Post by goldenfist on Mar 15, 2008 9:43:58 GMT -5
Here's an interview with Chris Yost on the Runways/Young Aveng
ers Secret Invasion crossover.
IGN Comics: Let's run through the basics – what's the premise of SI: Runaways/Young Avengers, who's the artist, when does it hit stories and how long is it?
Chris Yost: As we've seen in books like New and Mighty Avengers and the Illuminati, the shape-shifting aliens and long time enemies of Earth's heroes known as the Skrulls are up to something big and nasty.
And as it happens, two of Marvel's premier 'teen' teams - the Runaways and the Young Avengers – each have a Skrull as one of their members. Xavin and Hulkling, respectively.
The teasers for Secret Invasion ask the question: 'Who do you trust?' And that question applies nowhere better than in this series. Takeshi Miyazawa is on board to draw Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers, a 3 issue mini-series starting in June.
IGN Comics: Given the relationship to Secret Invasion, does this tie into a particular moment or sequence within Secret Invasion? Will this be filling in gaps of time during the event itself?
Yost: SI:R/YA #1 begins in the pages of Secret Invasion #3, and goes from there in its own direction. But as events in the main series unfold, the kids are impacted in bigger and bigger ways.
The Young Avengers are right in the thick of things, and are in more trouble they realize. And trust me, they're in big freaking trouble just on the surface.
The Runaways are dealing with the same event, but things go differently for them – and in some ways, much much worse. This is a team that's wracked with trust issues to begin with. Let's just say this series isn't going to help them.
IGN Comics: What do you see as the major similarities and differences between these two teams, and how do they compare to a group like the New X-Men?
Yost: All three teams are heroes, but they're all coming at it from a different way. The YA team is the most classic example, they're following in the footsteps of the Avengers, trying to make a real difference in the world. The New X-Men similarly are training to be the next generation of X-Men, sworn to protect a world that hates and fears them (not to mention just surviving it).
And the Runaways are trying to erase the footsteps of their parents, trying to right the wrongs of their evil heritage.
The great thing about the teen teams is that they're young – they're going to make mistakes, they're going to let their emotions get the best of them. They're raw, they're idealists. They haven't been jaded like some of the older heroes.
IGN Comics: You, along with frequent collaborator Craig Kyle, are notorious for killing children with explosive buses, cyborgs, religious extremists and any number of other wicked means. Any plans for that level of violence in this series? Might it be possible both teams make it through with their rosters intact?
Yost: Things get bad, I won't lie. Really, really bad. But a lot of the blame can be on Bendis for this one. He's the evil mastermind here. But I do lean towards action, and this mini, this whole event will have that to spare.
IGN Comics: Is it at all less interesting for you as a writer to work on an event like Secret Invasion since you have to work within established parameters for both story and character? Is it challenging to make a story feel relevant since readers can often determine if a character is needed elsewhere and therefore is not in jeopardy within your series?
Yost: There are definitely challenges in working between the scenes, but hey – that's why 'Back to the Future II' was so awesome. And trust me, there's plenty of leeway here. Nick Lowe was all like, 'You can't kill Molly,' but then he heard the idea. So now he's on board.
This story is extremely relevant to both Runaways and Young Avengers, and by the nature of the event and the inclusion of members like Xavin and Hulkling. They're Skrulls. Can they be trusted?
Quite frankly, no.
IGN Comics: How do the Skrulls view each of these teams, particularly their Skrull members? Are Xavin and Hulkling beneath the notice of the empire or do they serve some greater purpose?
Yost: Neither Xavin nor Hulkling is beneath the notice of the Skrulls. Xavin was a Super-Skrull in training. Hulkling is the son of the Kree Captain Marvel and a Skrull, and there's a prophecy involving him and the future of the Skrull Empire.
For good or bad, the Skrulls know both. But the question is, what do Xavin and Dorrek know? I mean, 'Hulkling.'
IGN Comics: Despite similarities with Tony Stark's Initiative, we've never seen the Runaways or the Young Avengers directly interact with that crew – will your series be looking at that dynamic?
