While this may be disappointing, the folks over at Rocksteady gave a good reason, saying, “More time is needed to bring players the best possible experience on Nintendo Switch. We apologize to fans who are excited to play this version of the trilogy. Thank you for your patience.”

pic.twitter.com/Pmjmkf5zA7

— Batman Arkham (@BatmanArkham) October 3, 2023

Needing more time to make this version of the game great is fine by me. The Grand Theft Auto Trilogy, when released on Switch, was buggy, and probably could’ve used more time as well, so I think this is a good move. Also, it’s only seven weeks, and will still be available for Christmas.

Batman: Arkham Trilogy will include the first three games — Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, & Arkham Knight — but does not include Arkham Origins, which was release by Warner Bros. Games Montreal, who also recently released Gotham Knights.

It promises to allow players to experience “the definitive versions of Rocksteady’s Arkham Trilogy games.” This trilogy also includes all post-launch content, including DLC expansions, suits, Batmobiles, and more. All three of these games have been available elsewhere for years but this trilogy marks the first time Switch players can play through all three games.

Pre-orders for Batman: Arkham Trilogy are open now, so be sure to order your copy today so you don’t miss out.

The post BATMAN: ARKHAM TRILOGY For Nintendo Switch Has Been Delayed appeared first on DC Comics News.

For all the details on this awesome announcement, check out the official press release and reveal trailer below!

WARNER BROS GAMES AND DC ANNOUNCE

BATMAN ARKHAM TRILOGY FOR NINTENDO SWITCH

Compilation of Critically Acclaimed Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, and Batman: Arkham Knight Released for the First Time on Nintendo Platform, Bundled with All Previously Released DLC in One Iconic Package

Burbank, Calif. – June 21, 2023 – Warner Bros. Games and DC today announced Batman: Arkham Trilogy for Nintendo Switch, a compilation of Rocksteady Studios’ award-winning videogames that brings together the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, and Batman: Arkham Knight in one iconic package. Batman: Arkham Trilogy is scheduled to launch for Nintendo Switch this fall 2023, complete with all previously released downloadable content (DLC) from all three titles. The trilogy is being developed for Nintendo Switch by Turn Me Up Games.

Developed by Rocksteady Studios and released in 2009, Batman: Arkham Asylum is where it all started. The game set the stage for DC’s “Arkhamverse” that fans know and love today, and introduced players to a unique, dark, and atmospheric adventure that takes players to the depths of the infamous Arkham Asylum. Featuring an original story, players move in the shadows as Batman to instill fear amongst enemies and confront The Joker and Gotham City’s most notorious villains, including Harley Quinn, Bane, Killer Croc, Poison Ivy, and Scarecrow, who have taken over the asylum.

Batman: Arkham City is Rocksteady Studios’ 2011 follow-up that builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman: Arkham Asylum. The game sends players soaring through the expansive Arkham City – the maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters, and insane criminal masterminds. Featuring an incredible Rogues Gallery of Gotham City’s most dangerous criminals including Catwoman, The Joker, The Riddler, Two-Face, Harley Quinn, The Penguin, Mr. Freeze, and many others, the game allows players to experience what it feels like to be The Dark Knight and deliver justice to those confined within Arkham City.

Batman: Arkham Knight raises the stakes for The Dark Knight in Rocksteady Studios’ 2015 finale to the multi-award winning trio of Batman: Arkham games. In this epic conclusion to the Arkhamverse story arc, the fate of Gotham City hangs in the balance as Scarecrow is joined by the Arkham Knight, making his villainous debut in DC’s Batman Universe, as well as a roster of notorious DC Super-Villains including Harley Quinn, The Penguin, Two-Face, Firefly, and the Riddler. Joining The World’s Greatest Detective are his closest allies, Commissioner Gordon, Oracle, Alfred, Lucius Fox, Catwoman, Robin, and Nightwing. The game culminates in the ultimate showdown in Gotham City and introduces players to the complete Batman experience with the Batmobile that is fully drivable throughout the open game world and capable of transformation from high-speed Pursuit Mode to military grade Battle Mode.

