CBR Interview With Tony Daniel

Yesterday on Comic Book Resources, we got an interview with Tony Daniel, where he discusses his new Batman title as well as The Savage Hawkman.  You can read the entire interview right here.

The copy for the first issue reads very much like an origin story. Is that the case? And if so, was it necessary to do an origin due to the character's long, and sometimes convoluted, backstory?

It's not an origin story, but the approach is, as if we're meeting this guy for the first time. He's already Hawkman. He's already lost the love of his life. It took me several months to work through his initial arc. It was very, very hard work. He's setting up new roots in NYC. I'm establishing a supporting cast of characters. Some are human, some are more than human. Some friend, some foe. I didn't feel I had the luxury of a great rogues gallery, such as the likes of The Flash or Batman. I need to make challenges for Carter Hall/Hawkman from the ground up.

My first priority was to introduce a character who will eventually be his nemesis. His arch-enemy. I'm very excited about that.

Another arch-enemy?  I understand the desire to rejigger everything and introduce new characters.  But a newly introduced nemesis seems a bit excessive, and they never seem to work out.  But if Shiera is not there then having someone other than Hath-Set as the Big Bad makes sense.

Regarding the Rogues Gallery, yeah, Hawkman doesn't have the strongest or most recognizable band of baddies, I still think that some of the old school foes need to stick around.  shadow-Thief, for one.  I.Q. is still around and availbe now that Doom Patrol is over.  Lion-Mane would be great, especially considering the new "savage" approach.  Can't you see the two of them tearing into each other?  And of course the Gentleman Ghost.  Everyone loves Gentleman Ghost.  The solicitcations seem to suggest that his new foes will be alien in origin, which is fine with me.  

My main hope is that Daniel keeps some of the stronger characters from older stories.

You mentioned he's already lost the love of his life. So may I ask, what role, if any, does Shiera Saunders/Hawkgirl/Hawkwoman play in this series?

For now I can't say a whole lot. People will have to wait and see how things develop this fall.

Expecting any information on this development in this interview is silly.  Sooner or later we'll get Hawkgirl, but for the time being the Winged Wonder is going to be flying solo.

We have to wait and be patient.  I feel like I am talking to my 2 year old.

As an artist yourself, can you break down the strengths of Philip Tan? As the book's writer, what do you feel he brings as a collaborator?

I'm very excited about Philip Tan's incredible artwork. People are about to have their socks knocked off when they see what this kid is doing. He's come of age here. Philip has been dying to do a Hawkman book for a long time. He has so much built up energy and excitement for this book. He's worked many, many hours working on character designs, layouts, cover ideas and that was way before he even had a finished script.

The passion he has is definitely translating onto the page. He's doing a great inkwash technique that is mind blowing. So he brings a lot to the table as an artist. This is important to him and he's working his butt off with the art. I'm happy I have him as my artist.

I really dig Philip Tan's work.  Very dynamic and very energetic.  I have said it before but my main issue is his timeliness.  Hopefully he can get ahead enough that we can avoid too many fill-ins like we did on Outsiders (before they just said the hell with it and brought in Kieth Giffen).  His take on the Savage Hawkman looks good in the single image we have seen, and Tan is very good at detailed costumes like this one, so I am definitely eager to see his sequential work.

What else can you tell us about "The Savage Hawkman" as it appears much more Indiana Jones in style than the gritty Bat-books you're known for?

Maybe a bit more Sherlock Holmes, the Robert Downey Jr. version, than Indy, but some of that too. Plus some savage beatdowns. It's going to be very exciting. Lots of adventure. Lots of fun characters being introduced.

Is it sad that I own the Robert Downey Jr. version of Sherlock Holmes and have yet to watch it?

So we should take note of the word "Savage" in the title?

He'll be savage when he needs to be, which could be a lot.

I suspect that he'll be Savage quite frequently, yes.

Overall, a good interview.  Daniel saying that this was not his pitch suggests that this was Johns new direction for Hawkman as planned by Brightest Day.  Just that Daniel is actually performing the story.  I enjoyed Battle For The Cowl, but have never read his stuff on Batman.  I feel pretty good about him taking on Hawkman because I think Tony Daniel will write straight forward, earnest superhero Hawkman stories, which is what I am looking for in this title.  And Philip Tan will definitely bring a visual flare to the character which will certainly be unique amongst the lexicon of Hawkman comics.  So now the waiting game begins, as we anticipate September 28th and the bowing of the fifth Hawkman series.