Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, Daryl Gregory, dynamite, entertainment, Legenderry: Green Hornet

Daryl Gregory Talks Legenderry: Green Hornet

Published Mon, 08 Dec 2014 22:00:29 -0600

In February, Dynamite is launching a group of miniseries spinning out of Bill Willingham's Legenderry: A Steampunk Adventure. The three series focus on that worlds versions of Red Sonja, Vampirella and Green Hornet. Writing the Green Hornet miniseries is Daryl Gregory who spoke with Byron Brewer about the new project.

BYRON BREWER: Daryl, what are your feelings on Bill Willingham's steampunk world? Does it spur your imagination as you adapt?

DARYL GREGORY: Bill's built a wonderful playground for telling stories — which should surprise no one. Fables is (I cannot speak of Fables in past tense, no matter what its current state) one of the finest story engines ever. When he and I talked about this spinoff miniseries, he had only one commandment: Go Forth and Have Fun. And since Bill could only spend a couple issues in the Big City, I could have a section of the playground all to myself.

BB: How did you hook up with this series, and were you a fan of Legenderry?

DG: Bill put me up for the job — I got the call out of the blue. I'd really enjoyed what he'd done in the original series, and I was ready to go –especially if I got to write Green Hornet and Kato. I'm a pulp guy, and a fan of those two guys in particular.

BB: Everyone loves Mark Waid's Green Hornet. What are some of the real differences between that character and the one you are writing in this miniseries?

DG: It was clear from Green Hornet's appearance in Bill's series that the Legenderry Hornet was a man having a great deal of fun. There is no angst. This is high-speed adventure with goggles and airships.

BB: Does Kato serve the same function to GH in this steampunk world?

DG: In some ways, yes, in that Kato is the voice of reason in the relationship. Which is not to say that he does not greatly enjoy kicking ass. Because he does.

BB: What can you tell us about the gang war our boys are involved in?

DG: Bill's series established that Lidia Valcallan — AKA the Veiled Lady, formerly known as Little Miss Murder — ran the city's underworld. By the end of the original series, however, she's a little … preoccupied. It struck that there would be a power vacuum, and some gang leader was going to fill it. From there it was clear that I could do a Gangs of New York/Warriors mash up — but with steampunk! How could I resist?

I also decided that I could explain how Lidia went from Little Miss Murder to the Veiled Lady. Because I had to do it before Bill did.

BB: Can you tell us about the big bads, whom I would assume to be the gang lords?

DG: I may have gone a little nuts in creating new gang lords and their steampunk-themed gangs. Just in the first two issues we have Captain Billy "Whiz Bang" Jones, leader of the VelociKings, an electric velocipede gang, facing off against the top-hatted and be-monocled Toffs, while the cult leader Tik-Tok waits in the wings. By the end of the series, Green Hornet will face off against a dozen more gangs, each weirder than the last. And I haven't even mentioned the TWO masterminds behind the scenes, Little Lord Homicide (an adorable twelve year old sociopath) and his mysterious boss.

BB: Is it fun bringing this reality to life with artist Brent Peeples?

DG: Brent's fantastic. He's great at action, but wait 'til you see his designs. I've thrown so many new characters and gadgets and gimmicks at him, and he keeps churning out wonderful character and scenic designs. I think people will really dig what he's doing.

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