Interview: Keith Giffen talks Larfleeze and Justice League 3000

I recently caught up with DC Comics writer, Keith Giffen, to talk about his new projects Larfleeze and Justice League 3000. Below is the interview, enjoy! Please note, this interview was conducted before "Larfleeze" #1 was released.

Harry: Hi, Keith, thanks for taking time out for this interview!

I'm going to jump straight in and ask some questions about one of your new projects: Larfleeze. What do you think you're doing that's different with this character?

Keith Giffen: Telling stories that will actually end, trawling the DC encyclopaedia. Having fun ( this one's been missing for WAY too long ). You know... just playing the radical again.

Harry: Now, most main characters have to be likeable or at least somebody you can sympathise with or relate to. Larfleeze isn't exactly the most likeable character, will you be doing anything to change this?

Keith: Why? It worked for Lobo.

Harry: What problems will Larfleeze be challenging in this series?



Larfleeze #1

Keith: Other-dimensional gods, an unwanted love interest, an unwarranted reputation, a cosmic posse and a whole bunch of new characters, concepts and situations.

Harry: How does it feel to be handed a solo series for one of the stand-out characters of Geoff Johns' legendary Green Lantern run?

Keith: Pretty damn good. Considering the orange clown is Geoff's creation, I'm surprised he trusts me to do right by the mangy cur. It's misplaced trust, sure, but it's the thought that counts.

Harry: What new characters will we be seeing?

Keith: Laord of the hunt, The Wanderer, Dyrge of all sorrows, Waddles the Wonder Goose. That last one was just a little something to rev up the internuts. Gentlemen, start your engines.

Harry: With every Green Lantern title getting a new creative team around the same time, what are you doing to stand out from all the others?

Keith: Again, having fun.


Larfleeze #2

Harry: What can you tell us about the first big villain of the series?

Keith: He's Larfleeze's butler. Ha! Didn't see that coming, did you? Just because you don't act like a villain, doesn't mean you're not.

Harry: What have you found to be the most enjoyable part of writing this series so far?

Keith: Working with Marc again. That and world building. I'm a huge fan of world building.

Harry: What can you tease about the future of Larfleeze?

Keith: Well... We're close to four issues in the can so I think it's safe to say the future will be there on time.



Justice League 3000 Superman
design by Howard Porter.

Harry: Now onto one of your recently announced projects, Justice League 3000. What can you tell us about this series?

Keith: Absolutely nothing except that it's the Justice League. And that we plan on spending the first four issues lying to you through our teeth.

Harry: There's been some talk about the relation between the 31st century Justice League team and the one in the current time. What's the relation between the two? Can we expect this to be a major aspect of the series?

Keith: That's be giving the farm away. Sorry.

Harry: We've already seen designs for Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and the Flash. Is this the roster for the book or can we expect future counterparts for other heroes ( or villains ) as well as these?

Keith: That's the roster for the foreseeable future.



Justice League 3000 Batman design
by Howard Porter

Harry: Can we expect any completely original members of the team in addition to these counterparts?

Keith: Never say never...

Harry: Can we expect ties to the current Justice League's stories in this series?

Keith: I'm going to say... no. The book's got to stand on it's own as a self contained entity. If you're reading JL3000, that's the only book you'll have to read to understand and ( hopefully ) enjoy JL3000.

Harry: With this set around the same time as the recently cancelled "Legion of Super-Heroes" series, can we expect any ties to that? What's different from it?



Justice League 3000 Wonder Woman
 design by Howard Porter

Keith: Aside from the name Fatal Five and one or two other names that are too good to let go of... not at all. There are no Legionnaires in JL3000, no LSH supporting cast members, no references to LSH at all. Not because I'm looking to erase the LSH, but because JL3000 has to be the only book you have to read to get the story or understand the concept of JL3000.

Harry: What can you say about who the first big villain of the series is?

Keith: The Fatal Five are not who you think they are.

Harry: With this series taking place mostly separate from all the other DC Comics titles, do you feel more of a sense of freedom when writing this book?

Keith: Absolutely!


Justice League 3000 the Flash
design by Howard Porter

Harry: What sort of tone can we expect this series to have?

Keith: Giffen, DeMatteis, Maguire. Yeah, it's exactly what you think it is.

Harry: Can we expect to see any other recognisable aspects of the DC Universe and what they're like in the 31st century?

Keith: I think that will have to happen sooner or later. As long as the aspects can be introduced as new there should be no problem.

