We talked to Gerry Duggan about the upcoming new comic book series, Arkham Manor!
Duggan and CrystalsArkham Manoris part of the new line of books that also includesGotham AcademyandGotham By Gaslight.
You could also include the new runs onCatwomanandBatgirl(whose creative team I also interviewed) on this list.
Theres a want to get these new books moving forward with the times.
That place has literally THE WORST security on Earth.
Youd have to be, well, insane to keep making the same mistake over and over and over…
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But finally, somethings happened at the asylum and theyve closed it down.
Now Bruce has the chance to keep an eye on the bad guys himself.
Of course, when you look into the eye of insanity, it looks back at you.
How have you had fun with the layout?
Youll definitely be seeing some places in Wayne Manor that youve never been to.
So the cave is still intact down there…
The cave is still intact, but its been protected.
When you look at the history of the DCU, the original Asylum did begin in a mansion.
Amadeus Arkham converted his mansion into a lunatic asylum and it didnt have a wonderful outcome for him.
So hopefully Bruce, Alfred, and the rest of the Bat-cast can avoid his fate.
How do the histories of the Wayne and Arkham families play into the new book?
There will be some [history], but Im looking more forward than back.
So youll see some familiar inmates, youll see some new inmates.
New characters…and possibly older characters in a new light.
Its not a secret that weve said Batman will adopt a new mask.
We had Matches Malone, which was his way of viewing the criminal underworld.
Thats been a lot of fun.
There is an element of immediately saving these folks.
Dr. Jeremiah Arkham poses this question to the inmates in the first issue.
The inmates are the ones being hunted now.
Theres a killer inside the house.
Is it a member of the staff?
Is it one of the inmates?
We dont know, but it seemingly has a supernatural element to it.
Its what propels Batman into this new identity.
From his perspective, its his house.
He does have a very specific mission.
Some other things immediately complicate that mission.
By issue 2 or 3, I hope to have surprised people with what the book is.
Its really a masquerade.
Does this book focus more on Batman or his rogues gallery?
We are entrenched in the rogues, but we are seeing Batman in the background.
We know hes there, but they dont.
Its a way for him to observe them and for us to observe them in their natural habitat.
Thats the great thing about Arkham.
Its always had a star-crossed, very unlucky outlook and path.
Its not any different here.
Perhaps there is some transformation there for some of our historic inmates.
One of the revelations for me was that I didnt know it would be fun to write Mr. Hes become for me a little bit of a pressure valve.
He has a very important role to play by the end of the first arc.
Shawn Crystal and Dave McCaig have done this wonderful transformation of the Manor and the characters inside of it.
I could not be more thrilled with their work.
Interesting that you mention Mr. Feeze.
It always feels like he and Harvey Dent could be the ones rehabilitated.
Yeah, they have a depth and an intelligence.
Even though theyre scarred, they dont seem irredeemable.
It was a real bit of a business to coordinate some of that.
They were available to me at the right moments.
Its just been a real joy to work on this book.
Were also working with theGotham Academycrew in a couple of fun ways I hope people wont expect.
Theyre very much their own books.
I think that if youre reading one and not the other, you dont need to.
But if youre reading both, I think youll see that back and forth that were really proud of.
Im proud of those books.
I loveGotham Academyand the new take onBatgirl.
How is Bruce coping with the change to his home?
As always, he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders and nobody does it better.
But there are those moments where even he can be brought to his knees.
The way that he copes with it is to put his head down until the danger has passed.
It is not a pleasant experience for him.
He might be able to vent, but not as Bruce Wayne.
Its been fun and neat.
Weve seen Batman do a lot of different things through the decades.
All of these new books have a new wrinkle to bring.
I hope that Arkham Manor adds a lot to the universe.
Is there a connection betweenEndgameandArkham Manor?
There is, but I dont want to spoil that.
Im proud to see I havent broken any vases yet.
Im close to the finish line.
Everyone is in to some really wonderful surprises.
This has been such a joy for me to write.
If youre a Batman fan and added us to your pull list, I thank you.
I hope youll give us a try.
Gerry Duggan, thank you very much!
Arkham Manor#1 is out TODAY!
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