CBR: EXCLUSIVE: Ross & Hitch Talk "America's Got Powers"

[CBR News]

From the origins of their new Image series to the fuel of the darker side of reality TV and superheroes, Jonathan Ross and Bryan Hitch describe the story behind "America's Got Powers" while sharing a look at issue #1.


Full article here.

[Alex Decay]

I think the premise is an excellent idea. There's real world-building potential here.

[HeckBoy]

Although I'm sure the series will each have their own unique voices, the hook of a "American Idol-esque superhero show" has already been seen in the new series "Idolized" by David Schwart.

http://geek-news.mtv.com/2011/11/23/...omic-idolized/

[kalorama]

I bailed on Turf after the first couple of issues because I found the writing too stiff and forced (as much as I love Tommy Lee Edwards' art). And the whole idea of "superheroes as celebrities" has been done plenty of times. going back a couple of decades. Not that it can't be done again and done well, but there's really nothing in the premise in and of itself that really stands out as attention grabbing.

[Quest Mar-Vell]

Although I'm sure the series will each have their own unique voices, the hook of a "American Idol-esque superhero show" has already been seen in the new series "Idolized" by David Schwart.

http://geek-news.mtv.com/2011/11/23/...omic-idolized/

reading both interviews you can see they arent really the same... just the reality show concept is. But its far from new...
Marvel had X-Force/X-Static


and Image had Wild Guard

[starman]

Trade waiting on this one.

[Ebon]

Yeah, Wildguard was the first thing I thought of (which I'd really love to see more of), as well as the first volume of the new Wild Cards series (Which features 'American Hero', American Idol done with people with wildcard powers) but neither of those concentrated on the actual pressure and celebrity status of the heroes. If AGP goes that route and really examines the effects of the fame/spotlight/'It Boy' pressure cooker piled on top of unrealistic performance expectation AND 'Great Responsibility', it could be a winner.

[Batmite2012]

Does anyone care?

The Ultimates by Hitch, were the Superheroes as celebrities story that they're looking to repeat ad infinitum here with "America's Got Powers".

I doubt this series will be successful. I don't know what Hitch is thinking.

[Quest Mar-Vell]

Does anyone care?

The Ultimates by Hitch, were the Superheroes as celebrities story that they're looking to repeat ad infinitum here with "America's Got Powers".

I doubt this series will be successful. I don't know what Hitch is thinking.

Im sure it will be a success because of Hitch's name alone... also, Youngblood did the Superheroes as celebs thing long before the Ultimates was around...

[kalorama]

Im sure it will be a success because of Hitch's name alone... also, Youngblood did the Superheroes as celebs thing long before the Ultimates was around...

As did Busiek and Immonen's Superstar.

[GRANT!]

I'll give it a shot. The premise is a bit played out (even though most of those superhero reality show books weren't exactly hits) but I'm hoping the execution is much better.

[Erik Larsen]

Jonathan Ross has been writing for TV for 20 years--it's not as though he's a newcomer. There's always something of a learning curve when transitioning from one medium to another. Turf got progressively better and by the end Jonathan had clearly figured it out.

Boil down any premise to a line or two and some are bound to sound fa similar--execution is key and I'm pretty sure you'll find that "America's Got Powers" by Jonathan Ross and Brian Hitch Talk is unlike anything you've ever read before.

I know, I know--a message board is no place for somebody with an informed opinion. I'll go now...

[kalorama]

Always nice to get the straight scoop from an objective, unbiased source.

[Erik Larsen]

Always nice to get the straight scoop from an objective, unbiased source.

Exactly.

And while I realize that you're implying that this is not the case--I think you'll find that I haven't shied away from speaking honestly about things over the years. And really--I have nothing to gain one way or the other. It's not my book and I don't share in the profits of books I don't own.

[the goddamn batman]

Ashley Wood and Joe Casey did the superhero as celebrity thing way back in Automatic Kafka.

Hardly a new idea yet, its not limited to a single execution.