It’s been a long time coming, but Marvel is finally dipping their toes into the original graphic novel market, in a big way. The line – dubbed “Season One”– will retell heroes’ origin stories for a modern audience, in a stand-alone book format. In April of 2012, writer Antony Johnston and artist Wellington Alves will present their take on Daredevil, the Man Without Fear. And we chatted exclusively with the team about the book, why their Daredevil is great for new audiences, and also got the chance to show off some brand new art:
MTV Geek: Let’s talk about Daredevil: Season One... First off, how’d you end up on this project?
Antony Johnston:I was wrapping up my stint on DAREDEVIL, co-writing with Andy Diggle during the Shadowland story, when Marvel asked if I was interested in doing something else with DD, but a bit different. When they explained the purpose of the SEASON ONE books, I was intrigued -- I’m a big advocate of books for people new to the medium -- and said yes.
Geek: Antony, you have a lot of experience writing both monthly series, and graphic novels... What experience was D:S1 more like? Or was it its own animal?
AJ: DAREDEVIL: SEASON ONE is kind of in-between. On the one hand, sure, it's a graphic novel. But on the other, it's beholden to existing continuity, and we’re still telling the story in issue-length chapters. So it's not that different to writing a miniseries, and I've done plenty of those.
Geek: For both of you: what’s your take on Daredevil?
AJ: He's pretty unique. Unlike many other heroes, he struggles with the notion that he even is a hero, often wondering if the good he does outweighs the trouble his life as DD causes to those around him. And while his abilities and powers are no longer so unique as they once were, the way he uses them -- and especially the way they relate to his personal life -- still sets him apart from others.
What I'm trying to do here in SEASON ONE is look at his philosophy on heroism, and how that develops from the rather naive hero DD starts out as, to the more seasoned and experienced crimefighter we all know and love.
Wellington Alves: Well, I think DD is real super hero, he fights against his enemies only with his mind and feelings, this makes him unique, cool and different from the other heroes that have a lot of power, but without feeling.
Geek: And what, in general, is the idea of the graphic novel?
AJ: Quite simply, we're re-telling the very first adventures of DAREDEVIL, as originally seen in DD #1-6, but in a modern style and setting -- being faithful, without being slavish. And I'm using those adventures as a framework to delve into Matt’s psyche a little, as he learns to become a hero.
Geek: How much of the process was looking back at the original stories? Did you use them as an outline, reference, or bible? Or not at all?
AJ: That was a major part of the process; we’re using those original issues as the template for the whole plot, and sticking fairly close to them. Now, that doesn't mean we’re not changing some things here and there. But the broad strokes follow the original continuity very closely, so we've paid close attention to those first DD comics.
WA: At the beginning of this book, we used a lot of things from the original stories; mainly on first two “issues,” we are using the old costume and a lot of situations we had on the first few issues of DD.
Geek: As a bit of a follow up, I think the general idea is that it’s the original origins, but updated for a modern audience. What does that mean? (I mean, I know what it means, but what does that mean to you, and how did it affect the story?)
AJ:Honestly, it doesn’t affect the way I’m approaching the story by a huge amount. We've emphasized the storytelling, and clarity, so that people who don't know DD’s history already can follow along without getting lost.
And of course some of the character dynamics are changed in small ways. Karen Page isn't treated like quite such the “little woman” that she was in the originals. Some of the villains’ attitudes and methods are more modern.
But they’re fairly minor points. It's not like suddenly everyone’s checking their Facebook at work while DD tweets from the rooftops, you know? The problem when you do that kind of stuff is that you might be contemporary this year, but next year you'll look just as outdated as the kipper ties and homburgs of those books from the Sixties. So the core of the character, and his adventures, is essentially the same.
Geek: I noticed he’s in the original, yellow costume... For Wellington, can you talk about what that look brings to the table?
WA: Yes, we kept the old yellow costume! This is very important because he created DD using the colors from the boxing robe from his father. Also, we are doing the style of art more realistic and cool.
Geek: Visually, is there anything you took away from the original stories? Anything from more modern takes, like Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martin’s work on the currently running series?
