WW CHICAGO - ROBERT KIRKMAN TALKS KILLRAVEN w/ LIEFELD

**MattBrady** · 08-10-2007, 03:15 PM

Killraven. He’s been something of a red-headed stepchild at Marvel for years, and given his hair color, that’s not much of a stretch. The character has attracted any number of high profile talent in his over three decades of existence, but he’s yet to catch on in a big way with the readership.

In 2008, Marvel gives it another go, this time with Robert Kirkman and Rob Liefeld attached as the creators on a five issue miniseries. We spoke with Kirkman to get more on the character and his appeal.

Newsarama: First off Robert, just as an exercise, let's talk about Killraven as if we're explaining the concept to someone how has never heard of him. Who is Killraven? What's his world about, and how does he relate (if at all) to Marvel continuity?

Robert Kirkman: Well, our book is a new take on Killraven. It's firmly set in the Marvel Universe of the future, but a number of years ago--Mars invaded and took over. They defeated the Marvel Heroes and they've been running the planet for so long, nobody even remembers a time when Earth wasn't controlled by Mars.

We first meet Killraven as a gladiator--a trained fighter, there to entertain the Martian masses. He quickly escapes, thrown into a world even he isn't all that familiar with since he's been contained in the arena most of his life. We follow him through the Marvel U as he encounters some familiar faces and artifacts and eventually forms The Future Avengers--which isn't going to be all that great for the Martians.

It's a story about a small band of freedom fighters trying to retake the Earth--the odds are against them but they're a determined bunch--they're Avengers.

NRAMA: So tell us how this project came about.

RK: This is something Rob pitched to Joe Quesada in San Diego of 2006 while Jeph Loeb and I were hanging out with Joe. Joe was very excited about it and gave it the green light on the spot. Rob said he wanted to work with a writer on it--and I couldn't help but raise my hand. Jeph pointed my way too--but if he'd have raised his hand I swear I would have jumped over the table. He's got a couple years on me, so I could have taken him. I almost killed Jeph Loeb over this book, I'll admit it. But yeah, it all came together in a five minute span at a con--cool stuff. It's the kind of stuff I'd read about but never experienced myself. We've been working on it a bit here and there in-between Rob's work on Onslaught Reborn with the esteemed, and previously name-dropped, Jeph Loeb.

NRAMA: What attracted you to telling a new story about him?

RK: I'll speak for Rob a little here - I think Rob and I are both guys who really like doing new stuff. I had some of the most fun I've had at Marvel doing the recent Ant-Man series--which featured a new guy, I created loads of new characters for Marvel Team-Up and I have a few creator-owned books that feature new characters some people may have heard of. Rob's m.o. has always been, come on a book, and make it his own--he introduces new characters left and right. When you're someone as creative as him--it's no trouble to just throw in five or six new guys to liven a book up. He did a small run on Wolverine a few years back--just what--four issues? He created a whole new team of guys that, granted, haven't been seen since--but they were cool characters. That's just what Rob does--and that's what we're doing here. Killraven is the kind of property at Marvel you can get a little leeway with so we're able to make it our own and really take it to levels I don't think people will expect. This series is going to be very very cool.

NRAMA: That said, is it safe to assume that, while you said this touch happen in the far future of the Marvel Universe, you’re not going to be touching on anything of the present day?

RK: Right. This book might as well be called New Killraven and the Future Avengers. It's a whole new thing. Classic Killraven is still there--there's an awesome essential TPB you can order and enjoy--it's great stuff, but this is a new version, a new take. We're breaking new ground.

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Ace · 08-10-2007, 05:34 PM

And lo, we have a radioactive character.

Can't blame Rob and Rob for wanting to do a fun character that they love though.

Edit: Oh crap. He's doing the Guardians of the Galaxy take where they're firmly putting it into the MU. I wanted to be all snarky too but that sounds like so much fun. You know, if it comes out and all. And if it's not done super-90s Marvel method way with Rob drawing whatever he wants and Kirkman just trying to make sense of it.

Somebody · 08-10-2007, 05:36 PM

So this is the second Killraven reboot in five years? (After the Alan Davis miniseries).

Layters · 08-10-2007, 05:44 PM

Sounds fun but with most of these many many minis i need to know it will have some effect on the continuity of the MU. If not ill pass. Too many irrelvent forgetable minis in my collection.

coolmvm · 08-10-2007, 05:45 PM

This seems like a good news/bad news moment doesn't it.

