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*Thanks
to all who made our night with She-Hulk writer Dan Slott and Marvel Editor Tom
Brevoort a success.
Jim Hanley's Universe presents an interview with Dan
Slott
Comic writer Dan
Slott (Arkham Asylum: Living
Hell) is writing Marvel's new She-Hulk series. He recently spoke
with with Jim Hanley's Universe about this new project.
Q: Tell us a little about Dan Slott,
give us a quick history of Dan the Man.
DS: I am completely devoid of history, Jim. I'm
actually an urban myth, a scary story that editors tell their
freelancers. "Get your work in on time... or you'll wind up like Dan
Slott!" The only existing photos of me show blurry shots as I crane my
neck out of a Scottish lake.
Q: What lead Dan Slott to a life of crime, I mean
to the life of a comics writer? (What was your first writing
job?)
DS: MIGHTY MOUSE #10. Good luck finding it! It had a lovely
Kevin Maguire cover. And it also marked the first time I got to work with
my good friend and fellow REN & STIMPY collaborator, Mike
Kazaleh.
Q: What work are you
most proud of?
DS: That's a tough one. It's a three-way toss up between ARKHAM
ASYLUM: LIVING HELL #3, where Ryan Sook and I got to tell the origin of Humpty
Dumpty. MARVEL VISIONARIES: GIL KANE, which reprints a Two-Gun Kid short
story that I got to do with Mr. Kane, who is one of my all-time idols! And
REN & STIMPY: MASTERS OF SPACE & TIME, a giant-sized, four-dimensional,
interactive comic book that keeps folding in on itself... it's kind of
hard to describe, and that's what I love about it.
Q: Do you have a dream
project?
DS: Many! But high up on the list would be ANY Marvel project with
Spidey, the Fantastic Four, or Moon Knight. And ANY DC project with the
Creeper, Deadman, or the Silver Age Doom Patrol.
Q: Name three of your favorite writers, artists,
comics, movies and/or pies.
DS: Pecan, Key Lime, and Lemon
Meringue.
And now,
She-Hulk:
Q: What can we expect from your
She-Hulk?
DS: Fun
and weirdness. She-Hulk is about to enter a bizarre corner of the Marvel
Universe-- the world of Superhuman Law. We've all seen shows like LAW
& ORDER, THE PRACTICE, and LA LAW... now just imagine what those dramas
would be like if they were set in a world where androids, time-travelers, and
super-villains were common place.
Q: Does this mean that the reader's in for lots of
"stuffy" courtroom drama?
DS: No way! Trials happen
when laws get broken, which leads to investigations, which leads to big
two-fisted-Marvel-style-ACTION!
Q: Any changes in continuity the reader should be
aware of?
DS:Yup! Almost 20 years ago, She-Hulk received a large dose of
radiation while fighting sentient cockroaches on a downed SHIELD
helicarrier. Somehow that "locked" her in her She-Hulk form and made it
impossible for her
to change back into Jen Walters. Makes perfect
sense when you phrase it that way, doesn't it?Well, cut to Geoff Johns' SEARCH
FOR SHE-HULK saga, and you'll see that that "lock" has been removed. So
the sassy, sexy, strong and glamorous She-Hulk can once again turn back into her
original-plain-Jane-self, Jennifer Walters. But why would she ever want or
need to? Why would the quintessential party-girl of the Marvel Universe go
back to being such a nobody?
Hmmm...
Q: Are you bringing back any old characters? Are
you introducing any new
characters?
DS: Well, as you can gleam from my last blatherings, this new book is
bringing back Jen Walters. It's been a while since we've seen her, and
well, I kinda' miss her. Back at the end of the original run of Savage
She-Hulk, Jen made a choice to STAY in her She-Hulk form and never change
back. And it looked like the events in the SHE-HULK graphic novel closed
that door for good. But once again, the door's open and we can let Jen
"out."
Personally, I think Jen made the coward's choice. Being She-Hulk
is not something she earned. It's not like she's an athlete who spent
countless hours building that physique-- she just happened to win the superhero
lottery. It would be as if Billy Batson said "Shazam" one last time, and
decided to live out the rest of his life as Captain Marvel.
In the course of
this new book, Jen's going to discover that she too can be beautiful. That
she can be strong. That she can be every bit the hero in her own
right.
Q: Any surprises in
store for the readers?
DS: Yes, Jim. But if I told you they wouldn't be
surprises. :)
Seriously though, readers can expect lots of fun
BIG NAME Marvel Universe characters popping by-- both heroes AND villains.
In #1 readers can expect THE AVENGERS to show up, #2 has a quick cameo by DOCTOR
STRANGE, and #3 will feature a guest-spot by the ever-luvin'-blue-eyed
THING!
Q: Have you worked with
any of the She-Hulk crew before?
DS: In the past I did some VENOM backups with editor
Tom Brevoort, and much fun was had by all. As for the rest of the
team? This is our first time working together. And, let me tell you,
I lucked out BIG TIME! Anyone who's seen Juan Bobillo's artwork on
CAPTAIN
AMERICA, AGENT X, or X-TREME
X-MEN: MEKANIX, knows that he's brilliant! And his SHE-HULK pencils are no
exception! Sosa's inks do him justice, and the lettering & coloring
are some of the best I've ever gotten on one of my books! I couldn't be
happier!
Q: What would Dan
Slott like to tell us about his
She-Hulk?
DS:
She's the fun, silly party-girl you all know and love. She still loves to
crack wise-- though not THROUGH the fourth wall. She's firmly in the
Marvel
U. AND in continuity.
And if you don't buy her book THIS time, not ONLY will she come to your house
and rip up all your X-MEN comics... She'll also rip up all your X-MEN
TRADES! Eegads!
Q: How
many copies of She-Hulk should every comics fan
purchase?
DS:
One per customer, please. But if there's NONE there because (unlike Jim
Hanley's Universe) your retailer is shortsighted, then you need to keep flicking
him on the nose until he re-orders A LOT MORE! :)
ttyl
Dan
2/04
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