I am Dan Watters, writer of Batman: Dark Patterns and Nightwing. AMA.

[u/DanpgWatters]

Hello, Reddit. I’ve been lucky enough to write a fistful of new DC comics since we last spoke. I am also writing the new M.A.S.K. series for Skybound, and the ongoing Shredder book for IDW. I am very tired. I’m back once more to talk to you about comics. And anything else, really. So… AMA.

Proof: /img/yfyftdbto02h1.png

[u/Nightwings96]

Hi Dan! Hope you are well. @thelukadoncic from X/Twitter here! (I say that like you'd recognize it but anyways!!) Thanks for giving us this opportunity to access your mad scientist comic book writing book. Just three questions! Sorry for the yapping in advance, trying to give you some interesting questions! 😊🌟

1. I imagine you're a fan of Dick Grayson's time as Batman! I wanted to ask if you would consider writing Dickbats sort of a dream story? Like something you've wanted to do or does it not interest you? I know Bruce's kids having the mantle is a controversial debate.

2. You mentioned before Bludhaven Lore arc started that Scott Snyder helped you a bit with this. Could you shed some details into how that creative process went? With how good you both are with grounded but also supernatural elements, I wanted to know how it helped balance out Dick's skills and the current witch lore we are seeing. Also, how collaborating with Matt Fraction a bit for Bad Seeds has gone/went? Do you guys share drafts and such to make sure the timelines correlate? I've always wondered how the process goes. Any hints on what role Dick will play in Bad Seeds? 😊

3. Why did you think (now) was a good time in Dick's run to go back to his grounded detective skills? Make him more isolated? Did anything like a prior story in specific influence that?

Thank you once again, sorry for all the yapping. Thanks for all you do! It's so nice to see you getting great recognition and praise for Dark Patterns and Nightwing! And thanks for the love you give my edits! Rock on and can't wait for 139! Already pre ordered 😊 and anxiously waiting 141 solicit today.

[u/AA_Batteries19]

Hi Dan,

How has it been in your experience being a Brit having to try and write characters that are very American in concept like Batman, Nightwing etc. and how has it allowed you to play around with different sensibilities given your different lived experience? Do you find it challenging if at all but also is there something you wish to highlight that you feel like wouldn't translate as well across the pond?

Just wanted to add as well can a fan of yours since Limbo so it's just been cool to see you continue to thrive in comics!

[u/Fearless_Tutor3050]

Hi Dan, thanks for stopping in for this AMA. I have really appreciated your meta-perspective on Nightwing over on thedeadairchannel, and this week's Nightwing #138 has been my favorite issue of your run so far! I loved your respect for Dick and Kory's characters and shared history in this issue, and Cowan's storytelling has been incredible. Each panel and story beat felt very intentional.

I'm a big fan of your thoughtful approach to the character, particularly the blend of the World's Finest influence and your deep thinking about Gotham and Blüdhaven as equal or more important to creating a cohesive rogues gallery for Batman and Nightwing. I hadn't considered that before, but it made perfect sense as soon as I read it.

I'm also excited by the creative refresh to the series: a tilt towards the "Batman" half of the character with a new angle on Blüdhaven's psychogeography and lore that you've talked about in your newsletter related to the car centered city. But I also found myself surprisingly attached to some of the earlier Spheros concepts because they gave the city a distinct, slightly cyberpunk identity that separated it from Gotham.

As the run moves further into this darker and grittier phase, should readers still think of those earlier ideas and aesthetics as important parts of your larger vision for Nightwing and Blüdhaven?

[u/Few-Tension-7257]

Hi Dan. I've been loving your Nightwing run and I think it's one of the best current ongoings at DC and recently picked up the Dark Patterns trade (looking forward to reading it).

1. Due to the reveal of Starfire being in this issue and exploring her relationship with Dick Grayson and her importance to him as a character I was wondering what you thought about his relationships with other Titans that Dick has been very close with such as Wally West, Roy Harper and Donna Troy?

2. What are some of your favourite older Dick Grayson/Nightwing stories and did you take any inspiration from those when writing your own Nightwing run?

[u/MysteryHost]

Hello Mr Watters, thank you for taking your time and opening this thread up! Love how writers and those behind the comics still open the "fan mail" and questions like they did back in the silver age.

Your Nightwing run is one of the best comics I've read!! Just ask a few of my friends on how often I'm recommending and screaming about it haha. But I must say, the way you have gotten the X-Files vibe with the dark and gritty detective vibe is batastic. I know Dick isn't typical Mulder but it reminds me that he isn't your brightly colored hero that he used to be but a very mature detective that (I hope) Bruce is proud of.