Harry: What are you doing that will really make this book stand out from all of the other new books coming to the shelves?

Keith: Trying to point out that life doesn't end at grim and gritty. A little fun never hurt anyone.



Justice League 3000 Green Lantern
design by Howard Porter

Harry: What big changes will there be between the original Justice League and the incarnation in this series?

Keith: um... they're two completely different things? We're not an appendix to the JL, we're our own... um... well whatever we are, we're ours and ours alone. And DC's.

Harry: Thanks, Keith! Good luck with all of your new projects!

Larfleeze #1 is out now and Justice League 3000 #1 hits shelves in October!

(Images of Justice League 3000 designs courtesy of Comic Book Resources)

Interview: Brett Booth on leaving Nightwing, JLA and the Future!

This is my second interview with Brett Booth, but this is a little shorter than the first as he was very busy drawing Justice League of America. But, anyway, enjoy!

The cover to Nightwing #21,
Booth's final issue

Harry: Brett, thanks for doing a second interview on this blog, It's nice to have you back on!

Brett Booth: How can you type so much so fast?!?!?!? I'll have to be quick, need to get this page done ASAP!

Harry: Straight to the questions on a recent piece of news, your departure, from your current series, Nightwing.

 

I'll just say that I'm definitely going to miss you on the series, how does it feel for you to be leaving after such a short time?

Brett: Unfinished. Things just didn't aline quite right but that's comics, always changing! I do hope to get another chance at some point.

Harry: Do you think you'll miss the book, considering the whole mythos writer Kyle Higgins is building up for the city of Chicago?

Brett: I don't really know... I haven't had much breathing room to really think lately. I will miss drawing Nightwing, he's one of my favorites!

Harry: One of the most important questions, what did you enjoy most from drawing this series?

Brett: Drawing Nightwing dancing over the city...( and the @$$ shots;P) It's different from say Spiderman, NW has a different kind of grace.

Harry: What can you tell us about your final issue of the series?

Brett: DONUTS!!!! And maybe coffee...

Harry: Onto some questions about a book you'll be drawing in the next two months, Justice League of America.

 

We've talked before about the differences between drawing team books and drawing solo books, but are there any certain types of practice you have to do before returning to a team book?

Brett: No, since it's only been a few months since my last team book, it wasn't hard to switch back into it. It was just a tad difficult because of all the new costumes I'm not used to.... especially Seve Trevors, David went crazy with that one!

Interiors of Nightwing #20
by Booth.

Harry: With such a diverse group of characters, how do you make the individual aspects of each character stand out?

Brett: The stand out more easily BECAUSE they are diverse character wise. Hawkman, is the tough guy. Martian Manhunter the stoic father figure, Catwoman is the naughty badgirl ect. Once you zero in on that they are pretty easy to get ahold of;)

Harry: You've drawn a JLA book before, but with a very different team to the current incarnation, does it feel odd drawing a series with the same name of one you've drawn before but with very different characters?

Brett: Not really, teams change all the time. It's fun to get a chance to draw so much of the DC Universe New and Old!

Harry: What's it like to be working with one of DC's top writers, Geoff Johns?

Brett: I'm a huge fan of his, he world builds so well! He's also incredibly nice and helpful. I would love to do a regular book with him at some point!

Harry: Do you feel like you have more control over characters in a series less mainstream rather than one DC is shining their spotlight on?

Brett: As the artist, my control is limited to the look, but as I'm also one of the designers I can get away with tweeks.. I'm only helping out for a few issues so I'm trying to stick to what's already there or what will be there Trinity War wise;)

JLA interiors by Booth, images
from Comic Book Resources

Harry: Are you aloud to tease anything about your issues of JLA?

Brett: I believe the it's the first appearance of a character and watch the jet in that double page spread;) Also, lots of Catwoman and a Bigfoot!

Harry: After Nightwing and JLA I assume you'll be moving onto another series, presumably for DC Comics again, any clues to what that could be?

Brett: 'll be doing a 5-6 issue arc on another book then I should be hitting a regular series book again... I don't want to ruin the surprise!

Harry: Thanks again, Brett! Nice to get the chance to interview you again! Good luck on your future projects!

Brett: Thanks!!!!!


Brett's final issue of Nightwing comes out on the 12th of June and his two issue run on Justice League of America begins on May 29, starting with #4.

You can follow him on twitter, @Demonpuppy and check out his blog: "Demonpuppy's Wicked Awesome art blog". You can read my first interview with Brett here!