Ask Marc Andreyko!

[Gail Simone]

Marc Andreyko is one of my favorite writers. Like Kurt Busiek and J. Torres, he's agreed to host a thread here to answer your questions about anything. They do not have to be Wonder Woman related, anything goes!

Thanks, Marc!

[ScottyQuick]

Just to get this out of the way, I loathe you, because you're one of the monsters who got me wasting all my money on these dorky little things called "comics". The fact that I love Manhunter and have made my library order the trades is just a coincidence.

So my question is, what did you read to write Wonder Woman? Looking at what else was published starring the Amazing Amazon at the same time, your Diana felt much more intelligent, regal and emotional. Did you just guess and go with your gut, or were you like "okay so I'll take this part of this run and combine it with this part of this run to get this"?

[SJNeal]

Marc,

Are we ever going to see the continuation of the abortion clinic bombing cliffhanger you left us with right before Manhunter's hiatus?

I'm sure you've answered this somewhere, but if so I missed it. Thanks for taking the time to do this! Love your work!

[galactica]

I see you are still only writing one thing for DC, when is that going to change?

[darkhawkdown]

Hello Mr. Andreyko,

Having had the great pleasure to read your entire run of “Manhunter” I was extremely happy that DC had decided to keep both yourself and the Character around as one of the back-up features they are currently running.

I was wondering what the difference within your own storytelling going from a longer format to a more limited more compact format. What are the positives and negatives are there for the smaller installments?

Another question I wanted to pose is one that I first asked in the Kurt Busiek Thread (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=285089&page=7) in regards to the importance of creating ‘mythologies’ within our individual storytelling. How important is it to you to create your own ‘mythology’ within your stories both within your own creations and those you have done within a shared universe?

I have recently become really interested in the concept and creation of ‘mythologies’ within the stories writers create. Within your own ‘Manhunter’ book you have created an exceptional story with a rich ‘mythology’ encasing all the characters and events within it.

Who are some of your favorite storytellers within not only the comic book world but also the world of fiction and television?

I am sorry to pose so many questions at once and am sorry for any inconveniences that this might cause you.

Justin

[ScottyQuick]

Also, OOC, did you ever watch Veronica Mars? I know a couple of Manhunter fans, and they all loved VM.

[SmoManCometh]

i heard you were chomping at the bit for the Teen Titans book. What were your plans and what would've have been your desired cast?

Justin aka the guy you scolded at The Batman panel at SDCC about the price increase in comics!

[Free-Man]

Mr. Andreyko,

I really liked Cameron Chase's sister Terry, who was the one kidnapped by Dr. Trapp at one point. She wasn't really an important character, but is there any chance you could use her again in the co-feature?

[Rawhide Kid]

Mr Andreyko,

will you ever forgive me for not reading Manhunter before the Second Feature run ? I fell really bad about this.
And thank you for making this feature reader-friendly for a reader like me who doesn't deserve it.

[marc andreyko]

wow! there are actual questions! cool.

and i will get to all of them over the course of this week. i promise!

thanks for stopping by!

xoxo,
marc

[AndyMangels]

Marc,
Are we ever going to see the continuation of the abortion clinic bombing cliffhanger you left us with right before Manhunter's hiatus?

Ironically, as revealed in my interview with him in BACK ISSUE #17 (available at TwoMorrows.com) Sam Delaney was planning to do an abortion clinic storyline when he got booted off of Wonder Woman in the early 1970s!

[SJNeal]

Ironically, as revealed in my interview with him in BACK ISSUE #17 (available at TwoMorrows.com) Sam Delaney was planning to do an abortion clinic storyline when he got booted off of Wonder Woman in the early 1970s!

Ah ha! So Andreyko isn't the controversial ground-breaker I thought he was!!! :eek: :wink:

I'll admit, when it comes to anything pre-COIE, my ignorance is embarrassing... :redface:

[BionicBoy]

Mr Andreyko,

How much of Kate's story was planned ahead of time when she first appeared? I love that she is connected to Golden Age heroes!

Thanks for Obsidian!

Daniel

[hippie_hunter]

Marc, is Barbara ever going to make Dick hold that promise he made to her in Nightwing Annual #2?

[Bealsebub]

Marc, why hasn't Manhunter gone into space yet? I love superheroes in space. Or hell. Remember when Daredevil went to hell and fought Mephisto with the Silver Surfer? People relate to that!

Please let Kate go into space.