The emotions and trauma Dick is going through speaks so loud that it just makes me hope he can pull through, but seeing him with these struggles makes him look so human and understandable. Seeing a reflection in fictional characters of problems that people can relate to (Blaming one self and dragging that so extreme) is good to always see. Everyone wants the hero to win, but even so, we need to realize these heroes are also people behind the mask. So thank you for doing such a beautiful job on capturing the emotions and troubles of our favorite Boy Wonder.

But one thing I would love to learn is how does it all work when Dick Grayson is being pulled in other comic runs? I see how you can call in a Titan or a JL member for a one issue, but when Dick is also in Titans run he's also in Blüdhaven. Do you work with those other writers? Is there some restrictions on what you can and can't do to said character because of the tie-ins and other runs he's currently flipping through?

Dark Patterns has been one of the most recommended Batman runs from my friends. So one day (soon!!) I will also be on the same page with them.

Keep up the good work! May those on your team have a great day as well! Can't wait for the next issue !! (I'm a sucker for witchy vibes and aliens ha)

[u/Scheme-Daz]

Hi Dan, great job on Nightwing thus far. Absolutely killing it every issue, by far my favourite book on the shelves, which is a relief to say after years of being disappointed with my favourite characters book. Moving on from that, which runs do you draw most inspiration from and are there any dynamics with Dick that you really want to explore but haven’t had the chance to yet? Your run to me has a lot of vibes similar to Devin Grayson’s, capturing a side of Dick I think has almost largely been ignored in the main Nightwing book since her run ended

[u/Rakyand]

Hi Dan!! Thank you for taking the time to do this AMA. I have a couple of questions if you don't mind. Please forgive my English as I'm ESL.

1.- As a writer I imagine sometimes it may be difficult to write characters that were created by other people and that have been running for so long with so many different iterations such as Nightwing. What's your creative process to "get" the character? Do you maybe read through a bunch of their iterations to try to understand them, keep a character sheet with their most relevant traits, or how do you deal with that?

2.-I'm a big fan of The New Teen Titans (1980) run, so I was thrilled with the guest appearance we got in the last Nightwing issue. I'd like to ask, in your opinion (and I know this is a difficult topic), what was Kori's role in Dick's past (as in, what do each of them think about their past together), how do you picture their relationship (as friends) in the present, and, possibly, in the future?

Thank you!!

[u/Sekai_XO]

Hi Dan! Thank you for being so open and staying in touch with the fans. It’s wonderful to see all the praise your work is getting. I especially want to highlight how everyone notices your talent for writing dialogue that stays true to the characters' essence.

The latest issue was a perfect example, Starfire felt exactly like the character we know and love. You showed such sensitivity and respect for her relationship with Dick, creating a conversation filled with emotional weight for two people with so much history. It went so much deeper than just 'we’re exes.'

That’s why I wanted to ask:

1. Which issues did you look to for inspiration to understand and write Starfire?

[u/Blitzhelios]

Hi Dan loving your work on everything you do and personally think Shredder and Dark patterns have been some of the best books of recent years.

With your history writing characters like Lucifer and Azreal who are considered weirder branches of DC how is the change to writing a more mainstream hero like Nightwing is there a different planning style you use for a character like that.

Also with your Nightwing getting more supernatural but also putting more sci fi characteristic elements into it is there any other genre of work you want to blend with Nightwing.

[u/Comfortable-Pie56]

Hey Dan, thanks for doing this, just two questions:

• What are the main inspiration for this new arc? Some of it seems outside of Nightwing's usual scope (like the Psions in the last issue)

• Do you have an ending in mind for your Nightwing run or do you plan on keep it going for as long as you can?

Been loving your run, one of the best DC comics being published right now.

[u/beary_neutral]

Hey Dan, always great to have you stop by. I have a few questions:

1. In the Zanni arc, you explored the ways of how people interact with fiction, and in the current arc, you're examining the human costs of rapid city expansion. What sort of themes are you looking to explore in the future?

2. What are the chances of getting Deluxe Editions of The One Hand and the Six Fingers?

3. In the past two issues, you explored Dick Grayson's relationships with Batman and Starfire. Is this something that you're looking to do in future issues as well? Will we see more one-on-ones with Dick's other close relationships (e.g., Superman, Damian, Detective Chimp)?

[u/Scorpion13992k]

Hey Dan! I was wondering if you had any information about what’s happening with Azrael? I really loved your Sword of Azrael series and was hoping to hear more.

[u/BillNyeTheSavage_Guy]

Hey Dan!

You’ve written a fair bit of Martian Manhunter, including his recent guest spot in your Nightwing. What is it about the character you find appealing, and would you ever be interested in doing a solo book for J’onn if the opportunity presented itself?

[u/HotTakes4HotCakes]

I'll ask the same thing I asked last year:

When is Dick going to get a solid Rogues Gallery? That is to say, a recurring rogue's gallery, not just the rogues he deals with in each writer's run.

