Avengers: Jonathan Hickman Q+A

[JHickman]

Okay, as promised in various places, here's a thread where you guys can ask me whatever you want regarding the Avengers / New Avengers relaunch.

I'm not sure how long we'll let this run, but it definitely will end before AVENGERS #1 is out Wednesday.

I only have a couple of requests:

1. Don't expect answers to questions that are spoiler-related. I'll just let them fly right by.
2. Let's leave the back-and-forth between posters on matters they agree and disagree with in other threads.
3. Be patient. I'm busy and I'll do as much of this as I can.
4. Don't be disrespectful of my peers. That's probably the quickest way for this to get shut down.
5. Don't expect me to take every question seriously.
6. Let's have good manners.

And with that, fire away.

JH

[sage6paths]

Okay, as promised in various places, here's a thread where you guys can ask me whatever you want regarding the Avengers / New Avengers relaunch.

I'm not sure how long we'll let this run, but it definitely will end before AVENGERS #1 is out Wednesday.

I only have a couple of requests:

1. Don't expect answers to questions that are spoiler-related. I'll just let them fly right by.
2. Let's leave the back-and-forth between posters on matters they agree and disagree with in other threads.
3. Be patient. I'm busy and I'll do as much of this as I can.
4. Don't be disrespectful of my peers. That's probably the quickest way for this to get shut down.
5. Don't expect me to take every question seriously.
6. Let's have good manners.

And with that, fire away.

JH

Is the new universe connecting with your series?

[Imraith Nimphais]

Good evening, Mr. Hickman...T'Challa turned down admission into the initial Illuminati yet he seems to be the one spearheading this reformation in New Avengers, how much different and in wot ways is your version a departure from Bendis'?

[JHickman]

You left some books such as Ultimate Marvel to have more time and preparation to work on the relaunch of Avengers/New Avengers, do you plan to use some of your unused ideas of Ultimates in your Avengers/New Avengers series?

My leaving was a bit more complicated than that. Yes, when it became obvious that I was getting Avengers, I needed to leave, but a bunch of that was also the Ultimates relaunch being swallowed alive by DC's New 52. There's more, but that's all inside baseball.

To answer your question, No. All of this is completely different. Except maybe one exception.

Would you say your choice of roster affects story, or your story affects your roster choice?

Sometimes it's both. But in the case of the Avengers, the latter. It's a very plot-driven book.

Good evening, Mr. Hickman...T'Challa turned down admission into the initial Illuminati yet he seems to be the one spearheading this reformation in New Avengers, how much different and in wot ways is your version a departure from Bendis'?

This is the logical continuation of what Bendis started. In fact, the first page of the book is that scene from the first Illuminati story Brian and Alex did.

[sixfold]

My leaving was a bit more complicated than that. Yes, when it became obvious that I was getting Avengers, I needed to leave, but a bunch of that was also the Ultimates relaunch being swallowed alive by DC's New 52. There's more, but that's all inside baseball.

To answer your question, No. All of this is completely different. Except maybe one exception.

Please be THE MAKER!

[JHickman]

Is the new universe connecting with your series?

This is a good example of a question I won't answer, guys. Reads as: Tell me a spoiler.

I've always liked that promo a lot though.

[sage6paths]

This is a good example of a question I won't answer, guys. Reads as: Tell me a spoiler.

I've always liked that promo a lot though.

Well technically it's not a spoiler since Marvel did a homage/spoiler cover of the thing. At least it was worth a try.

[KurtW95]

Hi Mr. Hickman,

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. I have six. (Sorry if that's too much)

-Will Hawkeye's and Cap's (I saw the classic one in the Avengers #1 preview art, but the newer one for some of the later previews) classic costumes come back? As I am not to pleased with the new ones based on the movie designs.

-Do you have any plans to use the original Nick Fury? I'm not a big fan of the Samuel L. Jackson incarnation and I kind of dislike how Marvel is pushing him everywhere these days. (The one designed by Kirby will always be the best!)

-Will there be a lot of casualties in your two books, because I appreciate having my favorite characters alive and I do not want my signature to get any longer. LOL

-If you could use Professor X, would he be in a wheelchair or able-bodied?

-And how long do you think it will take for Marvel to bring him back?

-What form will your Beast be in? I prefer the ape version without the Wolverine hair. The cat version always seemed silly to me. And he became very whiny. But I respect your opinion.

[GrimmPym]

Will Hank Pym be in Avengers or New Avengers at any point?

