You rule an entire continent. You are feared. You are infamous. You are Grodd.
You have everything you've ever wanted. And you are miserable.
Why? Writer Sean Ryan, penciller Ig Guara and inker Ruy Jose answer this question by bringing us a twisted character study of a great, if restless, criminal mind in the FLASHPOINT: GRODD OF WAR one-shot, on sale tomorrow.
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Sean Ryan’s one-shot, FLASHPOINT: GRODD OF WAR, takes its readers on a trip to a war-ravaged Africa. Led by his hunger for violence and power, Grodd has successfully taken over the continent and has been made king of all the land. With plans for expanding his empire globally, Grodd is not a character to be overlooked. We talked to Sean about his tortured protagonist and what the ramifications of his rule of Africa might have on the FLASHPOINT universe:
THE SOURCE: While Grodd gives off a very tough exterior, he's clearly tortured by his own personal demons. Why is Grodd such a haunted figure, even in a world without a Flash?
SEAN RYAN: I think because there is no Flash in this world, that's why Grodd feels like crap most of the time. He's missing that challenge, or at least, that person who could give him a challenge. Stuff is coming too easily for Grodd in this world and he sort of hates that. He's a smart dude, Grodd. He likes to be intellectually stimulated. And he's not getting that.
What motivates Grodd?
SR: Power. He craves power over things. I think it mainly comes from a sense that he knows he's smarter than everyone else, so why shouldn't he be in charge? I certainly think that's what motivated Grodd to start his conquest of Africa. Now that the conquest is nearly over...His motivation is starting to change.
Tensions between Aquaman and Wonder Woman have had global ramifications. How does Grodd fit into the hierarchy of international super powers?
SR: He really doesn't. They ignore him. A thing I wanted to touch on in the story is how Africa is often ignored. There's awful things happening in Africa all the time in our own world and we don't really know about it. It usually takes some kind of celebrity to point it out to us. So that's sort of what's going on in Africa in Flashpoint. Grodd has taken over Africa and turned it into a mass grave, but the world could care less. They're more focused on Aquaman and Wonder Woman.
Grodd is a world leader. How does he rule Africa? Is he an isolationist?
SR: He rules Africa not very well, but he's not terribly concerned with running it very well. Grodd's not really one to enact wide ranging social programs. And he's an isolationist at the start of the story...But by the end of the story, you'll see Grodd start to look out at the rest of the world and see an incentive for joining the bigger war, but for reasons you might not have expected.
If Grodd's Africa had a motto, what would it be?
SR: I was looking up famous quotes and mottos for this question and found this insane quote from Joseph Stalin that sums Grodd's Africa and the story pretty well: "Death solves all problems."
What's the hardest part about working on a big crossover event?
Jeff Lemire (Writer, FLASHPOINT: FRANKENSTEIN AND THE CREATURES OF THE UNKNOWN): Doing these questionnaires.
Dan Jurgens (Writer, BOOSTER GOLD #45): Making everything as seamless as possible. When you have a number of books that fit into a particular universe there should be aspects of an undercurrent that are somewhat consistent throughout.
Mike Carlin (Writer, FLASHPOINT: THE CANTERBURY CRICKET): Trying to do something cool AND pertinent in a one-shot that plays off the main story but doesn’t blow any important elements of that story.
Scott Kolins (Writer/Artist, FLASHPOINT: CITIZEN COLD; Writer, FLASHPOINT: REVERSE FLASH): Letting go of some of the cool ideas I have. I’d need about 6 issues to tell it all.
Tony Bedard (Writer, FLASHPOINT: EMPEROR AQUAMAN): Being the editor. It's not that bad if you're one of the writers, but the poor editors that have to keep track of all the moving parts -- they've got the hard job.
Peter Milligan (Writer, FLASHPOINT: SECRET SEVEN): Not allowing one’s head to explode. In truth, FLASHPOINT is more liberating than constraining.
During the build up to the release of issue one of FLASHPOINT, we've been teasing our fans with leading questions. The first of those questions was, "whatever happened to the world's greatest superheroes?" How would you answer that question?
Sean Ryan (Writer, FLASHPOINT: GRODD OF WAR): It’s complicated.
Dan Abnett (Writer, FLASHPOINT: WONDER WOMAN AND THE FURIES): They never happened.
Lowell Francis (Script, FLASHPOINT: PROJECT SUPERMAN): They fell like dominoes in another direction. (I hope that sounds as zen as it did in my head…)
Jimmy Palmiotti: War.
Jeff Lemire: Many of them never came to be, because Frankenstein finished the job for them in 1945.
Dan Jurgens: In some respects, that's what BOOSTER GOLD will be all about. As for how I'd answer it... There weren't any.