To learn more about Batman: Arkham Trilogy, join the conversation on Facebook (BatmanArkham), Twitter (@BatmanArkham), Instagram (BatmanArkham), and YouTube (@BatmanArkham).

The post Batman: Arkham Game Trilogy Coming To Nintendo Switch appeared first on DC Comics News.

It is assumed that the game will be released on the PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC. Last September, Warner Bros. Interactive revealed that a new Batman game was in the works. Sadly, nothing about said game has been revealed since. According to Gamereactor, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment’s original plan with the game was to slowly tease it until E3, and then it would be revealed at their first-ever presser conference. Unfortunately with COVID-19, that put a damper on those plans.

Is it coming this year? Is it coming next year? We don’t know! Have we been hearing about this game for years? Yep! But hey, maybe one day we’ll see it even though many feel this game will pale in comparison to the Rocksteady games. While we know it exists, that’s all we know. Maybe Warner Bros. will reveal it during the release of the PS5.

So what do you think will happen? When do you think we’ll see the new game? Let us know in the comments below!

The post New Batman Game Releasing Sooner Than We Thought appeared first on DC Comics News.

DC Comics remains king of the comic book world with an astounding number of trade paperbacks, graphic novels and single edition books breaking the top 10 of the Diamond Comic Distribution List for best selling books of 2019.

Detective Comics #1000 took the top spot in comic book sales for 2019 making this the second year in a row DC was #1 on the DCD; in 2018, Action Comics #1000 owned the same top spot.

Detective Comics #1000 was the corner stone of Batman’s 80th anniversary and featured 96 amazing pages of top-notch storytelling, amazing art and jaw-dropping variant covers.  Detective Comics #1000 showcased the Dark Knight and his quest to save the soul of his beloved Gotham City.

Detective Comics #1000 is a must have for any fan of Batman, DC Comics and collectors everywhere.

DC also owned the top ten list for graphic novels with five books honored including Watchmen, Mister Miracle, Batman: White Knight, Batman: The Killing Joke and Batman: Damned

Alan Moore and David Gibson’s timeless and iconic Watchmen took the #1 spot with Mister Miracle from Tom King coming in at #5, Batman: White Knight at #7, Batman: The Killing Joke at #9 and Batman: Damned raking in at #10.

DC Publisher Dan DiDio could hardly contain his excitement as he proudly proclaimed:

“These rankings demonstrate how Batman continues to be an important part of our publishing success, in comic books, original graphic novels and collected editions.  I’m incredibly happy to see how enthusiastically fans responded to Detective Comics #1000, especially during Batman’s 80th anniversary and to be the best-selling comic book two years in a row is a fantastic achievement.”

There is no doubt that DC is the king of the comic book world.  After all, DC has always maintained a long standing excellence in writing, story, art and characters and his the cornerstone of the entire comic book industry.   Long live DC Comics! Long live the king!

The post DC Comics Tops Best Selling List Again appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi

Art: Brad Walker & Andrew Hennessey

Colors: Nathan Fairbairn

Letters: Rob Leigh

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Batman and Robin swoop down on the Gotham Observatory where the Arkham Knight is preparing to execute the final part of her plan.  In order to try and stop the Caped Crusaders, Astrid deploys Dr. Phoshporus and Anton Arcane to stop them.  Phosphorus takes on the Bat directly, while Arcane uses his Un-Men to grow series of barriers around the Observatory.  They are successful enough to slow down the Dynamic Duo and Atrid is able to pull the switch creating an even brighter light even than the Day Bomb from Detective Comics #1001.

Batman then has to go one on one with Astrid in order to stop her and get the light turned off.  Alfred has let Batman know that the light is blinding everyone in Gotham.  The misguided Astrid doesn’t seem to care what she’s done, nor does she believe that Batman’s telling the truth when he attempts to set the record straight on his culpability in her mother’s death.

After finally subduing her she gets sent to Blackgate Penitentiary, but she doesn’t quite make it…, for better or worse, we haven’t seen the last of the Arkham Knight!