[pharoahe22]

Mr. Hickman,

Like everyone here, I think that it's really dope that you're taking time out from your busy schedule to answer fan questions. I was already really excited about this book...and reading through this thread has made me even more excited! Now for my questions:

The Blue Marvel is probably Top 10 out of the MU Superheroes in both intelligence and raw power. There's no way that Tony Stark would know about this guy and not try to recruit him heavily. Is there any chance of him showing up in either Avengers or New Avengers? New Avengers would be interesting because he's close with Namor and has worked with Reed before. Avengers would be interesting because he defeated King Hyperion in his last appearance. I know that you probably have a ton of issues already scripted, but is there any chance of him showing up down the line?

If the Avengers were an Army, what rank would Wolverine have?

Just curious...if you HAD to bring back Mar-Vell, Ares, the Sentry or Richard Rider/Nova for a slot on the Avengers roster, who would it be?

[JHickman]

Thank for your time. Sorry for the poor grammar in advance

1) Do you see the Black Panther as a super hero , who is a king or a king who plays at being a hero?

2)Since this title is currently all male, should we expect the romance to come occassional appearances by Brand,Sue, and Medusa?

1. He's royalty.
2. Sure.

Hi Mr. Hickman,

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. I have six. (Sorry if that's too much)

-Will Hawkeye's and Cap's (I saw the classic one in the Avengers #1 preview art, but the newer one for some of the later previews) classic costumes come back? As I am not to pleased with the new ones based on the movie designs.

-Do you have any plans to use the original Nick Fury? I'm not a big fan of the Samuel L. Jackson incarnation and I kind of dislike how Marvel is pushing him everywhere these days. (The one designed by Kirby will always be the best!)

-Will there be a lot of casualties in your two books, because I appreciate having my favorite characters alive and I do not want my signature to get any longer. LOL

-If you could use Professor X, would he be in a wheelchair or able-bodied?

-And how long do you think it will take for Marvel to bring him back?

-What form will your Beast be in? I prefer the ape version without the Wolverine hair. The cat version always seemed silly to me. And he became very whiny. But I respect your opinion.

1. I have no idea.
2. Maybe.
3. No.
4. Walking around.
5. Who knows, man.
6. I've had this pointed out to me by Brevoort, Wolverine has Beast hair.

Will Hank Pym be in Avengers or New Avengers at any point?

No comment.

[Nomads1]

Mr. Hickman,

Thank you for doing this. I think it's really grand of creators who take the time to "talk" with their fans. Honest to admit that I haven't read much by you. Just a couple of FF trades that I did like. Excited about your run at the helm of Avengers. Bendis more darker street level tendencies really weren't much to my taste, so I'm overjoyed with your bringing back a bigger scope to the title. For now, no questions. Prefer to read what's comming first (although that may take a while seeing as I'm mostly a trade waiter now). Hope you'll still be around to answer some questions when I have them. Anyway, I wish you the best on your run. May it be as groundbreaking and remarkable as I expect it to be, and may you enjoy yourself doing it.
Once more, thank you and good luck.

Peace

[sparticus]

Triple thanks for this:

Question One; have you ever wrote some dialogue that you thought was hilarious, but on reflection cut out because no-one else was going to get it or they'd take it so seriously on the internet they'd explode?

(I'll give you an example if my question wasn't clear, once one of the showrunners for Doctor Who wrote a throw-away line where the Doctor joked about being able to regenerate 507 times, where apparently canonically he can only regenerate 13 times or whatever. It made me laugh, was clearly a joke, but the internet went nuts about how he was violating canon.)

Question Two; favourite instrumental rock album.

[Expletive Deleted]

Any interest in using the Beyonder? I think his was the only story from Bendis and Cheung's Illuminati mini-series that never had any follow-up (unless it did and I missed it, in which case nevermind).

Also, have you read Sean Howe's Marvel Comics: The Untold Story yet? If so, what'd you think?

Thanks.

[Nomads1]

Okay, went back and read a bit, but only got to page 5. Now, I haven't seen anyone make these kinds of questions yet, but I'd like to take your pulse, so to speak, as an Avengers writer/fan, Mr. Hickman. Forgive me, please, if such questions have already been made.
1.- Favorite Avengers run?
2.- Favorite Avengers story arc?
3.- Single favorite Avengers story?
4. - Favorite Avengers villain (s)?
5. - Favorite Avengers line-up?
6. - Least favorite Avengers line-up?
7. - Top five favorite Avengers ever?
8. - Favorite character that was never an Avengers that you wish would join (if not a spoiler)?
9. - Dream project that you still wish to work on someday (not restricted to Marvel, and not Avengers, of course)?

Feel free to comment on your answers, if you feel like it.
Thank you

Peace