Q1. Firstly, what comics have you worked on in your writing career? And which were your favorites?
JR: Honestly, I've been all over the place. I honestly can't recall all of them, but the one's I'm particularly proud of are --
London's Dark GN,
Grendel Tales: Four Devils, One Hell,
67 Seconds GN,
Illegal Alien GN,
Legends of the Dark Knight: Blades,
Terminator: One Shot,
The Golden Age,
Starman (also Batman/Hellboy/Starman),
The Vigilante Mini Series,
Firearm,
The Legends of the Dark Knight Annual where I worked with Russ Heath),
Witchcraft (first mini series),
Leave It To Chance,
and an unpublished adaption of Goethe's Faust for First Comics Classics
Illustrated series.
Q2. How did your Starman series come about?
I'd wanted a monthly series and had my eye on Starman. The Will Payton one was still being published and I inquired about taking that over. Then when it was canceled, Archie Goodwin got it for me.
I had intended to do the whole Starman lineage thing with Will Payton. Then when he was killed off, I created Jack Knight, someone closer to me in character.
Q3. What sparked your interest in JSA? Have you always been a fan of theirs?
I have always been fascinated with the Golden Age. I'm old enough to remember Earth One and Earth Two and the annual JLA/JSA crossover. And I loved the first couple of years of Roy Thomas's All Star Squadron.
It was a logical progression that upon entering comics, I'd gravitate towards those characters.
Q4. What was the genesis of the "JSA Returns" skip week event and how did you enjoy writing the original team?
I guess it started with David Goyer and my intent to create a new JSA series. At the same time, I had a JSA Year One idea: I still mull over whether I should have discarded it. The two combined into the concept of a big golden age JSA event to kick off the new modern day version.
Q5. How did the new, ongoing JSA series develop?
It was something people had talked to me about prior, but which I'd shied away from. Then when I became friends with David Goyer, his enthusiasm pushed me over the top. I agreed to do it with him.
Q6. How receptive was DC to the idea of a new JSA series, given the spotty editorial treatment the JSA received in the 90's?
By the time we broached it, DC had begun to realize there was genuine interest in these characters. They were far more open to the idea. Especially with the team being mainly new, young characters.
Q7. How did the original concept for JSA you pitched to DC, change and evolve into the current monthly?
The book, for as long as I was involved, stayed pretty true to what we intended. I believe it's still that way, with Dave and Geoff sticking pretty much to their intent for the series.
Q8. How did the first story-arc develop, and how was the decision made to focus on reviving Doctor Fate?
It just came out of the ether, like many ideas. We fell in love with the idea of bring Hector Hall back, and that further kept our enthusiasm going for those four issues.
Q9. Did your Elseworlds miniseries "The Golden Age" influence how you wrote the original JSA in the "JSA Returns" skip week series and the new JSA in their series? If so, how?
Not really. It's no secret that when I first wrote the series it was intended as real continuity. To that end, I've tried to tie it into Starman in as much as I refer to Ted Knight's mental problems. However, it's long enough ago, that JSA stayed pretty far away from that.
Q10. Do you have a favorite JSA character to write? And a least favorite?
I like all the characters. I do enjoy focusing on the smaller, less known characters. I enjoyed writing Mr. Terrific and Hawkgirl and Johnny Thunder.
Q11. How was the new JSA roster determined? Were there characters you wanted to include originally who you later decided to leave out?
We included all the surviving JSA still operating. We added all the logical additions we could. We did feel that the first issues were a bit crowded and that's why Dr. Mid-Nite was added later.
Q12. You have a knack for taking old second-tier villains and really making them into interesting characters and threats - the Shade and Ragdoll in Starman, Mordru and Stalker in the JSA books - what was it about those mostly-forgotten characters that spoke to you and convinced you to develop them?
Honestly, I do it because it's easier. There are a lot of blank slates floating around the DC Universe. All you need do is take the character and give them real emotions, not just a costume and power. Any chimp could do what I do.
Q13. If JSA had begun earlier in Starman's run, would the storylines of the two series have been more interwoven, or would you have preferred each series stand more-or-less on their own?
No, had I started JSA earlier, Jack and the JSA would have interrelated a lot more. It was unfortunate that Jack was in space and then went straight into Grand Guignol when the JSA started.
Q14. Given that the entire comics world is holding its collective breath waiting to see what happens with the X-Men movie, do you have any interest in seeing Starman translated onto film, as either a movie or television project?
I'd love something like that. However Starman is owned by DC who in turn is owned by Warner Brothers. They're very picky about what characters they develop to film. For that reason, I don't see Starman: The Movie happening anytime soon.
Q15. Similarly, do you think the JSA could translate well onto film as either a live-action or animated project?
I think it would make a cool animated movie, if Dini and Timm got their hands on it.
Q16. Have you been surprised at the overall success of JSA and Starman?
I hoped Starman and my voice on the book would be well received. It's never sold like Preacher of Sandman or any of the other creator-driven books that are off to the sidelines. However, it's got it's core readers and sales have held pretty much where they are for a while, with other books slipping in sales all around it. For that I'm grateful.
Q17. Do you have any plans to return to write JSA in the future, either in an ongoing capacity, or for an occasional fill-in?
No plans to return to the JSA for the foreseeable future.
Q18. As your Starman series winds to a close, what can we look forward to in the final issues?
Jack eulogizes the dead from Grand Guignol.
The final Talking with David.
1951.
Then adios.
Q19. Any plans to return to Starman in the future? Either through one-shots, or mini-series'?
Yeah, Tony Harris and I talked about the color Starman project recently. We'd both like to do it. We're still ascertaining whether DC has any interest.
Q20. What other comics will you be working on, after the end of Starman? Any chance of seeing the Seven Soldiers of Victory, Elongated Man, or any Starman supporting-cast characters again?
If I one day had the time, I'd love to do Ralph Dibny, who's my second favorite silver age character after Hawkman (Adam Strange is my third favorite.) Geoff (Johns) and I talk about working on something involving the Seven Soldiers of Victory, but I don't know if that's really realistic.
Many thanks to James Robinson for taking part in this exclusive interview for "JSA Returns!". I am personally very appreciative to James for taking time out to answer these questions, considering his busy schedule, and I wish him best of luck for the future.
Hope you all enjoyed the interview!
Petar
JSA Returns - http://zap.to/jsa