DF Interview: Comics vet Dan Jurgens puts Tim Drake in spotlight in Batman Beyond

By Byron Brewer

Writer Dan Jurgens might have moved Tim Drake into the lead role of Batman Beyond for a new iteration of the series, now in stores, but this future will not only tie into a key point in DC’s present day era, but also will explore the potential and possibilities of the DCU Multiverse.

Still, the new Batman Beyond is very much Tim Drake’s story. To find out more, Dynamic Forces was honored to sit down with famed comics veteran Dan Jurgens and hit the high spots.

Dynamic Forces: Dan, your new version of Batman Beyond is not only part of the regular DCU continuity (whatever that is at this point) but is said to tie into DC's present-day era. Can you be more specific without getting “spoilery”?

Dan Jurgens: Unfortunately, I can’t really get into that now, but I see this as three corners of a triangle. One corner builds on the Batman Beyond Animated world. Another builds on the generally-known events of the DCU’s Great Disaster. The third is the present, which is one of the reasons we have Tim. He pulls the story right into DC’s present.

DF: Tim Drake, the former BB Robin, has stepped into the Batman role. Give us your perceptions of Drake at this point in his life.

Dan Jurgens: I see Tim as an incredibly smart and extremely capable individual. But he’s never quite truly believed that he deserved to be a Robin, and it’s even harder for him to believe that he deserves to be Batman. Self doubt gnaws at him a bit, and he has to overcome all that.

DF: Can you tell us about the world Tim will now inhabit and how it is different than that Terry McGinnis knew?

Dan Jurgens: Yes, it’s definitely a different world, mostly due to the fact that we’re blending elements of the Great Disaster into the story. This future Earth is wildly disparate, with some places, like Neo-Gotham, in great shape, and other places lacking any semblance of civilization. It’s the ultimate have/have not world.

DF: Batman Beyond, of course, first knew life as an animated TV series back in the day. I am always interested to see if a writer will take characters or concepts from the familiar to use in the comic. Any of that happening here?

Dan Jurgens: Absolutely. By now, fans have already seen Max Gibson, Barbara Gordon and Inque.

And, of course, Terry McGinnis’ young brother, Matt.

DF: Tell us about the destruction wrought by Brother Eye and where that is now.

Dan Jurgens: That’s part of the story that we have to tell, and it’ll all unfold as the story moves along. As I said, though, it’s a very different world. A place where almost anything is possible.

DF: Can you tell us about the storyline with Tim going forward?

Dan Jurgens: Our first arc deals with Brother Eye and the general idea of Tim finding his place in this strange world. After that, we have something very special in mind, which should make fans truly happy.

DF: What can we look forward to in the way of Bernard Chang art? Why is he right for this book?

Dan Jurgens: Bernard is the perfect artist for this book. He’s very stylistic, which I love, and his training as an architect really comes through in creating a very believable setting for the world. Every time a page comes in, I do back flips. Well. Not really. But I would if I could.

DF: Dan, any realities out there in the DCU Multiverse where Terry DIDN’T die? And will we see that?

Dan Jurgens: C’mon! This is all about Tim Drake! Not so long ago, Tim was a truly loved character in the DCU. We want to restore that. This is his story!

Dynamic Forces would like to thank Dan Jurgens for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions. Batman Beyond #3 hits stores August 5^th!

For more news and up-to-date announcements, join us here at Dynamic Forces, www.dynamicforces.com/htmlfiles/, “LIKE” us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/dynamicforcesinc, and follow us on Twitter, www.twitter.com/dynamicforces.

2. 04/18/2024 - RICH DOUEK

3. 04/15/2024 - TONY FLEECS

4. 04/11/2024 - JOE CASEY

5. 04/09/2024 - RICH DOUEK

Show All