Adam Schlagman (Writer, FLASHPOINT: ABIN SUR; FLASHPOINT: HAL JORDAN): FLASHPOINT is a world where the Justice League never formed. And because of that, the world is a very harsh and dangerous place. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman are vastly different individuals.
Rex Ogle (Writer, FLASHPOINT: THE WORLD OF FLASHPOINT): I’m not spilling the beans on anything. What I will say is, the hero in my story is less renown than I think she deserves to be. She’s got this rich history with both Superman and the Teen Titans, and I was lucky enough to launch my comics career writing her. In FLASHPOINT, she’s not quite as sun-shiny as she in the DC Universe. She’s known great loss, and it has changed her.
Gene Ha (Artist, FLASHPOINT: PROJECT SUPERMAN): Geoff Johns put his hands around Superman's neck and said, "There's nothing wrong with you I can't fix. With my hands."
J.T. Krul (Writer, FLASHPOINT: DEADMAN AND THE FLYING GRAYSONS): Nobody knows who the world's greatest superheroes are, because they don't really exist.
Scott Kolins: A whole lot of craziness that was never allowed before. The creative doors are wide-open!
It appears that in the world of FLASHPOINT something has happened to alter the destinies of the world's greatest superheroes. What pivotal moment in your own life would need to be changed in order to prevent you from becoming the person you are today?
Rex Ogle: Wow. I wasn’t prepared to get all personal and philosophical. Hehe. There have been so many moments in my life where things could have gone one way or the other. Some I got to choose, others not so much. But to tie it back to the story I’m writing, I lost several loved ones all in a row when I was young, and it gave me this unique perspective others my age just didn’t have. It pushed me to live my life to the fullest, not just for myself, but for those I had lost. That’s kind of what my hero does in her story. Well, that and try to save the lives of 112 million people.
Dan Jurgens: Strange as it sounds, if there had never been a Batman TV series, I don't think I ever would have bought a comic book. Which means I wouldn't be answering these questions right now!
Mike Carlin: If only I’d made that game-winning pass!
Adam Schlagman: If I was never CHOSEN to join the amazing family that’s been created at DC Comics, I would be an entirely different person.
Dan Abnett: A school friend giving me a pile of American comics to read when I was about nine.
Pornsak Pichetshote (Writer, FLASHPOINT: GREEN ARROW INDUSTRIES):: The time I [censored] [censored] [censored] with a [censored] [censored] [censored] in [name withheld by request]’s [censored]/
Scott Snyder (Plot, FLASHPOINT: PROJECT SUPERMAN): Wow, that's tough. I think the beauty of Flashpoint is that in a lot of ways, it's a meditation on how these little differences in our actions - tiny choices - can cause drastic change. And yet the core of who we are - that stays the same.
Gene Ha: I had an older brother who was one of the toughest kids in school. If he hadn't been the Superman in my world, I hate to think how I would have turned out.
Jimmy Palmiotti: That's easy...when I turned 30 I walked out of my job and decided to make comics my life.
J.T. Krul: Just after college, I took a leap of faith and drove to LA without a friend, a job, or business contact whatsoever in the city. Everything I've built since that day, from work to family to friends, would not be part of my life had I not made that move. That and buying my first comic in a liquor store at age 10. Who says superheroes can't change people's lives?
Tony Bedard: If I'd never met my wife I'd still be a waiter in Atlanta. She's the one who got me to move to New York and follow my dreams.
Peter Milligan: I was on holiday years ago and one of my brothers and I were climbing around some steep cliff faces near where we were staying. We came out of some bushes and I lost my footing. I was falling towards the rocks and sea far, far below. My brother managed to catch me and I hauled myself back to safety. We were laughing the whole time but afterwords we realized how close I’d been to death or serious life-changing injury. I never did thank my brother. And I don’t intend to start now.
Who in the world of FLASHPOINT is your favorite character to work on? What surprise character will have fans talking?
Scott Snyder: I'm having a blast on Superman, and I think a lot of characters are going to have fans talking, but I love what's going to happen in the Bat-world.
Adam Schlagman: ABIN SUR – Sinestro is by far my favorite! He’s one of the greatest characters ever created. And Abin Sur will have people talking. He’s just so cool!
Jeff Lemire: Griffith, the werewolf Creature Commando has become my favorite. He has a surprisingly sweet personality and a big heart. I think fans will dig him.
Sean Ryan: GRODD.
Dan Jurgens: You're asking me about the last page of BOOSTER GOLD #44! Can't talk about that yet!
Dan Abnett: Lois. She’s a super hero without super powers.
Mike Carlin: I’m a Jinny Greenteeth fan!
Jimmy Palmiotti: Deathstroke is my world right now...along with a new character introduced in the series.
Lowell Francis: I’ve come to love the key new character we’ve come up with, but I think that’s all I can safely say about that…
Scott Kolins: I am having so much fun with Cold. Geoff and I have talked many times about how great it would be for Cold to have his own monthly series. Surprise character? Flash fans will be very interested in a mysterious masked character who plays a crucial part in the story.
