“Bat-Mite” is one of DC’s two new all ages miniseries, and the series is set to reintroduce everyone’s favorite nuisance to the DCU. We had the chance to talk to writer Dan Jurgens and artist Corin Howell about the book, their process, and what crossover seems destined to occur.
Let’s get the big question out of the way first: Why Bat-Mite?
Dan Jurgens: More appropriately– why NOT?
I really wanted to a different head space as a writer and Bat-Mite certainly offers that. It sets us up for an “anything goes” type of series and that’s really fun to play with. Nothing wrong with a good, fun, romp.
I love the “zany ‘Brave and The Bold'” feel to the series premise. Without spoiling, what criteria did you use to pick who Bat-Mite chooses to “improve’, and how close was your wish list to the one we’ll end up seeing in the series?
DJ: I didn’t choose– Bat-Mite did.
Quite honestly, his ego is such that he believes he’s better than everybody– Batman included. So, from that standpoint, he sees it as his duty to make everyone better and raise their games. He’s the ultimate life coach.
Corin, what was it like getting the call from DC to work on the book? Did they tell you what caught their eye about your work?
Corin Howell: It was actually a little surprising because I’ve never worked on a superhero book before. They had seen a copy of ‘Cafe Racer’ (Thank you Sean!) and told me how they were drawn to the expressiveness in my style. I was really excited.
Both you and Dan pull off a real high-wire act in terms of balancing tone in this book. Is it difficult bringing all these DC superhero designs, mostly created to work in a more rendered style, into line with the more open and elastic style that works so well with Bat-Mite’s character?
CH: At first it was a little challenging because I’m not use to drawing a lot of superhero characters (except maybe The Flash), but after we were able to do the 8-page preview I started to get the hang of how I wanted to approach the characters – using a little Bruce Timm influence here and there really helped.
Dan, as an artist, you’ve spent your career immersed in the more realistic side of the DCU (Superman, JLA, Booster Gold). Do you have any desire to stretch different cartooning muscles and maybe swap places with Corin for an issue?
DJ: Yes! I do!
A lot of that is me seeing what tremendous work she’s doing. Corin has made Bat-Mite incredibly expressive. Her enthusiasm for the project radiates from the page and that, in turns, gets my drawing hand twitching a bit.
You’ve described Bat-Mite like “an editor gone berzerk.” Were there any times in this series where you made your own editor a little crazy trying to define the boundary of what’s possible with fun in this new DCU?
DJ: Oh, I think I’ve driven Joey Cavalieri, Jim Chadwick and David Pina right to the edge with this. In no small part, it’s because comedy is actually harder to write than a straight action narrative. Especially if you’re trying to do both subtle and more overt stuff.
Is there anything working on this book so far has taught you or changed your perspective on?
DJ: Interesting question. At first thought, I would’ve said “no”. But I’ve come to realize that it is forcing me to look at some of these DC characters a different way.
Corin, what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since you started working on the series?
CH: I’m still a little new to DC but the biggest thing I’m learning is how this industry works and what I can do so I can work more in it. It’s really exciting.
Referencing — artist’s friend or bane of your existence?
CH: For me, its THE BEST thing I can use when I’m working on pages. I use reference a lot in my work, whether its looking at animation character designs or realistic landscapes.
Continued belowWhat’s your process like? Do you work digitally? Analog?
CH: I actually work entirely digitally, but sometimes I’ll pull out a illustration (mainly commissions) or two in traditional style.
Michael Aetiyeh’s colors really compliment your work on this book. Did you have any comments or contact with him beforehand about the approach to take?
CH: Not beforehand really, we usually set up a group via email to make sure the colors are what we want and if there are many mistakes.
Forget Superman vs Batman — how about Bat-Mite vs Mister Mxyzptlk? Is a World’s Funnest reunion a possibility?
DJ: I’d say to forget Mxyzptlk! The one that Bizarro writer Heath Corson and I want to do is a Bat-Mite/Bizarro mash! That’s the one I’d target. (Paging Dr. Dan DiDio. Paging Dr. Dan DiDio…)
