Q1. Firstly, what have been the main comic series that you have worked on in your career? What were your personal favourites (if any)?
JO: Well, I've been at it 17 years so I'll miss some. Memory loss, y'know. :) It started with a back-up in WARP (from First Comics) featuring a character called Sargon, Mistress of War. Later, I took over STARSLAYER and then I created GRINJACK* along with Tim Truman. (That's where Mandrake and I eventually worked together as well for the first time -- on GrimJack.)
I plotted LEGENDS over at DC, took over and wrote FIRESTORM, created and wrote the new SUICIDE SQUAD*, wrote and co-wrote WASTELAND* (with Del Close on some of the stories). I did
the HAWKWORLD ongoing series as well as THE SPECTRE* and later THE KENTS* for DC. Over at Marvel I did three BISHOP related miniseries, an X-Men/Brood two parter, HEROES FOR HIRE*, and assorted other gigs including the recent BLAZE OF GLORY*. I'm currently doing MARTIAN MANHUNTER* at DC plus some other upcoming
projects including a STAR WARS* story. (Those with the * attached are among my faves.)
Q2. Regarding your 64-issue run on the Spectre (including #0 and the Annual), how did that series originally come about? What instigated the creation of volume III of The Spectre?
Tom had come in during my last year of FIRESTORM; in fact, I stayed on the book because Tom came aboard. At first, it looked like they were going on with
Firestorm after I left and Tom opted to stay; then they changed their minds. Tom is TOO easy to work for me NOT to work with him and I started to sniff around to see what character was available. As soon as we heard THE SPECTRE might be, we laid claim. Tom really wanted to do him as well.
Why? Because, and this will sound like hubris but it is true, we felt we knew how to make him WORK. The Spectre had always done well as a guest star or a plot device but most people said you couldn't have him in his own book because, frankly, he was too powerful for anyone to pose a meaningful threat to him. The
only way to have him in his own book, they said, was to reduce his powers. I objected to that -- the Spectre's abiltiies provided the visual, what I call the iconic imagery, that MAKES the character. That's what the reader WANTS to see.
Q3. Was the choice to stop with #62 your decision, or was it because of other reasons (perhaps from DC itself)? And why?
Our decision and DC went along with it, including deciding to end the series with our departure rather than ask someone else to take it over at that time. Sales were starting to drop (as they will with almost any series that has been out there that long) and we wanted to end the series while it was still strong and while we had the room to play it out our way. We just felt it was time. We knew the ending pretty much from early on in the series and it was just time.
Q4. Also, in The Spectre Annual #1, you teamed him up with Dr Fate. Considering these two characters are recognized to be DC's top two magical icons, why were there not more Spectre/Dr Fate team-ups (at least in your Spectre series)?
Dr. Fate had undergone a lot of changes at that time and I was more interested in the original version than the later one. And, to be honest, not at all with the Jared Stevens FATE character..
Q5. If given the opportunity, would you be interested in writing a sequel to the Spectre/Dr Fate story in The Spectre Annual #1?
Probably not. With one exception, which I'll discuss below, I don't intend to return to the Spectre. I had my run, I had my say -- for the most part, all I could do now is mess it up.
Q6. I noticed the JSA received several cameos in the afore-mentioned series - what is your personal opinion of the original superhero team? And would you have liked to have included them more?
Well, as I think shows, I'm very fond of the original super-team. I think the story that really got me hooked ages ago on the JSA was the Secret Origin story told, if memory serves, by Paul Levitz and Joe Staton. Heck, over the years I've even gotten very fond of the characters I originally thought were too goofy for words -- like Johnny Thunder and T-Bolt, or Mr. Terrific.
Q7. You created the new Mr Terrific, Michael Holt - correct? So why did you choose to introduce a new Mr Terrific, as opposed to a new Hourman, or Dr Mid-Nite, or Atom?
There WAS a new Hourman at that time, and there was an Atom in the JLA, and I don't think Dr. Mid-Nite had died at the time. I was struck, in re-reading the origin of Mr. Terrific, at how PERTINENT the character and the situation actually was, if you put him in the inner city and made him African-American. Everything seemed to apply. It seemed so natural to me. And it gave me the chance to tie-up that loose end from that JLA/JSA team-up where Terry Sloan was killed.
