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with Mark Waid
Part 2
Interview
with: Troy
Brownfield
As you know, Mark Waid recently visited the Big Question.
At that time, however, he hadn’t made the HUGE announcement
that he would soon be moving to Florida, and CrossGen Comics!
CrossGen, the new company that has roared out of the gate
this year with an impressive studio system, a money-back guarantee
on its books, and high-quality product, managed to obtain
Waid as a new Senior Writer. Waid is best-known for The Flash,
Kingdom Come, Impulse, Captain America and his creator-owned
Empire (with Gorilla Comics). Currently, he’s also the writer
on JLA.
So, once
again, here’s Mark Waid!
THE BIG Q&A
Q1: With your move to CrossGen, you now have a definite
"end date" on your JLA run. Will you take advantage of that
to build your plot threads to a BIG FINISH as Morrison did,
or will you simply work harder at establishing a framework
for the continuation of the book?
A1.
I honestly haven't yet given it much thought, but now that
you mention it, I'd better have one hell of a finale planned.
Oh! I know! But I can't tell you.
Q2.
I understand that "Empire" will continue for several months.
Does this mean that you won't be releasing more Gorilla work
after your work begins for CrossGen?
A2.
That's the way it looks right now--but keep reading EMPIRE!
Q3.
Can you give us any details at present about your plans for
"Sigil", and are you developing new titles?
A3.
Barbara Kesel and I have yet to sit down and have our Official
Sigil Hand-Off Talk. I am indeed developing a new title. At
this time, it's too early to discuss it, but trust me--what
they have in mind for marketing alone would have swayed me
to take the assignment somehow, some way. It'll be the biggest
writing challenge of my career, that's for sure.
Q4.
The "fan" reaction to your move seems to be one of complete
shock. However, given your apparent problems with Marvel editorial
and other issues in recent years, it seems fairly logical.
Could you tell us about some of the particulars of your decision?
A4.
Really, what it comes down to is this: the industry's in trouble,
and having worked in every aspect of it over the past 16 years...well,
I don't know if there's anything I can do to HELP in an administrative
capacity, but there's ABSOLUTELY nothing I can do strictly
as a freelance writer. I want to be with a well-financed company
that's willing to experiment, to grow, and to find new markets.
Q5.
What, in the long run, do you hope to accomplish with a tenure
at CrossGen?
A5.
I want to help Mark Alessi create a new paradigm for the way
freelancers should be treated by publishers--with respect
rather than with contempt.
We’d like to thank Mark Waid for dropping by once again! I’d
like to note that some of us got the chance to see Mr. Waid
speak at Chicago at Wizard World and briefly speak to him
ourselves; he’s a remarkably personable and funny guy who
honestly loves comics. We wish him all the best with his new
endeavor. Visit the CrossGen web site at www.crossgen.com.
And oh yeah, read Empire.
Troy
Brownfield is the Editor-In-Chief of Shotgun Reviews. He can’t
believe that he got Mark Waid as guest once, let alone twice.
Email Troy at psikotyk@aol.com.
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