Post by goldenfist on Dec 19, 2008 13:53:22 GMT -5
Since the fallout of Civil War, the superhero landscape in the Marvel Universe has changed dramatically. All heroes are now required to register their identities and submit to government training. A new generation of heroes found the superhero life to be much different than they had once imagined. The trials and tribulations of these new heroes have been chronicled in the pages of Avengers: The Initiative.
However, the Initiative is literally in shambles after the devastation in Secret Invasion. With Norman Osborn and H.A.M.M.E.R. now assuming control, the lives of these trainees are about to be shaken up once more. And is that Thor we see on those covers? What's up with that?
Recently we talked with Christos Gage about the future of this young series. Now that Dark Reign has begun, we took the chance to talk to him again and learn some more concrete details. Beginning with next month's issue #20, the Gage is crafting an arc called "The Initiative Disassembled." It looks to be as dark and foreboding for our heroes as it sounds.
Warning - This interview contains spoilers for Avengers: The Initiative #19, which hit stores yesterday.
IGN Comics: How soon after the end of the last issue does issue #20 pick up?
Christos Gage: A couple of weeks.
IGN Comics: What sort of state is the Initiative in following the battle? With the way the various teams were forced to demolish their headquarters to thwart the Skrull weapon, I imagine there's quite a bit of collateral damage to deal with.
Gage: A ton! As you mentioned, the state headquarters are mostly in ruins. There are a lot of casualties— both dead and wounded. Many more heroes are just returning from Skrull captivity, and facing varying degrees of readjustment. Camp Hammond itself is in disarray, with no clear leader and a new overall Director, Norman Osborn, whose agenda is very different than Tony Stark's. And after issue #20, things will be even more uncertain… that's when things get really bad.
IGN Comics: Crusader got a pretty bum rap when he helped save the world, only to be shot by 3-D Man. Is he going to go down in history as just another Skrull impostor, or will he get his proper due?
Gage: In issue #20, we'll see that there are significant differences of opinion over how to feel about Crusader… whose story might not be quite over yet, given how the last page of #19 played out!
IGN Comics: You've said that the first arc is titled "Initiative Disassembled." Is this a sign that Osborn is breaking down the organization?
Gage: A better question might be who isn't breaking down the organization? Osborn will be making some drastic changes, all right, but he's not the only one…
IGN Comics: How do the various recruits react to the shift in power? Will we see a lot of them vacating Camp Hammond for greener pastures?
Gage: Who says they have a choice? The Initiative operates under a military system—you don't get to just quit if you don't like your new commanding officer. There are options…you can ask for a transfer, or maybe retire if you've got enough seniority…but if you just leave, you're AWOL and subject to arrest. Even so, going AWOL might just start looking like the best option to some…
IGN Comics: As we saw when the Avengers themselves were "Disassembled," it was only a matter of time before they were reassembled in a new form. What can you say about the new form of the Initiative?
Gage: It will reflect its leadership. How's that for ominous?
IGN Comics: Now that H.A.M.M.E.R. controls the Initiative, are we going to be seeing a difference in the types of heroes that are being recruited?
Gage: That would depend on who's doing the recruiting… who is the "Skrull Hank Pym" of this new iteration of the Initiative? When "Disassembled" kicks off in issue #21, it's early on in the transition of power… Iron Man's picture on the wall at Camp Hammond is just being replaced with one of Norman Osborn, and we're hearing the early rumblings of change. By #25, you may no longer recognize the Initiative… if there's one left at all!
IGN Comics: The impostor Yellowjacket is dead, but what about the other instructors? Are the likes of Gauntlet or Justice going to be sticking around the book in this new regime?
Gage: That remains to be seen. The Gauntlet is a military man, used to following orders and rolling with the changes wrought by new administrations, but this is a whole new world he's about to face. It's interesting that you mention Justice, because he walked away from the Initiative in issue #12… but he'll be back, with the rest of the original New Warriors. The question is, have they come to save the Initiative, or bury it?
IGN Comics: One of the more interesting additions to the new Thunderbolts roster is Ant-Man, who has been a recurring character in this series. Will we be seeing his transition from trainee to Thunderbolt at all?
Gage: Yep, in #20. And who knows, he may pay his old buddies a visit one of these days…
IGN Comics: We're seeing a very Thor-like character on some of the upcoming covers. Is it safe to assume this is Ragnarok, the Thor clone? What is the extent of his involvement in the book?
