proctor sCott Snyder: gotham city’s new architect Over the past seventy four years or so, many writers have tackled the ever-expanding mythos of the Batman, and added their own idiosyncratic perspective on a popular cultural phenomenon. text william proctor
22 From architects of the best part of a century, it becomes (co-written with James Tynion IV), Bat, Bob Kane and Bill more and more arduous for writers have received rave reviews across Finger, to creations to come up with new ingredients the comic book landscape. His most that have since become to add to the Chiropteran broth; recent storyline, Death of the Fami- It seems seminal classics such yet once in a while, somebody stirs ly, which weaves through several that whatever as Frank Miller’s The the pot and throws in a few choice of the Bat books and features the Dark Knight Returns flavours of their own, enriching the return of the Joker for the first time Snyder touches, and Year One; Alan Mo- tapestry, salting the recipe. Scott since Tony Daniels’ Detective Co- turns ore’s The Killing Joke; Snyder is the latest in a long line of mics #1 re-launch over a year ago, Jeph Loeb’s The Long Hal- Bat chefs to enter the kitchen and is viewed by many as a classic run, to gold. loween and Grant Mor- chuck in a dash of spice and inven- one which may, in time, be heralded rison’s post-Millennial tion to a tried and tested procedure. as a seminal work by an auteur. It stint on the charac- Snyder is very much the seems that, at the moment, whate- ter in multiple titles, ‘man of the moment’ and arguably ver Snyder touches, turns to gold. Batman R.I.P, Batman and the most successful contributor to One may be forgiven for Robin: Reborn and Bat- DC’s latest strategy, launched in thinking that Snyder has come out man Incorporated (to 2011, known as ‘The New 52’. His of nowhere, pulled out of a seething name a rather select monthly runs on Batman, Swamp firmament from which all great few). For a character who has Thing and now spinning out of the writers are moulded and shaped. been published monthly over the ‘Court of Owls’ storyline, Talon Indeed, his rise from obscurity to , text Scott Snyder, art Greg Capullo, © DC Comics. topping Diamond Di- stributors’ sales chart in two short years is no- thing short of meteoric.
For a while, however, Face the Court vol. (2011): 2 #5 Snyder was destined for a rather different fate. His first foray literary debut set the stall for what into published writing was to come; but, following that, was not in comics a poor experience writing a first but in prose fiction. novel led him to contribute a piece 2006’s Voodoo Heart, –‘The Thirteenth Egg’ – for an a collection of short anthology of short prose fiction stories and Snyder’s about original superheroes, Who
critically commended Can Save Us Now? (2008). Ilustration: The Caped Crusader goes insane, Batman proctor
A promotional reading into the Batman universe when Go- Following the critical –James Gordon Jnr was only ever 23 captured the attention of Mark tham came calling). Rather than de- triumph of American Vampire, Dan represented as a child. In Skeleton Doyle, editor of Vertigo, DC’s picting vampires as incredibly sexy, DiDio, President of DC Comics Cases, Snyder brings the character ‘adult’ imprint, which brought sensuous and sensitive à la Twilight, summoned a nervous Scott Snyder up close and personal by showing a new opportunity in the guise of or as a metaphorical vehicle for the for a meeting to ask one question: us the adult Gordon Jnr which an invitation to pitch an idea for underclass and social integration if you could choose one comic delivers a chilling act of storytelling a potential comic book, the result as in True Blood, Snyder developed book from DC’s rich and varied that sets the nerve fibres on high of which finally arrived in the an epic tale of vampire genealogy history to work on, what would it alert and commands the hair to shape of American Vampire, the spanning over a century which be? The answer, of course, was the stand at attention. The genre that first five issues of which features portrayed vampires as the ‘undead’ Batman. Against all his expecta- immediately springs to mind is the a back up story by none other than beasts of lore; that is, terrifying. As tions, Snyder boarded a train to the thriller, even horror, rather than the grand master of Horror himself, Snyder states: ‘…part of the point of dark and grisly streets of Gotham. superhero narrative, which comes Stephen King (who had previously American Vampire is to make vam- as no surprise given the aforemen- waxed lyrical about Voodoo Heart pires scary again. When Skinner Detective Comics
