Gerard Jones is an award-winning American author and comic book writer. From 1987 to 2001, Jones wrote many comic books for Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Viz Media, Malibu Comics and other publishers; including Green Lantern, Justice League, Prime, Ultraforce, El Diablo, Wonder Man, Martian Manhunter, Elongated Man, The Shadow, Pokémon, and Batman.
Jones is author of the Eisner Award-winning Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book (2004); Killing Monsters: Why Children Need Fantasy, Superheroes and Make-Believe Violence (2002), and Honey I'm Home: Sitcoms Selling the American Dream (1993). Jones is co-author with Will Jacobs of The Beaver Papers (1983), The Comic Book Heroes (1985, 1996), and the comic book The Trouble with Girls (1987-1993). From 1983 to 1988, Jacobs and Jones were contributors to National Lampoon magazine. He and Jacobs began writing humorous fiction again in 2008 with the online series My Pal Splendid Man and Million Dollar Ideas
Batman methodology, Riddler antics, an urban hero and a cartoonish villain - check, check, check and check. Batman is always more than physical force and this shows us a bit of that, thank goodness. Riddler is 'classic Riddler', always a pleasure to see him, Gordon has ethics, DiForza has good intentions and 'Bob' can show us a thing or two about character.
Batman stories are expositions of different philosophical moral theories. Batman is not often a believer in deontology and 'Run, Riddle, Run' is another vote for utilitarianism. Does he think of this often? Might he just think of himself as a virtuous warrior? Someone fighting for justice, real justice not legalism? His way, at times, of having two wrongs making a right makes me uneasy. He might be the best example of Plato's philosopher king, with his confidence that his way is the right way. He is very often, maybe always, right but will that hold up forever? And if not, will he be able to admit it?
Batman always make me think. He is compelling, complex and is one of the most interesting fictional characters of all time, a group that consists (for me) of Leto II and Alia Atreides, the Shrike, Morgana, Ut-Napishtim and few others. That's nice company to have.