Q8. And do you hope to use the new Mr Terrific in a story/comic at any future point?
I might. There's noises of him being in the JSA right now so i want to give them that opportunity first. JSA always has first call on Mr. Terrific, in my book.
Q9. One more question about your Spectre series: did you deliberately leave any loose ends that you hope to tie up in the future?
No. Our intention, when we were done, was to walk away and not look back.
Q10. Moving onto your current DC title, Martian Manhunter, upcoming previews have stated that the new JSA will be appearing in the March and April issues. What can you tell us about their appearance?
Well, it's the new, current roster and J'Onn is called in by Black Canary, Dr.Fate, and Guardian to run a training exercise with the team. They're all good fighters on their own but they need to learn to fight as a team. Unfortunately, one of their members gets taken to Apokolips and J'Onn and the JSA follow to get them back.
Q11. J'onn J'onnz has never really associated with the JSA in any way (apart from the old JLA/JSA team-ups), so it seems surprising that they be included in his comic. What are you feelings on this, and whose choice was it to include the JSA?
The decision to include the new JSA is because we think they're HOT and we wanted a chance to play with 'em, too! And you don't KNOW everything about J'Onn's past. Yet. Actually, he and Black Canary were part of the original JLA so they have a natural connection there.
Q12. Is there a possibility that you would ever 'link' your Martian Manhunter series with the Spectre series? For e.g. through the police/detective connection that is prevalent in both books?
It's not a possibility. It's going to be a fact. We're doing a series of issues called REVELATIONS in Martian Manhunter that are going to tell stories about J'Onn between the time he landed on Earth and the start of JLA: YEAR ONE. Other stories will play with Superman, early Batman, Green Lantern Abin Sur -- and one will deal with the Spectre. John Jones, detective, and Jim Corrigan, detective, and two characters with a lot of green involved in them. Think readers might be interested? :)
Q13. What do you think of the new JSA (roster and comic), and are you looking forward to writing them in your book?
I'm enjoying the book tremendously and I hope I've done them enough justice in the team-up in our book. I've already written it so my work is done. You guys will have to tell me how I've done.
Q14. As you would know, Hal Jordan is the new Spectre. What are your feelings on this decision? Would you have preferred they bring back Corrigan instead, if given the choice?
I'm fine with Hal being the Spectre, as a concept. I really didn't want Corrigan returning and I said that. I'll be interested to see how it works out and I wish the new team all the luck in the world. I had my fun and they should have the chance to have their fun.
Q15. Finally, what are your comic plans for the future? Would you also like to continue working with Tom Mandrake?
As Spectre was drawing to a close, I offered him his freedom, telling him I would understand if he preferred to work with someone else for awhile. He gave me a fish-eyed look and told me, "Oh no. You don't escape me THAT easy. I have
you broken in just right." Which is pretty much how I feel. Working with Tom is TOO EASY. I can't AFFORD not to work with him. It goes so smooth that I don't work as hard. Nope. Won't give him up. Nope nope nope. (This really bugs Dan Mishkin but -- nyah nyah, Dan! :) )
Other plans? Things are warming up. I've got a four part story in the STAR WARS monthly coming up, starting with issue 19. It's called TWILIGHT, it's a mystery, it has some new characters, and the penciller is JAN DUURSEMA who is doing some KICK ASS work! Jan is not only talented, not only professional, but she's also a Star Wars GEEK and brings a level of enthusiasm to the stuff that you can't believe. Best work of her career, really cool characters, and a damn fine story if I DO say so myself! (We'll preview one of the new characters in a 10 pp story that is out in STAR WARS ANTHOLOGY # 3 (I think) out in March (I think).)
I'm doing the BATMAN ANNUAL this year with Jim Aparo and Sal Buscema. There's a new character there as well called THE BOGGART. Also coming up, some JLA one shots and a possible miniseries. Can't say more right now.
And, as always, more things cooking on the stove.
Good talking with all of you.
All the best
-- John Ostrander
Many thanks to John Ostrander for taking part in an interview for "JSA Returns!". Mr Ostrander was certainly very helpful, and generous, as can be seen in his responses, and I wish him the best of luck with all his upcoming projects, as well as his current ones (Read Martian Manhunter!)
Petar G
JSA Returns - http://zap.to/jsa