Batman #22: Alfred Slaps Bruce, Bruce Totally Deserves It

As Zero Year continues on, it's clear that Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo are doing a stellar job of avoiding the well-traversed elements of Batman's origin, creating something familiar yet fresh.

With issue #22, we saw Bruce's struggle with his first forays into crime fighting, the tension that brings to his relationship with Alfred (the slap heard 'round the world!), and the troubling new evils emerging in Gotham City.

Read Our Review of Batman #22

I had a quick chat with Capullo about issue #22 to get some insight. Mild spoilers ahead!

IGN Comics: I know this change happened a few issues back, but I forgot to ask last time we talked. You’re being inked by Danny Miki now. What do you like about his style and what he adds to your work?

Greg Capullo: Danny and I have worked together (a LOT) in the past on Spawn. I refer to Danny as the God of all Inkers. He is a Master. Danny has an uncanny ability to know what it is that I'm after. Admittedly, we're just regaining that relationship now. We've been away from each other a really long time. But, the pages that Danny is handing in now? Awesome. Danny's work is controlled, yet organic. Machine-like and virtuosic yet not sterile. As the tank keeps rolling, the bodies will pile up. People will be knocked over by his inks!

IGN: There’s a whole lot of Red Hood Gang in this issue. How do you compensate for their emotion and acting without having the option to use all of their facial features?

Capullo: It's challenging at times. I've tried ghosting same facial lines, but erase them because they diminish the cool factor of the blank face. That leaves you with body language alone. The hands, the arch of the back, the tilt of the head, etc. That's what I use to get the feeling across.

IGN :On a scale of 1-10, how fun was it to draw Alfred slapping Bruce?

Capullo: Ha! Well, he deserved it. I'll leave it at that.

IGN: I love the scenes with Bruce, Phillip, and Nygma – you can feel the palpable tension, particularly between Bruce and Phillip, despite their dialogue being rather cordial. That’s all conveyed through character and setting. Have you studied live performers or anything like that to help accomplish this sense of drama on the page?

Capullo: I just observe the world around us all. I put myself in the actor's position and draw it the way I'd feel it. Life is the only thing I study.

IGN: I loved the Ouroboros page, love that you guys are contributing to experiment with this story. Can you tell me a bit about the development of that page?

Capullo: From the start, Scott wanted to do something artsy with that page. Initially, he was thinking that maybe I could design a crossword puzzle with some squares serving as panels. I wasn't totally sold on that. So, I tried jigsaw puzzle pieces as panels. It was a step in the right direction, but honestly, I wasn't thrilled with that too much either. Now, brother Scott is a studious SOB. Well don't you know, he discovered this ancient Egyptian board game! He sent me a pic and I ran with it. Historians have no idea how the game was played. I guess we figured it out!

IGN: Is the Ouroboros going to be a thematic element that stays in play during Zero Year?

Capullo: I really don't know. Brother Scott doesn't tell me anything because I have a big mouth and would spill the beans. Just kidding. I honestly don't know at this point

IGN: This is unrelated to Zero Year, really, but the ad is in the book this month – how’s it feel to have a Batman Black and White statue coming out modeled after your work? Flattering? Weird?

Capullo: I'd been asked numerous times to design them. But, I don't have the time. So, the first feeling is that I'm happy it got done with no extra work for me! But, sure it's cool. I never stopped to think about it really. I mean, my nose is always aimed downward at my drafting table. I don't have time to sit back and really consider just how cool ALL of this is!

Joey is a Senior Editor at IGN and a comic book creator. Follow Joey on Twitter @JoeyEsposito, or find him on IGN at Joey-IGN. He often wonders whatever happened to Billy's RadBug.

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