TALKING MIDNIGHTER, FOUR HORSEMEN WITH GIFFEN

[MattBrady]

by Vaneta Rogers

When Keith Giffen left the Blue Beetle title earlier this year that he co-wrote with John Rogers, he said he was trying to "clear space" for something he was going to be doing in the future for DC Comics.

Soon after that, Countdown was announced, and when Keith Giffen was named as the layout guy for the weekly title, it seemed to most comics fans that this was the reason he was "clearing space."

Wrong.

With August's solicitations, DC revealed that Keith Giffen is also writing two new projects for the publisher. He's the new ongoing writer on the Wildstorm title Midnighter as of issue #10, and he's got a new six-issue mini-series called 52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen (a mini-series that was incorrectly solicited as a one-shot, according to Giffen).

While the new Four Horsemen mini picks up on some threads from the weekly series 52, for which Giffen also did layouts, his work on Midnighter will continue an ongoing that was launched in November 2006 by writer Garth Ennis with artist Chris Sprouse. Since Ennis finished his Midnighter run with Issue #6, the title's had a series of guest writers, including Brian K. Vaughn, Christos Gage and Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray. When Giffen takes over the title on Issue #10, the series will keep Chris Sprouse as penciller.

Newsarama talked to Giffen about the Midnighter series, what attracted him to the Authority character and where the series will go from here, as well as getting an early idea for what he's doing with Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman in his Four Horsemen mini-series.

Newsarama: Wildstorm, huh? How did you get the job as the new writer on Midnighter?

Keith Giffen: [Editor] Scott Dunbier called me and asked me if I'd be interested in taking over the Midnighter book as of Issue #10. And I thought about it for... oh... five seconds and went, OK!

NRAMA: So you're an Authority fan?

KG: I've been after Wildstorm for a long time to give me a crack at The Authority. I like the group, and I think there are so many big stories you can tell with them. Every chance, I'd say, "Give me Authority!" Every chance: "Give me Authority!" And when they called with Midnighter, I thought, well, I got one-sixth of it!

NRAMA: Is Midnighter one of the characters that was appealing to you in the team?

KG: I liked the entire team, but Midnighter was interesting to me because I never quite understood his power. He gave a speech and kicked ass. You know? But the idea of somebody who faces you down, and two seconds after meeting you, knows how to defeat you? That's kind of intriguing. Just playing around with that will be interesting.

And playing around with a character that is just Midnighter. The first time we saw him, he was with Apollo. And we found out that when Bendix recruited them, by saying their names, they got their powers and their pasts were erased. And no one's ever gone back beyond that point. I know how he got the power and all, but his personality wasn't altered. And you have to ask yourself, what kind of guy is this who, when he became Midnighter, he loved it? He loved the killing! Where did all of that come from? And nobody's really gone back beyond that point.

NRAMA: So does that mean you're going to go back beyond that point in the series and explore his unknown history?

KG: Yeah. I'm going to have Midnighter get more than a little curious about where he came from, and see if he can go home again.

NRAMA: And we'll find out some of his past that was secret before?

KG: Yeah. You'll find out some of those secrets, but keep in mind that nothing is ever as it seems. Midnighter is going to go back and try to understand who he was and what it was about his past that made him into the man he is today. But it's been my experience that answers don't always line up in a neat little row.

One of the things I liked with Midnighter was that I tried my best to pull him back from The Authority. Batman is Batman and he happens to be a member of the Justice League. But Midnighter was always "Midnighter the member of The Authority," an extension of the Authority book. And I want to try to pull him a little bit away from that and see if the book can stand on its own without a constant Authority presence coming in, or without that kind of feel that Midnighter is an extension of the Authority book.

NRAMA: You're taking over Midnighter as of Issue #10, so it already has a set-up and style, and you're keeping the same artist. Is it going to have pretty much the same feel as the first nine issues?

KG: I doubt it. I think each individual writer brings a different feel to it. Look at Garth Ennis' stuff and then the stuff that Christos [Gage] is doing. It's the same basic character, and the same tone, but the feel of the book is a little different because each writer brings something different to the table.

NRAMA: But as you come on board, is there a conscious effort to go in a different direction from what we saw in the first storyline?

KG: No. Midnighter is still Midnighter. I'm not going in and going, "Oh, I'm going to change this character around completely!" No. I may be dead set against continuity, because I believe it hamstrings creativity, but I'm a big fan of consistency.