Yost: Both the Runaways and the majority of the Young Avengers are fugitives. Theoretically, the Initiative (of whom former Young Avenger 'Stature' is a member) would be hunting them. This series will not be touching on that, given the awfulness that's coming.
IGN Comics: Are creators Brian K. Vaughan or Allan Heinberg involved with this series at all?
Yost: Yes, in the sense that the incredible pressure of writing these amazing characters is with me every day. Brian and Allan have created these kids that are so loved, so fully realized flesh and blood people, that it's been a joy to think about screwing this up. Thanks, guys!
IGN Comics: Both the Runaways and Young Avengers series seem to be very good at standing on their own, attracting readers who don't want or don't need to gather more books from the Marvel Universe. Is this mini-series going to be accessible for fans of either series looking to follow these characters?
Yost: Accessible and mandatory! Much like the Civil War mini that first brought the two together, we're shooting for it to be readable and enjoyable by anyone, but of course if you know the history, you get more out of it. At the end of the day, it's a political action thriller filled with betrayal, desperation and teen spirit (or at least it smells like it).
IGN Comics: Takeshi Miyazawa is a bit of a departure from the typical Runaways and Young Avengers artists. What do you feel he brings to the books, and can fans expect the same style as Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane or is Takeshi altering his style for this more superhero-centric story?
Yost: Takeshi drew four issues of Runaways including the introduction to Xavin in Runaways, so he 's no stranger to the kids or Skrulls. Just imagine SMLJM with more exploding, blood, and chaos. Seriously, Takeshi is amazing, and really brings across the youth and movement of the characters. And honestly, given the backdrop, I love it. It makes the badness all the more jarring when it happens.
IGN Comics: Anything else you'd like to add about Secret Invasion: Young Avengers/Runaways at this point?
Yost: Both teams are heroes, they've seen and done so much in such a short time. They've done incredible things. But this is different. This is a fight they can't win, because they've lost before it even begins.
media.comics.ign.com/media/142/14240850/img_5359643.html
ers Secret Invasion crossover.
IGN Comics: Let's run through the basics – what's the premise of SI: Runaways/Young Avengers, who's the artist, when does it hit stories and how long is it?
Chris Yost: As we've seen in books like New and Mighty Avengers and the Illuminati, the shape-shifting aliens and long time enemies of Earth's heroes known as the Skrulls are up to something big and nasty.
And as it happens, two of Marvel's premier 'teen' teams - the Runaways and the Young Avengers – each have a Skrull as one of their members. Xavin and Hulkling, respectively.
The teasers for Secret Invasion ask the question: 'Who do you trust?' And that question applies nowhere better than in this series. Takeshi Miyazawa is on board to draw Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers, a 3 issue mini-series starting in June.
IGN Comics: Given the relationship to Secret Invasion, does this tie into a particular moment or sequence within Secret Invasion? Will this be filling in gaps of time during the event itself?
Yost: SI:R/YA #1 begins in the pages of Secret Invasion #3, and goes from there in its own direction. But as events in the main series unfold, the kids are impacted in bigger and bigger ways.
The Young Avengers are right in the thick of things, and are in more trouble they realize. And trust me, they're in big freaking trouble just on the surface.
The Runaways are dealing with the same event, but things go differently for them – and in some ways, much much worse. This is a team that's wracked with trust issues to begin with. Let's just say this series isn't going to help them.
IGN Comics: What do you see as the major similarities and differences between these two teams, and how do they compare to a group like the New X-Men?
Yost: All three teams are heroes, but they're all coming at it from a different way. The YA team is the most classic example, they're following in the footsteps of the Avengers, trying to make a real difference in the world. The New X-Men similarly are training to be the next generation of X-Men, sworn to protect a world that hates and fears them (not to mention just surviving it).
And the Runaways are trying to erase the footsteps of their parents, trying to right the wrongs of their evil heritage.