[marc andreyko]

Just to get this out of the way, I loathe you, because you're one of the monsters who got me wasting all my money on these dorky little things called "comics". The fact that I love Manhunter and have made my library order the trades is just a coincidence.

So my question is, what did you read to write Wonder Woman? Looking at what else was published starring the Amazing Amazon at the same time, your Diana felt much more intelligent, regal and emotional. Did you just guess and go with your gut, or were you like "okay so I'll take this part of this run and combine it with this part of this run to get this"?

well, scotty-

i flipped thru various collections by jimenez, rucka, perez, ww archives, but i didn't directly lift anything from any of them. i mostly just let my brain soak in those stories and then came out guns blazin' (or bracelets) and wrote her pretty much on instinct.

i'm glad you liked it because i had a blast writing diana. so, if gail ever needs a sick day....:)

marc

[marc andreyko]

Marc,

Are we ever going to see the continuation of the abortion clinic bombing cliffhanger you left us with right before Manhunter's hiatus?

I'm sure you've answered this somewhere, but if so I missed it. Thanks for taking the time to do this! Love your work!

if the gods and DC are willing, we'll someday see a Manhunter original graphic novel presenting the abortion storyline. it's a story that is very important to me, and one that comics has yet to see, so, i hope that you all get to see it one day.

and feel free to send letters to the powers-that-be at DC requesting the story be told:)

marc

[marc andreyko]

I see you are still only writing one thing for DC, when is that going to change?


ask them. i'm ready and willing:)

marc

[DanCMH]

No question....just a thank you for making Obsidian an interesting character for a while under your influence.

[SJNeal]

if the gods and DC are willing, we'll someday see a Manhunter original graphic novel presenting the abortion storyline. it's a story that is very important to me, and one that comics has yet to see, so, i hope that you all get to see it one day.

and feel free to send letters to the powers-that-be at DC requesting the story be told:)

marc

Thanks for the reply! And yes, DC will be seeing an email from me! :biggrin:

[marc andreyko]

Hello Mr. Andreyko,

I was wondering what the difference within your own storytelling going from a longer format to a more limited more compact format. What are the positives and negatives are there for the smaller installments?


Well, the negatives are less pages to tell a story, but the positives are less pages to tell a story:) the challenges have been fun as i experiment with the 9-10 pg format. sometimes i'll write a densely packed story (like #1) or others i'll do something like one long fight scene (#3). i think the challenges will make me a better write. i hope:)



How important is it to you to create your own ‘mythology’ within your stories both within your own creations and those you have done within a shared universe?


It's important for a character to have their own mythology, but since Manhunter is in the DCU, i wanted to explore the concept of the non-legacy legacy character. i'm in the DCU sandbox, so i wanna play with as many of the toys as they'll let me!:)

and as far as MH's mythology, i really believ the more vivid and fully-realized the supporting cast, the more the reader discovers about the main character. Name any of the icons - DC or Marvel - and their supporting casts leap to mind. i wanted that richness in Manhunter as soon as i could start building it.


Who are some of your favorite storytellers within not only the comic book world but also the world of fiction and television?


the usual suspects: in TV - joss whedon, shawn ryan (the shield), david chase (deadwood), i'm really loving matt nix's Burn Notice, and many i'm forgetting at the moment.

in comics, alan moore, grant morrison (especially the Doom Patrol), geoff johns, ed brubaker, scott mccloud (yay! Zot!), jason aaron's Scalped is six kinds of awesome, abnett and lanning's cosmic stuff @ marvel, gail simone, bill willingham, and i'm offending someone by forgetting them! i'm sorry! it's hard to think in my 92 degree apartment....

in novels: john irving, stephen king, michael cunningham, armistead maupin, meg gardiner, j.k. rowling, glen david gold.....


I am sorry to pose so many questions at once and am sorry for any inconveniences that this might cause you.

Justin


no problem! all good questions. hope the answers suffice!

[Alexx1]

Marc,

When will Huntress be showing up with Manhunter? How would you describe the dynamic you're going for between the two characters? I surprisingly liked the camaraderie you developed between the two during Forgotten. It was very believable. Plus you seemed to have a pretty decent grasp on Helena's character and it was cool to see the character via Kate's eyes.

And why aren't you writing another book at DC? Big waste on DC's part if you ask me.

Thanks,

Ryan Alexander

[SJNeal]

And why aren't you writing another book at DC? Big waste on DC's part if you ask me.



This should be the next postcard campaign! Get Marc Andreyko on another DC title before he gets swept up by Marvel!!