, text Scott Snyder, art Greg Capullo, © DC Comics. as a work which ‘blew him away’). changes into a vampire, he’s fucking Snyder’s stint on Detective Comics, ABOUT THE AUTHOR: American Vampire began scary. You don’t want to kiss him… compiled in the collected edition, PhD candidate at the University of Sunder- life as an idea for a book or perhaps he does not fucking sparkle!’ Black Mirror, set the bar very high land, Centre for Research in Media and Cul- a film script as Snyder did not have American Vampire is indeed. But it is Skeleton Cases, tural Studies, UK where he is researching and access to the comic book arena at a story about Commissioner Gor writing his thesis on the reboot phenomenon that rare specimen that causes in popular culture which includes, among the time. Having King attached to aspiring writers to wring their don’s wayward son, James Jnr, that other practices, comic books, film, and televi- vol. 2 #5 (2011): Face the Court vol. (2011): 2 #5 the project boosted initial interest hands in disbelief, despair and effectively demonstrates Snyder’s sion. He has published articles on the reboot in the series, but it was Snyder’s envy: a debut comic book that reads ability to operate in a narrative in academic journals and delivered papers tale of Skinner Sweet, the titular like a third or fourth act, perhaps continuum whilst expertly tweak at conferences on the topic whilst also con- tributing to a new collection titled Batman: American Vampire, which showed a career best. A coveted Eisner ing Gotham’s textual architecture. Fan Phenomena and has recently written off his writing chops with aplomb. award, the comic book industry This is a feature of Snyder’s writing an article documenting fan reactions to the In a world dominated by ‘sparkly’, equivalent of an Oscar, a Ha- on Batman which has garnered new Star Wars films. He has started his own Byronesque romantic blood-suc- rvey award – voted for by comic applause and praise across the website (infiniteearths.co.uk) which seeks to invite academics and fans to contribute ma- kers, a trend begat by Buffy and book professionals - and Snyder’s critical circuit and remains an terial on popular culture and, in particular, Angel then extended and further fortunes had suddenly performed integral component of his tool the comic book medium. William is currently popularised by Twilight, True Blood a significantvolte-face . Remember, box of narrative sleight of hand. writing a chapter for the forthcoming collec- and The Vampire Diaries, Snyder a mere three years previous and he First introduced to comic ted anthology, Remake TV, which focuses on demonstrated his verve and skill by was head deep in a novel that, due book readers in Frank Miller’s the many iterations of Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead. As his workload increases he injecting a new lease of (undead) to a period of turbulent economic Batman: Year One, and featuring in recognises that he does not actually have a life life into an exhausted sub-genre upheaval, threatened the project The Long Halloween – also set in beyond the book and the keyboard.
Ilustration: The Defender of Gotham walks amidst a model of Gotham, Batman (a skill which he carried with him from ever seeing the light of day. Batman’s inaugural year of activity proctor
tioned American Vampire and, thriller with ‘Year One’ stories or, This later, the horror mini-series Seve- even, Christopher Nolan’s Batman sentiment is echoed red – also eerie and spooky in the feature-films, except, on this occa- by Tommy Elliot, classic 1970s sense of the word. For sion, it is not the Dark Knight who the super-villa- James Jnr is a sociopath; or is he? is depicted in his birth throes, but in Hush, who is The ‘whodunit’ perspec- the modern day City of Gotham: kidnapped from tive of Skeleton Cases is beautifully one half of the story is certainly Arkham Asylum orchestrated as a black ballad of Gotham Begins in all but name. by ‘the Architect’. woe, a symphony of despair, as we Spanning over a century, As Grayson tries to witness James Senior immersed in Gates of Gotham describes a city in extract necessary in- self-doubt and insecurity. The evi- genesis as the founding families of formation from him, dence begins to stack up in his son’s Gotham – the Waynes, the Cobble- Elliot taunts him: favour: James Jnr has been falsely pots and the Elliots – collaborate to ‘How can you… accused; he is innocent; he is my build a foundation for the future, ever hope to protect son and I have shown him no sup- which would become the modern Gotham’s future… port, offered no security. We join day Gotham with its towering when you’re so 24 Commissioner Gordon on his jour- spires and vertiginous structures, naïve of its past’. ney throughout the narrative and a ‘city in clouds’, as the Gates While we, the reader, are conjoined with brothers envision it. The story we can forgive the father as he questions his own unfolds across time in both the 19th Grayson for his role in the horror that unfurls like century – as Gotham’s origin story lack of historical a ticking time-bomb. The juxtapo- is told – and in the 21st century as knowledge regar- sition of story, dialogue and artwork Batman, Robin, Red Robin and the ding Gotham – after is an exercise in aesthetic solidarity. Black Bat race against the clock all, he protects the Francesco Francavilla’s pencils to prevent a terrorist - who aptly streets of Blüdhaven carry their own stark, sombre goes by the name ‘The Architect’ as Nightwing not gravitas and, rather than off-set the - from laying waste to the city in Gotham City– we horror, work in conjunction with recompense for the betrayal of may not be as Snyder’s writing in a kind of hor- his ancestors and ‘true’ fathers of forgiving if Bruce rific, yet sublime, noirish tragedy. Gotham, the Gates brothers. Wayne was so igno- asked to complete the sentence But reading the arc in rant. Bruce Wayne or, rather, “Gotham is…” using three words or text , Gates of Gotham hindsight, one becomes aware of Batman, is Gotham City’s Dark less…Here are some of the words trike! Gates of Gotham, a five-part a master-stroke of story-telling as Knight and protector. In many used to describe Gotham the past mini-series co-written with Kyle Snyder, in conjunction with Hig- ways, Batman is Gotham City. few weeks: “Damned.” “Cursed.” Higgins (who is now writing the gins, foreshadows events to come in “Bedlam.” “Murderous…” Gotham monthly Nightwing comic book in the post-Flashpoint and into ‘The The Court of Owls is “villainous.” Gotham is a “losing
‘The New 52’), tells a story that is New 52’ universe. Although this is In the opening episode of ‘The game.” Gotham is “hopeless.” Once The Talons S vol. 2 #7 (2011): couched in the past and illustrates not Bruce Wayne in the cape and New 52’ chronology, and the in a while, someone names one of Snyder’s penchant for history as he cowl, but Dick Grayson, the original first chapter in Snyder’s ‘Court the city’s villains as their answer crafts a ‘secret origin’ for one of the Robin and Nightwing, I cannot fail of Owls’ arc, Bruce Wayne is to the “Gotham is” question…. most enduring and remarkable cha- to align his words with the night- regaling Gotham’s bourgeoisie someone actually tries to make with a speech on a new initiative the argument that the vity is best to revitalise the city – to extend reflected in its villains. For example, In many ways, Batman is Gotham City. the work already put in place over “Gotham is Two-Face,” meaning a century earlier by the ‘first fami- the Gotham is a city at odds with racters in comics, that is, Gotham mare that will soon descend on Go- lies’ detailed in Gates of Gotham: itself. Or “Gotham is Killer Croc.” City itself. As issue one announces, tham City to challenge the Batman: ‘Every Saturday, the Gotham Meaning the city is little more ‘The Secret History of Gotham ‘Just when I thought I was getting Gazette includes a small life-styles than a cannibalistic monster. n owl attacking a bat is a portent of events to come, Batman Begins Here’, and one would be a handle on Gotham, I’m starting piece called “Gotham is.” In the Of course, one of the most
forgiven for aligning this historical to realize how little I know’. column, random Gothamites are common answers to the “Gotham Ilustration: A Scott Snyder, art Greg Capullo, © DC Comics. proctor
is” question is “Batman.” “Gotham cient Greece [as a] symbol of doubt even when faced with the begins in earnest. As ‘Face the is ‘Batman’.” “ Gotham is ‘Batma- wealth and power’, Jim Gordon stark and brutal truth about the ci- Court’ (issue 5) opens, Batman has n’s city’.” Gotham is ‘the Bat…’” quotes an old nursery rhyme: ty’s secret society, been missing So, then, Gotham is Beware the Court of Owls, ‘ruling Gotham for eight days. Batman and Batman is Gotham, that watches all the time, from a shadowed No one knows a symbiotic tangle of flesh and con- ruling Gotham from perch… since Snyder performs where he is, crete, humanity and the urban, man a shadowed perch, colonial times.’ but, as we come and city. But here is where Snyder behind granite and lime. ‘…I’m a radical revision to learn, he is performs a coup de théâtre by taking They watch you at you hearth, the only legend and re-shifting a prisoner of the this conceit, subverting it, and, they watch you in your bed. the city needs. In Court, trapped in in the process, de-stabilising the Speak not a whispered word many ways, it’s my of power in the a labyrinth where Batman from his perch as overlord of them, oldest and truest Batman universe. slowly, but surely, and guardian of Gotham. What if Or they’ll send the Talon for friend. And it his mind is put the city’s throbbing heart, its DNA, your head. knows me better to the test as he its fundamental systems, beat to Batman responds: ‘I know the than anyone, just begins to break- the sound of someone else’s drum? nursery rhyme, Jim. But the as I know it. Which is why I can down. In a hallucinatory episode, 25 Someone, like the Dark Knight, Court of Owls is just a legend.’ say there is no Court of Owls.’ his parents visit him, claiming they hiding in the shadows, but skulking Gordon: ‘To be blunt, so Discussing the possibility had been here all along, waiting for silently, camouflaged and unseen? were you for a while.’ of the existence of the Court with him - before owls decimate their What if Batman becomes the prey? Batman: ‘They don’t exist.’ Mayoral candidate, Lincoln March, insides and erupt from their necks. Batman’s insistence that Bruce argues that he would certain- Snyder recognises that Enter the Talons. the Court of Owls is a nonsense, ly be aware if the legend had some he is not only de-stabilising the When a mysterious ‘John Doe’ a legend, myth and ‘bedtime story’ grain of truth: ‘Don’t you think, Bat’s ontological milieu here, but is is found with multiple knives is at the heart of the narrative as with my roots in the city, I’d have re-writing his history. Batman strug- protruding from his corpse carved he struggles, grapples and wrestles learned they were real long ago?’ gles with the notion that his mythos, with the symbol of an Athenian with the fact that he might not Bruce’s cynicism and his legend, is being revised as he owl which, as Batman points actually know Gotham at all. He downright refusal to accept that wanders the labyrinth in existential out, ‘appeared on coins in An- is put into a position of denial and the Court of Owls as anything but crisis. He is not only fighting for a tall tale is even survival, but fighting for history or, challenged by those quite literally, his story. The owls closest to him. Dick are ‘trying to steal my story,’ he scre- Grayson argues that ams, ‘they can’t change my story.’ ‘No one On a meta-textual level it knows Gotham is not only the Owls who threaten better than you. It’s Batman’s story, but Snyder himself, your city. It’s Bat- the textual ‘architect’ who performs man’s city…But it’s a radical revision and re-shifting gmont Polska. nearly four hundred of power in the Batman universe. years old, which Snyder is, indeed, ‘stealing’ Batma- means, over the years n’s story, recasting all we know, as maybe it belonged readers, outside of the text whilst to something else, also retroactively changing history too. Something big. within the text itself. As a result, the Something dark.’ Dark Knight is left distraught as he
, text Scott Snyder, art Greg Capullo, © E At the de- questions his own position within nouement of issue 4, the Gotham tradition. By the end of Batman is captured the story arc, Batman/ Bruce Way- by the Court of Owls ne recognise that his knowledge and and the dismantling power has been rocked from its axis: Batman: Trybunał sów
Ilustrations: A conversation of commissioner Gordon with Batman; Bruce is Wayne testing new equipment in the Bat of the Dark Knight ‘I now know that you spend your Cave, Cave, proctor
complement and collaborate with of relationships that have weakened the many voices burrowed within Batman. For the Joker, too many what Will Brooker describes as bat cooks are spoiling the broth. the Batman matrix. Like Bruce Wayne, Snyder is planning an Man of Steel architectural initiative to rebuild Next on Snyder’s agenda is colla- Gotham for the post-Millennium. boration with artist extraordinaire, Like Bruce Wayne, Jim Lee, on Man of Steel, a new Snyder is also rebuilding Gotham. Superman book reportedly coming It is rather difficult to in mid-2013 as part of the 75th anni- create new villains with any lasting versary of the Last Son of Krypton. gravitas for the Batman universe One cannot help but wonder if he given the roster of archetypes can re-invigorate into the world’s within the matrix: Two-Face, oldest superhero as he did with the Penguin, Killer Croc, Ra’s Al Ghul, Dark Knight. Only time will tell, Scarecrow, et al, are all large than 26 but I, for one, await the release with life and mainstays of the Bat- bated breath and expectation. -world. For Snyder to introduce Gordon’s son so remarkably well as At the moment, Snyder’s an original villain into the over- touch is turning well-worn story- -populated world of Gotham City’s -worlds into comic book gold em underworld, and then to follow blemised through his work on that up with another new nefario- Swamp Thing , the Twilight anti us ingredient, the Talons, is to be thesis, American Vampire, and applauded – and has been. What mini-series such as Severed. As would happen should Snyder get to he drafts new blueprints for the play in the sandbox with an old toy? textual foundations of Batman, What about the Joker? let us raise our glasses and wel Beginning in Batman #13 come Scott Snyder, Gotham’s and weaving in and out of all the new architect, into the fold. Bat-Family titles comes Death of
the Family to answer that question. , text Scott Snyder, art Greg Capullo, © DC Comics. At the time of writing, the event is hitherto incomplete, but one already detects a classic in the bibliography: making. The opening issue – which Brooker, Will. Hunting the Dark outsold all comics that week and is Knight: Twenty-First Century entering a fourth print run – is taut Batman. London: I.B Taurus, 2012. Face the Court vol. (2011): 2 #5 and sinister. The Joker, re-entering Ryan, Joe. ‘I Don’t Fucking Sparkle: the ‘New 52’ universe after a year’s Interview with Scott Snyder, Creator hiatus, attacks Gotham’s finest, of American Vampire’. The Faster the GCPD, in their own habitat, Times.
Comics and the plucking of Jim ting Batman in his own image to what he sees as a comfortable nexus Ilustration: Batman erring in the hallways of owls’ labyrinth, Batman