James Tynion IV, this is a name that is getting attention with acclaimed comics. Most of the writing style actually brings up some similarities to another notable comic writer. If anyone is familiar with Scott Snyder, this isn’t a coincidence. As that post brings up, Tynion is a student of Snyder and even goes to DC via recommendation. It’s important to note though that while Tynion gets a big break, he never wastes it. As the someone who takes up the cowl of Batman like Snyder, let’s see his journey there.
James Tynion IV: On the Master’s Coattails
As the Scott Snyder post reminds everyone, the first comic Tynion writes is the spin-off focusing on Talon. The first issues are a highly critical success, but subsequent issues are more divisive. He also gets an introduction to the Bat family through (ironically) the “Death of the Family” event. From that point, Tynion finds a kindred spirit in Jason Todd. Both of these people want to break out of the shadow of their mentors with their own merits. Unfortunately, Tynion finds that Red Hood and the Outlaws are not a good fit for him either.
For a while Tynion does not seem to get a good grip on his own solo work. Most of his successes are around his collaborations with Snyder. Even his Boom Studios series The Woods feels like a derivative of Stephen King and Snyder work. After a while though, things start to pick up.
Creativity Goes Boom!
The Woods despite its rocky start serves as a cornerstone of Tynion’s drive for independence. This even reflects with the cast of the series; college prep students have a lot of expectations to live up towards. It’s not even just the adults but their own. It’s all too easy to think you know others or yourself. But discoveries come out in the most unlikely places. This naturally includes toxic relationships that some characters go through. This allows the writer and characters to grow as people and in turn get them ready for the future. The series is so successful that it gets nominations and awards on a regular basis.
Stepping Out of the Shadow
For that matter, some of The Woods competition actually comes from some of Tynion’s other work. With Tynion’s time with Snyder and his own development, he creates the Apocalyptic trilogy. The trilogy includes Memetic, Cognetic, and Eugenic. Each topic describes a modern day horror that can drive people to despair.
Cognetic fully explores what The Woods does in not knowing about yourself or others. While there is more spectacle than before, it does drive the point that we don’t always own our thoughts. Sometimes it’s more nature than will; for that matter it’s more than one form of nature.
Memetic meanwhile is about how ideas become addictions and/or weapons. With outrage culture at an all-time high, this concept is very close to home. I actually remember the Pepe the Frog meme before its mutation beyond its intention. If you want a more extreme example search for anything with the suffix “gate”.
Finally Eugenic is about fears pertaining to the future. Eugenics is a growing field that has a lot of risks. Some people are likely familiar with the Chinese GMO babies immune to HIV. However much like selective breeding, no one is sure what effects this has on humans. And that’s just the medical side, the social side occurs in a manner X-Men often can’t. In short, the inevitable extinction of the old humanity.
All of these create the foundations of a series that takes the comic world by storm. That comes later though.
James Tynion IV Eternal
Back at DC, Tynion continues his collaborations with Snyder with most of the focus going to the Batman Eternal sub-series. In that series we have the Bat family questioning their place with Batman. Heck, there is some special attention on Harper Row, a character fans dislike for replacing Barbara Gordon’s successors. The only reason Harper exists is because DC didn’t want Stephanie Brown or Cassandra Cain in their lineup at the time of her creation. I can’t help but feel this is where Tynion himself is questioning his own place in DC. With most of his success because of Snyder, there comes the feeling of someone could be better.
Yet much like Batman to his numerous wards, Snyder and Tynion express their mutual understanding. While the leading figures provide them the opportunities, it is the choice of the disciple that drives them. It is for that reason that Snyder gives Tynion full control on Detective Comics in DC’s Rebirth.
Victim or Victor?
Now making a name for himself away from Snyder, Tynion brings all of his prior experiences to the Bat family. Tynion follows Snyder’s ideals when it comes to how Batman is a beacon of hope. Clayface even joins this emergency response team as a reformatory cause. However much like any other idea it can go wrong in several ways. The first conflict comes from The Colony, a military group inspired by Batman. Unlike Bruce though who becomes Batman to survive Gotham hellish environment, the Colony uses his means as a guidebook. Their methods are so extreme, they’re willing to kill anyone who only could be a threat. Unlike the proper Batman who holds himself back by an oath.
