JLA & THE KID: PETER MILLIGAN ON KID AMAZO

[MattBrady]

Sure, mantles are passed from heroes all the time, but what about the other side? The small fraternity of second-generation DCU villains (or…well, almost villains) grows by one in April with the hardcover JLA: Kid Amazo by Peter Milligan and Rob Haynes.

Yeah, that Peter Milligan writing the JLA, set in the DC Universe – without any kind of Vertigo caveat.

“In many ways, the fact that it’s not something that I would normally do holds the interest for me,” Milligan told Newsarama. “On first look, it might seem like something that’s pretty mainstream, but then I think what’s interesting is how you can play around with the expectations readers have. It’s not a straightforward JLA book, by any means. What I’m trying to do is have all the usual stuff that people who like the JLA in it, but also to play around in other things and explore other things that perhaps your average JLA book doesn’t explore.”

To get at those things that a normal JLA book doesn’t necessarily play in, you’ve got to go back to the start and work your way to the present. For Milligan, Kid Amazo started over coffee in San Diego with then-JLA editor Dan Raspler.

“My knowledge of the more arcane DC superheroes and villains is not as wide as that of others, and while we were talking about the Justice League, I mentioned that it would be fun if they came up against a villain who had all of their powers,” Milligan said. “Dan told me about the android Amazo, a villain with all of the powers of the JLA who rarely gets used. He’s made some bit appearances, but really isn’t explored too deeply, or for too long.

“I thought that was interesting, and as I started to think about it, the story came pretty quickly – the idea of a second generation Amazo, a character who not only has the powers of the entire JLA, but is more than his father – a character who can test the JLA in terms of their powers, but also what they are as a team in a way the father could not.”

While Amazo has made a few appearances recently, he’s rarely, as Milligan mentioned, been set up as a villain for too long. It’s a credibility thing, Milligan feels. “If he hung around too long, he’d surely defeat the JLA by foul means or fair,” Milligan said. “Usually, he just comes in, makes a quick appearance, gets defeated by some twist or extremely clever means, and is shuffled off again.”

“Kid Amazo” is the plan of both Amazo and his creator, Professor Ivo. Begun years earlier, when it became somewhat obvious to Amazo that some help in his perpetual battle against the JLA would be a good thing, the part-human, part android cyborg is a college student, a lapsed Catholic, and a student of existential philosophy and Frederick Nietzsche.

“The question of whether or not he will become Kid Amazon is an externalized way of dealing with the whole issue of free will and predestination,” Milligan said. “So in a sense, that’s what the story is about – his character exploring whether or not he is in fact, predestined to do certain things, or if he has free will.”

The fact that he’s able to question his destiny at all is due to the Amazo program kicking in earlier than planned, thanks to an earthquake. “So, from the start, the Kid Amazo project is up for grabs. Even Amazo and Ivo aren’t sure whether or not his discovery of who he is, under his human side means that the human side might win in the struggle for dominance.

“And it’s no small concern about who wins the battle for dominance. He has all these powers, and he’s also the perfect team, because all the powers are under the control of one mind, in one person, whereas the Justice League has all these powers, but they’re controlled by separate minds who have differing ideas on what should be done in any given circumstance.”

In a way Milligan could have never seen coming, the JLA is faced with a question similar to what will weigh heavily on the minds of voters in the United States in the coming presidential election – does a (in this case, literal) superpower have the right to eliminate a potential threat before said threat acts against them?

With Kid Amazo, it’s a coin-toss – thanks to his early activation and human side exerting control over the android side, the boy may grow up to be a tremendous power for good. Then again, he may embrace his “father’s” ways, join with him, and ultiamtley defeat the team.

“Of course, some members of the Justice League are keen to taking him out straightway, after all, here is a boy who could grow up to be their worst enemy, or even one day kill them all,” Milligan said. “However, batman and Wonder Woman, in particular feel that the Justice League has no right to stop him from living his life – he should be given the opportunity to become human if he so chooses. So that then becomes a struggle for them.

“A lot of the story deals with the internal conflict between the members and the growing threat this boy represents. You might be surprised at some of the team member’s reactions to the boy.

“All in all, it’s a lot of fun, but also about some interesting stuff – it questions the whole concept of destiny and predestination in a way that’s not just a theoretical debate, but rather in a way that has a lot of meaning for the team.”

The hardcover graphic novel will hit stores in early May.

[classicist]

Existentialism in the JLA... count me in. Though I'm amazed that DC didn't make it a Vertigo or an Elseworlds solely on reflex.

[mpg]

peter milligan rules!

[Warewolf]

Didn't like Haynes on Daredevil: Ninja and I don't like his stuff here. Count me out.

[Truthseeker]

I thought this would be a throw away project. Just DC crankin' out another JLA project to cash in... But after reading this, I am really intersted to the point where I may spring for the hard cover. This sounds like a very intellegent use of these characters.

[Mr. Riccelli]

Wow, I wish we had it now and did not have to wait the 2-3 months to read it. I cannot wait to read it. Should be a top of the stack book without a problem.

Milligan is doing awesome work on X-statix. He also had a fun Batman run about 10 years ago. (Mostly Detective, but a few Batman issues)

[Starpilot]

They should have just made this the next JLA story arc. Anything would be better than Chuck Austen on the book. As is, I won't buy this as a standalone mini-series. Just not enough appeal to earn my money.

