yes I did. My first issue, the Bane story, had a lot of backstory that had to be told very quickly and economically to make the rest of the story work. The "hook" of the story happens in the fourth panel of page one; it kicks off immediately. That said, I had to get a lot of backstory and set up done in the first few pages. I learned that you have to get a lot of story in quickly to engage the reader and set up your payoffs at the end.
I also learned that I was trying to cram too much in! I was killing poor Chris Jones with my storytelling. I'd have waaaaay too many panels on a page and it was murder on him. With my Killer Croc story I boiled everything down even further to make the most of the story with the least amount of panels. Less is more.
LoG: What can you tell us about the Killer Croc story you've written for #25?
Jai Nitz: It's basically a sequel to the "Swamped" episode. I delve into Killer Croc's origin a little bit and how his origin influences him today. His upbringing has direct consequences on him today and his attitude toward the world. I also paralleled Croc and Batman to show how each of them has had a troubled upbringing and they both make choices today based on it.
LoG: How did you decide which villains to write in your issues? Describe the behind the scenes process for the fans.
Jai Nitz: It's all based on logic, actually. I have a cheat sheet of every episode of the show and every issue of Batman Strikes so far. I go over it to see which characters have been used often and which ones have seen limited exposure. I tend to gravitate to the underexposed villains. I also have a wonderful working relationship with the editor of the comic, Nachie Castro. He lets me know what other stories are in the works so the writers don't double up on the same characters. So, after all that, I find a character that speaks to me and has a story to tell. Then I write up notes and see if it works as an issue of Batman Strikes. Sometimes the stories are too short, sometimes they're too long. Sometimes they end up being too similar to something that has come before or is in the works already. And sometimes they hit on all cylinders and write themselves.
LoG: Are you a fan of the Kids WB 'the Batman' tv show?
Jai Nitz: I never really watched it before I started writing for Batman Strikes. I knew it existed, but I never really watched. Now I have my Tivo set to record it every Saturday. I'm probably going to break down and by the complete Season 1 and Season 2 on DVD when Season 2 ships.
LoG: Do you have a favorite Batman villain? What Bat-Universe characters would you ideally like to write?
Jai Nitz: My favorite Batman villain is the KGBeast. Don't ask why. Everybody gives me a "really?" look when I mention him. I have all kinds of theories about who he is, what he does, why he does it, why he's a villain to Batman but a hero to others, etc. I'd really like to write him in this elaborate story I have worked out that establishes him as a player in the DCU.
LoG: Do you have more Batman or Dc Comics related work upcoming?
Jai Nitz: Yup. I'm doing more issues of Batman Strikes. My next issue after the Killer Croc story is written and (I believe) being drawn at this very moment. I have another script for Batman Strikes I'm working on this week. I have no idea when it will come out, but you'll be the first to know.
Legions of Gotham sat down with Jai to discuss this latest issue, Killer Croc and of course, Batman!
***********************
LoG: Batman Strikes #25 will be your second time writing for the title...did you learn anything the first time around that you're applying to this upcoming issue?
Jai Nitz: Yes I did. My first issue, the Bane story, had a lot of backstory that had to be told very quickly and economically to make the rest of the story work. The "hook" of the story happens in the fourth panel of page one; it kicks off immediately. That said, I had to get a lot of backstory and set up done in the first few pages. I learned that you have to get a lot of story in quickly to engage the reader and set up your payoffs at the end. I also learned that I was trying to cram too much in! I was killing poor Chris Jones with my storytelling. I'd have waaaaay too many panels on a page and it was murder on him. With my Killer Croc story I boiled everything down even further to make the most of the story with the least amount of panels. Less is more.
LoG: Batman Strikes #25 will be your second time writing for the title...did you learn anything the first time around that you're applying to this upcoming issue?
Jai Nitz: Yes I did. My first issue, the Bane story, had a lot of backstory that had to be told very quickly and economically to make the rest of the story work. The "hook" of the story happens in the fourth panel of page one; it kicks off immediately. That said, I had to get a lot of backstory and set up done in the first few pages. I learned that you have to get a lot of story in quickly to engage the reader and set up your payoffs at the end.
I also learned that I was trying to cram too much in! I was killing poor Chris Jones with my storytelling. I'd have waaaaay too many panels on a page and it was murder on him. With my Killer Croc story I boiled everything down even further to make the most of the story with the least amount of panels. Less is more.
LoG: What can you tell us about the Killer Croc story you've written for #25?
Jai Nitz: It's basically a sequel to the "Swamped" episode. I delve into Killer Croc's origin a little bit and how his origin influences him today. His upbringing has direct consequences on him today and his attitude toward the world. I also paralleled Croc and Batman to show how each of them has had a troubled upbringing and they both make choices today based on it.
LoG: How did you decide which villains to write in your issues? Describe the behind the scenes process for the fans.
Jai Nitz: It's all based on logic, actually. I have a cheat sheet of every episode of the show and every issue of Batman Strikes so far. I go over it to see which characters have been used often and which ones have seen limited exposure. I tend to gravitate to the underexposed villains. I also have a wonderful working relationship with the editor of the comic, Nachie Castro. He lets me know what other stories are in the works so the writers don't double up on the same characters. So, after all that, I find a character that speaks to me and has a story to tell. Then I write up notes and see if it works as an issue of Batman Strikes. Sometimes the stories are too short, sometimes they're too long. Sometimes they end up being too similar to something that has come before or is in the works already. And sometimes they hit on all cylinders and write themselves.
LoG: Are you a fan of the Kids WB 'the Batman' tv show?
Jai Nitz: I never really watched it before I started writing for Batman Strikes. I knew it existed, but I never really watched. Now I have my Tivo set to record it every Saturday. I'm probably going to break down and by the complete Season 1 and Season 2 on DVD when Season 2 ships.
LoG: Do you have a favorite Batman villain? What Bat-Universe characters would you ideally like to write?
Jai Nitz: My favorite Batman villain is the KGBeast. Don't ask why. Everybody gives me a "really?" look when I mention him. I have all kinds of theories about who he is, what he does, why he does it, why he's a villain to Batman but a hero to others, etc. I'd really like to write him in this elaborate story I have worked out that establishes him as a player in the DCU.
LoG: Do you have more Batman or Dc Comics related work upcoming?
Jai Nitz: Yup. I'm doing more issues of Batman Strikes. My next issue after the Killer Croc story is written and (I believe) being drawn at this very moment. I have another script for Batman Strikes I'm working on this week. I have no idea when it will come out, but you'll be the first to know.