Gage: It's very safe to assume that. Ragnarok has been in a suspension tube at Camp Hammond since Hercules bashed his head open at the end of the Civil War. Now he's out, back together again...and not very happy.
IGN Comics: Ragnarok has been pretty much dormant since the end of Civil War. What causes him to be reactivated now? Is it part of the new management taking over Camp Hammond?
Gage: No, it's a "parting gift" from the outgoing management...specifically, the Skrull Yellowjacket. Sort of a final fly in the ointment in case the Skrulls lost the war.
IGN Comics: How would you describe Ragnarok's personality? Does he actually believe himself to be Thor? Does he have a personality at all beyond liking to hammer things?
Gage: Yes, he genuinely believes himself to be the real Thor. But he's got all the haughtiness and arrogance of a god without any of the humility Thor learned while living as Don Blake. He can't understand why these inferior being don't bow down before him and worship him like they're supposed to. And as a very young being, he also, to a certain extent, is like a kid--a sociopathic, extraordinarily powerful kid whose tantrums break cities in half.
IGN Comics: Now that the real Thor is back, what are the chances of a full-on Thor vs. Thor battle?
Gage: Better than when he was dead!
IGN Comics: As you promised last time we talked, issue #20 is going to be the one that reveals the identity of Mutant Zero. How strong a role will she and the rest of the Shadow Initiative be playing in the near future?
Gage: The Shadow Initiative embarks upon a new and perilous overseas mission in issue #20… and it only gets more dangerous when S.H.I.E.L.D., the agency that dropped them off, gets disbanded before it can pick them up!
IGN Comics: This book has always had its share of drama, but it's not something I would describe as dark or gritty. Is it going to grow significantly darker now thanks to Dark Reign? Will it still appeal to readers based on the same qualities it has from the beginning?
Gage: Well, our first issue had a teenage kid get his head blown off, the Skrull War saw a hefty body count, and Steve Kurth called a scene with Tigra in issue #20 "the second most disturbing thing I've ever drawn", so while we may not be Punisher MAX, we're not The Hugga Bunch either (gotta love it when I can slip a Star Comics reference into an interview!).
I'd like to think that, while things may be getting darker in the Marvel Universe overall — and that will be reflected in the Initiative as much as, if not more than, anywhere else — longtime readers will still feel like they're getting the same book they've been enjoying for the past two years… even if the circumstances may be drastically changing. Pick up issue #21 and see what you think!
However, the Initiative is literally in shambles after the devastation in Secret Invasion. With Norman Osborn and H.A.M.M.E.R. now assuming control, the lives of these trainees are about to be shaken up once more. And is that Thor we see on those covers? What's up with that?
Recently we talked with Christos Gage about the future of this young series. Now that Dark Reign has begun, we took the chance to talk to him again and learn some more concrete details. Beginning with next month's issue #20, the Gage is crafting an arc called "The Initiative Disassembled." It looks to be as dark and foreboding for our heroes as it sounds.
Warning - This interview contains spoilers for Avengers: The Initiative #19, which hit stores yesterday.
IGN Comics: How soon after the end of the last issue does issue #20 pick up?
Christos Gage: A couple of weeks.
IGN Comics: What sort of state is the Initiative in following the battle? With the way the various teams were forced to demolish their headquarters to thwart the Skrull weapon, I imagine there's quite a bit of collateral damage to deal with.
Gage: A ton! As you mentioned, the state headquarters are mostly in ruins. There are a lot of casualties— both dead and wounded. Many more heroes are just returning from Skrull captivity, and facing varying degrees of readjustment. Camp Hammond itself is in disarray, with no clear leader and a new overall Director, Norman Osborn, whose agenda is very different than Tony Stark's. And after issue #20, things will be even more uncertain… that's when things get really bad.
IGN Comics: Crusader got a pretty bum rap when he helped save the world, only to be shot by 3-D Man. Is he going to go down in history as just another Skrull impostor, or will he get his proper due?
Gage: In issue #20, we'll see that there are significant differences of opinion over how to feel about Crusader… whose story might not be quite over yet, given how the last page of #19 played out!
IGN Comics: You've said that the first arc is titled "Initiative Disassembled." Is this a sign that Osborn is breaking down the organization?
Gage: A better question might be who isn't breaking down the organization? Osborn will be making some drastic changes, all right, but he's not the only one…
IGN Comics: How do the various recruits react to the shift in power? Will we see a lot of them vacating Camp Hammond for greener pastures?