NRAMA: Consistency in characterization?

KG: Yeah. Which means, you know, certain characters act certain ways. Like Superman's got to cry.

NRAMA: [laughs] Oh, no.

KG: No, no, no, no, no. Kidding, kidding, kidding. No more biting the hand that feeds me. [laughs]

NRAMA: Poor Superman. Guy's had a rough life.

KG: Yeah, but just because you're a nice guy doesn't mean you wear your feelings on your sleeve. I mean, enough, enough, enough.

NRAMA: [laughs] Alright, turning back to Midnighter, you're working with artist Chris Sprouse on this series, right? Has he started drawing from your scripts?

KG: Yes. Chris Sprouse is drawing Issue #10 and #11, and he's just terrific. Chris is one of those professionals who has always been up front about the fact that he's not the fastest guy in the world, and he will have to be spaced every so often on the monthly gigs. So I believe he's on #10 and #11, then #12 will have a new artist, then it will be Sprouse again after that, working with whoever else we need to add to the mix to keep the book going as the deadlines warrant.

So what I'm trying to do is tell stories that are kind of complete in one issue, but the subplots carry on.

NRAMA: That makes sense when you've got artist change-ups like that. And you've got something else coming out in August, right? That 52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen comic -- is that a one-shot?

KG: No, it's a six-issue mini-series.

NRAMA: What can you tell us about that?

KG: Not much. Not yet. But I can tell you I'm pretty excited about it. It's a continuation of some of the ideas that came out of 52, and it involves The Four Horsemen, Oolong Island, and the big three: Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

NRAMA: You playing with characters on Oolong Island sounds like a hoot. But, Keith, they're letting you play with the big three?

KG: Yeah, go figure! But you know, my take on those characters is that we've always heard about what close friends they are and that they've been friends for a long time. Sometimes it doesn't feel that way. And I really want to get into the characters and show that these really are the kind of people who can finish each other's sentences, who can go into combat and not have to yell orders at one another. I mean, if Bruce Wayne puts on the bat mask and tries to cop an attitude, Superman's going to go, "Will you knock it off? I've seen you naked."

NRAMA: [laughs] It sounds like you're going to have fun with this one.

KG: Yeah, I can't really talk about it yet, but I'm very pleased with how it's turning out. And of course Pat Olliffe is on the art. He was one of the artists who really helped pull 52 together near the end, and now he's not having to do it on that weekly crunch, so we have a little bit more time to play around with the pages. So yeah, The Four Horseman is a project that I'm really excited about doing.

NRAMA: Two new projects in August, on top of your work doing layouts on the weekly series Countdown and your work on the Annihilation mini-series for Marvel, as well as a few independent projects you've always got going. We've got to assume these new August projects are why you left Blue Beetle. But you drop one comic that you co-wrote and you add two solo projects? Not exactly an even trade. What's up with that?

KG: I like to keep busy. I like to keep busy. But the Midnighter thing? I plan to keep playing that out until they throw me off the book.

[jvm125]

glad to hear this book is a mini instead of a one shot....really looking forward to it.

[Duke Jupiter]

I'm guessing Giffen's not too far off from a DC exclusive deal, judging by the slew of upcoming projects he has for the company. And if he already has that deal...good for him.

Of course, if he still has a chance to play with the Marvel characters, that's a good thing, too.

- DJ

[rorschach_42]

Glad their doing somehting with the Horsemen.

[chapped]

It's good to see that Midnighter has a regular writer again.

I'll miss Ennis, but with Giffen in the waiting I'm on for the long haul.

[Kevin T. Brown]

All sorts of goodness coming from Giffen this summer.

Andyes, he might as well be exclusive with this amount of work for DC!

[Sean Walsh]

Garth Ennis' MIDNIGHTER was fun...........but Keith Giffen's MIDNIGHTER frightens my soul.

In a good way.

[RadioSavage]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Soon after that, Countdown was announced, and when Keith Giffen was named as the layout guy for the weekly title, it seemed to most comics fans that this was the reason he was "clearing space."

Anyone know why Giffen isn't being credited for layouts in Countdown like he was for 52? I haven't noticed his name inside either of the first two issues.

[ColourMan]

I'm worried about Giffen on Midnighter. He's too old school compared to Ennis and the others who have handled Midnighter and the Authority.