J.T. Krul: Dick Grayson for sure. And I can't say the surprise character in my book, but you'll know it when you see it. Trust me.
Tony Bedard: He's such a cool alternate version of himself, but what may surprise readers is that in many ways this tyrant Aquaman illuminates the character of our Aquaman. In other words, this militant, murderous Aquaman will make you appreciate the real Aquaman all the more.
Peter Milligan: I don’t know if he’s a surprise, but Batman will probably get people talking. However the character I’m most into working on is the one I am indeed writing about: Shade The Changing Man, a character with whom I have an intimate relationship, a changing man and therefore a perfect vehicle for exploring the changing world of FLASHPOINT.
FLASHPOINT is an international adventure with a huge cast of characters and a lot of action, but it's also, at its heart, a collection of very personal stories. What can you say about the personal conflict that drives the series you are working on?
Dan Jurgens: Ours is a very personal story of loss. Everyone Booster loves is gone.
Mike Carlin: FLASHPOINT: CANTERBURY CRICKET #1 is about a good looking bad man who gets a chance to become a good man— in spite of what he looks like now!
Sean Ryan: Well, FLASHPOINT is a world with Flash. And since my one-shot is about one of Flash’s greatest villains, Grodd, the conflict is what does Grodd do without his archenemy. He gets everything he’s ever wanted, but there’s no more challenges in his life. He’s got everything he wants, but he’s miserable.
Adam Schlagman: ABIN SUR – Abin Sur is on a mission to protect all life in the universe, but how can he when hundreds of sectors have already fallen to the forces of chaos? Abin will need to overcome a terrible tragedy if he has any hope of saving the cosmos.
HAL JORDAN – Ace test pilot Hal Jordan has never been the responsible one, but in a time of crisis, he must become the hero and lead his squadron to victory
Jeff Lemire: My book is all about getting home. Its about four people who had really terrible things done to them, and all they want is to escape the madness of this world and find a quiet place where they can be at peace. But getting there will cost them all dearly.
Peter Milligan: Though Shade and Enchantress –(or rather, that witch’s alto ego June Moone ) are the ‘stars” of my story – are they in love? Are they both insane? Is one of them a killer? – it’s Amethyst who brings home the human, vulnerable aspect of the tale. At the heart of the story is Shade. He doesn’t want to be a leader of any team. He doubts he’s fit or sane enough. But only by calling this strange group together is he going to be free of the M-Vest, which is much more than just a vest….
Pornsak Pichetshote: What if deep down you knew that you were a better person than you are right now? And then you finally got a chance to prove it?
Rex Ogle: That’s easy. It’s about a girl and her father. They’ve shared a terrible loss, and while it drives her one way, it drives him to a far darker place. In the end, she wants to save him from himself. I think a lot of people can relate since not every person agrees with choices their parents make. I certainly don’t. I mean, my parents always get me socks for Christmas.
Lowell Francis: In our series we have the luxury of covering a wide sweep of years. That gives us the opportunity to really see how those personal conflicts evolve and change over time.
Scott Kolins: It doesn’t get more personal than CITIZEN COLD. Can a hero with a bad secret fall in love?
J.T. Krul: It's about family and loss and carrying on in a world wrought with incredible adversity. It's about people who keep on keeping on.
Scott Snyder: Our story is, in a lot of ways, about what makes Kal-El Superman. If his life had gone differently, would he still become one of earth's greatest heroes? Could he become its greatest villain? It's about the strength of the human character.
Tony Bedard: Aquaman was once going to marry Wonder Woman. Now he has a very personal score to settle with her. Any love he once felt for her has completely turned to hatred, and if he has to kill millions to get her, then so be it.
Why will fans be telling their friends to read the FLASHPOINT stories this summer?
Dan Abnett: Because they will not BELIEVE where the story will take them.
Mike Carlin: Because everything they know will be turned inside out!
Dan Jurgens: Because it MATTERS.
Scott Snyder: Because it's one of the best event stories I've ever read. I can't wait for people to see it.
Adam Schlagman: The entire series is incredible and though they can all be enjoyed separately, together they build an amazing cohesive universe with an ultimate epic tale.
Scott Kolins: Geoff Johns.
Rex Ogle: That one is easy. There’s not going to be anything like it. :-)
Pornsak Pichetshote: Geoff has come up with the coolest story involving the biggest characters in the DC UNIVERSE. It’s big and touching all at the same time.
Peter Milligan: FLASHPOINT will be one of those game-changing, epoch-defining events that people will talk about for years to come. Those who weren’t a part of it at the time will lie and say they were, and wish they had been. So why set yourself up to be a liar?
