JL8 #27 - Creator Commentary
Added 2022-06-03 20:32:46 +0000 UTCJL8 #27 by Yale Stewart
Originally published on March 26th, 2012
An argument can be made that this strip demonstrates the primary thesis of JL8: that Bruce Wayne's origin is indeed tragic, and to be treated with respect.
Admittedly, I think that at best that Thesis B to a Thesis A that I don't properly know how to describe, other than I do think JL8 is more about the group as a unit than Bruce as a singular character, but let's keep talking about Thesis B.
I've mentioned before that I take some umbrage with the meme-ification of the Death of the Waynes. I understand that when something bludgeons you over the head enough times, you can't help but start making fun of it. Honestly, I could probably go the rest of my own life without another depiction of it. But just because I'm tired of it, doesn't mean it's not powerful.
I think a lot of people forget the in-betweens. I could list many examples but we'll just stick with Batman. We see Bruce's parents murdered when he's a child, and often it skips right to him being Batman, or at least being an adult nearing the end of his training to become Batman. We never spend time thinking about the day-in, day-out of what it must have been like as a child to witness the killing of your parents. It would be scary. It would be heartbreaking. It would be lonely.
In JL8, Bruce is a little boy projecting confidence and strength because at the end of the day, he goes home to a giant house full of memories of a family no longer with him, save for Alfred. All the money in the Wayne Fortune can't solve that kind of hurt.
And that's what I was trying to convey with this one. The wide shots, Bruce being small in frame, the use of blue. It's Bruce and Alfred against the world, and they're just trying to make the best of it, with the help of fresh-baked cookies and favorite TV shows.
Take care, everyone.
-Yale
