Batman: The Widening Gyre
Encyclopedia
Batman: The Widening Gyre is the title of a 12-issue comic book
limited series
starring Batman
. The series is being written by Kevin Smith
and illustrated by Walt Flanagan
. The first six issues were released August 2009 through July 2010; it is unknown when the remaining issues will be published. The title is a reference to the William Butler Yeats
poem "The Second Coming
".
, who attempts to teach him to be more trusting. Batman has a series of encounters with a new crime fighter, who he eventually takes on as a new partner. The first volume ends with a cliffhanger
to be resolved in the second volume.
. As Smith explained it, the series will have 12 issues split into two six-issue books. Book 1 was supposed to run from August 2009 to January 2010 and, after a six-month hiatus, Book 2 would run from July 2010 through December 2010. However, Book 1 was plagued by several hiatuses and ran to July 2010 and Book 2 has yet to see print.
Smith has described how he creates the scripts. Following Zack and Miri Make a Porno
, he had "a sort of nervous breakdown
, or as close to a mid-life crisis
" and started heavily smoking cannabis
, which, he claims, has contributed to his writing of the series:
During a Q and A session in Calgary, Alberta, on August 17, 2011, Smith stated that he was working on issue four of the second book, and Flanagan was currently drawing the third issue.
:
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
starring Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
. The series is being written by Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith
Kevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter, actor, film producer, and director, as well as a popular comic book writer, author, comedian/raconteur, and internet radio personality best recognized by viewers as Silent Bob...
and illustrated by Walt Flanagan
Walt Flanagan
Walter Flanagan is an American actor, podcaster, songwriter, comic book artist and comic book store proprietor. Flanagan is a long-time friend of Kevin Smith, and it was Flanagan who had turned Smith back onto comic books.Flanagan is also co-host of the "Tell 'Em Steve-Dave!" podcast with...
. The first six issues were released August 2009 through July 2010; it is unknown when the remaining issues will be published. The title is a reference to the William Butler Yeats
William Butler Yeats
William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and playwright, and one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature. A pillar of both the Irish and British literary establishments, in his later years he served as an Irish Senator for two terms...
poem "The Second Coming
The Second Coming (poem)
"The Second Coming" is a poem composed by Irish poet William Butler Yeats in 1919 and first printed in The Dial and afterwards included in his 1921 collection of verses titled Michael Robartes and the Dancer. The poem uses Christian imagery regarding the Apocalypse and second coming as allegory to...
".
Plot
This series finds Batman spending his nights fighting crime in Gotham City, while spending his days as Bruce Wayne romancing former girlfriend Silver St. CloudSilver St. Cloud
Silver St. Cloud is a fictional character who appears in Batman comics set in the . She is a recurring love interest of Batman/Bruce Wayne, debuting in Detective Comics #470, written by Steve Englehart. The issues featuring her earlier appearances have been collected in trade paperback form as...
, who attempts to teach him to be more trusting. Batman has a series of encounters with a new crime fighter, who he eventually takes on as a new partner. The first volume ends with a cliffhanger
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
to be resolved in the second volume.
Publication history
In May 2009, it was announced that Batman: The Widening Gyre would be written by Kevin Smith and illustrated by Walt Flanagan; months earlier both had completed Batman: CacophonyBatman: Cacophony
Batman: Cacophony is the title of a three-issue comic book limited series starring Batman. The series was written by Kevin Smith with art by Walt Flanagan, and ran from November 2008 through March 2009 due to delays with issue three.-History:...
. As Smith explained it, the series will have 12 issues split into two six-issue books. Book 1 was supposed to run from August 2009 to January 2010 and, after a six-month hiatus, Book 2 would run from July 2010 through December 2010. However, Book 1 was plagued by several hiatuses and ran to July 2010 and Book 2 has yet to see print.
Smith has described how he creates the scripts. Following Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Zack and Miri Make a Porno is a 2008 romantic comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, distributed by The Weinstein Company, and starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. It is Smith's second film not to be set within the View Askewniverse and the first not set in New Jersey. It was...
, he had "a sort of nervous breakdown
Nervous breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
, or as close to a mid-life crisis
Mid-life crisis
Midlife crisis is a term coined in 1965 by Elliott Jaques and used in Western societies to describe a period of dramatic self-doubt that is felt by some individuals in the "middle years" or middle age of life, as a result of sensing the passing of their own youth and the imminence of their old age...
" and started heavily smoking cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
, which, he claims, has contributed to his writing of the series:
During a Q and A session in Calgary, Alberta, on August 17, 2011, Smith stated that he was working on issue four of the second book, and Flanagan was currently drawing the third issue.
Collected editions
The series is being collected into individual volumesTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
- The Widening Gyre (collects The Widening Gyre #1-6, 200 pages, hardcover, DC Comics, December 2010, ISBN 1-4012-2875-5, Titan BooksTitan BooksTitan Publishing Group is an independently owned publishing company, established in 1981. It is based at offices in London, England's Bankside area. The Books Division has two main areas of publishing: film & TV tie-ins/cinema reference books; and graphic novels and comics reference/art titles. The...
, October 2010, ISBN 1848569629)