Dan Slott talks about the series

[The Night Phantom]

Comic Book Resources has an interview with Dan Slott in which he discusses the series. He talks about the first several issues in a fairly non-spoilerific way, dispensing a few facts but keeping the juicy parts under wraps.

[Tana Nile]

Not a bad interview. I have to say I'd rather see them focus on already established C list type heroes than a bunch of newly-created characters. But there may be something to interest me here - providing I can get past my distaste for state-controlled supers.

[The Night Phantom]

In my experience, Slott tends to give good interviews when promoting his upcoming work. I can sense his excitement, the joy of a person who feels he’s been given a fantastic opportunity and is happy that it’s turning out even better than he dared expect. And as I alluded above, I usually feel well-informed about whatever project he’s talking about—enough to have a solid idea of the concept and the direction and the tone, while still facing enough mystery for plenty of pleasant surprise. Of course, it helps that I’ve read some of his other work and am getting to know his style. I have a little more trust in him than in comics writers generally.

One quote from the interview that stuck out in my mind is this, about the registration question:

"I can see how both people have their sides," Slott said. "Neither side is right or wrong. We could argue this all day and to me that creates interesting stories. So, one of my goals with ‘The Initiative' is to keep that going.[”]

That has been the hope I’ve been holding out. I’ve questioned the morality (often via legality—the two occasionally coincide!) and some of the practical logic behind the SHRA, and I’ve also had issues with the storytelling craftsmanship that has been put forth in the Civil War series and various tie-ins. But my stance has not been that one cannot tell good, entertaining, even thought-provoking stories with the basic SHRA premise in place. Is the SHRA here to stay? I don’t know. My guess is that within a few years, it’ll either go away or at least undergo some important modifications. Whether the situation changes or not, the SHRA isn’t perfect. But imperfections breed conflict, and conflict is the heart of good storytelling. It’s fine by me if the SHRA stays for at least a little while if it lays the groundwork for interesting stories.

[Doctor Doom]

Perhaps this can FINALLY clear up the "Who controls the Initiative!!!" Thing. We thought it was SHIELD< then we thought it was CSA, now this is indicating it's the "Department of Superhuman Armed Forces" but SHIELD have input etc. Still, I doubt they could get far without clearing this up.

[balok]

"Department of Superhuman Armed Forces" ought to make *every* other country in the Marvel Universe worry. Right now, we in the United States have a president who regards the opinions of other world leaders as unimportant, so why should the Marvel Universe be different?

[Doctor Doom]

Balok, no offence intended but that's a pretty stupid statement from a smart guy.

That's like me saying "Right now relations between the US and Iran are nearly at breaking point so why should the Marvel Universe be any different!"

The answer is simple: It's a fictional universe. Did they even go to Iraq in the Marvel Universe? I'm not sure, and it's not simple. Besides, if we use history as a precedent what this means isn't "Everyone! TO WAR ON THE US!" It's "Let's make our own." And in many cases, that makes sense. It's evolution. It's the way things go. It happened with cavalry, the gun, air forces, the atom bomb. It's not necessarily a bad thing.

[balok]

docdoom said:

The answer is simple: It's a fictional universe.

Sure. But they've been struggling to make it more realistic over the past several years. Hell, that's what the whole SHRA is about: moving away from the idealism of trusted heroes towards the gritty realism of a world like Straczynski's Squadron Supreme, where there's no way in the world the government would permit such powerful people to operate except under its control (unless it had no choice, as eventually happened with Hyperion - and it still strove mightily to regain its hold over him, eventually enlisting the services of what amounted to an evil version of him).

If Marvel wants their universe realistic, then they have to present realistic reactions to the Fifty State Initiative. The very least of which would be a superheroic arms race. Because "Department of Superhuman Armed Forces" strongly implies that the Fifty State Initiative might be deployed elsewhere in the world. Maybe that's not their intent, but that's the way world leaders are likely to read it.

It also makes me wonder what rights the members of the Fifty State Initiative would have to refuse such a deployment. Certainly members of the armed forces cannot do so without consequence. What happens if the US decides it needs to exert superhuman power to bring a foreign nation into line, and members of the FSI disagree? Can they retire, or will they be sent to the Raft to think it over?

[Doctor Doom]

...Surely, Balok, that's EXACTLY the type of question this book was created to address?

[Tana Nile]

I was disappointed, but not at all surprised, to see that the US has every intention of deploying supers overseas -and in fact already has, as this issue starts with Gauntlet in Iraq.

Looks like Marvel is heavily 'real world' now.

[The Night Phantom]

docdoom said:

The answer is simple

docdoom said:

...Surely, Balok, that's EXACTLY the type of question this book was created to address?

Then you should refrain from dictating your answers.

