John Ridley's (12 Years a Slave) long-awaited Batman series has been announced by DC Comics, as the Oscar-winning screenwriter will pen a brand-new miniseries with art by Nick Derington (Mr. Miracle). The project will feature a version of Batman that's a person of color behind the cape and cowl - with little additional details revealed.
Ridley has been attached to a Batman comic for over a year, with few details coming out between the initial announcement. However, recently DC Publisher Jim Lee said Ridley's Batman miniseries will have a "huge impact" of the DC Comics. Ridley has an extensive comic book background, including most notably writing The American Way and its sequel series for Vertigo comics. Earlier this month, DC Comics announced Ridley was writing a five-issue miniseries titled The Otherside of the DC Universe, with Giuseppe Camuncoli, Andrea Cucchi, and Jose Villarrubia, for DC's Black Label imprint - which will show the world of DC Comics from heroes of color.
Ridley's new unnamed Batman four-issue miniseries will be a very different version of the character seen in the current Batman ongoing arc. Ridley told DC Comics that it's a "pretty safe bet" the new Batman will be a person of color. Here's piece of art for the series from LADRÖNN.
I think it's a pretty safe bet that if I'm writing Batman, it’s probably a little better than a 47% chance he’s going to be a person of color..."
With initial reports suggesting Duke Thomas (or Luke Fox) will be the next Batman, Ridley didn't exactly deny the rumors. He said the series will focus on the family of Batman's trusted confidant (and the man who oversees his business) Lucius Fox. He said there will be a new dynamic to the Dark Knight.
But he [Fox] has a family and this is a family that has secrets, has kept secrets from one another.. It’s a little bit different dynamic than the Batman that we've always seen.
Ridley's take on Batman is going to be incredibly exciting. While he hasn't explicitly said Duke or Luke is the man behind the mask, it certainly seems like that might be the case - but that's just our own speculation. Joining him for the series will be Derington, who's work on Mister Miracle and Batman: Universe puts him among the best artists working in comics today.
There are few additional details around the series, but the news confirms Ridley's involvement in a brand-new Batman project - it's exciting news for both fans of Ridley and comic fans in general. The unnamed series will hit comic book stores on January 21.
Source: DC Comics