In late 2023, a powerfully creepy and gorgeously illustrated DC Black Label limited series made its debut. Rafael Grampá’s Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham tells the story of a young, new and completely obsessed Dark Knight confronted by a terrifying new villain—one whose presence forces uncomfortable revelations out of both Gotham and its young crimefighter. A few months later we were treated to the saga’s second chapter leading the series even further into a frightful abyss of shock and surprises, but there’s been nothing since. Far from finished, the gifted writer and artist is busy working on the concluding two chapters, but took time to chat with us about Gargoyle of Gotham’s unique themes, designs and terrors.
You’ve spoken before about how spirituality—specifically Batman’s spirituality—has informed the story of Gargoyle of Gotham. With the violent tone of the book, would you describe its theme to be one of salvation or damnation?
That’s a really good question. I think…it’s about both. You can find salvation in damnation.
Is that how you approached writing Bruce Wayne in this story?
Yes, for sure. When we pitched the idea for Batman to kill Bruce Wayne, it was only one of the elements, because the true pitch would have been a spoiler at the time. The true pitch was, “What if Bruce Wayne were treated in Arkham Asylum’s Children’s Wing?” That was something I created, which makes this Batman completely different from other Batmen, and you start to see that with this most recent chapter.
One of the first questions I had when I was reading through the series was if this theme of spirituality was one that couldn’t be properly approached in the mainstream books, and if DC Black Label was the better place for themes like that to be explored. Was that the case?
No, I think it could be in the main books, but DC Black Label fits because this is expressly a different Batman. This is Earth-46. Because of that difference, I have more freedom and am allowed to make changes to the origin.
What went into design of this Batman? Along with the specific details of the costume and the Batmobile, what informed the approach?
For me, I always saw Batman and Bruce Wayne as characters who believe in something…beyond matter. In the beginning, during his origin, he prays on his parents’ spirits. He expressly believes in spirits. Well, if he believes in spirits, he believes in omens, which we’ve also seen. So, Batman was created through this lens of belief. It never developed much in his history, but it was always there. The things he’ll learn in this story, for him to be confronted in that belief…he needed to be this version of the character.
With the suit, I wanted to make a character that could be frightening and look a little bit evil. His intention is to fight people. Also, one of the most terrifying things to me as a kid was the xenomorph from Alien. I wanted to bring some of those elements into the suit. And also, if his name is “Batman,” he needs to look like a bat. So, I wanted to make sure he did, but also look like an alien. And also technological. Technological but gothic.
On the subject of creation, one of the new villains for your story is Crytoon, who has an incredibly unique design. How did that come about?
Simple. I was a kid and I saw a cartoon like that, and I started to cry. He’s based on the old Fleischer cartoons—a clown dancing. When I saw that on my grandmother’s television, I cried. I’ve had the same idea in my head since I was a kid, wanting to use cartoon violence and bring it into real life for a story. So, he carries hammers, like a cartoon, but it carries a real effect. And the crying element is very important for the whole story, which will be understood by the final chapter. He knows what he’s doing is not a good thing, but he can’t avoid it, and that’s why he cries.
We recently learned about Little Joker, who will be the new villain for the second half of the series. What can you tell us about him?
Little Joker is the Joker you’ve always wanted, because he’s pure. You know how the saying goes that children are pure? What if you have an evil child? Are they still pure, then? I wanted to broach that question because this story is about human nature, and this character was really important for the next chapter. In issue #1, I wanted a story for people who had never read a Batman story before, with a lot of classic elements. In issue #2, I started to introduce some original elements, and with issue #3, even more so.
Little Joker is like my nightmare, but I really love the character because he has fun with his victimes. And that’s what makes him frightening, because he’s a child and it’s a problem for Batman. How can he beat a child? Those kinds of thoughts and questions have really driven my mind throughout writing and drawing all four chapters of this series.
The first two chapters of Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham by Rafael Grampá are available on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE for all subscriber tiers.
Join Batman fans the world over on September 21st for Batman Day—a yearly celebration of the Dark Knight. Need some help getting into the spirit? for the latest Batman news, features, comics and more!