Spoiler (Stephanie Brown) loses faith in Batman after this battle while entering a state of depression. Batman in this case starts to display more paranoia than giving needed care. Then there comes the Victim Syndicate and Anarky whose lives are in disarray because of Batman’s war on crime. However much like outrage mobs in real life, they are willing to lie or truncate for their own ends. The Syndicate don’t even want to better their own lives, just remain symbols of victimhood. This includes sacrificing their followers for the sake of making Batman look bad.
The greatest threat however comes when realizing your ideals are never that great. Tim Drake’s plans for a better Gotham seem good on paper. When put into practice though the Pax Batmana merely takes power away from people, robbing them of personal responsibility. Tim sees that best in his future self as a more ruthless Batman. Lucas Fox (Batwing) best sums it up as “People are Messy”. In the end nothing is meant to last forever because people need to better themselves. It’s something Tynion himself takes with him as he becomes lead writer for Batman.
James Tynion IV: The New Adventures of Batman
Tynion’s new start with the Dark Knight as his lead writer after Tom King involves everything under Snyder’s wing. Taking a page from Snyder’s work, Batman goes back to his action-horror route. Batman is Gotham City’s most powerful benefactor but there is still something about the city that can shake him. Yet Tynion wants to use his own experiences with Batman Eternal to implement some new designs.
Tynion’s plan to collaborate with an architect is meant to further ideas of Eternal with some real insight. A writer may think they know how to make change on their own, but a comic is a collaborative process. Much like a city there are pillars that help build the foundation. To make any lasting changing to a mythos like Batman, mutual passions and trust have to be built. Tynion of all people knows this in his other projects.
James Tynion IV and the Backdoors
Even during Detective Comics, Tynion knows when to just enjoy himself. After all of the doom and gloom at Boom, he creates Backstagers. Anyone who loves theatre knows the feeling of getting so into your role you get lost in the magical worlds. Even when you’re not in the limelight, being a part of the show is still a big deal. I imagine Tynion feels like this when he works with Snyder. I can only imagine what it’s like to write the backstory of The Batman Who Laughs.
Sometimes that feeling can have people relate to certain characters. In the crossover franchise Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batman and the Turtles show their strengths. While Batman shows his usual high-class abilities, nothing could prepare him for the TMNT. Most crossovers are usually fan-service machines that have no depth to them. Yet this collision bring out some of the best character moments. Characters like the hothead Raphael and Batman are surprisingly heartwarming on their views of family. The turtles even manage to make Batman smile.
But more than that, Tynion encounters great artists and collaborators who really serve as the foundations. Something Is Killing The Children combines Italian horror with innovative designs to tell a story. Tynion even has a self insert who all but shares his anxieties of his earlier times. The horrors of his previous series have nothing on this tale of fighting back against monsters. Especially when exposing oneself to them can turn your life upside down.
Justice For All
To this day, Tynion still works close with Snyder, being the co-pilot of Snyder’s Justice League run. However Tynion also works on his own counterpart to the League with Justice League Dark. At this point, it’s a little more preachy that Tynion’s work is still in the shadows of Snyder. I mean come on, the League’s base is in the basement of the Hall of Justice. Yet it’s within those shadows that Tynion shows off his feats. From Eldritch beings that can brown heroes pants to how magic fits in DC. The series also comments magic’s underutilization in DC. So much that fans of these series feel that it belongs only to them.
That is the very reason why magic is under threat. One of the most powerful magic users Dr. Fate (Nabu) believes that magic should be under his control. To do so, he’s willing to let people die by these Lovecraftian horrors. With people under such isolation, it’s little wonder they’re letting this guy make the rules. Even when that threat’s over, there are still people who want to claim magic for themselves. I know magicians want to keep their tricks a secret but can’t they bother to learn new stuff? Tynion even left the title before finishing his intended story because he wanted to do Batman a little more.
The ink’s not dry yet so only time will tell how things play out. Thanks for coming and as always, remember to look between the panels.