Post by Drake on Feb 18, 2013 17:17:56 GMT -5
It is my pleasure to present the next writer in our first wave of interviews: DiscipleofBob! I was lucky enough to get to question Bob about his current X-titles and the upcoming, recently announced Weapon X
1. Can you preview what's to come in the X-Line over the next year?
Well, we've got First Class, the story of the original five X-Men coming together. Very much the origin story for the X-Men. The story will mostly focus on Scott, but all five of the original X-Men will play their parts.
All-Star X-Men will feature a much more diverse cast, taking place well after First Class. There will be a lot of storylines taking place at the same time. The downside is that ASX will have spoilers for First Class, but nothing that X-Men fans probably couldn't have guessed already.
Finally, we have Weapon X, the answer to the question: Where is Wolverine in all this? This title will have a darker, grittier feel to it. Hopefully we should get some other writers in on this as well, so not even I can predict the whole plot.
2. Who is your favorite character to write?
So far, definitely Scott Summers. Cyclops was always one of my favorite comic book characters, but I always felt like he got a bad rap from the comics and was often dealt with unfairly by writers. I'm enjoying the chance to write him independent of a lot of past Marvel storylines that might've turned off fandom of the character.
3. Is the mutant origin more in line with 616 (the evolution of homo sapiens) or the Ultimate Universe (created by government)? Or neither?
Definitely a natural evolution. That's what makes mutants so dangerous in that they aren't an easily controlled factor. Unlike other superheroes who are the result of a freak accident or advanced technology, mutants can be anyone, and their powers can be anything.
4. What made you choose Cyclops as your POV character in First Class?
As I said, Cyclops has always been my favorite comic book character. And in my mind he's always been the star of X-Men, or at least should be. Plus writing from the perspective of a blind man has some interesting qualities. Cyclops won't always be the POV character for First Class, just most of the time.
5. Not much has been said about the series so far, so what can you tell us, without spoiling anything, about Weapon X?
The atmosphere will be very different from the two X-Men lines. As opposed to the young mutants struggling to live normal lives with extraordinary powers and growing prejudices, Weapon X is a black ops team of specialists who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty.
I'll be writing the first two issues to set the tone, and then I'm opening the title up to new writers, so there will be plot twists not even I know about yet.
6. When will see the mutants first interact with the rest of the world?
We've already seen a little of that already. Mutants can't help but be an integral part of modern politics and shaping the world. A lot of the mutants as Xavier's school just want to live normal lives
If you're talking about potential crossovers with other lineups though, I'm not sure when. It's still early. I do know that Weapon X is designed to be easy to crossover with other titles, so that will probably be the first.
7. Why are mutants treated worse than your average, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man?
Other superhumans are usually either the result of one-time freak accidents, like Spider-Man or Hulk, or the result of a significant investment in either technology or genetics, like Iron Man or Captain America. Mutants, however, can be anyone, anywhere. A random teenager may suddenly develop optic blasts for example with no warning. They are unpredictable, and that's what makes them dangerous.
8. What differentiates the three X-titles? Why is there a need for each of them and what sort of feel does each give off?
First Class is the title that defines the X-Men, and personally the one I most want to write. It explains how the X-Men originally came together as a team.
All-Star X-Men is more about defining the modern X-Men in line with the rest of the All-Star Marvel universe. The original X-Men are no longer teenagers. The Institute is bustling with students. And several major players are about to make their move.
Weapon X is a very different title to both. The group is not emotionally stable, and they are definitely not the good guys. And the people in charge don't necessarily have its members' best interests at heart.
9. And finally, where do you see the board a year from now?
Hopefully the site will eventually pick up. If the titles I'm working on are as scheduled, First Class might be finished, All-Star X-Men might split into several different titles depending on interest (X-Factor, X-Force, New Mutants, etc.), and with the different writers for Weapon X, it might see a drastically different lineup than the start.
That's it folks! As always please feel free to submit any questions you have or ask for a specific author to be (re)interviewed! Until next time...Excelsior!
1. Can you preview what's to come in the X-Line over the next year?
Well, we've got First Class, the story of the original five X-Men coming together. Very much the origin story for the X-Men. The story will mostly focus on Scott, but all five of the original X-Men will play their parts.
All-Star X-Men will feature a much more diverse cast, taking place well after First Class. There will be a lot of storylines taking place at the same time. The downside is that ASX will have spoilers for First Class, but nothing that X-Men fans probably couldn't have guessed already.
Finally, we have Weapon X, the answer to the question: Where is Wolverine in all this? This title will have a darker, grittier feel to it. Hopefully we should get some other writers in on this as well, so not even I can predict the whole plot.
2. Who is your favorite character to write?
So far, definitely Scott Summers. Cyclops was always one of my favorite comic book characters, but I always felt like he got a bad rap from the comics and was often dealt with unfairly by writers. I'm enjoying the chance to write him independent of a lot of past Marvel storylines that might've turned off fandom of the character.
3. Is the mutant origin more in line with 616 (the evolution of homo sapiens) or the Ultimate Universe (created by government)? Or neither?
Definitely a natural evolution. That's what makes mutants so dangerous in that they aren't an easily controlled factor. Unlike other superheroes who are the result of a freak accident or advanced technology, mutants can be anyone, and their powers can be anything.
4. What made you choose Cyclops as your POV character in First Class?
As I said, Cyclops has always been my favorite comic book character. And in my mind he's always been the star of X-Men, or at least should be. Plus writing from the perspective of a blind man has some interesting qualities. Cyclops won't always be the POV character for First Class, just most of the time.
5. Not much has been said about the series so far, so what can you tell us, without spoiling anything, about Weapon X?
The atmosphere will be very different from the two X-Men lines. As opposed to the young mutants struggling to live normal lives with extraordinary powers and growing prejudices, Weapon X is a black ops team of specialists who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty.
I'll be writing the first two issues to set the tone, and then I'm opening the title up to new writers, so there will be plot twists not even I know about yet.
6. When will see the mutants first interact with the rest of the world?
We've already seen a little of that already. Mutants can't help but be an integral part of modern politics and shaping the world. A lot of the mutants as Xavier's school just want to live normal lives
If you're talking about potential crossovers with other lineups though, I'm not sure when. It's still early. I do know that Weapon X is designed to be easy to crossover with other titles, so that will probably be the first.
7. Why are mutants treated worse than your average, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man?
Other superhumans are usually either the result of one-time freak accidents, like Spider-Man or Hulk, or the result of a significant investment in either technology or genetics, like Iron Man or Captain America. Mutants, however, can be anyone, anywhere. A random teenager may suddenly develop optic blasts for example with no warning. They are unpredictable, and that's what makes them dangerous.
8. What differentiates the three X-titles? Why is there a need for each of them and what sort of feel does each give off?
First Class is the title that defines the X-Men, and personally the one I most want to write. It explains how the X-Men originally came together as a team.
All-Star X-Men is more about defining the modern X-Men in line with the rest of the All-Star Marvel universe. The original X-Men are no longer teenagers. The Institute is bustling with students. And several major players are about to make their move.
Weapon X is a very different title to both. The group is not emotionally stable, and they are definitely not the good guys. And the people in charge don't necessarily have its members' best interests at heart.
9. And finally, where do you see the board a year from now?
Hopefully the site will eventually pick up. If the titles I'm working on are as scheduled, First Class might be finished, All-Star X-Men might split into several different titles depending on interest (X-Factor, X-Force, New Mutants, etc.), and with the different writers for Weapon X, it might see a drastically different lineup than the start.
That's it folks! As always please feel free to submit any questions you have or ask for a specific author to be (re)interviewed! Until next time...Excelsior!