Joshua Williamson To Receive Writing Credit On Batman #22

While this development doesn’t seem like too much of a shocker, that doesn’t make it any less noteworthy. By now, you’re probably aware that DC is waist-deep in “The Button,” an important crossover incorporating both Batman and The Flash, brought to us by current series writers Tom King and Joshua Williamson, respectively. And while these two gentlemen have no doubt exchanged countless phone calls and emails with each other and DC editorial in order to hash out the specifics of the story, they were originally slated as keeping to their own books.

Well, it looks like the collaboration has grown closer than expected, as Williamson is now being given scripting credit for Batman #22, with both him and King being credited as co-plotting the story. Personally, I don’t mind this news at all since Williamson has been knocking it out of the park with The Flash, the most recent issue of which was the best entry in the crossover yet (you can read our review here).

King gave some insight as to how the change came about in a recent interview with DC Comics, saying:

“As we worked out the story details of the issues together, it become clear to me that Josh could script BATMAN #22 better than I could. My responsibility is to put out the best Batman issue possible for the fans, and in this case, the way to do that was to step back a bit and let Josh take the lead. Reading it over now, it’s obvious I was right; I love the issue and I love this event, and I can’t wait for everyone to get it in their hands.”

Upon reading that statement, I couldn’t help but think that King was using this as a chance to get some lead-in time on his next major story arc, “The War of Jokes and Riddles,” and, as it turns out, Williamson proved me right:

“Tom and I had been working together on this insane Button crossover for months, so when he needed to focus on the next arc of Batman with ‘The Brave and The Mold’ and ‘The War of Jokes and Riddles’ it was super easy for me to jump in and help take the script across the finish line. Tom and I had talked with DC editorial about what we could reveal in BATMAN #22 and how it would play out and we’re happy with the story we developed together. The next parts of the crossover are going to be a wild ride.”

Batman #22 arrives in comic shops next Wednesday, May 3.