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INTERVIEW: DON KRAMER Sunday, January 14, 2007 Author: Bill Ramey © BATMAN-ON-FILM.COM. All rights reserved. DETECTIVE COMICS is my favorite Batman comic book -- always has been. Recently, I had the chance to chat with the artist of DETECTIVE, Don Kramer. Don was born in Seoul, South Korea and was raised in Chebanse, Illinois. He went to Clifton Central High School and got his BFA at Illinois Wesleyan University. You can read Don's full bio at DONKRAMERART.COM. BOF: Tell us a bit about yourself. DK: I spend my day playing phone tag mind games with Ethan Van Sciver and Rags Morales. In between I draw DETECTIVE, raise children, date women, and make a mean mushroom veggie chowder. I'm a mad scientist in the kitchen. BOF: How did you break into comics? DK: Patience, hard work and getting to know the right people over time. I worked a day job and drew pages every night. Eventually, the right people took an interest in my work and gave me a chance. You can read all about it in my bio if you're interested at DONKRAMERART.COM. That thing probably needs to be updated. BOF: How did the DETECTIVE COMICS gig come about? How much interaction do you have with Paul Dini? DK: I had just finished BATMAN and was getting prepared for 52. I -- iterally -- got the script for 52 in the mail and was opening it up when I got the call that they wanted to put me on DETECTIVE. How could I lose? I talk to Paul through e-mail mostly. His scripts are fantastic and I try to do them justice. He has a wonderfully interwoven Gotham world that, if you pay attention, is slowly forming all around as you read each issue. BOF: How long does it take to complete one issue of DETECTIVE? DK: Typically about 5 weeks. Dude, this chick who is the new Ventriloquist -- who is she? DK: Paul and I know who she is........but that's Paul's story for another day! BOF: Are there any artists that have influenced your own take on The Batman? DK: Alex Ross, Lee Bermejo and Ethan Van Sciver. Anyone that follows a more realistic bend to the character has caught my attention. BOF: Were you a "DC Guy" or a "Marvel Guy" growing up? DK: I was a Marvel guy and a Batman guy growing up. I read X-men, Teen Titans, Fantastic Four, Spiderman, and Batman regularly as a child. BOF: Back to Batman, what's your take on the direction that DC seems to have gone with the character post-INFINITE CRISIS. It seems that he's returned to his more heroic, but still dark, depiction ala the 1970s. DK: It certainly appears that way. If a character is written well and the story is good, I can enjoy any direction that a character is taken as long as they remain true to the character’s core. BOF: Best Batman story (TPB, miniseries, graphic novel, etc.) to date? DK: BATMAN: YEAR ONE. No question in my mind! Don's work on BATMAN #625. © DC COMICS BOF: Since this website is called, um, "BATMAN ON FILM," what's you favorite live-action Batman movie? DK: BATMAN BEGINS! BOF: OK, what’s your take on BEGINS? DK: It was the closest they've come to the Batman movie I wish to see. BOF: So, are you looking forward to THE DARK KNIGHT? DK: Yes! I’m looking forward to it. BOF: So, who are your personal favorite comic book writers and artists? DK: Brian Bendis, Geoff Johns, Warren Ellis, Ed Brubaker, Mark Millar, James Robinson, John Ostrander, Garth Ennis, Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Neill Gaiman, Bryan Hitch, Ethan Van Sciver, Rags, Ivan Reiss, Alex Ross, Greg Land, Steve Epting, Michael Lark, John Paul Leon, John Cassaday, Gary Frank, Butch Guice, Barry Windsor Smith, Frank Frazetta, David Mazzuchelli, Arthur Ranson, Alex Ronald, Milo Manara....I know I'm forgetting a lot but those are off the top of my head! BOF: Any desire to write and draw comic books -- ala Matt Wagner (BATMAN AND THE MONSTER MEN) or Frank Miller (THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS)? DK: I have some ideas that I hope to one day see to fruition. BOF: What comics, if any, are you reading currently? DK: Unfortunately, not much. When I can -- Green Lantern, JSA, Goon, Strangers in Paradise, Daredevil, Ultimates, 52, Walking Dead. Are you hitting the convention circuit this year (2007)? DK: Chicago is always a definite and I was asked to Adventure Con in Tennessee. Perhaps San Diego. BOF: Tell us what you've got coming on the horizon. DK: More DETECTIVE for the time being! Bill Ramey, AKA "Jett," is the founder and Editor in Chief of BATMAN ON FILM, BATMAN IN COMICS, and ON-FILM.NET.