Positives

The best parts of Detective Comics #1005 are the little character bits between Batman and Damian.  Tomasi imbues their relationship with a realism that is familiar.  Despite the gravitas their world-saving adventures, Damian always has time to mess with Batman.  It’s thoroughly enjoyable in this issue as Batman, who’s been temporarily blinded by Astrid’s newest Day Bomb, tells Damian, “You do realize that I fan feel you waving your hand in front of my face every so often, right?”  This demonstrates the type of relationship between the father and son, but it also paints Damian as mischievous and perhaps not quite as serious as his father.  It’s nice that Batman has the restraint to take it all in stride and not overreact.

There’s a moment when Batman and Robin are moving in on Astrid, that the whole plot starts to feel camp.  It doesn’t last long, but it’s a moment of unbridled excess and fun.  It’s reminiscent of Batman stories from the ’50s and ’60s and the Adam West T.V. series.  It’s reflected again when Robin is jealous of one of the gagets in Batman’s utility belt that he doesn’t also have.

Negatives

Unfortunately, the biggest negative in Detective Comics #1005 is Astrid herself.  While this issue doesn’t retread her origin, said origin is the basis for her motivation.  The surprise reveal that the Arkham Knight was a woman was a nice twist.  Sadly, nothing else about her character is intriguing or believable.  Since this is what’s driving her actions, she is essentially another in a long line of insane Bat-Villains that are more worthy of pity than ire.  She becomes a cliche instead of a character.

This is seen most clearly as Batman attempts to explain what really happened to her mother on the night her mother died.  Astrid doesn’t believe Batman, and nothing he says will change that.  She’s a young woman lost in a fantasy about Knights and chivalry that is punctuated by the Joker’s outlook on the world.  Remember, the Clown Prince of Crime was instrumental in her childhood development at the asylum.  She’s just as out of touch with reality as the Joker is, but she can’t be the living embodiment of insanity that the Joker is.  The Joker works so well because he is nameless and essentially faceless.  Once you put a name on that type of sociopath, the character loses his/her power.  The Joker should never have a definitive identity.

Additionally, Astrid has a bit of Azrael in her as well.  Azrael has the sword and armor shtick, and for a long time was under control of the misguided Order of St. Dumas.  The most unique aspect of Astrid’s character is her bizarre upbringing in Arkham Asylum by her father, Jeremiah Arkham.  But, this aspect is so odd that it comes across as unbelievable and forces the reader to find something else, thus her similarity to Azrael becomes apparent.  While her appearance and identity may be promising, the character herself seems best left forgotten.

Verdict

While the mechanics of this story are solid, Astird’s motivation and background make her a forgettable character.  Batman and Robin shine, though as Tomasi continues to have fun with this one-of-a-kind father and son duo.  Don’t be surprised to find a smile on your face as a little bit of camp goes a long way.  Though Astrid escapes interment at Blackgate, let’s hope she just keeps out of trouble and Detective Comics finds some better Bat-villains.

The post Review: Detective Comics #1005 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi

Art: Brad Walker & Andrew Hennessey

Colors: Nathan Fairbairn

Letters: Rob Leigh

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

There are times when a comic comes along that’s a total head scratcher…a strange, bizarre thing…an aberration…a puzzling piece of publication that defies description.  Detective Comics #1004 is such a comic.  Unfortunately, it’s not a good thing…

Batman and Robin (Damian Wayne) are treated to the history of Astrid Arkham’s life through her drawings as narrated by her father.  Conceived and born in the Asylum to a physician, Astrid has been sequestered in Arkham Asylum her whole life.  Her mother killed moments after her birth by an errant Batarang thrown by a crazed inmate, Astrid never knew her mother.  But, learned that a Batarang killed her mother and developed a hatred for the Batman, her father never told her the truth.  He chickened out on that, finding it easier to let the Bat take the blame.

After learning this, the Dynamic father and son go in search of Astrid and the crew she’s liberated from Arkham….

