INSIDE THE ADVENTURES II: MARC SUMERAK

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

Marc Sumerak is currently best known for his work on Marvel’s all ages Power Pack series and the Eisner Award and Harvey Award nominated Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius, which he co-wrote with Chris Eliopoulos.

His body of work, which has since included Guardians, Machine Teen, Ororo: Before The Storm, Marvel Age Fantastic Four and Spider-Man Unlimited, is set to expand when he takes on Marvel Adventures The Avengers and Marvel Adventures Spider-Man in the coming months.

For a guy who used to be an editor at Marvel Comics, he sure knows how to write for the masses.

That’s right. As part of editor Tom Brevoort’s editorial team from 1999 to 2003, Sumerak’s credits as a Marvel editor include Avengers, Thor, Iron Man, Fantastic Four, Hulk, Sentinel, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Agent X, Inhumans and many more.

What drew him to writing engaging action-adventure stories for all ages?

In part two of our series on Marvel Adventures and Marvel’s all ages line of comic books, we caught up with Sumerak for a chance to geek out.

NRAMA: Let’s start with the latest developments first - Marvel's Digital Comics Unlimited and Marvel Adventures. The right combo?

Marc Sumerak: I think it's a wonderful idea. Having Marvel's library available to read on-line is a great way to reach out to new readers who might not know where to buy comic books and potentially hook them on some great stories they might not have otherwise been aware of. It's also a nice way for longtime readers to check out classic stories that they haven't had the chance to read... or even to sample more recent titles that they didn't pick up in printed form. And it all comes at a relatively low price when you consider the wealth of material available through the service. I'm definitely intrigued.

I think the program's all-ages offerings are a very important piece of the puzzle. It's a digital world these days, and kids are far more tapped in to the internet culture than many adults. Maybe surfing the web is cooler than reading a comic book... but when you bring those two things together, there's a chance we can reach out to the next generation of comic book fans in a brand new way. And having a wide variety of titles available -- including ones that give those potential new readers easy access to the Marvel Universe -- is the perfect start!

NRAMA: What're your fondest memories/recollections on some of the comics that you'd enjoyed back in the day?

Marc Sumerak: The thing I remember most about reading comics when I was younger doesn't really involve a specific story or issue, but rather just the experience of reading comics in general. Every week, my older brother and I used to walk up to this tiny old drugstore after school and search the racks for cool new comics. It was always exciting because we never knew what we were going to find and where the adventures inside those books were going to take us. I always looked forward to it... and all these years later, I still remember it fondly!

At first, I just read the comics that my brother was reading... but I eventually began buying and reading my own books. I started out reading licensed books, like Transformers and Star Wars. Those were what really drew me in because they were stories about characters I recognized from TV, movies and toys. But as I read and enjoyed more titles like that, I also started to become interested in the other comics that lined the spinner rack. Once I "graduated" to some of the mainstream super hero titles, I was hooked... and there was no looking back!

NRAMA: What drew you to comics as a kid?

MS: I was always a kid with a very big imagination. I was constantly making up stories and drawing and doing whatever else I could to express myself in a creative fashion. Comics were almost the perfect package to me -- an amazing combination of cool stories, colorful art and wild ideas.

It seemed like there were no boundaries in the Marvel Universe and that anything could happen. And what made it even more exciting was that all of the amazing stuff seemed to happen to normal people with normal lives (like Peter Parker).

Comics provided an escape from the everyday and let me stretch the limits of my imagination. And I got all that for less than a dollar (at the time)! How could anything be better?

NRAMA: In 2004, Pulitzer Prize winning novelist and comic book writer Michael Chabon gave a keynote address at the Eisner Awards ceremony in which he stated that "children have not abandoned comic books - comic books have abandoned children." Your thoughts?

MS: I can definitely see where Mr. Chabon was coming from. In recent years, there has been a pretty profound audience shift in the comic book industry. Our readership has gotten older... and a lot of the content in our books has reflected that.

Some of that has to do with the fact that comics have not been nearly as widely available as they once were. The days of the newsstand spinner rack is gone... and sadly, that means a lot of young readers no longer know where to find comic books to get them started! Sure, longtime fans are able to hunt down comic book specialty stores to get their weekly fix, but without comics being as easy to find at mainstream locations, their ability to lure in new readers has been severely limited.

When only a small number of new readers are coming in, then the readership that remains is comprised of the folks that have been there for the long haul. They are the readers who have grown up with comics and are still enjoying them today in their 20's, 30's and 40's. And when the core of the readership matures, the content tends to naturally mature along with them. That tends to result in fewer and fewer comics whose content and stories are truly acceptable for a young audience.

