SDCC '07: TERRY MOORE/HUMBERTO RAMOS NEXT RUNAWAYS TEAM

[MattBrady]

by Vaneta Rogers

Ever since it was announced that Joss Whedon would take over Marvel's ongoing Runaways series for six issues, fans have been wondering who his successor might be. Now Marvel has revealed at the traditional Cup 'O Joe panel at Comic-Con International that the new Runaways writer beginning sometime in 2008 will be Terry Moore, who will be joined by Humberto Ramos on pencils.

Moore is best known as the writer/artist on his award-winning, self- published title Strangers in Paradise, a black and white comic that detailed the adventures, laughs and loves of Katchoo, Francine, and David, and which finished earlier this year after an almost 14-year run.

Marvel announced that Moore has also been given a Marvel exclusive as he takes over as writer on not only Runaways, but -- as we found out in June (http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=116749) -- a relaunched Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane title.

Runaways began as an off-the-beaten-path comic back in 2003 by creators Brian K. Vaughn and Adrian Alphona, but the series has steadily grown into a mainstream Marvel superhero title with an expanding fan base, particularly since it was relaunched in 2005 with a new #1 issue. The series focuses on a group of teenaged heroes who inherited powers -- or in some cases, powerful gadgets -- from their parents, whom they discovered were evil supervillains belonging to a crime organization called The Pride. Not wanting to follow in their parents' footsteps, the kids have been battling evil and fighting for good in their hometown of Los Angeles ever since they defeated The Pride and, in the meantime, their now-deceased parents.

As Moore prepares to take over the title, he talked to Newsarama about the Marvel exclusive, his gig on Runaways and where he thinks he might take the series from here.

[note: this interview was conducted before Humberto Ramos was the confirmed series penciler]

Newsarama: How did you get this gig, Terry? Was it one of those things that Marvel offered you, or did you request this one?

Terry Moore: It was all part of the conversation when I approached Joe Quesada and said, "I would like to do something with you after Strangers in Paradise, which I'm just about to finish up. So, what do you think? Do you think there would be a good fit for me?"

NRAMA: So this was the same conversation you had when you first talked to Marvel about Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane?

TM: Yes, the same conversation actually. And Joe came back to me and said, "I've got a couple ideas. Let me talk to my editors and I'll get back to you." He called me back the same day and said, "OK, I talked to some editors and we would love to see you involved in these two titles." And one of them was Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane. The other one was Runaways. And the minute he said those titles, I said, "Yeah! That's perfect! That's exactly what I'm thinking about" -- as opposed to if he had come back and said, "How about X-Men and Hulk?" I would immediately be in over my head. [laughs]

But when you talk about those two titles, you're talking about character-driven titles that are basically as close to normal kids as you can get, with a little magic in their lives, and that just appeals to me.

NRAMA: Had you read Runaways before?

TM: I had not read it before, but I had seen it and was aware of it, and my son was reading it. And the only reason I had not read it is because I was so busy during the last year of Strangers in Paradise that I wasn't reaching out and looking for new series to read. I was working so hard on my own. But it was one of those things that caught my eye, and I thought, "Ooo, I like that. I want to read that next time I take a vacation or something." So it was one of those kind of things.

NRAMA: It's won a lot awards and has a pretty loyal fan base. What do you think makes Runaways so unique?

TM: First of all, it's a great idea -- the concept and the way it was launched, and the storylines. These kids one day realize they're the children of supervillains. It's a great twist on a story -- what you would think a story would be. So the twist is very novel, but it's also just been very well written. Obviously, Brian Vaughn is a terrific talent. He wrote it in a way that is very approachable, very likable. You immediately identify with each of the characters. And of course, the art has always had its own distinctive look. The design was really beautiful. That's what you need is a good marriage between the concept and the art on any comic book title. And this one just clicked. So -- very well done.

NRAMA: You seem to love the concept. I assume that means you're sticking with the same basic concept for the team and the title?

TM: Well, I think some boundaries and rules have been established. This is how it works. That's definitely the case. If you think of any other superhero title, we could name off the rules: "This is how this title works; here's who this guy is." Runaways has that going for it. That's part of the assets: You can define it and quantify it easily.