Positives

This is easy, and it won’t take long.  Walker and Hennessey deliver strong visuals throughout, communicating the emotion of this bizarre origin tale.  Also, Robin makes a joke at Batman’s expense.  After hearing Astrid’s story, Batman responds, “So, that explains why Astrid Arkham see’s me as a curse hanging over Gotham City.”  Damian adds, “Haven’t we all at some point?” Good one Damian!  Walker’s layouts here are perfect!  A silhouetted glare is all Batman needs to shut Damian up!

Negatives

I’d like to point out that I’ve been a fan of much of Peter Tomasi’s work.  The initial three issues of “Medieval” have been quite good, with Astrid’s reveal quite a surprise.  It’s hard to imagine what happened with Detective Comics #1004.  Not trying to be funny, but it feels like everyone in the story has just passed into another dimension where the Halle Berry Catwoman film is the pinnacle of comic book film adaptations.

Astrid is born in the Asylum during a riot and delivered by the Joker and Harley Quinn.  While at first it’s somewhat intriguing to imagine the Joker being responsible for delivering a child, the juxtaposition is quite alarming.  It crosses over into fairy tale territory, which is appropriate as “Uncle” Joker is later shown reading such stories to Astrid as a child.  This may come into play later, as it’s possible that Astrid is not who she’s shown to be and this is the fantasy her “father” and Astrid believe.  I know I’m going out on a limb, but at face value this story is just too bizarre.

Astrid’s birth is attended by Solomon Grundy, protecting mother and child during labor as well as Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn.

Negatives Cont’d

Perhaps, the most alarming thing is the strange decision her father makes allowing the girl to believe the lie that Batman killed her mother.  As he relates the tale, it’s clear that he knows Batman was not at fault.  His reasoning for letting the Bat take the blame is quite flimsy.  It’s understandable on some level that he might not want Atrid to believe that he wasn’t there in his mother’s time of need, but the whole thing is captured on CCTV.  Surely, it would’t be that hard to come clean about the whole thing.

Her father’s reasoning for raising Astrid in the Asylum is equally disturbing.  Not only does it not make any sense, it perhaps indicates that everything he’s been saying is a story he’s made up to cover up some other horrible truth.  The jury’s still out on this, but it doesn’t really make sense that Joker and Harley could’ve been at Arkham together as inmates 16-19 years ago as Astrid’s age was estimated by Damian last issue.  How old would that make Joker and Harley…how old would it make Batman?

The whole thing makes no sense.  Why Batman doesn’t call “B.S.” on it is a confounding.  Essentially, Astrid’s father has mentally and emotionally abused her her whole life.  Instead of growing up with other children, her playmates have been the criminally insane.  Additionally, she’s been led to believe Batman killed her mother.

It’s so bizarre, it can’t be true, can it?

Verdict

If this issue is the actual facts, Detective Comics #1004, has just derailed what was shaping up to be a nice arc.  The incidentals of Astrid’s origin are so unreal that it calls into question the veracity of the story itself.  It feels like there should be something more underneath the surface.  While that’s always possible, taken for what it is, Detective Comics #1004 comes across like a bad movie script for a comic adaptation from the ’90’s…bitten by a radioactive insane asylum or some such… what did you think was going to happen when the girl’s playmate is the Joker?

The post Review: Detective Comics #1004 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi

Art: Brad Walker & Andrew Hennessey

Colors: Nathan Fairbairn

Letters: Rob Leigh

Reviewed by: Matthew Lloyd

Summary

Whatever you’re thinking about the Arkham Knight, you’re probably wrong…

While Batman searches for Damian, having learned that he’s gone missing, Damian, himself, is face to face with the Arkham Knight.  After a brief confrontation, the Knight let’s him go, seeing him as a victim of the Batman.  But, in the process Damian has been shown the Knight’s true face.  Damian leaves and is soon found by Batman.

Damian tells Bruce all he can about the Knight, including drawing a picture of the Knight’s true face.  It doesn’t get any matches on any data bases Bruce runs it through.  They decide to enter Arkham Asylum, where Damian claims he was being held.  But, they go underwater, and when they arrive, they see they are a little late, the Knight has departed with a number of Arkham inmates and left one man to tell the tale…..

