DF Interview: Dan Jurgens brings humor, hijinks to new Bat-Mite mini

By Byron Brewer

Bat-Mite is an imp from the 5th Dimension who (like everyone) loves Batman more than anything and just wants to hang out with him and make his adventures more exciting! How that is going to translate into a 6-issue solo miniseries, we don’t know.

But we will all find out in June as DC – along with writer Dan Jurgens and artist Corin Howell – brings us Bat-Mite #1!

Well, Dynamite Forces could not wait until June, so we bamfed (oops, wrong comics universe!) to the 5^th Dimension itself to talk to the legendary Dan Jurgens.

Dynamic Forces: Dan, how did this particular and most unusual project come about for you?

Dan Jurgens: After coming off an incredibly intensive year-plus on Futures End, Convergence and their related tie-ins, I was in the mood for something different. I had been talking to Dan DiDio about various themes and ideas I wanted to explore. At the time, I had no idea what the character would be, or exactly how it would work. But he urged me to stay on it.

Eventually, it hit me -- why not Bat-Mite? 

I threw it at Dan and we took it from there. 

DF: With Harley Quinn and other titles, there seems a new emphasis on humor. Is this an element of Bat-Mite?

Dan Jurgens: Humor is absolutely a part of the series. In fact, it's the foundation, along with a smattering of social commentary and satire, along with a hint of adventure.

DF: For the unknowing among fandom, tell us about this wonderful creation, Bat -Mite.

Dan Jurgens: Bat-Mite first showed up in the ‘50s as something of a counterpart to Superman's nemesis, Mr. Mxyzptlk. As much as anything, he was there to irritate Batman.

DF: How does your iteration differ from the DC traditional Bat-Mite?

Dan Jurgens: Our Bat-Mite comes from a mysterious place that we don't quite define, but certainly drop a lot of hints about. He isn't here to irritate anyone, though he'll certainly end up doing so.

DF: Dan, can you tell us about your storyline?

Dan Jurgens: In short, Bat-Mite is here to make heroes better. He thinks he has all the answers, sort of like a writer or editor on idea steroids. His mission? To help the heroes, and even the villains, to up their game.

It's really crazy, off the wall stuff.

DF: Are you looking forward to working with artist Corin Howell?

Dan Jurgens: We're having a great time. Corin's work is remarkably full of life and vitality. Her expressions are fabulous and she's done a great job of getting to the essence of Bat-Mite and portraying him as a character.

DF: It almost goes without saying that Bat-Mite will be brought together with Batman at some point, correct? But will this be the Scott Snyder/Greg Capullo Batman?

Dan Jurgens: Batman and Bat-Mite encounter each other right away, in fact.

And, yeah, it's in the DCU.

DF: Does Bat-Mite tie in with Convergence in any way?

Dan Jurgens: Ha! No, not quite. But you'll see his first adventure in back of one of the May Convergence tie-in books.

DF: Dan, would you like to see Bat-Mite become a continuing series post-Convergence?

Dan Jurgens: That'd be fabulous. Honestly, I'm having so much fun writing it that I'll probably write 100 issues of it, whether it's published or not!

Dynamic Forces would like to thank Dan Jurgens for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions. Bat-Mite #1 from DC Comics hits stores June 3^rd!

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