But it's a set-up that allows the writer to go in and try so many different experiences for the characters. Every day is different for them. You can come back to the book time and time again and find a reliable setting, but the characters are having to face new challenges every single day -- partly because of their age, partly because of their unique skill set, and partly because of where they live in L.A.

NRAMA: Do you like having L.A. as the setting?

TM: L.A. is kind of like the frontier of the superhero world, where it seems like the East Coast is pretty well buttoned down -- there's a superhero for every major city -- but you get out to the West Coast and it's kind of like the frontier. And these kids are fending for themselves. Anything can happen. I love that. I love that set-up.

NRAMA: They're in New York in the current storyline. So they do go back to L.A.?

TM: Yes. I think I'm safe in saying they go back to L.A. And I'm totally focused on doing as much damage to L.A. as possible. [laughs]

NRAMA: Have you started writing the comic yet?

TM: I am in the very early stages. I'm still conceptualizing and bouncing ideas off of [editor] Nick [Lowe], and so far, that has gone very, very well. I looked over the notes from the previous two guys who had been writing the series and what their thoughts were, so I'm actually ... think of it as Runaways Camp. I am totally immersed in Runaways at the moment. I'm not quite ready to show off for the parents yet at the end of camp. [laughs]

NRAMA: [laughs] You're making sure you wear your bug spray, right?

TM: [laughs] Exactly.

continued...

Newsarama's Comic-Con International '07 coverage is brought to you by Witchblade – The Anime Series. Available on DVD September 25th. Click here to view trailer.

NRAMA: Well, let's have a mid-camp quiz so we can get an idea of what you think about the characters and where you think you're going with them. I'll name a character, and you tell me your perception of that character. Sound good?

TM: OK. Let's give it a shot.

NRAMA: Karolina?

TM: I think she may be the most powerful character in the group, and definitely has untapped energy. I think we've only seen the tip of the iceberg with her. Because her powers are almost unworldly, there is this unlimited potential to her, the same way there is unlimited potential for the power of light. She's that kind of entity.

When I think of her, there is no limit to the imagination of where you could take her, and what she may bring to the group.

NRAMA: Her fiance Xavin?

TM: Well, I have a problem with this. I grew up being told that Skrulls were bad. They were like strangers: You shouldn't talk to them. [laughs] So I've had a real adjusTMent. It's been interesting for me. He's the character that I had to work hardest to warm up to and trust. He's kind of like a Klingon to me.

NRAMA: And with the Marvel universe focusing on "Who can you trust?," Xavin isn't in a very good position right now.

TM: I know! And to boot, he's a shape-shifter. So he's like a devious twin -- you never know which one you're talking to. So I have to be careful with Xavin.

NRAMA: Chase?

TM: Oh, I have fantastic ideas for Chase, and when I ran them by Nick, he said, "Coool!! Cool, cool, cool, cool!" And I can't tell you where I got my ideas from because I actually developed them several years ago on another character -- never used them; never wrote for that book. And then I started looking at Runaways, and I looked at Chase's situation in the group and the potential that he's shown, and a lightbulb went off. I thought, "Ooo, I know how to make him one of the coolest people in the group, one of the most powerful people in the group too." And it's just sitting right there to be had. It's just right under everybody's noses. So I have a surprise coming for Chase.

NRAMA: Nico?

TM: Very cool. The closest thing we have to a Neil Gaiman character in this book. [laughs] When I think of Nico, I actually think of her being a more grounded person. That is somebody that can pull from mother earth and nature and there's a tie there to the more organic side of life that we've forgotten to tap into since the age of magic. So I think she represents a wonderful chance to reconnect with a time of Old Earth. I think there's a lot of potential there for that. That's what I'm kind of thinking about for her.

NRAMA: Victor?

TM: I believe the predictions about Victor.

NRAMA: Wow. That's not good for Victor. Or anybody else, really.

TM: Yeah. Yeah. Early on, when Victor was introduced to the series, the predictions were not good. And I believed every word I read. Let me just put it that way.

NRAMA: Well, he is the son of Ultron! That's even worse than being a Skrull, isn't it?

TM: [laughs] You know, you can only do so much about genetics.

NRAMA: Molly?

