Post by Admin on Aug 7, 2007 13:19:47 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]PLANET DC2[/glow]
Planet DC2! Yay!
Well, some of you may have noticed that I wasn't here last week, so Charlie had to step in. So first of all, before anything else, thank you, Charlie.
This week, I've got the last interview with the writers of the Justice League Vs America miniseries. JL VS America #4 and Justice League Annual are already posted, so, if you haven't read them, go and do it! And because of that, not only one, but TWO interviews this time, with Starlord (Brian Burchette) and Idlewilder (David Charlton). Here it is:
1. How do you feel about being part of this event?
Brian: Honored. It was a real treat to work with so many of the people on this site that I hold in such high regards; both writers and artists. I can't thank them enough for everything they did and for allowing me to play a part in this year's event. It meant a lot more to me than you could imagine.
David: I was flattered that they asked, and thrilled to put my two cents in. This event was the centerpiece of the DC2 in 2007, and it was an honor to be a part of it, and in the company of folks like House Of Mystery, Ellen Fleischer, John Elbe, Brian Burchette and Mark Bowers. It was especially gratifying to work so closely with Brian on the annual. That guy's is an incredibly generous writer and a brilliant idea-thinker-upper!
2. For how long has this miniseries been planned? How did all of you work on it?
Brian: A lot of the ground work on this was being done back when this site started, and before the first Crisis even began. Although the concept itself from what it originally was intended to be and what it morphed into was vastly different. Many of the writers and editors gave us some great input from the very beginning.
Brandon, Charlie, Ramon, Scott, Ellen, and Mark were very instrumental in laying the ground work for this. We just kept tossing out ideas, using what had already been planted, until we came up with a solid plan. Ramon, Riz, Adam and the art department rose to the challenge like the pros they are, and of course, in the end, the finale wouldn't have been half as good as it was if it hadn't been for David. He rode in wearing that white hat of his and made sure everything was tied up nicely, and added a pretty red bow to boot.
David: Something like this story has been in the works since Day One of the DC2 (check out Steve Trevor's first scene in Wonder Woman Issue 0 from October 2005), but it evolved considerably from my original conception of it. After I stepped down as EiC, it was decided to take the summer crossover in a different direction, the salient points of which did dovetail nicely with all the groundwork we had already put down.
I can't really speak for how Charlie, Ellen and John worked, but Brian and I chatted quite a bit about what we wanted to see in the annual, and basically worked from an outline we drew up together. Then one of us would write a scene and send it to the other for his additions/deletions and input. It was a very immersive, collaborative effort! Both of us put our stamp on every paragraph.
3. This miniseries played with the idea of heroes gone bad and mistrust. Although everything went fine at the end, they still did some bad things, like putting the president in a coma. Will the DC2 population trust the heroes in the same way as it did before?
Brian: Well, to be fair to The Flash, he wasn't aware that Lord had his own powers that caused the psychic backlash that has put him in the coma.
Personally I saw it more as a story that shows the danger when any group of people with great responsibility (sorry, Stan) becomes a bit too secretive or powerful. This doesn't just include the Justice League, but the Government Agencies as well. Here's a question to mull over: When did Max Lord get attached to the Starro? How much of his role in this was his own doing, and how much was the control of the alien?
Checks and balances, that's what this country was founded on and I hope that idea came out a bit in this story. As for how the heroes are looked upon now? I think David and I wrapped it up pretty well with all of them still wearing their white hats. We wanted to make sure that the public knew just about everything at the end. These are DC heroes after all... not those other guys.
David: I think so. It's important to keep in mind that people's perceptions were manipulated by Starro and Luthor, and that the League was never really guilty of the crimes they were accused of--- Flash was trying to save President Lord, not kill him! That's like blaming the doctor for his patient dying on the operating table! Sometimes, despite the best intentions, things just go wrong.
At the end of Justice League Annual #1, people realize the true character of their heroes, epitomized by Starman's sacrifice. I don't imagine there will be any lingering doubts about the heroes of the DC2niverse (but if there were, it's a good thing Checkmate is still around)!
4. What can you tell us about the Secret Society of Super Villains? Future plans for them?
Brian: Well, that's a great question, and I wish I had a better answer for you than... just wait and see. If I'm not mistaken, some stuff is going to be covered in the new Checkmate by John Elbe.
David: I can tell you nothing about them. But I bet John Elbe could...
5. What did you like the most and the least about this event?
Brian: Getting to work with everyone involved was my favorite part. Actually being able to stand side by side with such talented, talented people was the bomb. (Do people still say "the bomb")?
My least favorite part had nothing to do with the work on the Crisis itself. I just wish I had felt better throughout this entire thing, been able to contribute more. But there wasn't one thing about the event itself that I didn't enjoy!
David: Most: working with Brian Burchette.
Least: waiting for frickin' Elbe to finish issue 3 of the mini!
6. Any final thoughts?
Brian: Well, let's see. I've thanked everyone involved. I've gushed over all the writers and artists that worked so hard to make this event work. I want to thank you for doing these Planet DC interviews, I love to read them each week. You do a great job!
Final last words though... hmmm... when does happy hour start?
David: Just that I'm so proud that the DC2 has just pulled off its second continuity-wide big summer crossover event, and that we continue to set the bar as the finest DC Fan Fiction Site on the web!
Beware the imposters: there's only one DC2!
Now, my opinion. This year's crisis, I think, was even better than the last one. This only proves that the DC2 is always improving, and that the community in here is great. Let's hope for even more years of good stories, and perhaps even more big events like this.
Sebastian Gutierrez
Planet DC2 writer.