Positives

The surprise under the cowl is easily the biggest positive of the issue. Not only is it surprising, but it is surprising on multiple levels.  It’s such a fun reveal, that I don’t want to spoil it here.  Additionally, even the way in which the Knight’s identity is named proves to be a shock.  Tomasi, while allowing us to see the Knight’s face in the first couple pages, waits for the final page to tell the reader who it is.  It’s significant that it is someone with a connection to the greater Bat-universe, though someone I”m sure no one has thought of.  Even the Arkham Knight’s real name evokes something else entirely…though, I can’t imagine the Knight singing “The Girl from Ipanema.”

There’s some fun this issue, as well.  Damian gets in full Adam West mode when he pilots the Bat-sub on their way to Arkham.  It’s even a little humorous as Bruce begrudgingly gives in to Damian’s request to drive.  It’s not only a common father/son trope, it shows Bruce’s humanity and provides a point of relevance between the Dark Knight and the reader.

Continuing with Damian, his skill as an artist proves not only useful, but intriguing as he draws the Arkham Knight’s real face so that Bruce can utilize the image in the data bases.  This instance allows Bruce and Damian to consider Talia’s involvement in Damian’s development as well as his natural abilities.  There’s a clear contrast between Bruce and Talia’s methods and ideology.  This is not only a nice father/son moment, but an opportunity to illustrate the conflicting natures of Damian’s parents.

So far, this arc has presented the Arkham Knight in an ambiguous manner.  While clearly Batman’s antagonist, Detective Comics #1003 goes a bit farther as the Knight views Damian as a victim, while using the inmates of Arkham Asylum as warrior’s in the Knight’s cause.

Negatives

This is the strongest issue of the arc so far, and has zero negatives.

Verdict

The surprise reveal of the Arkham Knight’s identity is executed excellently!  The journey is clearly worth it in the case of Detective Comics #1003.  This issue while having a major plot element also delves into the Bruce/Damian dynamic while providing a bit of retro fun.  The questions it raises with the reveal of the Knight’s identity are probably more entertaining….  This issue succeeds on multiple levels and should not be missed.  So far, the surprises herein are more satisfying than the arc which preceded Detective Comics #1000.

The post Review: Detective Comics #1003 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Art: Brad Walker & Andrew Hennessey
Colors: Nathan Fairbairn
Letters: Rob Leigh

Summary

Batman comes face to face with the Arkham Knight and his army.  After a brief engagement and both parties seeming to want to keep others out of the crossfire, the two sides retreat simultaneously.  Wounded, and with Jim Gordon’s help, Bruce returns to the cave to seek out Alfred and Damian’s insight.  Damian, while Bruce recovers from the encounter, heads off on a lead to Aparo Bay and ends up getting captured by the Arkham Knight.

Damian is left with little resources, but manages to free himself, and ends up face to face with an unmasked Arkham Knight.

Positives

This issue focuses more on the mystery of the Knight’s identity than what could’ve been a protracted battle between the two.  This provides Bruce, Damian and Alfred some enjoyable interaction.  Again, it’s nice to see Batman and Gordon on good terms.  The Jim Aparo reference in the name of Aparo Bay should be enjoyed by older Batman fans who are familiar with his work.

Damian gets a bit of a spotlight as he takes matters into his own hands.  It’s particularly interesting to see Damian get a look at the Knight’s face even if the audience doesn’t.  Damian’s reaction indicates either horror or familiarity.  Or,perhaps, both!

Positives Cont.

While it seemed that this issue was going to be a showdown between Batman and Arkham Knight, the misdirection is greatly appreciated as it offers a deeper look at the Knight.  The two are shown to have similarities in their regard for the innocent as the Knight saves a police officer from a stray bullet.  The situation seems to makes the two combatants pause and rethink the situation.

Negatives

No real negatives. The mystery of the Knight, while intriguing, is still not quantifiable and is a wild card as to how it will affect the story line.