[[{“value”:”In late 2023, a powerfully creepy and gorgeously illustrated DC Black Label limited series made its debut. Rafael Grampá’s Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham tells the story of a young, new and completely obsessed Dark Knight confronted by a terrifying new villain—one whose presence forces uncomfortable revelations out of both Gotham and its young crimefighter. A few months later we were treated to the saga’s second chapter leading the series even further into a frightful abyss of shock and surprises, but there’s been nothing since. Far from finished, the gifted writer and artist is busy working on the concluding two chapters, but took time to chat with us about Gargoyle of Gotham’s unique themes, designs and terrors.
You’ve spoken before about how spirituality—specifically Batman’s spirituality—has informed the story of Gargoyle of Gotham. With the violent tone of the book, would you describe its theme to be one of salvation or damnation?
That’s a really good question. I think…it’s about both. You can find salvation in damnation.
Is that how you approached writing Bruce Wayne in this story?
Yes, for sure. When we pitched the idea for Batman to kill Bruce Wayne, it was only one of the elements, because the true pitch would have been a spoiler at the time. The true pitch was, “What if Bruce Wayne were treated in Arkham Asylum’s Children’s Wing?” That was something I created, which makes this Batman completely different from other Batmen, and you start to see that with this most recent chapter.
One of the first questions I had when I was reading through the series was if this theme of spirituality was one that couldn’t be properly approached in the mainstream books, and if DC Black Label was the better place for themes like that to be explored. Was that the case?
No, I think it could be in the main books, but DC Black Label fits because this is expressly a different Batman. This is Earth-46. Because of that difference, I have more freedom and am allowed to make changes to the origin.
What went into design of this Batman? Along with the specific details of the costume and the Batmobile, what informed the approach?
For me, I always saw Batman and Bruce Wayne as characters who believe in something…beyond matter. In the beginning, during his origin, he prays on his parents’ spirits. He expressly believes in spirits. Well, if he believes in spirits, he believes in omens, which we’ve also seen. So, Batman was created through this lens of belief. It never developed much in his history, but it was always there. The things he’ll learn in this story, for him to be confronted in that belief…he needed to be this version of the character.
With the suit, I wanted to make a character that could be frightening and look a little bit evil. His intention is to fight people. Also, one of the most terrifying things to me as a kid was the xenomorph from Alien. I wanted to bring some of those elements into the suit. And also, if his name is “Batman,” he needs to look like a bat. So, I wanted to make sure he did, but also look like an alien. And also technological. Technological but gothic.
On the subject of creation, one of the new villains for your story is Crytoon, who has an incredibly unique design. How did that come about?
Simple. I was a kid and I saw a cartoon like that, and I started to cry. He’s based on the old Fleischer cartoons—a clown dancing. When I saw that on my grandmother’s television, I cried. I’ve had the same idea in my head since I was a kid, wanting to use cartoon violence and bring it into real life for a story. So, he carries hammers, like a cartoon, but it carries a real effect. And the crying element is very important for the whole story, which will be understood by the final chapter. He knows what he’s doing is not a good thing, but he can’t avoid it, and that’s why he cries.
We recently learned about Little Joker, who will be the new villain for the second half of the series. What can you tell us about him?
Little Joker is the Joker you’ve always wanted, because he’s pure. You know how the saying goes that children are pure? What if you have an evil child? Are they still pure, then? I wanted to broach that question because this story is about human nature, and this character was really important for the next chapter. In issue #1, I wanted a story for people who had never read a Batman story before, with a lot of classic elements. In issue #2, I started to introduce some original elements, and with issue #3, even more so.
Little Joker is like my nightmare, but I really love the character because he has fun with his victimes. And that’s what makes him frightening, because he’s a child and it’s a problem for Batman. How can he beat a child? Those kinds of thoughts and questions have really driven my mind throughout writing and drawing all four chapters of this series.
The first two chapters of Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham by Rafael Grampá are available on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE for all subscriber tiers.
Join Batman fans the world over on September 21st for Batman Day—a yearly celebration of the Dark Knight. Need some help getting into the spirit? for the latest Batman news, features, comics and more!”}]]
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