In the trajectory of any superhero, in that of Jorge Jiménez there is also an epiphany. It happened a decade and a half ago. He was in his early twenties and studying Physical Education. His life seemed to be heading towards teaching in tracksuits. Until the unexpected happened. The young man who had spent much of his childhood with a pencil in hand watched the series Naruto, an animated adaptation of the record-breaking manga by Masashi Kishimoto. He then experienced an existential crisis. It is not confirmed that he imagined himself on the verge of retirement wondering what if? But it is true that in the adventures of the blond ninja, he found the inspiration to start drawing again and try to make a living from his art.
Jiménez (Cádiar, Granada, 1986) is now a mega-star in the American comic circuit. He recently went from the San Diego Comic-Con Málaga (SDCCM) to the New York Comic-Con as naturally as changing trains. And with an equally grand reception. "I swear I won't forget it," he says about his recent visit to the Costa del Sol. "There was a lot of fandom from Andalusia. And not only in the panels, but also during the signings. Following the publication of Superman in Granada, many people recognized me," he explains about the story he wrote and drew for the collective volume Superman El mundo (DC/Panini). On its cover, the man of steel lands at the Mirador de San Nicolás, with the Alhambra in the background and a flamenco guitarist at his feet.
In reality, the artist from Alpujarra presented himself in Malaga those days not only as one of the very few Spaniards who have sketched the imposing silhouette of the son of Krypton. He did it above all as the author who has starred in the comic event of the year in the United States: the rebirth of Batman. His collaboration with writer Matt Fraction has been a milestone in the history of the Batman franchise. Batman #1 - the relaunch issue - sold over 500,000 copies in the two weeks following its release in early September and has required a second printing. It is, of course, the best-selling comic in the USA so far this year.
"I still can't believe it," Jiménez admits over the phone. "It was something that had only been done three times before. I am aware that Batman, by the mere fact of being Batman, not because of me or anyone else, historically is the best-selling superhero series in the USA along with Spiderman and some other series that occasionally skyrocket. I also knew that starting with a new numbering would have an impact... but it has gotten out of hand. We are overwhelmed by the readers' response. For me, it has been an honor. It will probably end up being the most important work of my career," he adds, for whom the character created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger is the opposite of a stranger. His relationship with the millionaire Bruce Wayne and his masked alter ego began in March 2020 with James Tynion and was one of the most celebrated eras of modern Batman. A recognition comparable to what he achieved starting in 2023 with Mecanismo de seguridad (Panini) alongside writer Chip Zdarsky.
In his third approach to the vigilante, he has decided to recover some of the essences that elevated him to the status of a pop icon. Starting with the blue and gray lycra suit from the 1970s instead of the black one that was standardized in Tim Burton's movie (1989) and continuing with a more empathetic character than the tormented one that Frank Miller gave him in the early 2000s.
"In each era, I have tried to bring something new, and in this one, I felt compelled to make it look different, fresh, and it wasn't easy. I wanted to bring him down to the street, make him a bit more realistic, present a human being who takes risks and who feels pain when shot or hit," Jiménez points out. And he adds: "Matt and I agreed on the idea of adding some color. It is true that Batman is The Dark Knight, he always has been, but there have been times when his aesthetics and that of Gotham have been a bit more colorful. We believed that after several years of gray and black and such a dark and dramatic city, we needed a change."
Fraction (Chicago, 1975) doesn't need much prodding to point out what he missed about the DC character after its many reinventions. Or, rather, to share what he detested about the Batman armored inside and out of recent decades. "I was tired of the armor," he admitted in Malaga. "I wanted to understand why people live in Gotham when it seems like you can't go out on the street without getting a tetanus shot or when the whole city seems like a damp factory where sparks fly everywhere. I wanted to write a Batman comic that a kid could read and be amazed by the colors and visual power. I wanted to return to the essence of the character: that of a superhero."
The classic tone - not to be confused with vintage - that has captivated over half a million readers translates into urban settings finally far from the Transylvania with skyscrapers to which Batman's habitat had been reduced, as well as the possibility of interposing the oranges of a sunset among so much rain and gothic fog. A reframing that the colorist Tomeu Morey (Palma de Mallorca, 47 years old) is decisively contributing to. "He is a cornerstone of the project. He deserves all the recognition," he values his collaborator since the time with Zdarsky.
