BY JENNIFER M. CONTINO
One of the best new superhero animated series to hit in a while is Batman: Brave and the Bold. Just as fun as those cartoon team-ups with a silver age feel is the comic book version of the series. J. Torres is the new writer of Batman and pals adventures. He couldn't wait to get his hand on these characters and his mind was spinning from the get-go with who to team the Dark Knight Detective with. He was also happy to be able to reunite with his past collaborator J. Bone for an upcoming issue. In just his first few pairings, Torres is teaming Batman with Captain Marvel, the Doom Patrol, Kid Eternity and a whole lot more!

THE PULSE: I really love Batman: The Brave and the Bold animated series -- as you can probably tell from the number of interviews I've done with the actors involved in that series. I think it's an awesome cartoon. What were your initial thoughts when you viewed the latest incarnation of Batman and friends?

J. TORRES: I was instantly a fan. I’ve been a fan of all the Batman cartoons from [Bruce] Timm’s take to The Batman, plus his appearances in the Justice League shows; and I loved how this one was different. I really responded to the visual style, which reminded me not only of Jerry Robinson and the Batman comics and TV show of the '60s, but also of Mike Parobeck, whose worked I loved. I really enjoy the show’s mix of good old fashioned superhero action and a sense of humor, and I especially love how it’s included all of these great characters from all over the DCU.

THE PULSE: Yeah, this series really has the best elements of the Silver Age combined with modern comic books .... Who have you enjoyed seeing team-up with Batman so far?

TORRES: Pretty much everyone they’ve used, but my favorite so far has to Aquaman. I love how they’ve characterized him as a cross between Gaston from Beauty and the Beast and Commander McBragg from Underdog. It’s so much fun. I also really dug Wildcat’s appearance. “Wildcat and the Young Outsiders” is a brilliant concept. And I want to see more B’wana Beast.


THE PULSE: So how did you get the chance to write the Batman: The Brave and the Bold comic book series? I mean, I know you've done a lot with the Johnny DC line, but Batman is a character people seem to line up to get the chance to write ...

TORRES: I was originally supposed to contribute as a fill-in writer, but the opportunity to do more came up, and I just had to go for it of course. I had worked with the editor, Rachel Gluckstern, before and she was willing to put up with me again I guess.


THE PULSE: I bet your mind was spinning -- there are so many possibilities with a series like this!

TORRES: You don’t know the half of it! I had so much trouble writing my first issue, or I should say focusing on writing it, because I couldn’t stop thinking of other characters I wanted to team up with Batman, particularly for the “cold open.” I had initially pitched four or five plots, all of which Rachel gave the green light to as I worked on my first issue, so while working on that script I couldn’t help think about the casting for the opening scenes. I knew who was going to be featured in the main part of the book, but the possibilities were almost endless for the introductory pages. It was very distracting. But a lot of fun too.

THE PULSE: You've written other high-profile characters before, why did this one leave your mind racing so much?

TORRES: Well, with something like the Wonder Woman or Wonder Girl stuff, there were only a certain number of characters I could use because of continuity, because of space restrictions, etc. Those stories also had to service a bigger picture and tie into other plots, involve other peoples’ characters, and so on. With Brave and the Bold, you get to do a stand-alone story with little to no continuity-related parameters, and you can use almost any character who’s ever appeared in a DC comic, even if they’re currently being used in another title, in limbo, or even dead. I’m like a kid in a toy store over here!

THE PULSE: OK, kid, so who did you use in your first issue, #5? Why?

TORRES: Captain Marvel! When I was first told I would be contributing to this series, I made a kind of wish list of characters I wanted to team up with Batman. Captain Marvel was at the top of that list. First, because I’m a big fan. Second, because I thought the character in his classic incarnation was a perfect fit for the show, both visually and in terms of storytelling sensibilities. I just saw the pencils for this issue by Carlo Barberi and I’m so giddy right now I could explode. I mentioned Mike Parobeck before, and you mentioned my ongoing relationship with Johnny DC. Well, this is the kind of book, with this look, with a character like Captain Marvel, that I’ve always wanted to do. I hope fans are as happy with it as I am.

THE PULSE: I think Captain Marvel fits in well, too! How does Batman respond to him? How seasoned is Cap in this tale?

TORRES: I play it as if they’ve worked together before. I think there’s a nice back and forth between the two in the story. And Billy Batson also plays a pretty important part in the adventure.


THE PULSE: That's what I like about B&B, it's a nice Batman. He seems to know everyone and has these great connections. How will you use that to your advantage when penning new adventures?