Gage: Who says they have a choice? The Initiative operates under a military system—you don't get to just quit if you don't like your new commanding officer. There are options…you can ask for a transfer, or maybe retire if you've got enough seniority…but if you just leave, you're AWOL and subject to arrest. Even so, going AWOL might just start looking like the best option to some…
IGN Comics: As we saw when the Avengers themselves were "Disassembled," it was only a matter of time before they were reassembled in a new form. What can you say about the new form of the Initiative?
Gage: It will reflect its leadership. How's that for ominous?
IGN Comics: Now that H.A.M.M.E.R. controls the Initiative, are we going to be seeing a difference in the types of heroes that are being recruited?
Gage: That would depend on who's doing the recruiting… who is the "Skrull Hank Pym" of this new iteration of the Initiative? When "Disassembled" kicks off in issue #21, it's early on in the transition of power… Iron Man's picture on the wall at Camp Hammond is just being replaced with one of Norman Osborn, and we're hearing the early rumblings of change. By #25, you may no longer recognize the Initiative… if there's one left at all!
IGN Comics: The impostor Yellowjacket is dead, but what about the other instructors? Are the likes of Gauntlet or Justice going to be sticking around the book in this new regime?
Gage: That remains to be seen. The Gauntlet is a military man, used to following orders and rolling with the changes wrought by new administrations, but this is a whole new world he's about to face. It's interesting that you mention Justice, because he walked away from the Initiative in issue #12… but he'll be back, with the rest of the original New Warriors. The question is, have they come to save the Initiative, or bury it?
IGN Comics: One of the more interesting additions to the new Thunderbolts roster is Ant-Man, who has been a recurring character in this series. Will we be seeing his transition from trainee to Thunderbolt at all?
Gage: Yep, in #20. And who knows, he may pay his old buddies a visit one of these days…
IGN Comics: We're seeing a very Thor-like character on some of the upcoming covers. Is it safe to assume this is Ragnarok, the Thor clone? What is the extent of his involvement in the book?
Gage: It's very safe to assume that. Ragnarok has been in a suspension tube at Camp Hammond since Hercules bashed his head open at the end of the Civil War. Now he's out, back together again...and not very happy.
IGN Comics: Ragnarok has been pretty much dormant since the end of Civil War. What causes him to be reactivated now? Is it part of the new management taking over Camp Hammond?
Gage: No, it's a "parting gift" from the outgoing management...specifically, the Skrull Yellowjacket. Sort of a final fly in the ointment in case the Skrulls lost the war.
IGN Comics: How would you describe Ragnarok's personality? Does he actually believe himself to be Thor? Does he have a personality at all beyond liking to hammer things?
Gage: Yes, he genuinely believes himself to be the real Thor. But he's got all the haughtiness and arrogance of a god without any of the humility Thor learned while living as Don Blake. He can't understand why these inferior being don't bow down before him and worship him like they're supposed to. And as a very young being, he also, to a certain extent, is like a kid--a sociopathic, extraordinarily powerful kid whose tantrums break cities in half.
IGN Comics: Now that the real Thor is back, what are the chances of a full-on Thor vs. Thor battle?
Gage: Better than when he was dead!
IGN Comics: As you promised last time we talked, issue #20 is going to be the one that reveals the identity of Mutant Zero. How strong a role will she and the rest of the Shadow Initiative be playing in the near future?
Gage: The Shadow Initiative embarks upon a new and perilous overseas mission in issue #20… and it only gets more dangerous when S.H.I.E.L.D., the agency that dropped them off, gets disbanded before it can pick them up!
IGN Comics: This book has always had its share of drama, but it's not something I would describe as dark or gritty. Is it going to grow significantly darker now thanks to Dark Reign? Will it still appeal to readers based on the same qualities it has from the beginning?
Gage: Well, our first issue had a teenage kid get his head blown off, the Skrull War saw a hefty body count, and Steve Kurth called a scene with Tigra in issue #20 "the second most disturbing thing I've ever drawn", so while we may not be Punisher MAX, we're not The Hugga Bunch either (gotta love it when I can slip a Star Comics reference into an interview!).
I'd like to think that, while things may be getting darker in the Marvel Universe overall — and that will be reflected in the Initiative as much as, if not more than, anywhere else — longtime readers will still feel like they're getting the same book they've been enjoying for the past two years… even if the circumstances may be drastically changing. Pick up issue #21 and see what you think!