I guess another way to put it would be what is your perspective on why a lot of people that write Nightwing don't ever seem to be interested in reusing the villains created by their predecessors? The original creations are obviously great but it never feels like bloodhaven has the distinct character of Gotham because it's rogues and elements shift so much between different writers.

[u/itsthetasteofaliar]

Hi, Dan! I’ve been reading your Nightwing run since it started, and it’s absolutely my favorite run on the character. Thanks for the fun and memorable stories. I just had two questions!

1. If you could do another series (whether it’s DC, marvel, etc) with the format of Dark Patterns, which character would you want to focus on?

2. Who’s your favorite flash and green lantern? 👀

[u/GhosterStrudle]

Hey Dan, been really enjoying your work lately & I hope you are doing well. Especially love your take on Nightwing and I just finished Dark Patterns last night!

My question is: What was the inspiration for your story about the highways destroying the essence and function of the city of Bludhaven?

I just moved from a very walkable city in the United States to Hartford, CT area and this is a city that was ravaged by highways that destroyed the downtown area and general walkability of the city. It really hit home for me seeing that small subplot in Nightwing which really stood out.

Look forward to seeing if that will have more relevance in your story or not but it is an unfortunate event that disenfranchises the poor and benefits suburban wealth.

[u/No-Mechanic-2558]

Hi Dan, thanks for joining us today. Loving your Nightwing run, especially the new arc, I'm happy we are getting more episodic series nowdays.

Wanted to ask you something about Batman Dark Patterns, is Dick Grayson ment to alredy be Robin in the seris, because we see his costume in It but he just isn't there

[u/FrostFireFive]

Hey Dan,

My question is is there any movies or books used for inspiration for the tone of your Nightwing run? I'm always curious what influences a creator going into any project

[u/MagisterPraeceptorum]

Hey Dan, how do you envision the story of Dick Grayson ending? With Batman we’ve gotten numerous depictions of the end of Bruce Wayne’s story like Dark Knight Returns, Batman Beyond, and Last Knight on Earth. Do you have thoughts on something similar for Nightwing?

[u/Ancient-Elderberry12]

Are each of your Nightwing arcs going to have different main artists as it was/is with Dexter Soy and Denys Cowan? Also, are Karai and Shredder going to cross paths any time soon?

[u/Specialist-Board-897]

Hi Dan! Last time you mentioned how much you liked Midnighter and Azrael as characters in relation to Dick and his relationship with the cowl especially, and I was wondering if you had given any thoughts to how interactions with them may pan out especially with the current mindset Dick has following the events in Blüdhaven? I know it's probably very unlikely that there are any plans in place for this, but I love these two characters for how they challenge and question Dick and it would be interesting to see the inverse especially following appearances from integral and ultimately supportive characters like Bruce and Kory!

My second question is regarding David Lynch! If I remember correctly, you've mentioned him a few times especially in questions such as Letterboxd Top 4 (haha!) and I was wondering if there's any films or literature that draw you in when writing Nightwing especially as Dick himself has been seen to reference Shakespeare and other classics? As an English Lit graduate, I've always loved seeing references (my favourite of yours by far was the Commedia Dell'arte) and I'm shamelessly asking for recommendations as well as your inspirations!

As well as this, I just wanted to take the opportunity again to say thank you so much for this run, and I hope you have an opportunity to return to the UK especially for some cons! Thank you and have a good day!

[u/Captain_Atom_Bangs]

Hi Dan!

I'm selling my comic book collection, but I decided never to sell Arkham - Order of the World. I love books about Gotham side characters!

My question is - could you give us some summarisation of your preparation for this series? How did you get the idea, what characters did you want and did you find inspiration in some psychology area / books?

Also, what would you recommend the most on what taught you to write?

Big fan of Azrael,

thanks a lot for this crazy blasphemer.

[u/WhyPlaySerious]

How does it feel knowing that you have written a Batman story that will go down in history as being among the greatest ever written for the character with Dark Patterns?

[u/I-Might-Be-Something]

Hello Dan!

I have been loving the more dark and gritty approach to Nightwing, including really exploring Blüdhaven's lore. I have a few questions if that is okay. The first is, given what is happening with Babs right now in Breakout, and how it is effecting Dick in current arc since he has no one to lean on both literally and metaphorically, how much did you communicate with Tamaki?

Another question I have is will Dick play a role in the upcoming "Bad Seeds" event, and if so you did you and Fraction determine what Dick's role will be?

And recently Starfire appeared in Nightwing #138, and Martian Manhunter popped up in a few issues as well. Do you have plans for any other heroes to pop up?

[u/JusticeAvenger13]

Hi, Dan. What’s it like to work with Denys Cowan? I checked out Nightwing for the art and was really satisfied by the story to boot. You two are meshing perfectly. Cheers