TORRES: That reminds me of something J. Bone wrote in an e-mail to me recently. He said he likes that Batman smiles in this incarnation. It also reminds me of the Batman in the Filmation series from my childhood, and of course the Super Friends cartoon which often ended with Batman et al laughing at Gleek. But I digress … Anyway, Batman’s connections and willingness to work almost anyone just opens up the door to that toy store, you know?

THE PULSE: Sure do, speaking of toy store, what is Mr. Bone up to these days?

TORRES: Well, since you brought him up … he’s a busy guy, and one of the things keeping him busy is an upcoming issue of B&B. If I’m not mistaken, it will be #7. So, this is the first time we’ve worked together in something like five years.


THE PULSE: Yeah, I loved the stuff you guys did before! What was it like to team up again?

TORRES: It’s been a blast so far. The script’s written but still pending approval, but he’s already done some character designs that look terrific. And it’s especially fun because we’re teaming Batman up with it… wait for it… the Doom Patrol! The both of us so heart the original Doom Patrol. I’m sure Bone will knock this one of the park… unless he totally hates my script. But even then, he’ll probably still make me look good.

THE PULSE: Which members of the Doom Patrol are you using? Is this old school, I hope!?

TORRES: Like a little red schoolhouse! Everyone’s there - the Chief, Robotman, Elasti-Girl, Negative Man, and even Beast Boy. Yeah, Teen Titans, Go! fans, you heard that right! Get on the T-Communicator and tell everyone to get this issue! I debated throwing Mento in there as well, but it got too crowded. Maybe if we get to do an encore down the road.

THE PULSE: I can't wait to see Beast Boy and Batman! Hah! That kind of writes itself! But what challenges did you face penning this particular story?

TORRES: You kind of said it. I could have written twice as many scenes between the two, you know, for giggles but I had to keep the story moving along, making sure there was enough action, and giving everyone else enough screen time. I almost wish I had two issues for this one.


THE PULSE: Yeah, me too, but I love the done-in-one styles here! So you mentioned the stars of issue five and seven, who do you have on tap for six?

TORRES: Okay, for #6 I thought I was being cool and clever, bringing in a character no one’s used in a while – namely, Kid Eternity - then I saw solicitations for upcoming issues of Teen Titans in which Sean McKeever makes him part of the team, and suddenly I wasn’t so clever and even less cool. Anyway, it was the Kid’s former connections to the Marvel Family that inspired me to follow up Captain Marvel with this team up. Plus, because of the Kid’s power, it was a fun way to bring in other DC heroes. So, in this issue, we actually see Batman working Vigilante (the Greg Saunders version), Shining Knight, Viking Prince, and… let’s save the last one as a surprise, shall we?


THE PULSE: Sounds good, I like surprises! Speaking of surprises, what is surprising you the most as you continue to write new issues of this series?

TORRES: I don’t want this to come out the wrong way but… how easy it is? I’m having so much fun that it hardly seems like work to me. I often felt this way with Teen Titans Go, so maybe it’s just me. I do take my work seriously, and I do work long hours a lot the time, so I guess I should be thankful that I’m enjoying myself. Again, back to the kid in the store…

THE PULSE: Does it ever seem like work for you? I mean I know you love these, but what about with some of your other projects?

TORRES: I suppose the difference is how “self-driven” the project it. How much “freedom” I have when I create the stories, how much is me versus how much is coming from the editor or TV show’s producers or another outside source. It’s more “work” when you have to research something, or incorporate a character or plot elements that you’re handed and told “you have to do this.” But also, I’ve been fortunate enough to work on projects, for example, involving TV shows that I was a fan of, so that makes it less “work” and more fun too. If I were forced to take a job writing a 90210 comic, for example, it would certainly be more work for me and not as fun as writing the Degrassi graphic novels were. Same with the DC assignments I’ve been given, luckily I grew up a DC kid so it’s almost always a blast to be writing their characters whether it’s for a DCU or Johnny DC book.


THE PULSE: Why do you think this series is striking such a chord with young and old fans alike?

TORRES: The show really is “all-ages.” It’s retro-cool and fun to us old fanboys. To the kids it’s a Batman with cool “new” friends in fun adventures. Fun being the operative word here. The comic aims to please in the same fashion.


THE PULSE: Yeah! Got any other projects you'd like to plug?

TORRES: I’m also working on a couple of graphic novels for Oni Press right now. One is called “Lola: A Ghost Story,” and if all goes according to plan that should be out end of summer, early fall. The other is called “Dead Goombas,” and I’d expect to see that end of this year, beginning of next. Please keep an eye on my blog for more information in the coming months: http://www.jtorresonline.blogspot.com/

Love this series!
Jen