But I think in the last few years, a lot has been done to reverse that trend. Comics are starting to show up again at a number of mainstream stores where kids can actually find them (like Borders and Barnes & Noble). And it looks like digital distribution programs (like the aformentioned Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited) could be another way to get comics into the hands of new readers of all ages as well.

Getting comics into the hands of kids is one thing, but making sure that those comics are something they'll enjoy is a totally different one. Luckily, a ton of comic book companies -- big and small -- are working hard to make sure that they have "all-ages" initiatives in place. With as much media exposure as comics are getting from huge movie and television projects, the comic book companies and creators have been working overtime to make sure that there is plenty of new content out there that is appropriate for new readers and younger readers alike. With Marvel Adventures, Johnny DC and more, I think that we're headed in the right direction. Hopefully, these titles will be able to start building the next generation of comic book readers... while still entertaining the current readers at the same time!

NRAMA: Are you in agreement that the comics landscape has changed drastically over the years?

MS: As creators, we want the worlds we write about to feel real and completely relatable to our readers. Tackling real world topics is nothing new in comics. Stan Lee was telling stories about the effects of drugs in issues of Spider-Man decades ago. So it's only natural that the current politically-charged landscape of the world would find its way into modern super hero stories. And as long as the characters and stories intertwine in a fairly organic way, I don't see that as a bad thing.

At the same time, these are still stories about super heroes. They have amazing powers, fight bizarre villains and do astounding things. For many readers, comics are a way to escape the problems of the real world for a while... so focusing too much on everyday issues can take a bit away from the fantastic nature of the characters we're writing about. The real world can be kinda depressing. Sometimes it's nice to just kick back and read a story full of bright colors and wild adventures!

In the end, I think it's all about balance. If there's a powerful real world issue that can be tackled by our characters in a way that makes sense in terms of both the character and the situation, that's a wonderful thing. But it also doesn't hurt to let them throw on their capes and costumes to beat the crud out of a bad guy every now and then!

NRAMA: Moving on to your projects, Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius and Power Pack are not officially labeled under the Marvel Adventures imprint. Yet they’ve been praised for their all-ages approach. What do you attribute the success of the stories to?

MS: I think we're just trying to tell stories that are truly "all-ages". And by that I really do mean that a reader of any age will be able to pick up an issue of Power Pack or Franklin Richards and understand what is going on (and hopefully enjoy it). When I'm writing these books, I'm not only thinking about what would make a kid laugh, but what makes a 29-year-old guy like me laugh as well. I want these to be not only the kinds of books that young readers get excited about... but also the kind that parents will want to read along with them.

The nice thing about Power Pack and Franklin Richards is that we can use them as a gateway into the Marvel Universe for new readers. Both books have lead characters that any kid (or adult for that matter) can relate to... but the stories also exist within the larger Marvel Universe. That means we're able to explore a lot of the other cool characters out there through the eyes of our young stars. We're introducing some of Marvel's most classic heroes and villains to new readers in a way that is simple, straight-forward and free of excessive continuity baggage.

Ideally, that means an issue of Iron Man & Power Pack will not only lead a young reader to pick up the next Power Pack series, but may also interest them in exploring the mainstream Iron Man title as well. When that happens, it's definitely something everyone involved can all be proud of.

NRAMA: You're coming on board for a four-issue run on both MA The Avengers and MA Spider-Man. What got you interested in Marvel's all ages line in the first place?

MS: I've always been interested in stories that can reach out to a number of different audiences at once. Stories that work on multiple levels for a variety of readers. Those were the kinds of stories that I grew up reading, and those are the kinds of stories I'm proud to create today. Apparently my editors think my work on Power Pack and Franklin Richards has managed to do that well enough that they are letting me do the same in the Marvel Adventures universe... and I couldn't be more excited!

NRAMA: Everyone has his/her own favorites when it comes to the Marvel Adventures line of comics. What’re some of yours?

MS: I've enjoyed the entire line so far... so it's really hard for me to pick a favorite. But I absolutely loved the "Ego the Loving Planet" story in MA The Avengers. And the fact that Rick Jones has a pet monkey named Monkey (on MA Hulk) has made me laugh every issue!

NRAMA: How do you compare the MA line to the Stan Lee/Jack Kirby/Steve Ditko comics from the 1960s?