With DC's dwindling talent pool, you'd think they'd be locking down what good people they still have. After all, they can't have Gail, Johns, Tomasi and Robinson write every book in the line-up...

[Robert M Sutton]

Marc,

Have you thought about resurrecting Birds of Prey? I think you'd be the perfect writer for it.

[Alexx1]

Marc,

Have you thought about resurrecting Birds of Prey? I think you'd be the perfect writer for it.

Marc and Gail should write it! Or Gail and Tony Bedard! Or Tony and Marc! But yeah BOP needs to come back, fast.

[PyroTwilight]

Marc,

When will Huntress be showing up with Manhunter? How would you describe the dynamic you're going for between the two characters? I surprisingly liked the camaraderie you developed between the two during Forgotten. It was very believable. Plus you seemed to have a pretty decent grasp on Helena's character and it was cool to see the character via Kate's eyes.

And why aren't you writing another book at DC? Big waste on DC's part if you ask me.

Thanks,

Ryan Alexander She showed up in the last Streets of Gotham alongside Kate.

[PyroTwilight]

Will you be following up on Obsidian and Kate being partnery against crime, in Streets of Gotham?

How about for Mark Shaw?

[marc andreyko]

Will you be following up on Obsidian and Kate being partnery against crime, in Streets of Gotham?

How about for Mark Shaw?

Obsidian is going to appear sometime but i'm trying not to step on any appearances in JSA. Hey, since JSA is splitting into 2 books, how about an Obsidian co-feature? hmmm, who should write it?lol

marc

[jrp001]

Obsidian is going to appear sometime but i'm trying not to step on any appearances in JSA. Hey, since JSA is splitting into 2 books, how about an Obsidian co-feature? hmmm, who should write it?lol

marc

Are we correct to assume your exploration of Mark Shaw and the 'various' orders/dumas stuff was pushed aside by the 'weird' az relaunch?

or is there hopefully still room for your story?

[marc andreyko]

Mr. Andreyko,

I really liked Cameron Chase's sister Terry, who was the one kidnapped by Dr. Trapp at one point. She wasn't really an important character, but is there any chance you could use her again in the co-feature?

i would love to revisit chase's family since they reside in gotham. we'll see where cam ends up after FC: Escape.

and how cool would some Chase tpbs be? her book, the martian manhunter issues, and all those secret files stories should be enough for 2-3 volumes. what do you think? would you guys buy them?

marc

[marc andreyko]

Mr Andreyko,

will you ever forgive me for not reading Manhunter before the Second Feature run ? I fell really bad about this.
And thank you for making this feature reader-friendly for a reader like me who doesn't deserve it.

sigh... alright. you're forgiven. IF you buy the five Manhunter tpbs, that is! :)

marc

[ScottyQuick]

i would love to revisit chase's family since they reside in gotham. we'll see where cam ends up after FC: Escape.

and how cool would some Chase tpbs be? her book, the martian manhunter issues, and all those secret files stories should be enough for 2-3 volumes. what do you think? would you guys buy them?

marc

Chase is a really good idea, and hey, Williams art, Ostrander writing, can't go wrong!

[Free-Man]

i would love to revisit chase's family since they reside in gotham. we'll see where cam ends up after FC: Escape.

and how cool would some Chase tpbs be? her book, the martian manhunter issues, and all those secret files stories should be enough for 2-3 volumes. what do you think? would you guys buy them?

marc

Hell yeah I'd buy that!

[Leto]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/TylerXKJ/225px-Manhunter_KateSpencer.jpg

Who came up with the idea for this cover? Because I love it.

[marc andreyko]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/TylerXKJ/225px-Manhunter_KateSpencer.jpg

Who came up with the idea for this cover? Because I love it.

i believe the cover came about from an idea joan hilty (the editor of Manhunter) and Jae Lee came up with.

my only contribution was some cover text that was vetoed: "Take it like a man!" hmm, wonder why that was shot down?:)

[Deathstroke]

Marc,

Since we know how the story of Manhunter turns out years from now, how will you maintain any sense of intensity to the life and death situations in the new stories?

[marc andreyko]

Marc,

Since we know how the story of Manhunter turns out years from now, how will you maintain any sense of intensity to the life and death situations in the new stories?

nobody ever said that was the DEFINITE future for Manhunter and her gang....:)

[Deathstroke]

nobody ever said that was the DEFINITE future for Manhunter and her gang....:)

Allowing for the possible DC retcon of everything in creation, it was sure presented that way.

Thanks for the info.