[swol]

Even in a world of spandex wearing people with capes, this seems too out there for me.

A growing cyborg? Wouldn't parts need to be enlarged & such?

Just not getting into it...and the art doesn't do it for me eaither.

I pass.

[Fazhoul]

Let's see, artwork from the guy who did those horrible covers for Supergirl which, while they may not have contributed to her cancellation, they certainly didn't help things. Nope, not interested.

[kingofcities]

Can't wait for this book! Love Milligan, love Haynes. Definitely count me in.

Kent

[Patrick_Wedge]

I enjoy Milligan's stories and dialog and I find Rob Haynes art simply amazing. I was in it till I saw the price: $25 for a 96 page HC, that is a tad high for my liking. I hope they decide to come out with this in a SC format. They are both great creators but that is one high price!

Patrick

[blankpoint]

I've been looking forward to this one. Milligan's one of my favorite writers. I don't like Haynes' art too much, but it's not that bad either. I have a fetish for hardcovers, so I'll buy it like that, but whoever was asking -- not to worry, DC will put out a softcover, though it will take several months.

[Taylor Porter]

I haven't read a lot of Milligan's stuff, but I do consider X-Force/X-Statix to be the best Marvel book of the past several years (maybe more). And I think Rob Haynes' stuff looks great, not the kind of style that I would want to be everywhere, but it's nice to read a story by him now and again. I'm a pretty big JLA fan, too.

But I know I won't be buying this in hardcover. They just don't interest me, especially considering the price increase (even more substantial with Canadian prices).

I suppose I'll consider it when it comes out in softcover. By then, I'll probably have read some reviews and I'll have a better idea if it's the kind of book that's worthy of being on my shelf with the other JLA books. I'm not holding my breath too much, but it's definitely a book to keep my eye on.

[OcCaM]

I've put a cap for a couple more years on what I'll spend for 22 pages of art. That would be $3! Needless to say that if the JLA/JSA softcover with gorgeous Pacheco artwork can't entice me at $18, this warmed-over tale of growing up a robot wishing to be human story won't cut it!

Throw in artwork that is barely technically sound (and horribly garish to look at!) and I'll have to pass I'm afraid!

[Jacob W]

I love Milligan, his Enigma with Fegredo is one of my favorite works.

I usually wouldn't think about paying 40 bucks (canadian) for something in Hardcover that has so few pages. But Milligan's writing is so worth it.

[Loren]

Honestly, I get something of a 'been there, done that' vibe from this story, as it sounds awfully similar to Dan Curtis Johnson's story, "Average People," which was part of the JLA 80-Page Giant #2. And Johnson told his story in only 8 pages, plus it didn't cost anywhere near $25.

This isn't to say that Milligan's story won't be good, as it would seem to put a lot more depth into the concept, but it still strikes me as a recycled idea.

Loren

[matchesmalone]

Love much of Milligan's writing, esp. X-Statix, like Haynes' artwork...Won't pay $25 for a 96 page story. Won't even pay $18 for the softcover. Would pay $15, tops.

[amaraswen]

Looking forward to the trade. I'm glad of Milligan's current prolificness: the Punisher adaptation, the Punisher-Wolverine mini-series, now this JLA spin-off, and his continuing work on Marvel's best regular series and Vertigo's best idem.

[clerk976]

I'm down for Milligan wherever whenever. I didn't really know him before he took over X-Force, but that book blew me away. I've recently caught up on his Human Target mini's and those are thinking man's books with action. Thank you Vertigo for bringing the talent to us.

[DerekSykes]

This sounds like a great story. Artwork looks sweet too. Milligan certainly has a mind for interesting concepts.

To me, this sounds like the definitive study of the "pre-emptive strike" doctrine in the super hero genre so far. Waid's FF story was pretty good, but I didn't care for Kelly's JLA story at all. Applying the pre-emptive strike discussion to a new super-powered being sounds really cool.. and Milligan is certainly a writer who could do it justice. Looking forward to this!

Derek

[Lukecage_2099]

This is a really intriguing, if not entirely original, concept for a story. It has shades of what Grant Morrison might have come up with during his run on JLA. But the artwork doesn't peak my interest at all. I'll probably pass on this one.

[J.D. Lombardi]

This man is on EQUAL grounds when it comes to my love of writers, along with Grant Morrison. He is incredibly under-rated and I yearn for the announcement of DC wooing him back into the fold, exclusively....at least then he won't be censored like he was on Xstatix.

[Jeffbot]

This does sound interesting, but with the JLA's new story-arc format, couldn't this have taken place in the ongoing book? I doubt I'll spend the money for a hardcover.

[Johnny Triangles]

Originally posted by SimplyJD
This man is on EQUAL grounds when it comes to my love of writers, along with Grant Morrison. He is incredibly under-rated and I yearn for the announcement of DC wooing him back into the fold, exclusively....at least then he won't be censored like he was on Xstatix.

DC is owned by corporate media giant Time Warner, who have a lot of shareholders and advertisers to keep happy, much more than Marvel. Trust me, they'll censor just as quick as Marvel if need be (remember Mark Millar's constantly censored Authority?)

[hondo]

Peter Milligan is great but this does not move me.

More than that I don't like Rob Haynes art.

easy pass for me