MS: The Marvel Adventures line really does hearken back to the olden days of Marvel in many ways. Self contained "done-in-one" stories. Flashy super hero adventures. Bold characters that are interesting both in and out of costume. Stories that are easy to follow without being shallow. Lots of drama, action and fun! It really is the recipe that Stan, Jack, Steve and the rest of the blushin' Bullpen cooked up so well month in and month out. And if the world thinks we've managed to recapture a bit of that magic in the Marvel Adventures line, well, who am I to argue!

NRAMA: Who or what, do you see as the MA competition in reaching their particular age group? The 616 titles themselves? Johnny DC books? Manga? Video games? Webcomics? All of the above?

MS: All of the above! There are so many different forms of entertainment at the fingertips of today's kids, and each of those is vying for the number one spot! All we can do as creators is try to make our stories as entertaining as possible and hope that they strike a chord with our readers. A good story is a good story, no matter who publishes it or what form it is presented in. If what we create is entertaining enough to bring a reader back the next month, then we've done our jobs. But that won't stop us from trying to work even harder the next issue. With all that competition, you can never let down your guard!

NRAMA: What can fans of Marc Sumerak's all ages Power Pack series of mini-series look forward to?

MS: Well, the first issue of Iron Man & Power Pack is on-sale now. This new series sees the Power kids teaming up with Iron Man for four action-packed issues that will have them facing off against Ultimo, Blizzard, Speed Demon, the Ghost, Titanium Man... and even each other! It's gonna be a pretty wild ride from start to finish! I'm working with artist Marcelo DiChiara on this one, and every page he's turned in has been absolutely gorgeous. Wait 'til you see him tackle an army of Iron Men in issues #3-#4!

After that, I hand off the reins to our good friend Fred Van Lente for four-issues. And right after his issues wrap up, I'll be back on board with a brand new series featuring a super-cool (and not-yet-revealed) team-up! So there's plenty of Pack to come!

NRAMA: And there’s more Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius coming?

MS: Right - we just released a brand new Franklin Richards one-shot – Fall Football Fiasco! -- which features five exciting new stories as Franklin gets into all sorts of trouble in his father's lab. This one features alien invasions, teleporting dogs, robot dopplegangers, time travel gone wrong and the most insane football team ever!

The top of next year will see a second Franklin digest collecting all four of the 2007 one-shots... and we just got word that we'll be doing more new Franklin Richards one-shots next year as well! It looks like everyone's favorite member of the FF family is gonna be causing chaos for quite a bit longer...

NRAMA: What have you got planned for your upcoming MA projects?

MS: My MA The Avengers issues (#20-23) will be introducing a few new enemies for Earth's Mightiest Heroes... as well as some brand new allies! The first issue (#21) takes us to Van Dyne industries to search for the missing Hank Pym...and finding an even bigger problem in his absence. The Russians invade Avengers Tower in issue #22. Issue #23 takes the team to Wakanda to hunt down a feral foe from Wolverine's past. And the final issue of my arc finds Cap assembling a new team of Avengers to travel deep into space in hopes of rescuing their kidnapped comrades!

As for MA Spider-Man, my arc (issues #37-40) explores the events of Peter's life after the school day ends. My first issue finds Peter in the most dangerous self-defense class ever. The rest of the arc follows Peter as he joins the Model UN, starts Driver's Ed, lifts the hammer of Thor, and befriends a new foreign exchange student who ends up getting abducted by the Fantastic Four. You know, just the usual extra-curricular stuff!

NRAMA: Finally, which other character would you like to see getting the Adventures treatment next, and why? How would you write him/her/them?

MS: I would love to see the X-Men in their own Marvel Adventures title (though X-Men: First Class is a nice all-ages friendly alternative until then). As for how I would handle it, I would start with a team of the most widely recognized and well-liked characters from Marvel's mutant mythos. The nice thing about the MA titles is that they can cherry-pick the very best characters from Marvel history to create the coolest possible combinations! My dream team: Wolvie, Cyclops, Storm, Rogue, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Kitty and Prof. X... though I'm sure there would be plenty of other fan-faves popping up all the time! I'd make sure there was plenty of balance between super hero action and life at the Xavier Institute (for lots of old-school interpersonal drama). Next, add in some sweet villains... and luckily the X-Men have plenty of those! And from there, it's all a matter of telling some stories that hearken back to the classic X-Men formula of action, angst and adventure! How could you possibly go wrong?

I also think a high-fantasy MA Thor title could be a lot of fun as well...

