Q1. Firstly, what are your thoughts on the JSA? Were you always a fan of theirs?
LEN: I discovered the JSA in the JLA/JSA crossovers during the Silver Age. I immediately liked the idea of older versions of the heroes I was reading. I've always had good personal mentors, so the idea of mature, experienced super-heroes was cool to me.
Q2. What comics have you worked on over the years?
Lessee...from the beginning...QUEST FOR DREAMS LOST, an independent jam charity comics edited by Brian Augustyn which was my first work with Mike Parobeck. SPEED RACER and DAI KAMIKAZE for NOW Comics. PHANTOM LADY in Adventure Comics, FLASH, STARMAN and JSA for DC Comics. THE FLY and THE WEB for DC/!mpact Comics. PRIME, PROTOTYPE, ELEVEN, for Malibu/Marvel Comics. ARCHIE SUPER-TEENS for Archie. TERROR TOTS and some stories for NEGATIVE BURN at Caliber. Maybe more...it's hard to remember.
Q3. How did the 1991 JSA series come about?
The JSA mini-series set in the 1950s was proposed to me by Mike Gold and Brian Augustyn as a way to provide some drawing work for artists slated to work on !mpact books. I re-fell in love with the characters.
Q4. Was this series received well by fans, and DC alike?
Fans liked the 1991 series and most DC editors ignored it.
Q5. And what about the 1992 series? What's the story behind that?
(After the 1991 series,) Brian and I proposed the 1992 continuing series set in the present. Mike Parobeck worked with me on THE FLY and also on the mini-series, and the 1992 series was created with him in mind. He designed the look of all the characters for the series.
Q6. And was the 1992 series well-received?
Fans universally loved the 1992 series and DC editors hated it because they (as a group) had convinced themselves that no one was interested in older heroic characters. History has proved them wrong, of course.
Q7. The promo poster for the 1992 JSA pictured all the JSAers in the series PLUS Johnny Quick and Liberty Belle. Were there plans for those two in the JSA's future?
You betcha. Johnny Quick did appear, of course, and I planned for Liberty Belle to appear later as a wealthy, but reclusive woman living in Philadelphia, resigned to an inactive old age. The JSA, notably Jay and Alan, would be instrumental in getting her out of her shell.
Q8. According to JSA: Secret Files (1999), Johnny Quick became a member of the JSA, as of the 1992 series. What is your opinion on the situation of his membership?
I think he deserved it. And for him, it would be the ultimate recognition of his own career, since he was always a tremendous fan of the JSA in their prime years. It would be a lot like getting to be pals with the personal heroes of your youth. I had that experience a bit when I was later invited to work on the Malibu Ultraverse with Steve Gerber, Steve Englehart and Mike Barr whose comics I enjoyed before I became a pro.
Q9. Regarding the lineup of the 1992 series, why were characters such as Dr Fate, Power Girl or the Star-Spangled Kid not included? Were there plans to have them appear in the future?
No special reason not to include them. Dr Fate would have shown up eventually. Power Girl and Star-Spangled Kid never interested me much.
Q10. Storyline-wise, what did you have planned for the JSA, had your 1992 series continued?
Since the series was cancelled the same time as the first issue shipped and I was limited to wrapping it up by #10, I had no formal plans for more stories. The more I planned, the more heart-broken I would've been.
Q11. Did you enjoy working with the late Mike Parobeck? And do you know why/how he was chosen to be artist?
Mike was my favorite artist. He could take my scripts and infuse them with humor, surprise and vitality. He was chosen by Brian Augustyn who literally discovered Mike from a tip by our mutual friend Willie Schubert. Mike's death from complications of diabetes and an eating disorder was a tragedy. I miss him deeply and while I enjoyed working with other artists, especially Norm Breyfogle on PRIME, Mike was the best. After he died, my interest in comics declined tremendously.
Q12. Some fans have stated that Mike's JSA work was "too cartoony". Personally, I thought it fit perfectly, but do you have an opinion?
As noted above. He was brilliant and his style is now the most copied style in comics. Among others, DC Executive Editor Mike Carlin said Mike's work was not appropriate for super-heroes and that was one reason why the JSA series was cancelled. Carlin also said he didn't like my writing. He was mistaken.
Q13. Have you read the current JSA series, by David Goyer and Geoff Johns? If so, what is your opinion?
I haven't read it and probably will not. It would be unfair, I think, to do so. If it is really good, I'd be jealous. If it is really bad, I'd be angry. If it was mediocre, I'd be sad. I've met the creators and they seem like bright, creative, young guys. I am sure they are doing as well as their editors allow them.
Q14. Does Len Strazewki have any 'untold tales' of the JSA left in him? Or did you write any JSA stories that have been finished, but not published?
There are always untold tales to be written. But I have not scripted any.
Q15. Finally, if given the opportunity, would you ever (want to) write a JSA mini-series, or one-shot?
I guess--but only if I was invited to do so by an appropriate DC editor. I don't work on spec and don't really do proposals. With the exception of a few springboards I have been asked to write by artist friends, I haven't submitted a proposal in a few years and I'm generally not seeking comics work. I'm a full-time journalism professor at Columbia College in Chicago and write for newspapers (Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune) and magazines--usually about business and technology. I also do some consulting for publishing and venture capital companies on technology applications.
Many thanks to Len Strazewski for answering questions for this interview. Len's 1992 series is looked upon very favourably by fans, and it was that particular series that spring-boarded my own interest in the JSA so thanks again, Len. We hope to see you again in the JSA's future.
If anyone has any questions/feedback for Len, you can e-mail him at: LeonardS10@aol.com
Petar G
JSA Returns - http://zap.to/jsa