TM: Oh, fun, fun, fun. Absolutely fun. You've got to love a little kid who can knock Wolverine clear out of a building -- and not even rub her hand and say, "ow!" You know? [laughs] She's just the funnest character in the group. If she were a Disney character, she'd have her own show. But I think that she keeps the others from taking themselves too seriously. She's really necessary. She adds a great dynamic to the group.

NRAMA: Uh ... should I ask about Old Lace? [laughs] Have you ever written a dinosaur before?

TM: [laughs] Um... no. I have never written a dinosaur before. I will make every effort to put on dinosaur shoes and walk a mile in them and see what it feels like!

NRAMA: Joss Whedon said that he was adding a new character, but we haven't seen one yet. Is that going to happen? Is there some different team dynamic happening when you take over the title?

TM: I don't want to do any spoilers. But I am ready for whatever Joss leaves me. Let me put it that way.

NRAMA: Is the make-up of the team going to stay pretty much the same when you take over? Are you planning to add any characters?

TM: Can I just be honest and tell you that I'm planning to get rid of everybody in the group, and in comes these characters named Katchoo, Francine, and David?

NRAMA: [laughs] Those names sound familiar.

TM: No, I have a tremendous amount of respect for what I've been handed. I don't want to go into somebody else's house and trash it. I would love to go in and be a very good tenant and freshen up the place and make it look very 2007, 2008, and do good things with them.

NRAMA: We talked about Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane being a good title for fans of Strangers in Paradise to check out. But Runaways is a lot more "superhero" than drama, although it does have that group humor you utilized so much in SiP, although with a younger feel to the characters. Do you think your SiP fans would enjoy Runaways?

TM: I do, because it's why I've attached myself to the title. It appeals to me. It is young characters, but it's a sophisticated read. I think it can appeal to more than just teenagers. It's not a book that's marketed directly at one group. When you read it, it would appeal to the long-time superhero fan who knows everything that's happened, but it also appeals to the new reader who is just now checking out Marvel comics. It's a great way to introduce them to the idea of the superhero universe and how it works.

You know, it's a great "halfway house" between art comics and superhero comics, really.

NRAMA: How long are you on the series?

TM: I have signed a one-year contract with Marvel. And hopefully things go great and we'll go from there.

NRAMA: You're a Marvel fan from way back, aren't you? You must be excited about this exclusive.

TM: I'm very excited. I've waited since I was 10 years old to work with Marvel.

NRAMA: I remember you mentioning you were a Spider-Man fan growing up, right?

TM: Yes! It was one of the first comics I ever read, back when I was a little kid. So this is fun for me. I'm nostalgic about the Stan Lee bullpen days, so this is really exciting.

I definitely wanted to do something with Marvel during my career. And this is the perfect time. They were very gracious and said they'd love to talk to me. And they offered me two great titles that I'm very comfortable with.

NRAMA: When we talked to you about Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, you said you had a new independent title that you were developing through your own company, Abstract Studios. Does the exclusive get in the way of your own series?

TM: No, not at all. It doesn't get in the way of my own work at all. Abstract Studios has lots of people working around the clock in sweatshops around the world developing our new title. [laughs] I'm hard at work on a new title, definitely.

NRAMA: You had said you were hoping to start working on another independent series at the end of the year and told us the working title was Motor Girl. Is that still right?

TM: Yeah. I'm still going to use that working title. We're just calling it “Motor Girl” for the time being, but where it ends up, we're just waiting to see at the moment. I'm all over the map with characters and everything.

NRAMA: You can't tell us anything about it? [laughs]

TM: Nothing!! [laughs] I'm not saying a word! Right now it is all about Marvel Comics. Once we kind of get that going, then I'll take the new title and push it up to the front of the stage and say, "Look! Look!" But not yet.

NRAMA: Then let's keep Marvel at the front of the stage. Anything else you wanted to say about the exclusive with Marvel?

TM: Just that it's a terrific opportunity for me. It gives me a chance to do something completely different after Strangers in Paradise, but something I'm comfortable doing. I'm very excited about the future. I think it's going to be a learning and growing experience for me. It'll integrate me into the Marvel Universe, and who knows where I might end up?

[Guy_Gardner]

hey now...my first first post

nice choice for after Whedon...forgot he was adding a character to Runaways though...

and the return to LA is good too...

but I'm worried about Xavin and Victor....I really like them..