Previously:

Inside the Adventures I: Mark Paniccia

[B|ackPanther]

I wouldn't mind a Marvel Adventures Thor title.

[Not From Around]

These Marvel Age books have been a boon to librarians ordering for younger readers, that's for sure! I haven't tried the "Franklin Richards" title yet, but I've had encouraging results with some of the others, especially "Spider-Girl."

[Blackbeard]

My kids love Franklin Richards.

Excellent interview. Keep up the excellent work, Marc!

[coolmvm]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

NRAMA: What have you got planned for your upcoming MA projects?

MS: My MA The Avengers issues (#20-23) will be introducing a few new enemies for Earth's Mightiest Heroes... as well as some brand new allies! The first issue (#21) takes us to Van Dyne industries to search for the missing Hank Pym...and finding an even bigger problem in his absence. The Russians invade Avengers Tower in issue #22. Issue #23 takes the team to Wakanda to hunt down a feral foe from Wolverine's past. And the final issue of my arc finds Cap assembling a new team of Avengers to travel deep into space in hopes of rescuing their kidnapped comrades!

As for MA Spider-Man, my arc (issues #37-40) explores the events of Peter's life after the school day ends. My first issue finds Peter in the most dangerous self-defense class ever. The rest of the arc follows Peter as he joins the Model UN, starts Driver's Ed, lifts the hammer of Thor, and befriends a new foreign exchange student who ends up getting abducted by the Fantastic Four. You know, just the usual extra-curricular stuff!

It seems like the Marvel Adventure titles are just getting better and better.

[Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by Not From Around

These Marvel Age books have been a boon to librarians ordering for younger readers, that's for sure! I haven't tried the "Franklin Richards" title yet, but I've had encouraging results with some of the others, especially "Spider-Girl."

Hi NFA, glad to see you're keeping America's libraries stocked with good reading.

I've really enjoyed the Power Pack digests myself.

[80Pork]

My six year old son loves reading the Marvel Adventures comics!! He has Marvel subscriptions to MA: Spider-Man and MA: Avengers, and with my weekly orders, he gets MA: Hulk (he's already loving the idea of The Defenders showing up in that title). He also likes getting the Power Pack and Franklin Richards books.

I've been saying for awhile now that they should do a MA: X-Men title...with nearly the same team that Marc recommended. They could replace Storm and Wolvie in MA: Avengers with some of the characters they have already introduced in the book (Vision, Hawkeye, Hercules, etc.) and maybe bring in a new female (She-Hulk, Tigra, Spider-Woman, etc.).

[Dunc]

What's the art like in these books?
I recently bought some original art from MA FF (The FF and a giant robot octopus) and it is BEAUTIFUL. Nice and clear but still quite detailed where it needs to be.

Actually, if anyone knew what ish# that was from that'd be great! It's a splash of them flying over it in the fantasticar

[Defunkt]

Power Pack and Franklin Richards ( and don't forget HERBIE! ) are
my favorite Marvel books.
Sumerak together with Parker brought back the fun in Marvel.
Keep up the excellent work.

[Ace]

I love Iron Fist. I love Carey's X-Men. I love X-Factor. I love Captain America. Pak's Incredible Hulk has been a lot of fun.

But really.. there is NOTHING I have consistantly enjoyed out of Marvel more in the last two-three years than Sumerak (and occasionally FVL)'s Power Pack & ... stories. They're just so much fun and so well done.

[_Algrim_]

I have to agree - I love me some Power Pack!

[sumerak]

Hey all!
I don't post on-line all that often, but I just wanted to say thanks for all your kind words. Glad to see you enjoyed the interview and that some of you are enjoying my work as well!
The MARVEL ADVENTURES stuff I'm currently writing has been a lot of fun... and the art for MA:AVENGERS (by Ig Guara) that I've seen so far has been spectacular! Hope you all check it out...
Swing by www.sumerak.com for more info on all the stuff I'm writing!
Best,
--sumerak!

[Not From Around]

Originally Posted by Tomorrow

Hi NFA, glad to see you're keeping America's libraries stocked with good reading.

I've really enjoyed the Power Pack digests myself.

Hi, Tomorrow! Good to hear from you!

I'm making myself a note to try "Power Pack" as well! This article has been a good reminder to me of how much Marvel Age has available now.

[ChastMastr]

I'm snapping up the Power Pack books up too. Kind of hope they're in the same universe as the MA line as that fills it out nicely with glimpses of the X-Men and others -- and a good Tony Stark, which I've sorely missed!

David