God-Man · 08-10-2007, 05:52 PM

If Alan Davis couldn't get me to by a Killraven series, these 2 guys won't either.

skeletorjr · 08-10-2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Layters

Sounds fun but with most of these many many minis i need to know it will have some effect on the continuity of the MU. If not ill pass. Too many irrelvent forgetable minis in my collection.

Wha? Why should it have to affect Marvel continuity to be enjoyable?

Ace · 08-10-2007, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolmvm

This seems like a good news/bad news moment doesn't it.

That is EXACTLY what it is. Well put.

mikesmash · 08-10-2007, 06:07 PM

I love Kirkman's writing, but I HATE Liefeld's art.

TF_Loki · 08-10-2007, 06:13 PM

Is Liefield's name a draw any more? What are the sales numbers on Onslaught reborn?

kalorama · 08-10-2007, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skeletorjr

Wha? Why should it have to affect Marvel continuity to be enjoyable?

Better not to ask. Just smile, nod, and move on.

JohnP · 08-10-2007, 06:23 PM

Onslaught Reborn came out?

Jed Saxon · 08-10-2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Somebody

So this is the second Killraven reboot in five years? (After the Alan Davis miniseries).

And there was the the one-shot by Joseph Michael Linsner (before Davis' version).

Quote:

Originally Posted by God-Man

If Alan Davis couldn't get me to by a Killraven series, these 2 guys won't either.

I'm not a huge fan of Davis (because of the pastel coloring) but his Killraven-Mini was highly enjoying.

ThomasC22 · 08-10-2007, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TF_Loki

Is Liefield's name a draw any more? What are the sales numbers on Onslaught reborn?

#1 sold 79,102 putting it at #22 on the sales chart while #2 sold 52,907 which put it at #39 on the chart.

tater_nuts · 08-10-2007, 06:42 PM

I jumped out of my seat in excitement when I heard Kirkman was writing Killraven.

Then I slowly sat back down in shame when I read Liefeld. :-(

Kevinjohncon · 08-10-2007, 06:55 PM

Wow. What was old is new again. Seeing Deathlok in the pages of New Avengers this week, now a new Killraven mini. When will Man-Wolf get a mini?

BillReed · 08-10-2007, 07:07 PM

Great concept.

Too bad I don't dig the creators.

American Caesar · 08-10-2007, 07:26 PM

Again with Rob on pencils? Onslaught looked terrible.

Comiccub · 08-10-2007, 07:29 PM

This will be the first time in my 32 years of comic book collecting that I will be passing on a Killraven series. Rob Liefeld is poison to anything he touches. Please Marvel let Rob just disappear never to be heard from again.

ThomasC22 · 08-10-2007, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Comiccub

This will be the first time in my 32 years of comic book collecting that I will be passing on a Killraven series. Rob Liefeld is poison to anything he touches. Please Marvel let Rob just disappear never to be heard from again.

Really? You’re honestly telling me you’ve collected every Killraven comic but you’re going to skip this one, written by an excellent writer, because you can’t deal with a bad artist (at least, in your opinion)

I’m sorry but even if you dis-like his work you can’t tell me it’s that bad. Even if it was that doesn’t ruin a story, lord knows I’ve suffered through plenty of crappy artists in my day to get to a good story.

Some people just need to grow up...

Barry Strange · 08-10-2007, 08:11 PM

Liefield?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Quick, where is a time machine? I need to kill someone's grandfather!

LOKICEL · 08-10-2007, 08:30 PM

I like to give Rob a bit of a hard time, but man, I gotta give him credit for posting on these boards.

wildcat71 · 08-10-2007, 08:39 PM

So where does this leave the story that was in Wisdom recently? Paul Cornell had Killraven as a child and Wisdom and co. prevented the Martian invasion. Rob Liefeld art....No thanks.....he could draw my favorite book and I still wouldn't buy it.

Justin M. Campbell · 08-10-2007, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildcat71

So where does this leave the story that was in Wisdom recently? Paul Cornell had Killraven as a child and Wisdom and co. prevented the Martian invasion. Rob Liefeld art....No thanks.....he could draw my favorite book and I still wouldn't buy it.

That's Marvel's Multiverse, man. They just say fvck it & embrace the chaos.

It looks a little super-hero-y for the character, but it also looks like it should be fun.

Killraven is like the anti-Ghost Rider: Loved by creators, fans . . . pretty indifferent.

Warren Ellis has wanted him BAD. For YEARS.

Derek Ruiz · 08-10-2007, 09:20 PM

This is gonna be awesome Kirkman and Liefeld are a good match!