Jonathan Hickman Thinks Like Batman, Says Editor Jake Thomas

This is a bold claim, even for a seasoned editor: Jonathan Hickman, the architect behind some of comics' most intricate sagas, thinks like Batman. That's the word from IDW Senior Group Editor Jake Thomas. On IDW Publishing's CreatorXCreator podcast, Thomas declared Hickman a uniquely perfect fit for DC's Dark Knight.

Hickman is renowned for his meticulous, often mind-bending storytelling in titles like "The Nightly News" and his acclaimed Marvel work on "S.H.I.E.L.D." He crafts sprawling narratives with an almost architectural precision, utilizing detailed charts and graphs to map out every emotional beat and character weakness. Thomas believes this strategic, long-game approach mirrors Batman's own tactical genius. "I think there are very few people in comics who actually think like Batman and Hickman's one of them," Thomas stated.

The editor even envisioned an impossible dream team: Hickman paired with the late, great artist Steve Dillon. Thomas worked with Dillon and saw the potential for a "really cool, really weird, really messed up" take on Batman's Rogue's Gallery. While co-host Heather Antos noted the tonal contrast, the idea of Hickman's grand designs meeting Dillon's gritty, expressive art is undeniably intriguing.

Hickman has never touched Batman. But Thomas's argument is compelling: to see how Hickman would "build a Batman universe" from the ground up, rooted in psychological depth and strategic ruthlessness, would be nothing short of amazing. This isn't just fan-casting; it's a vision for a definitive, layered take on Gotham's protector.