How often do you talk to or e-mail your editor and the other creators working on FLASHPOINT titles? What kind of creative collaboration is going on behind the scenes?
J.T. Krul: A lot actually. Geoff is creating a rich universe within the main book, and we get to play in our corners of it on our books, but there is a very strong effort to keep things connected in an organic way.
Javi Fernandez: Everything is perfect, the script, the editor, the result... everything...
Tony Bedard: I've had a lot of interaction with Geoff, Eddie Berganza, and with Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning since my EMPEROR AQUAMAN series is closely tied to their WONDER WOMAN AND THE FURIES mini. It's been a real pleasure working with DnA. I've been trying to beat their cosmic stuff at Marvel with our own R.E.B.E.L.S. and now we have a friendly competition to see which rocks harder, Aquaman or Wonder Woman.
Dan Abnett: All the time. It’s one big Skype party.
Scott Snyder: A lot of collaboration is going on. I've already spoken with and come up with joint story elements with Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, JT Krul, Tony Bedard, Jeff Lemire. It's great, because the world is this shared sandbox, with all this vibrant stuff happening all around you.
Rex Ogle: I really lucked out to have Pat McCallum and Sean Mackiewics as my editors. They not only push me to make the story that much bigger, but they help me tap into the potential of my ideas. (“Care Bear Stare”, right guys?) As for the talent, the amazing Brett Booth & Andrew Dalhouse are working on covers, and when I saw the first one, it blew me away. It took all my restraint not to post it online. I’ve also got Eduardo Francisco and Paulo Siqueira doing the interior art and it’s just gorgeous.
Dan Jurgens: It's very intensive with a lot of ongoing conversations and contact to help pull everything together.
Jimmy Palmiotti: I hit the crew up whenever I have a question and they get right back to me. This is a well oiled machine on every level and one of the easiest crossovers I have ever worked on. It's been great.
Lowell Francis: Often- working with everyone, especially Scott Snyder, has been an amazing creative experience.
Have you ever been involved in an event of this magnitude before?
Lowell Francis: No- it’s like playing a massive game of live-action Tetris. We’re trying to get all the pieces from the many amazing titles put into place. This event’s an incredible network of cascading effects.
Dan Jurgens: Quite honestly, yeah! A few times!
Mike Carlin: I’ve been involved with a few since 1981... But when we heard this whole storyline laid out, I believed this to be an event with immense personal stakes. That’s unusual for these big stories, that’s for sure.
Dan Abnett: No, but an alternate version of me has.
Adam Schlagman: Though I worked heavily on BLACKEST NIGHT, I’ve never been involved in an event where an entire universe is created and coordinated between over twenty creators. It’s unbelievably fun!
Scott Kolins: ROGUES REVENGE was part of FINAL CRISIS and BLACKEST NIGHT: FLASH was part of the summer event last year – so yes I’ve been apart of these events before. This one has a strong and different concept than those, which is great – And I get to write my story this time.
J.T. Krul: BLACKEST NIGHT was epic and huge, but this feels even bigger.
Tony Bedard: I got to do several stories in BLACKEST NIGHT, so I guess this isn't my first rodeo.
Peter Milligan: I was involved the the Global Financial Meltdown that led to the demise of Lehman Brothers and the ruination of countless economies…but that wasn’t quite as complex or far-reaching as FLASHPOINT.
Gene Ha: It was called GODHOOD, the sequel to KINGDOM COME. We don't talk about that much...
Rex Ogle: No, this is my first. And it’s an absolute honor to have my name alongside so much phenomenal talent.
Jeff Lemire: I once created an epic crossover with my Superpowers figures that lasted for nearly seven years. I finally wrapped it up last month, it was great. Darkseid won.
Javi Fernandez: Never! As I´ve said, is the first time that I’ve worked for DC and it is so fun, such a treat, that I think that I´ve won the lottery.
There's been a lot of chatter, online and at conventions, about what kind of consequences will come out of FLASHPOINT. Why, in your estimation, will FLASHPOINT matter to fans?
Sean Ryan: Because I think at the core of FLASHPOINT, behind all the crazy changes and differences, the story has a very deep emotional center that I think will resonate with fans.
Gene Ha: We're creating a setting and cast of characters that we love. We're putting every twisted obsessive drop of love from our sick bastard hearts into it. But this event is only the first story. We're trying to make something so tempting that other creators can't resist playing with these toys too.
Mike Carlin: Because change CAN be good!
Dan Jurgens: There will be lasting effects.
Adam Schlagman: Wait until you see the end. Oh boy, does it matter. Plus the emotional context will register with all DC fans for all eternity.
Dan Abnett: We can’t talk about that yet. But oh my god...
Jeff Lemire: Because, unlike past events, this one REALLY does change everything.
