The DC3 decided to take on the Herculean task of covering DC’s weekly books! Our coverage will rotate between creator interviews, issue reviews and annotations, and long-form pieces on featured characters. This, friends, is the DC3kly!
Talking with someone like Keith Giffen is always a treat; the man is a legend who has refused to rest on his laurels, and continues to co-write three books (“New 52: Futures End,” “Justice League 3000,” and “Infinity Man and the Forever People”), while also illustrating “Infinity Man and the Forever People.” We spoke with Keith about a slew of things, mainly “Futures End” related – check it out below!
What is it like to collaborate with such a large and varied group of writers and artists?
Keith Giffen: Agony! It’s like sweeping ants! Seriously though, its been a real pleasure. Everyone’s pulling in the same direction, egos were checked at the door and, as it turns out, Canadians don’t eat human flesh. I’m really privileged to be able to get on the nerves of such an array of talent.
We’ve seen appearances from Stormwatch, S.H.A.D.E., some of the principal characters of Justice League Dark – any chance we see the “Legion of Super-Heroes” pop up, intersect, or intervene in some way?
KG: Not even if it would help the space program.
You did layouts for DC’s first weekly of this scope, “52.” Did you learn anything from doing that book that you could now apply to “Futures End”?
KG: “52” taught me the difference between producing monthly and producing weekly. You may get an ulcer doing a monthly, but on a weekly that ulcer will bleed.
“Futures End” isn’t the first time you’ve tossed the DCU five years into the future. The “5 Years Later” era of the Legion of Super Heroes is a milestone for many fans. What do you think it is about the “time jump” as a plot device that fans find appealing? P.S. Any chance for a Legion 5YL collection?
KG: Time travel stories allow the readers to experience different realities that don’t threaten the reality they’ve come to love. The 5YL Legion was only done out of respect for Paul. I knew what I wanted to do but didn’t want to disrespect Paul’s work and I needed a dystopia soo…5 years later.
The weekly grind seems to be a real concern for many creators – how do you handle the pace of such a whirlwind series? Do you find yourself needing to adjust your process at all?
KG: Weekly is to monthly what sprinting is to crawling. The margin for error… well, it doesn’t exist. I wish there were some proven method past “just get it done” but there really isn’t. No magic here.
This cast has is sprawling, and growing larger each week – what character have you derived the most pleasure from writing thus far?
KG: Fifty Sue. Definitely Fifty Sue.
You’ve been a prolific writer/artist for decades now. So, after all that time, do you have a preference; writing or pencilling?
KG: Either one depending on the project. I love drawing DiDio’s plots / scripts but also love plotting / writing for Porter or Kolins. Its kind win / win.
Many of your projects in the New 52 have been quirky series that began as ongoings but ended more like mini-series. How do you manage expectations when planning for such books? Do you go in with an “ongoing” or a “mini” mindset?
KG: One month at a time. Just one month at a time.
You’ve dipped a toe in a number of “New 52” books over the past three years. Are there any clues in those works that point toward your “Futures End” plans?
KG: Many in JL3000. As for the rest… nah.
Super science seems to be a unifying them to a lot of the work you’ve done recently at DC – is there something about that world that, to you, really draws you in? What is it about technology that inspires you?
Continued below
KG: Inspires me!? Technology scares the crap out of me. Okay… not technology per se, but the uses to which it can (and will) be put. It plays a big part in my work because the work (superhero sci-fi adventure) lends itself to it. Demands it actually.
When plotting out a book like this, that takes place in a possible future, are there concerns about doing too much damage to beloved characters? For instance, can the death toll be too high as to turn off fans? Or is the “we can kill Character X without any repercussions” part of the fun for both the creators and the fans?
KG: Apparently, as I’ve come to discover, you guys love these characters a lot more than I do. I mean, I like them well enough and enjoy telling stories involving them but I’d kill them in the blink of an eye if the story would be enriched by doing so. That’s the cool thing about dealing with people who don’t exist. NOTHING is out of bounds, NOTHING is irreversible. Kinda like editors…
You’ve been steadily working at DC Comics since before ‘The New 52’ was even a concept – based on your experience with the publisher, where do you see ‘The New 52’ going as a result of “Futures End” – how deep do the ramifications of this event go?
KG: I haven’t a clue. All projects like this end with “wait and see”.
You are also part of the creative team on “Infinity Man and the Forever People” – what is it about Kirby creations that inspires such fun and freewheeling work from you?
KG: Actually, it’s more Dan than Jack. Jack (the only comic book artist that matters, in my opinion) provides the awe and the spectacle.
Dan provides the skewed take. It’s like chocolate and peanut butter. You wouldn’t think they’d sync, but…
“Infinity Man and the Forever People” is your second collaboration with Dan DiDio on a Kirby project in the New 52 – what is working with Dan like? What is your co-writing process like?
KG: Dan writes up a plot. I draw the plot. Dan writes the dialog. Repeat. Sure I might futz around here and there but the storyline and characterization come from Dan.
How do these two books complement each other?
KG: Do they? I guess the dedication both creative teams bring to the projects is what stands out the most. And before anyone starts in, I did NOT want to take issues #2 and #3 of Forever People off but, as has been said many times, “life is what happens while you’re making other plans”.