[imperiusrex]

I haven't read it yet and I like Dan Slott, but after reading the interview he did I just shake my head.
Like when he points out that the cops wouldn't move out of the way of a guy in a white suit who believes he's the chosen avatar of an Egyptian God.
Is that your biggest problem with comics?
Really?
Really?
Sure about that?
How about the fact that the Human Torch couldn't talk when he uses his power because he's burning any incoming oxygen?
How about that Tony Stark can achieve supersonic speed with one inch wide jet thrusters?
How about that gravity says that no one could safely grow to the sizes that Goliath and Giant Man et al do without being crushed by their own weight?
If I put my mind to it I have a million other problems with comics.
Once you start playing that game it just gets truly and honestly ridiculous.
If you can accept that the Sandman can be scattered into a million different particles and reform himself even if blown across the Sahara desert despite no longer having anything that resembles a cerebral cortex, why can't you accept that people would react somewhat differently with the existence of superheroes?
To me it's the least of the impossibilities...
Personally if I see a guy appear from out of nowhere and jump down the side of a building from fifteen stories up and he says "I can handle this," I might be inclined to give him a shot. Of course that's not really the modus operandi of heroes like spidey and moon knight. They would go in furtively which Slott glosses over to make his point.
Cap (R.I.P.) would make the contact with the police and most marvel universe denizens would be amazed by the idea.
of course no one wants to see Ghost Rider in a hostage situation, but that kind of conflict between hero and the other chivalrous forces is what makes the story work sometimes.
I just think they're spending way too much time worrying about realism and not enough about emotion. the emotion is what brings you back to the table.
Still don't care about anything that's happened in the MU and that's a failing. fans are angry about Cap dying, but not like they were when jean Grey died.
they cared when jean died.
And the one thing I notice from fans and staff of the current MU is they don't lament any of the decisions; it's all "this is great, it opens story possibilities."
That just doesn't sound like an emotional connection or resonance. It's very analytical.
Much like spending all your time saying why these stories are more realistic...

[balok]

Clearly Gyrich has all kinds of uses in mind for these folks, that go beyond dealing with villains and suchlike. Given that it's Gyrich, some or many of those uses will be unethical.

When this all melts down, will it bring on the very crisis Mr. Fantastic supposedly calculated? Because when the government starts using superpowered types unethically, and when that eventually gets out, people are going to trust them *a whole lot less* than they did even after Stamford. Stamford was an accident. Sending superhumans to torture prisoners (as there's little doubt Gyrich intends to do with Trauma) or engage in other dodgy behavior would be something actually *planned and executed* by the authority of the United States government. Which is worse? Perhaps the inhabitants of the Marvel Universe will be called upon to answer that question.

And if they decide against the government, will the superhuman soldiers be called on to "restore order?" What would that do to Reed's predictions? We can only wonder.

Knowing what he knows, someone like The Thinker could probably devise a dozen ways to make the Initiative fail. Starting with exploiting the psychological weaknesses of all those C-list heroes, playing them against the limits of their training. Sooner or later, someone will make a lethal mistake. With the right folks working together, it could be broken and the principals behind it made to look very foolish.

[Nutcase65]

As soon as Red shows up you know that things are gonna be stifling. I never really liked his character, but you're not supposed to like his character.

The only thing is, Gyrich is the consumate Beauracrat, with him involved, I'm surprised that the training is so rushed.

[Doctor Bong]

I kinda liked his character when Johns wrote him like he was on his way to redemption, back when Cap named him the Avengers liason with the UN & he helped the Falcon & Cap undercover the plans of Dell Rusk (AKA the Red Skull)...

[Doctor Doom]

balok said:

When this all melts down, will it bring on the very crisis Mr. Fantastic supposedly calculated?

Well I'm going to say "No" seeing as how they're not going to wipe out hte population of Earth.

Knowing what he knows, someone like The Thinker could probably devise a dozen ways to make the Initiative fail. Starting with exploiting the psychological weaknesses of all those C-list heroes, playing them against the limits of their training. Sooner or later, someone will make a lethal mistake. With the right folks working together, it could be broken and the principals behind it made to look very foolish.

Yes.

And of course I'm absolutely certain there is no way on Earth Reed Richards, who is smarter by a foot than any villain save Doom, would possibly try and prevent that.

[Nutcase65]

Ahhhh, but Doom, right now Reed is completely hands off, isn't he? He's making a true effort to patch up his marriage and it seems like he has left this for his partners to handle. and I don't blame him.

[balok]

It's difficult to see how to kill Reed, given his powers make him close to invulnerable, but I'll bet you could render him ineffective by killing Sue. She can't keep her force shield up all the time and she hasn't got a Spider-sense. A sniper could take care of her easily.

Since we're trying to be realistic and all.

[Alchemist-X]

Yeah what is the status of Reed after all of the CW stuff? I mean he isn't on the FF anymore right? I don't read that book so I don't really know where he ran off to.

Anyone know what the deal with that is.

[Nutcase65]

as of right now he is exactly where he should be, making up with Sue.

[Doctor Doom]

One word answer to where Reed is: Titan.

But I'd be 100% certain there's an "emergency contact number" type of thing where Tony can reach him.

[Nutcase65]

If Tony calls Reed for anything short of Armegeddon, and Reed comes back, Sue needs to take his head off with a force bubble.

Reed isn't needed right now.

Several of us don't like the direction Marvel has take with many of our heroes. This is one area I just want fixed. Reed and Sue have to get it together.

[Doctor Doom]

Absolutely, but we were dealing with an armageddon situation, no?

...Does Hulkmageddon count?

[balok]

Is McDuffie cutting to Titan at all, or is it simply assumed that Reed and Sue are there trying to rebuild their marriage?

[Doctor Doom]

He will be cutting there, yes.