Rex Ogle: When you take a character and put them in a whole new world with a whole new life, the core of who they are stays the same—but how that different world has changed them, changes how they react to their environment. And as a fan, I’m overjoyed to see some of these new aspects of the heroes (and villains) I love.
As for long lasting effects on the DC Universe, let’s just say at the heart of FLASHPOINT is this very overwhelmingly emotional story (beautifully written by Geoff Johns). And when there’s a story this powerful and intense, yeah, of course there’re going to be some repercussions. Of course I’m not at liberty to say more than that…
Peter Milligan: It’ll allow the reader to consider familiar characters in new ways. And more importantly to be reacquainted with lesser-known characters they may have forgotten about or never been aware of. In other words it will re-populate the DC Universe.
J.T. Krul: They'll be seeing their favorite heroes and villains in ways they never have before. And, that's only the tip of the iceberg for what's coming next.
Pornsak Pichetshote: You’ll find out when it’s over. Boy, will you find out when it’s over…
Tony Bedard: I'm not allowed to talk about it, but it absolutely will matter.
Scott Snyder: Well, first and foremost, it'll matter because of the strength of the story! It's just a great tale, really imaginative, epic, with lost of twists and turns... But if you're looking for a "will it change the DCU," the answer is definitely yes.
There are a lot of unanswered questions about FLASHPOINT and, starting today, we're going to start laying out some of the answers. Many of the key creators working on the FLASHPOINT mini-series will be joining us, as we pull back the curtain on this summer's superhero event.
FLASHPOINT is a huge, huge undertaking. What got you to sign onto the series?
Peter Milligan (Writer, FLASHPOINT: SECRET SEVEN): I first heard about it when Dan DiDio and Jim Lee were in London last year. I thought then that it sounded like a really interesting concept—I particularly liked the opportunity to put a spin on some characters that have lain dormant for a while.
J.T. Krul (Writer, FLASHPOINT: DEADMAN & THE FLYING GRAYSONS): Being part of the big DC events is always fun. Just look at BLACKEST NIGHT: TITANS. Well, it was fun for me, even if it wasn't fun for the Titans. As for FLASHPOINT, it's such a wild west feel that it allowed the opportunity to write characters in a completely new way. Plus, signing on to write Deadman and the Flying Graysons gave me the best excuse in the world to swing on an actual trapeze as "research."
Dan Jurgens (Writer, BOOSTER GOLD #45): Dan DiDio first started talking about it when we were putting together the TIME MASTERS: VANISHING POINT project. He was quite clear when he said, "Let's start with a search for Bruce Wayne and transition to a teaser for FLASHPOINT. Between that and THE FLASH, we wanted to give the readers a taste of what was to come.
Mike Carlin (Writer, FLASHPOINT: THE CANTERBURY CRICKET): Having been in on the story since Geoff (Johns) pitched it to us ... I knew it would be one of the coolest, universe-spanning epics in a while. And then when asked to play in a teeny tiny corner of that universe ... it was easy to wanna play along!
Adam Schlagman (Writer, FLASHPOINT:ABIN SUR; FLASHPOINT: HAL JORDAN): I was signed on from day one. Coming out of BLACKEST NIGHT, Geoff was already hard at work developing the next universe spanning epic event…. FLASHPOINT. The massive project centers around an emotional tale featuring The Flash and Batman. But surrounding it is what happens to the DC Universe when everything changes in a flash. I’ve crafted a tale in which FLASHPOINT: ABIN SUR and FLASHPOINT: HAL JORDAN interact but can also be enjoyed separately. These two are destined to meet and when they do, they’ll leave a lasting impact on each others' lives.
Lowell Francis (Co-Writer, FLASHPOINT: PROJECT SUPERMAN): A call from Gene Ha telling me about the chance to work with Scott Snyder.
Scott Snyder (Plot, FLASHPOINT: PROJECT SUPERMAN): The story and subsequent world Geoff came up with. Period. As soon as he told us the story, I was in.
Rex Ogle (Writer, FLASHPOINT: THE WORLD OF FLASHPOINT): When Geoff Johns and Eddie Berganza asked if I’d like to take part in DC’s biggest summer crossover, it wasn’t even a question—the answer was yes.
Jeff Lemire (Writer, FLASHPOINT: FRANKENSTEIN AND THE CREATURES OF THE UNKNOWN): Geoff's enthusiasm for the project and the world he was creating was infectious. Plus I've been an avid fan of DC and DC crossover series since I was a kid, so a chance to be part of one with such a strong core concept was something I couldn't pass up.
Gene Ha (Artist, FLASHPOINT: PROJECT SUPERMAN): Eddie Berganza. He was my first assistant editor, and he's still the most exciting comic geek I know. "This is gonna be COOL!"
The world of FLASHPOINT has been cloaked in secrecy. What's the hardest part of not spilling the beans?
