How Batman writer Scott Snyder decided Jim Gordon should be the new Dark Knight

If you've been keeping up with the latest Batman comics, then you'll know Bruce Wayne is no longer Batman (for the moment). 

Starting in "Batman" #41, Commissioner James Gordon has taken on the mantle of the bat after Wayne was left for dead in a brawl with the Joker. 

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The new look of Batman in issue #41 showed Jim Gordon in a sleeker Batsuit with a simple, outline of a yellow bat filling in for the logo.

Some might have been surprised by the choice of Gordon to replace Wayne, but he was always the first pick.

"When I knew Bruce was going to go off the table with 'Endgame,' I was thinking about who could replace him, and there was never, I mean, the most interesting to me was somebody who is almost a real-world character stepping into the role of a mythological one," "Batman" series writer Scott Snyder told Tech Insider recently at New York Comic Con. 

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The cover to Batman #40, the conclusion to "Endgame," in which Batman and the Joker battle to the death.

Snyder said the idea to turn Gordon into the iconic Dark Knight came to him last summer. 

"If somebody tapped you on the shoulder, as somebody who cares about New York City let's say, or Gotham City, [and says] I want you to be Batman. That story was really interesting to me. And so Jim was always the person," he continued. "It was kind of organically built around him as a character."

Artist Greg Capullo gave the commissioner a boxer's build knowing Gordon could never match Wayne's domineering physique, and given the character's military background as a former marine, he took away his iconic mustache and gave him a Mohawk.

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This is how Jim Gordon looks now in the comics.

Capullo told Tech Insider having Gordon step in was the natural progression for Batman. Since the two have always had a working relationship, this finally allows Gordon to know what it's like to have walked a mile in Batman's boots.

"What I'm really looking forward to is how this affects Gordon's and Batman's relationship after this," said Capullo.

This isn't the first time someone else has taken on Batman's role in the comic series. We've seen some of the Dark Knight's allies ranging from former Robins Dick Grayson and Jason Todd to Jean-Paul Valley/Azrael fill in for Batman. 

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Dick Grayson as Batman in the "Prodigal" storyline.

However, transforming the police officer into a crime fighter was a bigger risk than a fellow crime-fighting superhero sidekick. How would the fans react to it? 

"Scott said to me, he goes, 'Listen, I really wanted to say I'm sorry if this is really is the one that sinks our ship," said Capullo. "He's apologized to me a few times ahead of the curve."

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The first appearance of Jim Gordon as Batman in issue #41 showed the Dark Knight as we've never seen him in a giant robotic bunny-like robosuit.

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Jim Gordon as a smoking Batman on the cover of "Batman" #45.

"He [Snyder] was worried about it," continued Capullo. "I think the important thing was I said to him, 'Listen, it's a great story. It's the natural thing that has to happen after what we've done here in 'Endgame.' Once we get rolling, and show them what it's all about, they'll come aboard.' It turned out I was right once again."

Reactions were extremely positive. 

"It's important to let the fans know we love the character as much as they do. Nothing we do is meant to sort of trash the character or do something silly or sensational just for sales," said Snyder. "And we never would have done this if we didn't have a really good story for you guys and we didn't have a place we were going with this character that we think you're going to love. Now, the funny thing is, the story has actually gone over well enough that the response is more like, 'Sorry I didn't believe in it.'"

The next installment of "Batman," issue #46, is available November 11.