Dan Abnett is one half of the DnA writing team that have been working in comics for 25 years. Unique about these two is they've remained a team for almost the entire time. The duo had a long run on Legion of Superheroes in the late 90s and early 00's and are currently writing the current Marvel Cosmic books Nova and Guardians of the Galaxy. Right now they are working on The Authority for Wildstorm and the War of Kings event that spans across Marvel new and ongoing cosmic titles.
Coville:
Being a writing team with Andy Lanning must pose some unique challenges in the industry at times. Especially in terms of page rates/royalties, convention appearances, fans/signatures, exclusive deals and more. I know you two recently signed an exclusive deal with Marvel and things are better now, but was it slower getting to this point because publishers are more used to working with individuals and not partners?
Dan:
We've always managed to make it work. The exclusive just came along when it came along. No one's ever reacted strangely to the fact we write together.
Coville:
Both you and Lanning have work in side careers, you as a writer for Warhammer books, 2000AD, among other things and Lanning as an inker. Almost every freelancer has it's up and down periods and over 20 years I suspect there were times when one of you went through a down period. What is your method of keeping a stable working relationship over the years?
Dan:
There's mutual support and commiseration - if one of us is having a problem in his 'solo' career, or if the partnership has hit a trough. We're pretty consistent. The plus side is the opportunity to bounce ideas around, to chat and talk around a story, to have a laugh while doing it. It's much more productive and creative, and takes us to places neither of us would have gone alone. It makes what's actually a very lonely profession much more stimulating.
Coville:
With Lanning being an inker, are you at all interested in having him pencil and ink something you both written together?
Dan:
We often talk about it. It'd be fun. He often inks our stories, of course.
Coville:
The Legion of course, has a humongous cast of characters which you and Lanning wrote for 5 years. Did you find that enjoyable or daunting?
Dan:
Both, but exciting won out.
Coville:
What do you think was your best and worst story lines on the Legion books?
Dan:
My single fave story arc was the Universo story we did towards the end of the run, though Legion Lost and Legion Worlds were also very enjoyable to do. I can't think of one I consider duff.
Coville:
Do you have any regrets about the Legion? If you could go back and change something, what would it be?
Dan:
We were one story away from finishing our projected story arc sequence when we were asked to step down cause the revamp was coming. I'd have loved to do that story. It would have made the readers cry. But it's too late now. I also wish we had been aloud to reboot or restart the Legion when we took it over. It was the ONLY unbreakable rule DC gave us: we had to stick with that version of the Legion. It's very annoying because since then, sense has prevailed, and the classic Legion as back and embraced into the bosom of the DCU. Our stories could have done that, and therefore been more canonical.
Coville:
Some Legion fans believed there was some parallels between the writing on the Legion and Star Trek plots. Was that a source of inspiration?
Dan:
Uhm, no. Not that I recall.
Coville:
The Cosmic books you are working on today came from the Annihilation event. While events do get complained about by some fans, they clearly do sell books and can successfully launch titles like Nova, Guardians of the Galaxy and other books. What's the difference between writing an Event series and say a normal story arch in an ongoing series?
Dan:
The deadlines are usually tighter, but apart from that Andy and I try to make sure there's no difference. If a regular book's caught up in an event, it shouldn't 'drop everything' and then go back to where it was afterwards as if nothing had happened. The event should be organic and effect the flow of the book.
Coville:
The original Annihilation mini-series that started this all was written by Keith Giffen with a variety of writers taking on parts of it. How involved were you and Andy Lanning in shaping the event?
Dan:
We were brought in to do Nova, and given a start and stop point for our arc, but what we wanted to do then influenced Keith. I don't think Nova would have been such a major player in the end story. Keith saw what we'd done with Nova and decided to run with the character.
Coville:
Today's Cosmic Marvel Universe has different characters driving the action than the previous iterations. Do you think that was necessary in revitalizing interest in this aspect of the Marvel Universe?
Dan:
We just went where the characters took us. It seems to have worked.
Coville:
From the original Annihilation event there were 4 character focused mini's and I must admit, I didn't expect a successful Nova series from it, especially over Silver Surfer. Do you know why Nova was chosen to be given his own series over the others?
Dan:
Because it was the best ? ;) It was the best selling of the books, and Marvel always likes that. I think Nova took the readers by surprise too... a pleasant surprise.
Coville:
In older Nova runs, he had a rouge gallery that really hadn't been used elsewhere in the MU. Villains like the Diamond Head, Condor, Zorr, etc.. Do you plan on using some of those characters?
Dan:
Diamonhead's already been back. We have plans for a couple, one in particular.
Coville:
The current run of Nova is only a few issues away of surpassing it's original 25 issue run, the longest solo title run of the characters existence. I suspect the book's already been plotted, approved to be published and partially drawn to that point if not beyond. Are you surprised the book made it this far?
Dan:
I'm delighted. Of course I'm not surprised. It's a great book ;)
Coville:
Speaking of it's original run, have you talked with Nova's creator, Marv Wolfman at all about the character?
Dan:
I haven't had a chance yet. Marv's on my Facebook. I ought to.
Coville:
The Guardians of the Galaxy has become a fluid team with different members coming and going. Is the team supposed to be more Defenders like in it's cast of characters?
Dan:
The actually core is pretty stable, but we like to throw characters in and out. Particularly characters like Jack Flag who take people by surprise.
Coville:
3 of the members are former Infinity Watch characters. Do you plan on having the remaining characters make appearances as well?
Dan:
Well, there's Pip the Troll... and ... Pip the Troll.... uhm....
Coville:
Mantis powers and personality has changed a great deal from the days when Steve Englehart wrote her. What was the reason for the changes?
Dan:
We loved the kookiness Keith Giffen gave her in the Star-Lord mini and decided that was the way to go. She's one of my favourite characters.
Coville:
The two of you are also working on the Authority, a title that's had a difficult time recapturing it's original popularity. What are your plans with the title?
Dan:
We want to make the most of the genuinely different setting - a Comic Universe that has gone properly and irrevocably post-apocalypse.
Coville:
I noticed in Nova, GotG and the new War of Kings mini, a lot of it has to do with the characters being pro-active and attacking. Why is this a theme in your work?
Dan:
It's not deliberate. It seems to provoke dynamic stories. And there are huge consequences - as you'll see around about Guardians #17/18.
Coville:
With the War of Kings mini you guys are writing the main series. How involved are you on the spin off and related series being handled by other writers?
Dan:
Actually, we're doing it all. There are going to be cross-overs with Skaar etc, but the core book and the three major titles that tie into it: Nova, Guardians and Darkhawk, are all us. It should end up be a very tight, very focused event.