WA: No, I try to do a realistic art, but I don’t use anyone as reference for my pages, we want to keep the art more realistic and dramatic, exploring Matt’s feelings. And in these stories, DD is always happy; smiling and jumping up at buildings, and he likes this. Nothing like new DD, where the artists use a lot of shadows on the art, and DD looks sad.
Geek:We’ve got Owl, Purple Man, and Mr. Fear in this book – why those villains? Why do they represent the perfect foil for young Matt Murdock?
AJ: It's not so much about the villains, it's about what their stories reveal of Matt himself. The Owl makes Matt realize he's falling in love with Karen Page. The Purple Man helps Matt understand that his powers are unique, and maybe he is cut out for the hero biz after all. And Mr. Fear challenges Daredevil’s very philosophy; how does a Man Without Fear deal with a man who induces terror in everyone he meets?
Geek: With three villains, it seems like this book might be more episodic; or does it all tie into one larger story?
AJ: Both. We follow the episodic nature of the originals -- even though it's a GN, I'm writing it in comic-length chapters -- but not every story point is going to match 1:1 with the original comics. We’re also adding our own story that spans the arc of the book, in-between the gaps as it were. And that story deals with Matt’s emotional development.
Geek:How about the law side of things? Are we going to see him lawyering it up as much as superheroing it up? Those are both words, by the way.
AJ: The law is important, yeah. And where they clash -- upholding the law to get justice, while breaking it to get results -- is where Matt finds himself, and his friends, in the most danger.
Geek: It seems like this is going to be the more swashbuckling, Errol Flynn type Daredevil, rather than the moody Daredevil. Is that correct?
AJ: A little, but not too much. Remember, we’re doing this in a modern style, for a modern audience, so we’re not going to be too goofy.
But this is definitely a happier DD than we've seen for the past ten years or so; much more in tune with what Mark is doing on the main DAREDEVIL series right now, actually.
Geek: What’s the mission statement for this book? And I assume that if this does well, it’s left open for a book two?
AJ: The mission statement is simply to re-tell the original stories, with a modern feel. As for DAREDEVIL: SEASON TWO, you'd have to ask Marvel about that. Nobody tells me anything.
Geek: Though these books are going out to the comic book audience, there’s a clear push here to try to get the general bookstore audience, as well. Did that affect – for either of you – how you approached the story? Or does it always come down to, “Do the best job you can?”
AJ: “Do the best job you can” is never a bad mantra, for any book. But yeah, I'm certainly writing with an awareness that people with no prior knowledge of DAREDEVIL will be reading. And Wellington is doing simple, clear layouts for the same reason.
Geek: For non-comic readers, what will sell them on this book?
AJ: Hopefully they'll see that this, and the other SEASON ONE books, are an entry point into these characters, and this universe, that lets them start fresh; no prior experience needed.
And the same goes for comics readers who just haven't read any DAREDEVIL before. You can start here and read the very first adventures of the character, in a way that'll introduce and set up DD’s status as you see it in later books.
Geek:And for comic book fans who say, “Come on, I’ve seen this a million times already!” why should they pick it up?
AJ: Because the chances are they *haven’t* seen this a million times already. Not many modern readers have actually read the original DAREDEVIL stories, and they probably never will -- because like it or not, those old issues are pretty hokey. So here's a chance to read the same adventures, but without feeling like you have to make allowances for nostalgia.
Geek: Anything else you want to plug while I have you?
AJ:My miniseries SPIDER-ISLAND: THE DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG FU is starting right now, a new series starring Shang-Chi The Master of Kung Fu, and anyone looking for head-kicking martial arts action should check it out! And of course I always point people to WASTELAND, my ongoing post-apocalyptic epic from Oni Press. There’s more info, and a free preview, of that at http://www.thebigwet.com/
WA: I think this is a great opportunity for the old and new readers to see DD origin, but from a new way; his deep feelings, his loves and fears, in an art style different that we hope everyone will like.
Daredevil: Season One arrives in bookstores and comic shops April 2012
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