He's also responsible for the version of the Justice League I despise more than anything....I hope Midnighter doesn't turn into a joke.

Also not a fan of the "done in one" format.

[larkinja]

Originally Posted by RadioSavage

Anyone know why Giffen isn't being credited for layouts in Countdown like he was for 52? I haven't noticed his name inside either of the first two issues.

I believe there was a scheduling conflict with the last few issues of 52 that didn't allow him to do layouts for the first few issues of Countdown. I believe his layouts will start soon.

[ColourMan]

Originally Posted by RadioSavage

Anyone know why Giffen isn't being credited for layouts in Countdown like he was for 52? I haven't noticed his name inside either of the first two issues.

Because he was finishing up 52 when production on Countdown began. He'll be credited starting in the next few weeks.

Or just listen to larkinja.

[Ye Olde Iowa]

I've never read any Midnighter (though I did pick up #7 because its supposed to be BKV's last mainstream superhero work), but I'm seriously considering it knowing that Giffen is in on it!

[jmcl89]

The Horsemen definitely went down too easy, given all the buildup in '52'. So it's good they are doing more with that. And good to see Midnighter's in good hands.

[Arion]

Originally Posted by jmcl89

The Horsemen definitely went down too easy, given all the buildup in '52'. So it's good they are doing more with that. And good to see Midnighter's in good hands.

Good news, indeed.

[Black Beetle]

Giffen on midnighter? That sounds like fun.

[joe.perez]

deleted

Where's my Hero Squared?

[whitemarkd]

I couldn't care less about the Horsemen, but the Big Three angle has me sold - my wallet would rather it were a one-shot, though!

[DeTroyes]

Darn. I was hoping he'd say that his next project was going to be Doom Patrol, not Midnighter. He's been campaigning to do DP for almost a year now...

[Spaz_Monkey]

Four Horsemen??? SWEET!!! I can't wait to see if Keith goes for the original Horsemen, or if it's the Ric, Barry, Arn & Tully years.

Just for god's sake, NO PAUL ROMA!!!
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What? Wrong Horsemen?
He's writing the comic characters, not the wrestlers? dammit, i should really learn to read the story before commenting on it.
Well, uh, that's pretty cool, too, I guess.

No seriously, That should be awesome!

[God-Man]

Sweet, the Four Horsemen comic is a mini series!

[BornToRun]

If Superman doesn't cry in the 52 Aftermath series, I'll be sorely disappointed!

[BillReed]

No. I may be dead set against continuity, because I believe it hamstrings creativity, but I'm a big fan of consistency.

I love you, Keith Giffen.

[ColourMan]

Originally Posted by BillReed

I love you, Keith Giffen.

That's actually a strike against Giffen in my book.

[I.M.C.]

Glad to see the Four Horsemen back. After all that buildup they went down faster than some vacinations that I've had. And they're going up against the big three to boot. Always loved Oolong Island, reminded me of a William Shatner sized version of the Trio from Buffy. That whole concept would've worked so well the JLU animated series so sweetly let me tell you.

[richstanz]

Originally Posted by Duke Jupiter

I'm guessing Giffen's not too far off from a DC exclusive deal, judging by the slew of upcoming projects he has for the company. And if he already has that deal...good for him.

Of course, if he still has a chance to play with the Marvel characters, that's a good thing, too.

- DJ

I don't know, in the past he's always said that exclusives weren't his thing - he never wanted to be tied down to just one company. True, once Annihilation wraps up, he won't have any Marvel work in the pipelines, but I'm glad that, at the moment, he is available to take on any project at any company.

I'm really digging this renaissance of Keith Giffen - he's been so active in the past few years, more than I was accustomed to.

Originally Posted by DeTroyes

Darn. I was hoping he'd say that his next project was going to be Doom Patrol, not Midnighter. He's been campaigning to do DP for almost a year now...

You know, Midnighter is the little book-that-could to me. Wildstorm's relaunch definitely hit a few bumps along the way. And while Authority and Wildcats hit major delays, and Gen13 and Wetworks just weren't connecting, Midnighter has been trudging along as a great book. It uses its characters really well.

At first, I was bummed to see Ennis leave because I was worried it would lose all of its stability, which is one thing it had over half of the WS books. Giffen coming on is the perfect match to me. Its chance to see him write a monthly - not connected to big event, not co-written by anyone else. Its a chance for him to go nuts.

That being said, I would love a Giffen Doom Patrol.