Verdict

Detective Comics #1002 is a very good issue that doesn’t telegraph its punches.  It would’ve been easy for the Arkham Knight, having already displayed disdain for Batman and his methods to come at him with everything right away.   There’s more to the Arkham Knight just as there’s more to the Batman, and this issue suggests that they may end up realizing this about each other.

The post Review: Detective Comics #1002 appeared first on DC Comics News.

“There will be a Rogues’ Gallery”

This is nothing short of exciting news for DC fans everywhere due to the large amount of iconic villains inside the Batman mythos.  Superhero films often only feature one or two villains for a character but as we all know, Batman has often faced off with multiple villains in one story arch as he’s tried to unravel the main case of a story.

According to Bill Ramey, founder of Batman-On-Film, the answer to the question of how many is:

“at least four”

Now this doesn’t mean that all of them will be major players for Batman to contend with, possibly just used as distractions for Batman to torment and interrogate as he makes his way to the known main antagonist, Oswald “The Penguin” Cobblepot.  With this latest development the possibilities are endless as to which villains will appear in Matt Reeves’ film but having the Rogues Gallery open and being used by Reeves makes The Batman very exciting.

The post Rumor: The Batman Will Feature Multiple Villains appeared first on DC Comics News.

He started his career at Image comics in 2013 working on Reality Check. The book focused on a writer who creates a love-sick comic hero who suddenly becomes real and forces the protagonist to help him find true love, while the villain enters reality and goes on a murderous rampage. Two years later, in 2015 Viktor was brought on to DC where he worked on the comic for Batman: Arkham Knight which furthered his skills in the medium before being able to create New Super-Man!

I reached out to Viktor on Twitter after finishing a review of New Super-Man to see if he would like to interview with us. I was fortunate enough the he had the time and was able to do so. Being a fan of his work myself since New Super-Man #1, I was extremely excited to see what he would tell us! There are so many intricate and small parts to New Super-Man that can be over looked because it reaches deep into the history of the comics. But don’t take my word for it, see what he has to say!

Q: What originally inspired you to get into comics and illustration? What inspires you today?

I watched a ton of Cartoons as a kid and then soon discovered comics and that was it. I was hooked. I started drawing my own Superman and Spider-Man stories at the age of 12 or so. I have never been more productive than I was at that time. I remember filling a bunch of large sized notebooks with sequential art in record time that my dad didn’t wanna buy.

Q: How did you originally get into the comics industry?

I did a few indie books and soon got the chance to work on my first mini series for Image Comics which was called Reality Check. I kept working on my drawing skills like a mad man and eventually brought up the courage to send a few sample pages to DC. It seemed unlikely that I’d ever hear back from them but two editors responded almost immediately. They gave me a test script to draw and about a week later I was working as the main penciller on Batman: Arkham Knight. It all went so fast, I didn’t even have time to process it all. So BAK went on for almost a year. Then came the next project with Deadshot and after that New Super-Man. I’ve been working pretty much non-stop for DC since the end of 2014 producing nearly 500 pages of sequential art which seems like a really crazy number to me when I see it written down like that, haha. Like I should go to a shrink or something to take care of my OCD (obsessive comic disorder).

Q: How did your opportunity to work on Superman come about?

My editor just called me up one evening and told me that they’d like me to draw Action Comics. I was really psyched about it and also a little bummed out because I really loved working on New Super-Man. But there are just a few books in comics you can’t turn down as an artist and Action Comics is one of them so I said yes.

Q: What persona and story are you trying to tell through your work?

It all depends on the script. First, I try to figure out the right tone, rhythm and atmosphere. Then give the characters some dimension and personality through facial expressions and body language. I mostly follow a gut feeling. It’s all very intuitive. No pre-concept.

Q: What inspired the looks of each of the three Justice League of China members?

As for the costumes: they’re all derived from Kenan’s outfit. That’s the first one I designed and the other ones had to be similar because they all work for the same secret government agency. Chinese Wonder Woman is probably a mix of Sailor Moon and that Street Fighter chick. Chinese Batman looks like a young chubby Mr. Spock when his mask is off. I thought that’d fit his personality.

