In April 1998, we kick started Collector Times Online with a short interview
with Erik Larsen. It's 15 months later and boy, have things changed! Erik has
gone from just submitting two proposals to Marvel and DC to starting and
leaving a couple of titles due to either editorial interference or low sales
and he's picked up Wolverine along the way. This time around we get Erik to
discuss good and bad editors, Jim Lee and Image, Savage Dragon, Superman,
Spider-Man, Wolverine, Nova, Marvel Knights and more!
Coville: Previously you said that DC editor Kevin Dooley asked you to rip off
other peoples stories for Aquaman. Can you tell us what stories?
Larsen:
He asked me to do variations on a Batman story where a bunch of kids sitting
around a campfire tell stories about what Batman looks like-- I refused but
he had somebody else write the story anyway for inclusion in Aquaman Secret
Files. He also suggested that "we" rip off Frank Miller's story where Stick
gives Daredevil back his powers to give Aquaman back his powers-- as luck
would have it, he left before I actually had to write that story.
Coville:
Over the last 10 years you've gone through having normal editors, to
having no editors, sometimes being an editor at Image, and then working
under some free hand and heavy handed editors. In all what are your opinions on
editors after all this?
Larsen:
It varies a great deal-- I think those editors who actually trust the people
they hired to do the job end up with better comics. Glenn Greenberg was
great on Nova-- he asked the right questions and his input made the story
better, not worse. For the most part, however-- I can't say I'm too impressed.
Coville:
6 years ago, in your famous "name withheld" letter you railed against
mediocre writers. Now that your writing and dealing with editors and such, do you
still feel the same way?
Larsen:
Sure. I think people misunderstood what that letter was about-- it was in
reaction to a writer bitching about artists! My basic point was-- geez,
guy-- we don't need you-- we can do this fine without you. Now, people have
taken it to mean NO artist needs to work with any writers but they're missing
the point-- certainly there are artists who don't write-- who don't want to
write or am incapable of it-- the point is some of us CAN do it and if it's
an option of mediocre stuff from established writers or something from a
fresh perspective-- I'd like to see that artist given a shot at it.
Coville:
What is your relationship like with Jim Lee? Has the Wildstorm split caused
any friendship riffs between Jim and the other Image founders?
Larsen:
It's no different than it was. People may get the impression that we always
hang out together but in reality, all of the Image partners live nowhere near
each other. I see these guys at shows and Image partner meetings-- but it
ends up just being a couple times a year.
Coville:
Some fans felt Wildstorm leaving Image would hurt the company. Economically
speaking, what effect has the split had on Image Comics?
Larsen:
Each book Image publishes kicks in dough to run the office. Since Jim split,
there haven't been those books to help support the company. That's about
it-- we did pick up some new books so it hasn't affected us THAT much but
initially it was a problem because the books were there one month and gone
the next with no warning so that we could prepare for it.
Coville:
If returnables were a distributing option do you think Image Comics and
other publishers would use it?
Larsen:
I can't speak for the company but I'd use it.
Coville:
What's the latest status of the Superman / Savage Dragon crossover?
Larsen:
Karl Kesel and Jon Bogdonove's is nearing completion-- mine has barely been
started.
Coville:
What the status of the Mighty Man mini series? Have you given up on Gil Kane
yet?
Larsen:
It's stalled. The thing was written for Gil-- if he's not interested in
doing it, I may just have it appear in Savage Dragon instead and do it
myself-- I'm not that pumped on just getting any guy off the street to do it.
Coville:
In both Savage Dragon and Aquaman, you've added pregnancies galore. Why do
you keep using that as a surprise / story?
Larsen:
Planting seeds for the future. In a book like Dragon, which is set in real
time, I need to prepare for the future. It may seem like overkill but if
you're that age, it's not uncommon to have any number of your friends have
kids. Since Savage Dragon started, I've gotten married, Reuben Rude (SD
colorist) has gotten married and Chris Eliopoulos (SD letterer) has gotten
married-- My wife and I have had two kids, Reuben's wife spit out one and as
I write this, Chris' wife is a few weeks from having twins-- and that's just
people who work on Savage Dragon! I've got a number of friends who have
popped out kids over the last few years. It's far from unrealistic but it's
pretty rare in comics, I must admit.
Coville:
Many self publishers seem to be having trouble doing a monthly comic book.
Yet you kept Savage Dragon monthly or almost monthly for 6 years now. How
do you do it?
Larsen:
I'm on a roll. It can be mind-boggling at first to set things up but by now
it comes pretty easily. You've just got to sit down and DO THE WORK.
There's no big secret here-- you just have to work on your book rather than
play video games, watch videos and screw off.
Coville:
With Savage Dragon, the types of stories have ranged from gritty cop stuff
to Kirby style sci-fi stuff. What kind of stories will readers see in the
future?
Larsen:
More of the same-- I like getting in a lot of variety on this book-- I don't
feel the need to restrict myself in any way.
Coville:
Would you do Savage Dragon in black & white if the sales dropped too low?
Larsen:
I'd certainly rather not. The next step would be to raise the cover price.
Right now, I'm hoping to hang in there for a while longer.
Coville:
Do you think Marvel should consider doing ongoing titles in black and white?
Larsen:
Coville:
Spider-Man fans want to know when is the next time you are going to work on
him?
Larsen:
In Nova #5-- I wouldn't work on one of the regular books unless it was "my"
book-- I like to do long runs on titles-- I'm not interested in doing a story
arc.
Coville:
In Wolverine #140 we saw 'you' as the big thug getting clobbered by Logan.
Who were the other people in the scene?
Larsen:
That wasn't supposed to be me as far as I know. The character designs are
Leinil's department.
Coville:
What does the future hold for Wolverine?
Larsen:
I have no clue-- I'm just trying to keep the editors happy-- my agenda keeps
getting pushed back-- I'm not sure when I'll ever get to do stuff that I want
to do.
Coville:
How much input do you have on the Wolverine getting his adamantium bones
back story?
Larsen:
Zero. I told them that it was my priority but the actual story will be done
in another book by somebody other than me.
Coville:
Nova has made some dumb mistakes in his first couple issues. Will he always
make dumb mistakes are will he learn over the issues?
Larsen:
He'll learn-- but the book is just going to #7 so there won't get to be THAT
much learning! Obviously, had it continued I'd have the character grow and
change but it was taken away from me.
Coville:
Who came up with the "Blast it to Buckethead" letter column name?
Larsen:
Me. I've wanted to use that for years.
Coville:
You've said Nova might not make it past issue 7. What would readers be
seeing if Nova does make it past issue 7?
Larsen:
No point in going over it. I'll try to work some of my plans into other
books. We'll see.
Coville:
You mentioned that if Nova does get cancelled, you would probably look for
another book to write. If you were asked to do a Marvel Knights title in a
super serious fashion, would you accept?
Larsen:
Coville:
Anything else you want the world to know about?
Larsen:
I think Nova's New Warriors costume is really awful just like the rest of you.
