Ask J. Torres!

[Gail Simone]

Ask your questions of the Wonder Girl and Wonder Woman author!

[shanealt]

J. Torres,

I am so excited to see that you're the first writer in BOOM!'s new Wall-E series. Based on your previous work, as well as the excitement you've displayed in the interview, you seem like a perfect fit--able to craft an all-ages tale while still exploring serious and important themes. My question is--are there any particular themes you wanted to develop? Wall-E dealt with, among other things, finding humanity in the oddest places--what if your approach to the character?

[md62]

Hey J. I wish DC would have you write some more teen oriented stuff. My youngest daughter loves your writing. Two questions: first what would be your "dream project" to write at this time. Second: in your "bio" you said you liked sand & water. What beach is your favorite to visit?

[J. Torres]

J. Torres,

I am so excited to see that you're the first writer in BOOM!'s new Wall-E series. Based on your previous work, as well as the excitement you've displayed in the interview, you seem like a perfect fit--able to craft an all-ages tale while still exploring serious and important themes. My question is--are there any particular themes you wanted to develop? Wall-E dealt with, among other things, finding humanity in the oddest places--what if your approach to the character?

Hi, shanealt! Thanks for throwing the first pitch!

Since my Wall-E stories are "prequels," I decided to get into more of what makes Wall-E tick. In the movie we see that he's a fairly diligent robot, doing his work and getting the job done despite also doing some personal treasure hunting. Was he always like that? When did he start collecting all that stuff? Why? I guess you can say it's a "coming of age" story for the last robot on Earth.

We also try to fill in some gaps and explain not only where some of those treasures comes from, but also answer questions like what happened to the other Wall-Es? What are those giant machines with the cranes and conveyor belts? How did Wall-E and Hal the cockroach meet?

So, we're talking about themes like growth, discovery, and finding one's place (or groove) in the world (such as it is) and creating a place to call one's own.

J.

[J. Torres]

Hey J. I wish DC would have you write some more teen oriented stuff. My youngest daughter loves your writing. Two questions: first what would be your "dream project" to write at this time. Second: in your "bio" you said you liked sand & water. What beach is your favorite to visit?

Hi, md62.

Hmm... dream project... Alpha Flight? Or at DC... a DCU Titans book based on the Toon Titans continuity (if that makes sense)...

And my favorite beaches in the whole wide world are on Oahu, Hawaii and Cheju Island, Korea. But really, it's more about who I'm with and the weather. Drinks and snacks nearby are icing on the cake. Otherwise, I'm not too picky :)

Thanks for the questions!

J.

[md62]

It was bugging me what I had read of yours that was different & now I remember. A few years ago we had an exchange student from Korea living with us & I bought her your Oni series Love as a Foreign Language. She really enjoyed it & it helped her a bit with her feelings of being homesick. I always assumed it was based on your life. Is that true?

[OzBat!]

Teen Titans Go! was a great book, and I was sorry to see it go. Would you have been able to bring in more Wonder Girl and Kid Flash? Would you have tried showing an "original" teen titans, pre the show's beginnings? Or do you think they would work better as an offshoot of the show's cast instead? (noting that Speedy and Aqualad already on Titans East, but apparently not being familiar with each other before they teamed up)

[Gail Simone]

I have a question, too, J.

Any more Alison Dare or Argobots stuff coming?

[J. Torres]

It was bugging me what I had read of yours that was different & now I remember. A few years ago we had an exchange student from Korea living with us & I bought her your Oni series Love as a Foreign Language. She really enjoyed it & it helped her a bit with her feelings of being homesick. I always assumed it was based on your life. Is that true?

"Love as a Foreign Language" is loosely base on my own experience teaching English as a Second Language, some friends' teaching experience in Korea and Japan (including Marvel editor C.B. Cebulski and artist Takeshi Miyazawa), as well as my relationship with my wife (or should I say she who would become my wife). It's actually a prequel of sorts to another story which focuses more on the relationship of the two leads, and that hits even closer to home. Hopefully, artist Eric Kim and I will find the time sooner than later to tell that story...

[J. Torres]

Teen Titans Go! was a great book, and I was sorry to see it go. Would you have been able to bring in more Wonder Girl and Kid Flash? Would you have tried showing an "original" teen titans, pre the show's beginnings? Or do you think they would work better as an offshoot of the show's cast instead? (noting that Speedy and Aqualad already on Titans East, but apparently not being familiar with each other before they teamed up)

Yes, we would have done more with Wonder Girl (both of them!) and Kid Flash for sure. But I doubt we would have shown a Titans team existing before this one. It just wasn't the way it was in that world. However, we did a story that had Robin, Wonder Girl, Speedy, Aqualad and Kid Flash teaming up to rescue Starfire and the others, and if I had my way I would've done more of those just for fun :biggrin:

[J. Torres]

I have a question, too, J.

Any more Alison Dare or Argobots stuff coming?

