Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, django zorro, dynamite, entertainment, justice inc, matt wagner, michael uslan

"My Own Secret Origin As A Comic Book Writer Is Linked To Theirs." – Michael Uslan Talks Justice, Inc.

Out in stores this week from Dynamite are both Django / Zorro #2 and Justice Inc. #5. And we have the writer of the former, Matt Wagner, interviewing the writer of the latter, Michael Uslan.

MATT WAGNER: So, Michael … obviously you and I share a deep-seated love for the "original era" of pop culture heroes. I know how and why these characters appeal to me so much. What's the source of your interest?

MICHAEL USLAN: My interest is three-fold: As a comic book fan and historian, I have a deep appreciation for the extent to which Doc Savage was the primary inspiration in the creation of Superman and The Shadow was the more than primary inspiration in the creation of The Batman. Secondly, I grew up as a kid in New Jersey listening on late Sunday afternoons in the 1960's to WJRZ's reruns of the old Shadow radio shows, reading the Doc Savage paperbacks as they were published starting in 1964, and later reading The Avenger paperbacks followed by Jack Kirby's dabbling with the character in comics. Finally, the first professional comic books I wrote (while still a student) were DC Comics' The Shadow #9 and #11, the latter being the first ever team-up of The Shadow and The Avenger. Needless to say, my own secret origin as a comic book writer is linked to theirs.

MW: With Justice Inc., you've basically got "The Big Three" stars of the pulp era all under the one narrative umbrella. Must've been a blast, yeah?

MU: Matt, can you believe in 75 years, Street & Smith/Conde Nast never teamed up this trinity of heroes? Could I be any luckier? I was in fanboy heaven though the challenge was monumental. No matter what adventure I concocted, I had to premiere The Avenger and his origin story to a new generation in the process.

MW: What were the biggest challenges of trying to make these three, really quite disparate characters, work inside the confines of the same storyline?

MU: I started by breaking down the essence of what elements make up a Doc Savage story, what elements comprise a Shadow story, and the elements of the birth and back-story of The Avenger. Then, I wanted to include some refreshing of the characters in their speech and actions/reactions to TRY to make them more accessible to today's younger readers captivated more by spandex and armored heroes. My test was based on the fact I knew and worked with Walter Gibson, driving creative force behind The Shadow. I pretend Walter's looking over my shoulder when I write and try to please him. I was lucky enough to work with the talented Giovanni Timpano who floored me with his cinematic graphic story-telling. As an experiment, we took one issue of the six (#4) and executed it "Marvel-style," rather as the others which were full scripts. We had a blast working together as full partners.

MW: And you also seem to be quite a history buff as your storyline incorporates several real-life celebrities from the mid-20th century. Why include personalities like Howard Hughes and H.G. Wells when you've already got such larger-than-life title characters?

MU: I love when history and fiction are woven together as in novels like The Alienist. I'm a history major/buff and enjoy doing months of research before I begin writing. I did this with two previous graphic novels I wrote, Batman: Detective #27 and The Shadow/Green Hornet: Dark Nights, and loved those creative experiences and the end results.

MW: Lastly … Fess up: Which of these three icons gives you the biggest thrill to write? Full disclosure: I'm a Shadow man, myself.

MU: No contest. Due to my roots and relationship with Walter Gibson, it's Kent Allard [The Shadow]!

For more on Justice, Inc. #5, click here.

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