Dan Jurgens: Whenever you know something cool, you want to be able to talk about it. Same thing with FLASHPOINT-- there's so much cool stuff being put together that you want to be able to let people in on the scoop!
Scott Kolins (Writer/Artist, FLASHPOINT: CITIZEN COLD; Writer, FLASHPOINT: REVERSE FLASH): I haven’t been out in public since I signed on, so it’s been quiet for me.
Scott Snyder: The hardest part is honestly the coolness of the shared world. Every corner has something fun and wild going on. Every character is re-imagined in surprising ways - but ways that make sense given who they are. You want to share it with people.
Dan Abnett (Writer, FLASHPOINT: WONDER WOMAN AND THE FURIES): I keep having to shout at my cats to vent my excess excitement, so I’m probably looking at serious vet bills right now.
Jeff Lemire: I'm so excited about the amazing ideas and characters in the FLASHPOINT world that its really hard not to talk about them at cons when fans ask me questions.
Lowell Francis: I only have a few beans, so it’s been pretty easy keeping the lid on.
Mike Carlin: The story is so big I don’t even HAVE all the beans! I have the beans I was given and I’m holding on tight! They’re MY beans!
Tony Bedard (Writer, FLASHPOINT: EMPEROR AQUAMAN): Having worked on the editorial side, I'm not having much trouble keeping a lid on my project. They're called "spoilers" for a reason, and I'm not going to spoil anyone's enjoyment of this event.
Jimmy Palmiotti (Writer, FLASHPOINT: DEATHSTROKE AND THE CURSE OF THE RAVAGER): When taking on a project like this it's hard not to get excited and talk about it at the conventions or to other pros, but I knew going in secrecy is key to the project and in the end, there is nothing I hate more than having a story ruined for me, so in the end, it all world out. There is this one scene where death stroke puts a gun up to...wait, I can't talk about that, can I? Ah...didn't think so.
Adam Schlagman: Knowing how exciting and awesome all the ideas the writers and editors are generating as they bring this one cohesive world to life. There are so many shocking moments across the books that incite chills. It’s not easy keeping my lips sealed and holding in the enthusiasm. Fortunately all the creators have each other to talk to, yet that just amps us up more with utter excitement.
Javi Fernandez (Artist, FLASHPOINT: THE OUTSIDER): What I´m more pleased with is that people are wrong with the suppositions, so that will make for a lot of surprises.
We're going to ask the impossible. Can you sum up the series you are working on in five words--or less?
Tony Bedard: Will Aquaman drown the world?
Peter Milligan: Shade summons Secret Seven, disastrously.
Jeff Lemire: Classic monsters fighting giant robots.
Lowell Francis: Laboratory superheroes and uncontrolled variables.
Mike Carlin: Demons and Amazons and Crickets!
Scott Kolins: Cold love and burning hate!
Dan Abnett: Peppermint aardvark plethora corduroy-- no, it appears I can’t.
Pornsak Pichetshote (Writer, FLASHPOINT: GREEN ARROW INDUSTRIES): Big business always = bad guy?
Javi Fernandez: Amazing.
Jimmy Palmiotti: A celebration of wrong.
J.T. Krul: Abandonment; despair - and Ruthless Amazons!
Sean Ryan (Writer, FLASHPOINT: GRODD OF WAR): Grodd suffers from extreme Anhedonia.
Dan Jurgens: For BOOSTER GOLD it'd be... Intrigue. Challenging. Chaos. Doom. Death.
FLASHPOINT: GRODD OF WAR #1
Cover: Francis Manapul
Writer: Sean Ryan
Art: Ig Guara
FLASHPOINT: REVERSE FLASH #1
Cover: Ardian Syaf and Vicente Cifuentes
Writer: Scott Kolins
Art: Joel Gomez
FLASHPOINT: GREEN ARROW INDUSTRIES #1
Cover: Viktor Kalvachev
Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote
Art: Mark Castiello
FLASHPOINT: THE CANTERBURY CRICKET #1
Cover: Rags Morales
Writer: Mike Carlin
Art: Rags Morales
The SUPERMAN 80-PAGE GIANT features seven stories by a slew of great talent, all taking a look at the Man of Steel from a different viewpoint. Mike Raicht & Charles Paul Wilson III take a peek at young Clark Kent’s life in Smallville; Kathryn Immonen & Tonci Zonjic explore the joys of marriage when Lois Lane takes a sick day; Ben McCool & Matt Camp visit The Daily Planet where Superman has to battle a wicked bug problem; Pat McCallum & Mike Shoyket check in with a gang of Metropolis bank robbers who’ve had their fair share of run-ins with the heroes of the DCU; Jason Hall & Julian Lopez track down a shut-in who turns into a daredevil once Superman saves his life; Rik Hoskin & RB Silva explore what Superman does in his downtime; and DC’s very own associate editor Sean Ryan & Clayton Henry put an entirely new spin on the typical Superman/Bizarro fight! So make sure and pick up a copy this week – you can’t miss that sweet cover by Aaron Lopresti & Brad Anderson!