Tundra, the children's book publisher, is putting out AD reprints next year but no plans just yet for new material. I think it'll depend on the sales of the reprints. Also J. Bone's schedule.

As for Argobots, Mike Norton and I really want to finish that story! But he's still exclusive with DC so we have to wait out his contracts.

[Gail Simone]

Tundra, the children's book publisher, is putting out AD reprints next year but no plans just yet for new material. I think it'll depend on the sales of the reprints. Also J. Bone's schedule.

As for Argobots, Mike Norton and I really want to finish that story! But he's still exclusive with DC so we have to wait out his contracts.

DAMN THAT MIKE NORTON!

[Gail Simone]

It's weird, I had no idea Mike drew that book, somehow!

[ScottyQuick]

It's weird, I had no idea Mike drew that book, somehow!

I betcha didn't know he drew The Waiting Place either!

(also, who is your icon?)

[BnL]

(also, who is your icon?)

It's Alkyone, leader of The Circle.

[J. Torres]

I betcha didn't know he drew The Waiting Place either!

More Mike Norton trivia:

He also subbed in for the late great Mike Wieringo on a story for another book I wrote for Oni called "Sidekicks"!

AND he was one of my groomsmen :smile:

[meek?]

Hi J.!

Have you ever pitched for the main DCU's TEEN TITANS book or even had the desire to handle the title (but outside of the Toon Titans continuity)? Just to continue your work on Wonder Girl, of course. :biggrin: See what I did there? Still on-topic. :cool:

I think your involvement would've solved lots of problems the book encountered up to this point.

Peace.

[Kevenn]

Any hope for seeing Family Dynamic anymore - in some sort of form? :biggrin:

[J. Torres]

Hi J.!

Have you ever pitched for the main DCU's TEEN TITANS book or even had the desire to handle the title (but outside of the Toon Titans continuity)? Just to continue your work on Wonder Girl, of course. :biggrin: See what I did there? Still on-topic. :cool:


Yes, I've expressed interest.



Any hope for seeing Family Dynamic anymore - in some sort of form? :biggrin:

Never say never!

J.

[meek?]

Yes, I've expressed interest.

J.

Nice!

Just for fun, like w/ how Gail, @ one time, revealed to us her proposed direction for Cassandra Cain, would you care to divulge with us your general plans or direction for the team if you would have helmed the reins at the time you've expressed interest? Or would it be something you'd like to keep trying or working on?

Thanks, J.!

Peace.

[J. Torres]

Good question, but a lot really depends on what else is happening in the DCU at the time and what certain characters are up to. For example, I think the Titans need a Robin but that's kind of tricky to pull off right now. There are also some villains I'd love to resurrect or re-imagine, but they might be "taken" by another writer or title. In general though, I'd like to bring in a fun mix of old and new, which is really "the way" to do the Titans (Marv and George did it, Geoff did it, the cartoon did it) but the rub is bringing together the right elements and balance of old and new. I think some Titans villains could be updated, like Mad Mod who was brilliantly reworked in the cartoon. Along with a Robin, I'd also like to see a speedster on the roster like Wally's kids (but maybe they're too young). I like Cassie as leader and Blue Beetle and Miss Martian as kind of the "new Cyborg and Starfire" of the team. I'd probably keep those elements if I started writing the book today. But anyway, again, what I'd do would depend on the timing of things and I'm just thinking out loud here...

[meek?]

Good question, but a lot really depends on what else is happening in the DCU at the time and what certain characters are up to. For example, I think the Titans need a Robin but that's kind of tricky to pull off right now. There are also some villains I'd love to resurrect or re-imagine, but they might be "taken" by another writer or title. In general though, I'd like to bring in a fun mix of old and new, which is really "the way" to do the Titans (Marv and George did it, Geoff did it, the cartoon did it) but the rub is bringing together the right elements and balance of old and new. I think some Titans villains could be updated, like Mad Mod who was brilliantly reworked in the cartoon. Along with a Robin, I'd also like to see a speedster on the roster like Wally's kids (but maybe they're too young). I like Cassie as leader and Blue Beetle and Miss Martian as kind of the "new Cyborg and Starfire" of the team. I'd probably keep those elements if I started writing the book today. But anyway, again, what I'd do would depend on the timing of things and I'm just thinking out loud here...

Right on! There's nothing there that I don't like! :cool: Mad Mod would've been (and would be) fun! I liked the cartoon version of the character a lot. I'm a big fan of Wally's kids, too.

"Fun" is an element sorely missing from the current runs. Unfortunately, right now the kids have been going through one bloody tragedy after the next. The "fun" is reduced to one or two funny lines delivered by Jaime or Eddie per issue, if that. Poor Eddie. Still... gotta stick it out for Blue Beetle and Static and hope for the best for them.

I hope you get your turn soon, J.! When you do, I'll be picking it up.

Peace.