Q: What were the most important things you wanted to show in New Super-Man?

When we announced this we got a lot of comments on the fact that the New Super-Man is Chinese, that it all takes place in China, etc. The whole discussion about diversity in comics and all that stuff. It immediately started a political debate. Some people were very skeptical and I don’t blame them. We’ve seen enough bad examples of diversity for diversity’s sake. But I’ve read some of Gene Yang’s previous work so I knew that it’d be a good story that I could work with. And in the end that’s all that matters. A fun story is a fun story, no matter who’s in it or where it takes place. And when the political discussion ends and people start talking about plot twists and they start talking about a character, not because he’s of this or that ethnicity but because he’s cool and fun – that’s when you know you’re on to something.

Q: What led to the decision to recreate the cover of Action Comics #1 in issue 5 and why did you decide to do that?

That’s all Gene. The script said something like “Kenan is holding up a police car… etc… similar to the scene on the cover of Action Comics #1” so I drew it. Fun stuff

Q: The “S” on Kenan’s chest is very unique from the Man of Steel’s in that it is connected to Chinese philosophy, was it originally conceived with that meaning behind it or did that come after?

No, Gene had the octagon shape and all that stuff worked out pretty early on. It’s a popular Chinese symbol with a lot of meaning so that’s why he used it.

Q: All of the heroes and villains in New Super-Man, such as the Freedom Fighters of China, are very flamboyant and interesting, what informed the choices of how to draw and color them?

They were all created on the fly, really (except the older characters from previous comics) so I’m glad people like them. I wish I would’ve had more time to design them. Not sure they’d look better tough, heh.

Q: What advice would you give to the artist who will next draw New Super-Man? And who would be your choice to take over if you could hand pick a team?

Easy. Just give Kenan puffy cheeks and make him likeable (actually that’s not easy at all, haha) and if I could handpick a team: I think Billy than did a great job with issues 7 & 8 and I hear he’s on the next issues as well so I’m really looking forward to that. + If we could clone Erik Larsen to do an issue or two that’d be cool to (because the real Erik Larsen sure as hell ain’t leaving Savage Dragon for some Chinese Superman – or any other book for that matter). Gene Yang is a given. Nobody can write New Super-Man like he does.

Q: When it comes to the details you show in the environment, fashion and the characters, you have done an amazing job at recreating China and how it feels. What research did you do in-order to include those details?

We had a few real locations from Shanghai, etc. But the rest is just me trying to remember all the Jackie Chan movies I watched as a kid.

Q: As one of the creators of this whole world and the characters that inhabit it, what were the most important ideas that you wanted to convey to your audience?

The idea of growing up, finding yourself and your place in this world and having some fun while doing it.

Q: What can we expect to be unique about your take on Superman?

Wow, that’s tough. I don’t know. So many artists have drawn this iconic character and you’d think we’ve seen it all. He looks easy to draw on a first glance but he’s actually not. He has to look both cool and a little bit old fashioned at the same time. He’s also a brute as well as elegant. So, a lot of contradictions there but I’ll try to bring them all together as good as I can.

Q: On Twitter you’ve recently posted a picture with Zod, can we expect to see him in your first arc drawing the Man of Steel?

Most definitely! We’ll all kneel before Zod.

Q: Is there anything you’d like to tell your fans?

Yes! You should all love each other! And then go buy New Super-Man and Action Comics before somebody else does! Cheers!!

Viktor, like Kong Kenan, is such a bright person, unlike Kenan, his is also humble. He has done, and continues to do, great work. He creates eye catching and memorable characters and brings them to life on the page. I have thoroughly enjoyed the work he has done on New Super-Man, I will miss his style in the adventures of Kenan Kong but look forward to seeing what he does with Clark Kent!

The post Exclusive Interview: Viktor Bogdanovic, Artist of New Super-Man & Action Comics! appeared first on DC Comics News.