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Here’s a behind-the-scenes bit of fun for all you Sourcers out there. As one of the most fun editorial tasks yet, I’ve spent the past two days running up and down the hall getting pictures of some of our editors. They all seem to be pretty scared of…something… Can’t be Halloween-related at this point, right? So what’s going on here?
For instance, here’s Mike Carlin and Rachel Gluckstern, looking very unhappy about whatever’s going on over Mike’s desk:
Maybe it’s the same thing that’s about to hit Harvey Richards in the head:
Janelle Siegel is doing a pretty good job keeping it at bay:
While Mike Marts isn’t so lucky – it’s coming right at him!
Sean Ryan and Wil Moss are doing the smart thing and high-tailing it out of here:
Which – oh, man – gives it a clear shot at me. Look out, me!
Welp, looks like it passed me by, considering I’m still here typing. And I think I know where it went – straight for Eddie Berganza and Adam Schlagman:
That’s gonna be trouble. As soon as we can actually see what it is, that is….
Until next time – wish us luck!
Ooh, look! Sun! I’d forgotten what that looks like. Neat. Today is a bit of a mad scramble (what else is new?). We’re wrapping up the lettering on ACTION COMICS #879, which means a lot of emailing back and forth with letterer Rob Leigh. He’s come up with what I think will be a stronger method for the English subtitles to all the crazy Kryptonian speak going on in the book. And if this doesn’t work, we’ll just start throwing sound chips in the book!
Also on the lettering front, Jared Fletcher, the man of many nicknames, has delivered the first round of lettering for SUPERGIRL #43, and man, he’s done a great job. We asked him to do something slightly different here for Kara’s narrative, and he’s knocked it out of the park. The whole issue is somewhat of a departure, and definitely a pallet cleanser after a few months of asking, “Who is Superwoman?” I swear, Sterling and Jamal are getting exponentially better by the issue! One guy who’s not getting better is Jon Sibal, and that’s only ‘cause he couldn’t possibly get any better. The fact that he’s crazy in a good way just adds to the joy of working with him. And Wil tells me that Jon tells him that he’s inking the last page of the issue right now. I love it when a plan comes together.
Just got a couple of new pages in from Javi Pina for the upcoming SUPERMAN ANNUAL (#14 for those of you keeping score at home). Man!!! I’ve worked with Javi before on a few occasions, but this is far and away the best work I’ve ever seen him do. James challenged him with a heck of trippy story, and I’m already dying to see what people think of the finished book. Well, August will be here before I know it.
Spend a few minutes chatting with Wil about a new costume we’re having designed for… well, don’t want to give that away here, in case anyone is actually reading this thing. The main design is coming along nicely, and we’re at the stage of small tweaks in order to put a wrap on the thing. This is going to be very, very cool.
Hmm. It’s 3. I should eat something, but what? Right, what I always eat—oatmeal. 10 minutes and a burnt tongue later, I’m back in action. Associate editor Sean Ryan brings by a couple of rate requests for me to sign. These are the forms by which we set up page rates for artists, writers and so forth. He’s been bringing me an awful lot of these lately. I’m starting to suspect he’s hiring childhood friends or something. I’ll have to talk to him about this.
Engage in a quick conference call with Wil and Greg Rucka about some costume designs going on there—next week is the start of July, and that means beginning work on our covers for the books that come out in December. Yes, we actually do plan ahead that far. Actually, in the case of the Super-books, we’re planned through the end of 2010. In fact, I take this blessed opportunity of basking in Greg’s phone aura to confirm when the Super-writers will engage in our next weekly chat—next week looks iffy. Something about a holiday. We’ve got a lot of work to do before we all meet up in San Diego in the days leading up to the convention, putting a lock on a few dangling items for 2009 publication so we can spend the time in sunny CA (indoors, ‘natch) planning in great detail the first half of 2010 and as much of the 2nd half as we can squeeze in.
Oop. Just missed a message from James Robinson. He’s included an odd comment on one of the profile pieces for August’s SUPERMAN SECRET FILES. My, he’s in a jaunty mood. It seems we’ve missed some important elements in the costuming of a non-superhero character, and he’s absolutely correct. He’s also got an idea for the inclusion of some characters normally outside the realm of Superman for next year’s stuff, and ways to maybe spin them out into something of their own afterwards. No wonder he’s so jaunty.
I mark the 4:00 hour by sending my lettering notes on SUPERGIRL #43 to writer Sterling Gates, and then remember he’s on a plane to Dallas for a convention. –Sigh- my day is empty without some correspondence from Sterling. Oh, well.
