This morning, we got our first glimpse of “Green Lanterns,” the new, twice-monthly adventures of Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz, the two newest ring-slingers of Sector 2814. The book, which pairs the two rookies together for the first time, is written by Sam Humphries, best known for his work on the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe, as well as his creator-owned works “Jonesy” and “Citizen Jack,” treats the book almost like a buddy cop movie but, you know, with aliens and magic rings.
I got the chance to chat with Humphries about the book and, while getting me quite excited for the project, he also made me hungry. Read on to find out why G’Nort is like mustard, and much, much more.
Green Lantern books, especially over the past decade or so, have been very much space-set stories. This first arc appears to be quite comfortable staying (mostly) Earth-bound. Was there a conscious decision on your part to set the book on terra firma?
Sam Humphries: That was part of the status quo I was given for the book, and one that appealed to me greatly. It grounds both our heroes and the threats in some real-world scenarios. What’s more intense than finding an alien in a space ship? Finding an alien in the kitchen of Jack in the Box. Get away from my curly fries!
We have two Lanterns at the heart of this book who didn’t become Lanterns in the traditional sense. How will their (lack of) training impact the types of stories that you’ll be telling?
SH: Oh, their rookie status underlines every scene and story. These are two characters who were strapped to the most powerful weapons in the universe and thrown into the deep end. A Green Lantern ring is high tech — you don’t just master it after a 20 minute orientation. Think of it like a Ferrari — you’re gonna grind some gears your first few times behind the wheel. And when you’re protecting Earth? You either learn on the job or be responsible for the death of your home planet. It’s intense.
I’ve read “Green Lanterns: Rebirth,” and the book had more than a fair amount of laughs, which was an incredibly welcome part of the book. Is humor an important part of Simon and Jessica’s stories? Why? ‘
SH: Yeah, I mean, your milage may vary, but I think humor is an important part of any story, or at least any story I write. Even the serious stories I’ve written ended up with pitch-black humor despite my best efforts. In the case of Simon and Jessica as characters, they’re rookies, and in over their heads — humor becomes a survival mechanism. If you don’t laugh, you will have a meltdown. Now that I think about it, a meltdown + power ring, that could be really funny too.
The Red Lanterns – everyone’s favorite hate spewing monsters – are the villains of this first arc. How do you get inside of their heads, to make them something more than just one-dimensionally evil?
SH: I shoved them to the brink of extinction. What do you do when you have no options left? They are horrific fire blood space monsters, but they’re fighting for survival. That’s a universal concern, even if you didn’t have your blood replaced by napalm.
You co-wrote the ‘Rebirth’ special with Geoff Johns, who co-created both of these characters, as well as the architect of the Green Lantern books over the past 10+ years. What did Geoff impart to you about these characters that you would’ve never stumbled upon yourself? How does this book reflect his influence?
SH: Geoff and I spent hours discussing Green Lanterns, and it saved me weeks of fumbling around and screwing it up. It was an incredible advantage, and gift. I mean, when Geoff tells you what being a Green Lantern is all about, you listen. And it all boiled down to three words: “courage over fear.” That’s the whole book. That’s the whole legacy. Tattoo it on your forehead!
This is one of DC’s many books that are shipping twice monthly. As a writer, does being on such a tight schedule make that you have to trust your artists in a different way, due to the time (or lack thereof) that they have to turn in their work? How far ahead do you have to be working to keep everything on schedule?
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SH: No comic company has ever shipped this many comics this fast. You have to have a team you can trust, and fortunately we’ve got amazing artists in Robson Rocha, Jay Leisten, Jack Herbert and Ed Benes. They’re stepping up to the plate, handling the cosmic and the horror, the emotions and the actions. We’re making history here, people!
The Lanterns reached an extreme popularity five or so years ago – there wasn’t a hotter property in comics for a couple of years than a colored ring. But for fans that haven’t picked up a Green Lantern comic in a few years, what is different about “Green Lanterns,” and why should a skeptical fan take a chance on it?
SH: “Green Lanterns” is like a great hamburger, or veggie burger if you prefer. The bun is the legacy, the foundation of everything you do. The patty and the cheese are the two main characters — two elements from different worlds, but if you can convince them to work together, they are the ultimate team. The tomatoes are the Red Lanterns, because, uh, tomatoes are red, and they’re omnipresent, affecting every bite. The lettuce is…uh, excitement! The ketchup and mustard are…uh, Kilowog and G’nort? There’s a toothpick in there, be careful when you bite! Okay, forgive me, I’ve lost the metaphor. And I really need to get to a Jack in the Box.
