Batman Beyond Writer Dan Jurgens On Tim Drake Proving Himself As the Next Batman

Four issues in, Batman Beyond heads into a big battle that promises to change the direction of the title going forward...while Tim Drake faces some demons and heads to the Batcave in today's issue.

We'll have our standard commentary track with writer Dan Jurgens hitting on Friday (so as to provide a little spoiler space for readers), but wanted to ask him a couple of early questions about the nature of Tim's uphill battle to prove himself as the Batman of tomorrow -- to himself, to those around him...and to readers skeptical of changes made to the animated cult favorite.

It's an interesting journey for Tim, of course, considering it's fairly well-established that fundamental differences in personality and approach between he and his mentor have meant he never really wanted to be Batman, per se.

Jurgens shed a little light on what makes Tim's journey of self-discovery here so much different from the one he underwent as Robin.

You can buy a copy of Batman Beyond #4 at your local comic shop, on the DC Comics website or at ComiXology.

Tim hadn't, in my mind, gone through as much of the "prove himself" arc as a lot of characters do in the early going. He was so obviously well-suited that he kind of got dumped into the deep end. Being Batman, though, is a different animal. Did you look back at some of the early Chuck Dixon stuff in crafting this?

I didn't look back at it but I certainly remember the way Chuck approached a young Tim. It was great stuff. And I think that's a core part of who he is.

So, yeah… I think Tim, who had already walked away from being a hero in order to basically tend bar, has something to prove. Mostly to himself, of course.

It isn't just about being Robin. It's about being BATMAN.

The people he's having to prove himself to are obviously twofold: whenever he makes a mistake, he's compared to Terry...which is something that the readers are likely doing as well in some cases. Was that an intentional parallel to draw?

100%. I'm having the character address the main concerns of some of the readers. It's a very natural way to do it and is consistent with who Tim is.