52 by 1 - Batman The Dark Knight #1

Batman The Dark Knight © DC Entertainment

By Corey Breen

Pencil & Marker

Batman The Dark Knight © DC Entertainment

By Corey Breen

Pencil & Marker

Batman The Dark Knight © DC Entertainment

By Corey Breen

Pencil & Marker

Batman.  The Dark Knight.

I think you know by now how much Batman means to me.  I've talked about it so many times.  I've also talked about how HARD it is to draw Batman for me.  I love drawing the character so much, but I'm not afraid to say that he is easily the hardest super hero for me to conqor.  Well, him andSuperman for that matter.  I struggle mostly with trying to keep a consistent look to Batman.  I think the best Batman artists have succeeded because they draw him a certain way very constantly if nothing else.

If you look back even to the previous 52 by 1 Batman covers I did (Batman and Robin #1 and Batman #1), my Batmans all look different, and I wish that wasn't so.  I look at my favorite Batman artists like Neal Adams, Todd McFarlane, David Mazzucchelli, Jim Aparro, Joe Quesada, Frank Miller, Jim Lee, Simon Bisley, Greg Capullo, Scott McDaniel, Damian Scott, Joe Mad!, J Scott Campbell, Alan Davis, Kelly Jones, Mark Silvestri, Mike Mignola, Tony Harris, and countless others for inspiration. That's a HUGE range of looks for Batman.  So you can see that there are so many interpretations to him that I love, making it hard to nail down a consistent look.  But, honestly, I do KNOW what I WANT my Batman to look like!  I really do.  Achieving that is what makes drawing the character so hard for me though.

I know I want him to look slightly "jacked" like he does in the Batman Animated Series from the 90's.  I know I want mine to have a jaw like Capullo or McFarlane give him.  I know I want a cape that's out of control and long yet very clean like Jim Lee.  I want to draw detail and texture like Joe Quesada.  I want him to look dark and angry and disturbed, not cartoony.

All these things really weigh heavily on me when drawing Batman,  But I think with this latest piece, I really nailed what I want my Batman to look like.  It took studying Daredevil Father to find it.  What I came up with I feel is the ideal way I want to draw Batman from now on.  A cross between Frank Miller, Jim Lee, and Joe Quesada, but yet... ALL Corey Breen!

Really proud of this piece!  Makes me reaffirm my love for Batman and my confidence in drawing him.  Can't wait to tackle Detective Comics #1, and Batman Inc! #1 now.  Just hope I keep it consistent with this look, even though for Detective, I want to draw him BEING a detective, my favorite thing ABOUT Batman.  And for Batman, Inc! focus on the Batman's of the world more then Bruce Wayne as Batman,

So, everyone let me know what you think!  You really need to see this drawing in person too.  It's much cooler full size!  I am pretty much selling ALL 52 by 1 pieces at New York Comic Con (NYCC) in Artist's ALley, but I am NOT selling this piece.  I think I'm keeping this piece.  At least for a while.  Like I said, Batman really means that much to me.

Next up, OMAC #1!

CjB