[Zeitgeist]

Really not a fan of Ramos's art, but i will give it a shot

[JL_Amato]

Not bad.

I'll definitely stay on board.

[SirChasm]

I do not think I could be more excited about this right now.

Moore and Ramos were just so unexpected for this title, in my opinion, and the more I think about it the more I like it.

If we can see a Ramos similar to his early Crimson issues I'll be very happy.

[theprimedreamer]

why is Gert in that sketch?

[ejulp]

Finalllly...Ramos on a title that actually suits him...if he can calm down his panel compositions somewhat, this'll be a good art direction on the book.....oh and Terry Moore? WOOT WOOT, Marvel is treating this book with the respect it deserves

[Jed Saxon]

... ... this... this... this is beyond awesome! BOOYAH!

[tralfaz]

finally, ramos is back to doing a teen book. his style is perfectly suited for this book and im very happy and with moore on this book it guarantees that i'll be sticking around after whedon leaves

[newfoundma]

If this was back in his Impulse days, I'd be thrilled. But ever since that title and Crimson his art has just gotten less and less intelligable. I do like this image, and I remember that his recap issue with Cebulski was readable. BTW, I wish Cebulski was the new writer. His work on Loners is much truer to Vaughan's voice than Whedon or Wells (the only other writers I can think of to handle the characters of the Runaways-verse).

[ascloseasme]

I feel bad for Moore. He seems like he knows what he's doing, but why people keep putting faith in Ramos and his lop-sided cartooning is beyond me.

If Moore proves to be able to carry the book like (pardon the pun) Carey has with X-Men, it might be worth it.

[PatrioticKid]

Ramos may keep me from enjoying this.

[Guy_Gardner]

Originally Posted by newfoundma

If this was back in his Impulse days, I'd be thrilled. But ever since that title and Crimson his art has just gotten less and less intelligable. I do like this image, and I remember that his recap issue with Cebulski was readable. BTW, I wish Cebulski was the new writer. His work on Loners is much truer to Vaughan's voice than Whedon or Wells (the only other writers I can think of to handle the characters of the Runaways-verse).

well...at least Cebulski is doing the Nico one-shot that's part of Mystic Arcana

as for Ramos...what is up with Molly's eye?...

[ThatNickGuy]

Aaaaand that does it for me. I'm just not a fan of Ramos' art in the least (although, I do agree with newfoundma regarding Ramos' Impulse days).

I'll nab the inevitable hardcover of Whedon's run and that'll do it for me.

[comicfanuk]

Wow!
Terry Moore! FANTASTIC!
But, ugh Ramos? For Runaways? The art doesn't sute the title... Someone help!!

I can't wait for this And Spidy Loves MJ!!!

[BanMan]

Even though Ramos wouldn't be my first pick, he will bring a certain energy to the series. Moore is definitely the big draw for me though.

[vbartilucci]

[quote=ejulp]Finalllly...Ramos on a title that actually suits him...QUOTE]
Ramos drawing teenagers - heaven. That's what I loved about Impulse - he made Bart look all gangly and uncormortable in his own skin.

[hlbimage]

I've been a fan of Ramos like forever and I'll follow him onto this title as well.

[Cicero]

I wonder what this means for X-Men.

[bebopeva88]

Neat team -- Ramos is much better suited here than X-Men, and I think it will benefit both Runaways and X-Men with his change in assignment.

[theNameless]

Oh.....no.
I won't follow a book by Ramos- i find it disgusting. And I don't know the writer. Pretty much it for me and the Runaways. I don't think the author captured the characters well in that interview at all.

[shadowchaser]

now i'll finally buy runaways for Ramos

[Jeremy Williams]

Great choice!

[KirkWarren]

Im not a fan of Ramos on this title. He has a certain style that fits a particular book. He cant be a Bagley that goes to any book and makes it work. I'll probably still check it out, as I dont hate his art, but I dont think hes a good choice for Runaways.

Moore should do well on this book. I look forward to his mainstream debut (as far as I know he hasnt done any Marvel or DC mainstream stuff, just SiP).

[seanmac81]

I like it. I'm not familiar with Terry Moore's work but everyone else's reactions seem to indicate he'll be perfect. As for Ramos, I like the choice. I thought his bookend work in the Runaways Saga was good.