Peter Tomasi is no stranger to the world of Batman. Tomasi served as the editor of Morrison's run on "Batman", currently co-writing "Brightest Day" with Geoff Johns, and has delivered the publisher and its readers a steady stream of high quality books, including a year-long run on "Nightwing
The new B&R features Dick Grayson, the superhero formerly known as Robin who is now protecting Gotham City as Batman. Riding shotgun in the series is Damian Wayne, the son of Bruce Wayne and the supervillainess, Talia al Ghul.
CBR News sat down with Peter to discuss his new job(handed to him by Grant Morrison)taking over the monthly series.
CBR News: You have a long history with Batman and Robin, dating back to your years as editor of the Bat-books, but what was your initial, childhood introduction to these characters?
Peter Tomasi: I remember my dad bringing me home some Batman comics many moons ago, and I definitely loved "Super Friends" and reruns of the Adam West TV show. My first Halloween costume was a Batman costume, so Batman was definitely the first superhero who entered my consciousness and my sub-consciousness.
CBR: What do you consider to be the quintessential Batman run?
Tomasi:The Denny O'Neill and the Neal Adams stuff was really the first run that got me drew me into the character as a kid along with "The Brave and Bold" book with Bob Haney and, one of my personal favorites, Jim Aparo, who has to be one of the most underrated artists in the history of our business. Aparo kicked ass on not just Batman, but Aquaman and The Spectre, too. But I do have to say that [Frank] Miller's "Batman: Year One" still knocks me out each and every time I read it, and I think that particular story is my favorite of all-time.
CBR:Despite Batman's long history, there is a new hero under the cowl. How has the character changed now that Dick is Batman?
Tomasi:Dick Grayson is simply a different personality than Bruce, so based on who's under the cowl changes things up a bit right from the get-go. Dick's outlook, his perspective, everything that makes him tick, gives us a distinct feel. And as the old saying goes, change is good. Dick's not there to simply put on a Bruce and Batman mask; he's his own man and he comes with his own specific baggage. Dick's approach to being Batman will be uniquely his, as will his approach to dealing with Damian. This is an older brother/younger brother dynamic while with Bruce it's a father/son thing, and we all know how different and complicated that can be.
CBR:You wrote Dick during your run on "Nightwing." Has he changed since you last worked with him?
Tomasi:No, to me. Dick's still the same guy, always emotionally open but obviously at a new stage of his life; he's walking down a different path than expected. It's a familiar path, but it's the "walk a mile in my shoes" bit that he has to do to truly understand what it means to be Batman 24/7 for the unforeseeable future. He doesn't simply become the same Batman that Bruce was and is; Dick's psyche is completely different. Dick's Batman is Dick's Batman, and that's how I'm trying to approach it. Dick will say and do things on patrol that Bruce wouldn't. But another important factor to consider now, too, is that Bruce, in my opinion, has changed due to his experiences in Grant's run, and it'd be a shame to ignore those changes. These characters have evolved over the course of every era and it's fun as a writer to embrace these changes and kick it around.
CBR:What does Damian add to the storytelling palette?
Tomasi:Damian brings a lot of youthful energy and out of the box uncertainty. Having an eight-year old son myself, and having this 10-year old wacko named Damian Wayne running around, is a lot of fun. Damian brings a dynamic to the book that is really unique. He's a "bounceable" character, too. You can use Dick to bounce off of him and use Damian to bounce off of Dick. The relationship between Dick, Damian, Alfred and even Gordon, creates a lot of drama that can be played, tonally, in many different ways. Especially with the history of Damian and his blood ties with Bruce, Talia, Ras and the al Ghul name as a whole.
For more of the interview, hit the link below.