"Look at how the world is, that even Batman needs a bit of color. It was time to color him to give some light and hope to people," Jiménez ventures to psychoanalyze an era in which villains seem to have taken control in real life. "Perhaps the dark Batman made sense as a terrifying element at a time when everything was correct, happy, and followed a more or less linear course, despite some discordant notes. That dark Batman was very cool. But in a world that has become somber on several levels, the fact that superheroes bring some color helps. That's why I also believe that the movie Superman [directed by James Gunn] has been so critically successful and well-received by people, especially in the United States. As it is said in the movie, the new punk is about being kind, polite, and helping others. Being rebellious now means that."
Fraction, who grabbed hold of the avenger's collar when he read his first comic at the age of three (Batman #316) and never let go, someone who can see his biography as a blank page to tell stories of horror, criminal drama, suspense, romance, or adventure, agrees with the analysis. "Personally, I'm tired of anti-heroes. I like anti-villains. Give me guys doing bad things to even worse people. That's what I want. I want to see someone sacrificing themselves for others. I want to believe that people are still capable of helping someone they don't know. There has never been a better time to reclaim all of this. Batman is like a diamond with several facets. Jorge and I have simply enhanced this particular one."
The classic tone - not to be confused with vintage - that has fascinated more than half a million readers translates into urban settings finally far removed from the Transylvania with skyscrapers to which Batman's habitat had been reduced, as well as the possibility of interposing the oranges of a sunset amidst so much rain and gothic fog. A reframing that is decisively being contributed by the colorist Tomeu Morey (Palma de Mallorca, 47 years old). "He is a cornerstone of the project. He deserves all the recognition," values his collaborator since the stage with Zdarsky.
"Look at how the world is, that even Batman needs a bit of color. It was time to color him to give some light and hope to people," Jiménez encourages himself to psychoanalyze an era in which villains seem to have taken control in real life. "Perhaps the dark Batman made sense as a terrifying element at a time when everything was correct, happy, and followed a more or less linear course, despite some discordant notes. That dark Batman was very cool. But in a world that has become gloomy on several levels, the fact that superheroes bring a bit of color helps. That's why I also believe that the movie Superman [directed by James Gunn] has been so critically successful and well-received by people, especially in the United States. As it is said in the movie, the new punk is about being kind, polite, and helping others. Being rebellious now is that."
Fraction, who grabbed onto the avenger's neck when he read his first comic at just three years old (Batman #316) and never let go, someone who sees his biography as a blank page to tell stories of horror, criminal drama, suspense, romance, or adventure, agrees with the analysis. "Personally, I'm tired of anti-heroes. I like anti-villains. Give me guys doing bad things to even worse people. That's what I want. I want to see someone sacrificing themselves for others. I want to believe that people are still capable of helping someone they don't know. There has never been a better time to reclaim all of this. Batman is like a diamond with several facets. Jorge and I have simply enhanced this particular one."
The Batman by Fraction, Jiménez, and Morey will arrive in Spain in the spring through Panini. We asked the writer why Batman still fascinates us so much, regardless of his successive metamorphoses, wardrobe changes, and geopolitical convulsions. "I think it is due to two factors, one that appeals to the deep and the other to the superficial," he explains. "The easy answer is that we need and want to believe that the best of us will fight for the rest of humanity no matter what; that in a world of gods and monsters, a normal person will always do the right thing, whether it's the Count of Monte Cristo... or Batman." And he concludes: "On the other hand, Batman is an ordinary person. He has no powers and is not a genius. He is just a guy. What we like about him is that he has the coolest costume, the most impressive car, the most exclusive mansion, the most impressive secret hideout, the most ingenious gadgets... It's a perfect comic. Movies have never managed to match what comics show, even though the movies are great and people love them."
Jiménez states that the rebirth of the sentinel will not be an excuse for empty experimentation. Fans can rest assured: the shadow moving between buildings with a helmet, a bulletproof vest, and a rope "but with a determination, preparation, and fragility that connect with anyone" will stay away from dishonorable situations. "Well, you're not going to see Batman dancing or bursting into laughter," he jokes. "He has to act like a theater director. Play with fear to terrify the bad guys. Those kinds of things are essential to the character and must be maintained."