The great thing about the teen teams is that they're young – they're going to make mistakes, they're going to let their emotions get the best of them. They're raw, they're idealists. They haven't been jaded like some of the older heroes.
IGN Comics: You, along with frequent collaborator Craig Kyle, are notorious for killing children with explosive buses, cyborgs, religious extremists and any number of other wicked means. Any plans for that level of violence in this series? Might it be possible both teams make it through with their rosters intact?
Yost: Things get bad, I won't lie. Really, really bad. But a lot of the blame can be on Bendis for this one. He's the evil mastermind here. But I do lean towards action, and this mini, this whole event will have that to spare.
IGN Comics: Is it at all less interesting for you as a writer to work on an event like Secret Invasion since you have to work within established parameters for both story and character? Is it challenging to make a story feel relevant since readers can often determine if a character is needed elsewhere and therefore is not in jeopardy within your series?
Yost: There are definitely challenges in working between the scenes, but hey – that's why 'Back to the Future II' was so awesome. And trust me, there's plenty of leeway here. Nick Lowe was all like, 'You can't kill Molly,' but then he heard the idea. So now he's on board.
This story is extremely relevant to both Runaways and Young Avengers, and by the nature of the event and the inclusion of members like Xavin and Hulkling. They're Skrulls. Can they be trusted?
Quite frankly, no.
IGN Comics: How do the Skrulls view each of these teams, particularly their Skrull members? Are Xavin and Hulkling beneath the notice of the empire or do they serve some greater purpose?
Yost: Neither Xavin nor Hulkling is beneath the notice of the Skrulls. Xavin was a Super-Skrull in training. Hulkling is the son of the Kree Captain Marvel and a Skrull, and there's a prophecy involving him and the future of the Skrull Empire.
For good or bad, the Skrulls know both. But the question is, what do Xavin and Dorrek know? I mean, 'Hulkling.'
IGN Comics: Despite similarities with Tony Stark's Initiative, we've never seen the Runaways or the Young Avengers directly interact with that crew – will your series be looking at that dynamic?
Yost: Both the Runaways and the majority of the Young Avengers are fugitives. Theoretically, the Initiative (of whom former Young Avenger 'Stature' is a member) would be hunting them. This series will not be touching on that, given the awfulness that's coming.
IGN Comics: Are creators Brian K. Vaughan or Allan Heinberg involved with this series at all?
Yost: Yes, in the sense that the incredible pressure of writing these amazing characters is with me every day. Brian and Allan have created these kids that are so loved, so fully realized flesh and blood people, that it's been a joy to think about screwing this up. Thanks, guys!
IGN Comics: Both the Runaways and Young Avengers series seem to be very good at standing on their own, attracting readers who don't want or don't need to gather more books from the Marvel Universe. Is this mini-series going to be accessible for fans of either series looking to follow these characters?
Yost: Accessible and mandatory! Much like the Civil War mini that first brought the two together, we're shooting for it to be readable and enjoyable by anyone, but of course if you know the history, you get more out of it. At the end of the day, it's a political action thriller filled with betrayal, desperation and teen spirit (or at least it smells like it).
IGN Comics: Takeshi Miyazawa is a bit of a departure from the typical Runaways and Young Avengers artists. What do you feel he brings to the books, and can fans expect the same style as Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane or is Takeshi altering his style for this more superhero-centric story?
Yost: Takeshi drew four issues of Runaways including the introduction to Xavin in Runaways, so he 's no stranger to the kids or Skrulls. Just imagine SMLJM with more exploding, blood, and chaos. Seriously, Takeshi is amazing, and really brings across the youth and movement of the characters. And honestly, given the backdrop, I love it. It makes the badness all the more jarring when it happens.
IGN Comics: Anything else you'd like to add about Secret Invasion: Young Avengers/Runaways at this point?
Yost: Both teams are heroes, they've seen and done so much in such a short time. They've done incredible things. But this is different. This is a fight they can't win, because they've lost before it even begins.
media.comics.ign.com/media/142/14240850/img_5359643.html