I settle instead on talking to Pete Woods, who’s juggling putting together a map of Kandor for the SECRET FILES while drawing the next issue of WONK (World of New Krypton). Man, he just gets better and better, and his design sense is incredible! He’s done an amazing job in less than half the series with really establishing New Krypton as a world, with all sorts of different sets and locales.
The feeling begins to return to my tongue just as a new batch of pages arrives from Gary Frank for SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN #2. There really aren’t adjectives that I can apply to Gary—he’s in his own stratosphere, and I feel stupidly lucky to be working with him and Geoff on this project—it’s simply incredible. Geoff seems pretty happy with the pages, too, and I’m glad to have an excuse to give Gary a call, even if most of our conversations steer towards the insanity of Italian politics. (Don’t ask.)
I’m in the middle of typing up some notes on SUPERGIRL ANNUAL #1 for the mysterious colorist who only goes by the name “Blond” when Liz Gehrlein drops off two more jaw-droppingly cool profile pages by Francis Manapul for SECRET FILES. Ab-so-lute-ly stunning! This is going to be one special Secret Files. This reminds me that I need to turn in pages from artist Matt Camp, who’s illustrated a seven-page story that James wrote for the book. So many balls in the air, so few hands…
And then the next thing I know, it’s 6:00, time to close up shop, blow out the candles, and be thankful another day that I didn’t set my office on fire.
Hey folks! As usual, we have our regular “From the Editors” post coming your way. Being the diligent worker we all know and love, Matt Idelson managed to give us his entry early, as he made his escape to the distant land of Barcelona. Enjoy...
Spring has reverted to summer here in New York, which would be a nice thing if I could have class outside. Alas, I have a job to do, and panic’s starting to set in. The offices close early today going into Memorial Day weekend, and of course we’re closed Monday. Which means aside from Tuesday, I’ll be out of the office for a week and a half, attending a convention in Barcelona.
Tops on the priority list is putting a wrap on ACTION #878, the first of a two-part story by Greg Rucka & guest artist Diego Olmos that introduces us to a new pair of Kryptonian sleeper agents. Once I’m done giving the lettering a final pass, it comes down to waiting for the trusty and reliable Rod Reis to keep feeding us pages of color to go over. I know already that assistant editor Wil Moss and I will be reviewing pages over the course of the weekend so Rod can have the final colors ready for us when we come in Tuesday morning.
Not far behind that is keeping things moving on the ACTION ANNUAL, which comes out the week after ACTION #878. Greg’s done a very different story for this one, and it’s coming together beautifully. Pere Pérez, who knocked it out of the park with the GUARDIAN SPECIAL last fall, is doing all 40 pages of this one, and it’s pretty awesome. Right now I have to start reviewing Mazi’s colors for the book—they’re gorgeous, but of course I have to go over them with a fine-tooth comb and make sure everything is as it should be. The guy can color, though, no question!
My focus is broken when Wil, associate editor Sean Ryan and editor Liz Gehrlein pop in for our daily session of updates, problem solving and movie reviews. Today I discover that neither Liz nor Sean had seen “Taxi Driver” before the past weekend. I am appalled. Some of our discussion centers around actual work, in this case some ideas Geoff Johns has had for his contribution to the upcoming SUPERMAN SECRET FILES. Geoff has an alteration in mind that opens up some interesting possibilities …
The gang leaves to do their thing, and I get back to ACTION – but wait! An excellent colorist who goes by the name “Blond” has accepted our offer to color the upcoming SUPERGIRL ANNUAL since our regular SUPERGIRL colorist, Nei Ruffino, is way too busy. That’s the good news. The bad news is that this means I have to establish a pay rate for him—I’m guessing he won’t do this for free out of love for the medium.
Oh, look – it’s almost 1. Gah! Clearly I’m not getting out of here when the offices close. That’s cool—I have the best job in the world anyway. Leisure and cookouts can wait. Especially when I get an email from David Macho in Spain, with Santiago Arcas’ colors for the first installment of our Captain Atom co-feature, which will debut in ACTION #879. David says in the email that we’ll be stunned by what we see. He wasn’t kidding!!!!!! Man, I can’t wait for that issue to come out. The readers are definitely in for a treat!
The phone rings and Jim Fletcher of DC Direct fame is on the line with some Superman-related questions, mostly of the “will this character be around a year from now?” variety. They do really cool stuff down there, and I’m eagerly awaiting my Mike Carlin action figure.
Cue a discussion over Rocket Reds with SUPERMAN artist Renato Guedes, figuring out what the tomb of Zor-El is going to look like with Pete Woods, going over lettering corrections for SUPERGIRL #42 with Sterling Gates, a new idea from Geoff (him again?!?) about the end of SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN #2, annnnnd the end of the day has finally arrived! Well, it’s 1 o’clock somewhere …
