Newsarama has spoken to writer JM DeMatteis before about his upcoming new Spectre ongoing series with artist Michael Zulli for DC…a number of times in fact. But in all our previous conversations, there was one very important aspect of the title DeMatteis couldn’t speak on – specifically who the Spectre’s new human host would be…But as of last Wednesday’s release of Day of Judgment #5, the cone of silence has been lifted, so we caught up with the writer to get the first complete preview and comments on his upcoming plans.
Said DeMatteis, re-explaining the premise of the title now that he can talk about the identity of his protagonist, “The series is a journey of discovery for Hal Jordan…a man in desperate search of personal redemption - but who finds himself frustrated, and overwhelmed, by the fact that he has to achieve that redemption through the medium of the Spectre, the Spirit of Wrath. For all his faults this guy was a hero's hero. Now he's being asked to fry men's immortal souls. It's quite a leap.”
“As I may have noted before, the first year is going to be an evolution - as Hal - who, in the beginning is NOT in full control of the Spectre powers, its more like they control him - learns to master the Spectre...even as he questions his role AS the Spectre. Each storyline will advance Hal's understanding and alter our conception of who and what the Spectre is. By the end of the first year, both Hal and the Spectre will be in a place VERY different from where they started.”
Asked whether readers should consider this a true Spectre series, or more of a next-phase-in-the-life of former Green Lantern Hal Jordan, DeMatteis split the difference down the middle. “Both,” said the writer. “Hal Jordan IS the Spectre now...not Green Lantern. His Spectre adventures and his inner journey will be inextricably linked. In some ways he's not even the Hal we knew, having gone through a fall from grace, death, and resurrection (which can really change a guy). But the series will be VERY character driven...and Hal is one of the oldest and greatest characters in the DCU.”
DeMatteis admits to being “thrown” when he first learned of DC’s plans for Hal Jordan, but the creator inside soon began to consider the possibilities. “Part of me, the part that grew up with Hal, would've been happy to see him remain the pure, untainted GL forever,” DeMatteis said. “But being who I am...and gravitating toward the kinds of psychological/spiritual tales that I love to write...how could I pass up a chance to chronicle Hal's journey to redemption? (A journey, I might add, that will ultimately have repercussions not just for Hal...but for the human race…he said cryptically.) The fact is, Hal is now a far more multi-layered and fascinating character than ever.”
Finally, when asked how he felt about the whole "controversial" aura surrounding Hal over the last 6 years, and whether or not he expects Hal loyalists to accept this development, DeMatteis replied, “Who knows what readers will think? That's up to them, isn't it? What Dan Raspler (series editor), Michael Zulli, and I want to do is create a book that is intelligent, emotional, thought-provoking...and fun! We want to bring in wild storylines, a mix of new and old villains, super-hero action and supernatural weirdness. In the end, all we can do is do our best. Let the readers make what they will of it. (But I do hope they enjoy it!)”
DeMatteis expects the series to debut very early in 2000.