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Wow, I’m really digging what I’ve seen, dude…

An especially excellent issue. At first I thought Cliff Chaing (a great artist in his own right) helped you with the art, but I know what a chameleon you are so once my eyes adjusted the art style you used for the back story totally works.

Today’s Wizard #218 has that profile on you. And this month you’re the number two artist behind Carlos Pacheco, a good artist, but seriously he’s not the ARTIST you are (well, who is?).

Hey there Cully
Thanks very much! I think you are kicking ass the Question feature.

Hey there Ralph
It’s interesting that you mention Cliff Chiang because I think his style reminds me of what my inspirations were for the “flashback” style I’m using. What I’m doing is loosely based on a early Mazzucchelli/Toth look and style, sort of retro, rough solid blacks with a graphic sensibility. Then jumping into the heavier more modern look of the present day Batwoman style. Things get really interesting and tricky as the “flashbacks” get closer to now in time. The art makes transitions in different ways.

I don’t know if you had seen The Source had a 6 page preview up earlier.

Another great issue bought and read. The style shift was well done and it set up quite a shock when we are brought back forward to the present. (Gotham is really a dark place today isn’t it?) And Kate is really starting to develop as a character.

Thanks, Mike. I’m really happy with the style shift as well. It’s pretty effective for the story.

I liked this issue. I think it’s incredible how much detail you put into the early panels (where we see the Kate family’s home life).
I also want to point out that I like the present day scene in which the panels are in the shapes of bats flying across the page. Very original and cool.
One question: what is up with the “Comics Code” I see that Detective has their stamp of approval, but it makes me wonder how, when we’ve already seen a couple people shot in the face at point blank range (the scene of Alice shooting her henchman in the first issue of your run was especially graphic, not that I’m complaining though!)

An amazing issue!

The style change-up was an excellent move, the retro look worked out great and it definitely made the time transitions all the more dramatic.
I continue to love the little things like how Kate’s dad was kept in the ‘civilian’ style on the monitors and the way the bats became incorporated into that layout. Very thoughtful.

This book is a real pleasure, I can’t wait for part two.

Over at http://savagecritic.com/ there’s a good analysis of your and Greg’s Batwoman. Mostly it’s a focus on the writing, because as the writer of the piece states, your brilliant art already is the talk of every piece that looks at Batwoman (and rightly so). Mostly it just says the writing is also great, but he explains why this is so.

hey there Shaun
I’m glad you like the slightly different approach we’re taking with this segment of the story. As for the comics code, I can’t figure out the exact rules either, I just draw things the way I think they should look.

Hey there Aria
The “retro” look is quite effective for sure, I’m glad I made that choice. Cool that you caught the bit where Dad is still in the established “civilian style”. All of these style tricks should work even better when read in collected form.

Hey there Ralph
Thanks for posting that link. IGN has a nice review up as well. DC p.r. have been sending me the reviews as they come in. I thought about posting the links to them but I thought it best for others to post them if they like would be better.

the issue is lovely! I am greedy though, and always find myself wishing that you had more pages (more more more!!!)

I heard an awful rumor: is it true that you are only doing the art for the next two issues, and then it will be done by someone else???

say it ain’t so! (or please hint at the next project that you are working on??)

thank you for the eye candy!

Hey there Anne
Thank you for the very kind words about the work. Yes there are 2 more issues to be done by me and then artist Jock steps in for a few issues, while I stay on doing covers. The plan is for us to continue our story after Jock’s issues, but plans may change to us moving into a new format and continue there, we’ll see. I hate to sound so vague and cryptic, but I just don’t know anymore beyond this statement. I will talk more about the possibilities as soon as I know more.

great issue. I also liked that those war pages with Kate’s dad were ina different style. Sort of Giraud-like.

Fantastic issue, JH. It’s a nice tonal shift from the first arc. And with that shift, I think the art, and the panel layout fit perfectly.

Thanks, Marino

Hey there Ryan
Thanks and I agree that the style shifts work really well, I’m happy with the results. I’ll be getting started on those interview questions soon, I’ve got to get these last 5 pages done for this story arc, so I’m concentrating on that.

Hey JH,

Your work on Detective is absolutely stunning, I’ve been raving about your run on the book to everyone who’ll listen.

Oh, and I read your Seven Soldiers issues recently. Great stuff!

Best of luck.

Just want to point you, Jim (and lovers of great art critique), in the direction of another critic (who goes by “Jog”) over on
http://savagecritic.com/2009/10/review-of-batwoman-in-detective-comics_30.html – a WOW, VERY THOROUGH look back at your comic art roots and what you’re doing today with Batwoman.

Hey there Geoff
Thanks very much, and thanks for the support in pitching it at other people.

Hey there Ralph
Thanks for posting another link. Jog always tends to be very in depth with his articles.

Brilliant- yet another style!

Very distressing story and still haven’t worked out the direction of Mrs. Kane’s bullet wounds.

Great colour design on the girl’s winter suits and the layouts of the “current” pages were amazing.

Best,

Deane

I’m really enjoying the DC run with Batwoman. The latest issue is no exception. I’d say the flashback scenes are a bit more than loosely based on Mazzucchelli but no complaints.

Very nice detail on the double page spread with Batwoman overlooking the crime scene. The fish themed embellishment on the structure.. felt like a real live part of Gotham. And the police boat light falling behind her head.. lovely. Props (seems to be the most fitting word) to Dave Stewart on the colours.

Thanks, Deane

Hey there Jeff
Thanks, glad you are digging what we are doing.

I think I say loosely because there is a lot of Toth in it as well, among others. There are quite a many artists from back then that came from a similar mode of thinking and I wanted to really capture that sensibility, or really to present my take on it.

And yeah, Dave is awesome!

Your art on this issue just blew me away. The flashback pages are terrific, love the style. And of course the creative panel layout is great too.

Thanks, Borna

Although I miss the Martin/Hamner ‘electric crayon’, Hamner/McCaig seemed to have the same palette as the main feature so it worked well. Saw Kubert in your style choice. Thought, for a moment, Sgt. Rock was going to make an appearance.

I think that Cully looks great with McCaig as well.

J3 – Loved, loved, LOVED the new issue. The change in style was very effective and the storytelling – just first rate. Nice shout-out with Kate wearing the Superman shirt in bed. Loved that.

When are panels up for sale on this one?

Again, bravo. Well done.

Hey there Pam
I’m glad you liked the latest issue. I think the art will up for sale on Tuesday.