MARV WOLFMAN ON DC SPECIAL RAVEN

[MattBrady]

by Troy Brownfield

Crisis on Infinite Earths. Dracula. New Teen Titans. And that’s just three. Obviously, we’re talking Marv Wolfman. The veteran writer and creator had a high-profile release hit comic shops this week with the first issue of DC Special: Raven #1, a new mini-series featuring the fan favorite character he and George Perez created for the New Teen Titans. What brings Wolfman back now, and does this book have any larger ramifications? Well, we asked.

Newsarma: You co-created Raven nearly 30 years ago. What's it like to come back to the character now?

Marv Wolfman: In point of fact I wrote several Raven pieces in the past including one for the 9-11 tribute book DC did to raise money for the victim's families. I love the Raven character and had proposed several ideas over the years. Finally, DC came to me about doing a mini-series and I jumped at the chance. I love the character; think she's the strongest one of the characters George and I created for NTT who could sustain their own series.

NRAMA: Raven's obviously been a consistently crucial component of the New Teen Titans. How much of her extended arc did you have envisioned from the beginning?

MW: I pretty much knew who she was, where she came from and what could happen to her from the beginning. Obviously the series was set up around Raven as she is the one who brings the Titans together in order to fight her father who appeared as early as issue 5. There's no way either George or I could have known in advance everything we'd do, but the parameters were clearly set up in order to create a character who we could mine for backstory for a long time to come.

NRAMA: In that vein, Raven's been through a number of physical and emotional changes (many under your pen). She's been good, she's been evil, she's been intangible, she's been tangible . . . what lends her to those variation interpretations?

MW: Raven is the daughter of a demon (Trigon) and a rape victim (Arella). That automatically sets up some personal conflicts as well a internal character problems. Also, from the moment of her birth she was trained to fight all emotions or she could unleash Trigon on the world. That, again, causes great conflict within a character. She is someone born with the seeds of good and evil, or pacifism and violence. She is in eternal conflict with herself. That is why she can move through many interpretations as long as they are consistent with who she is.

NRAMA: What did you think of how Geoff Johns and company brought Raven back in her corporeal, teen form?

MW: At first I wasn't sure, but then I realized I would have brought her back into another body and by doing so in a slightly younger body you actually can take advantage of her emotional age vs. her real age. Since Raven was born in Azarath and kept away from others she did not have a chance to grow emotionally. She might actually be emotionally younger than even her current High School age, but it's close enough since that's what we're playing with here.

NRAMA: What about this story demands an extra mini-series vs. a back-up or arc in the regular Titans series?

MW: Raven can sustain her own series and by concentrating a story on her alone demands she not be with the Titans. We really examine her in a way we could not do as one member of a large group. You need the pages to develop her correctly.

NRAMA: Over the years, fans have become accustomed to a variety of artists handling Raven, from George Perez to Tom Grummett to Mike McKone. In terms of the new mini, Damion Scott has quite a different style. In your estimation, what does that style bring to the project, and what do you say to older fans who might be unsure of that approach?

MW: When I wrote the first issue it was before I knew who was going to draw it. I had deliberately done it in a character oriented manga approach which is about moments of character from which the story is developed and told. As I say I had no idea who was going to draw it but when I saw Damion's art I instantly loved it. It's fresh and fun and lively and I think can help bring in a lot of the people who loved the Titans cartoon show and segue them into non anime-manga comics. I know a lot of pure super-hero fans may have a problem with it as it is very different from the classic George Perez style which you know I love, but I think this can open up the story to many non-regular comics readers. I hope the fans can get past the outward style and read the story and then go back and look at how solid the drawing is and how much fun i is as well. There's a scene in the second issue where Raven goes bowling that is just so wonderful. When I wrote it I didn't know if it would work visually since it required a real fun look and if handled wrong it could have played as dead, but Damion pulled it off 100%. I think this something can bring in new readers and different readers. And I can only hope if you're an older reader that you can give something very different and very fresh a chance. Damion's story telling is perfect. I wrote this full script and he even used the cameras angles I called for. I really, really think his art pops as well as telling the story.

NRAMA: I can't help but notice the appellation "DC Special" added above the title for Raven. It seems to me that the last time a Titans family member had a mini flagged as a "DC Special", that it was Donna Troy and her book was one of the drum beats leading to "Infinite Crisis". Knowing your own history with Crises, the fact that Geoff Johns is involved in "DC Universe #0", and that Grant Morrison has a history with the object shown on the final page of Raven #1, is it fair to say that this book might have some far-reaching implications?

MW: Not unless someone decides to do something else with it. This was not planned as anything connecting with any larger story. It's a stand alone Raven only storyline. But I will say there are little things in it that if we do more Raven stories I can build on including a hint of some major villain I create long ago.

NRAMA: Turning to other media for a moment . . . a fan recently posted an email exchange with you at the DC Comics boards, wherein you mentioned that the New Teen Titans: Judas Contract DVD might be facing some speedbumps. Would you care to elaborate on that for us here?

MW: I really don't know anything else. As everyone knows these things are always put on hold for various reasons and then are pushed ahead when it can actually be produced. It's all about making sure the projects are released at the right time. It's the natural course of Hollywood.

Troy Brownfield writes lots of stuff for Newsarama. Get the latest on Marv Wolfman at, where else, www.MarvWolfman.com.

[KoozyK]

bad art. bad, bad art

now go sit in the corner and think about what you've done.

[dalegon]

Welcome back Marv

Bad art ????

Different is bad ???

[A-Newton]

In an all new emo interview!

Man, I can't believe I'm not tired of that joke yet...

[aric_dacia]

I really hated the art. Hated it so much that it made it difficult for me to judge the story on its own merits. I love Marv. I love Raven. But I don't love them enough to pay money for a second issue if it looks like this. I really hope to see more Raven stories from Marv down the road but I don't have enough extra cash to simply buy something I don't like so I can vote for Marv with my $$. I wish I could....

[aric_dacia]

I don't think he said that different was bad. He said this art was bad. And it was.

Originally Posted by dalegon

Welcome back Marv

Bad art ????

Different is bad ???

[Bonobil]

Yeah I completely agree, the artwork is just not working for me.

[A-Newton]

I don't think it's bad artwork at all.

I just think it's bad for a Raven book. Or just about any DCU book, for that matter. It's not the kind of artwork in like in DC/Marvel superhero books.

I'd be interested in seeing it in something original though.

[RedBeard]

Originally Posted by aric_dacia

I don't think he said that different was bad. He said this art was bad. And it was.

It was so bad that after the second page I moved on to the next comic in my stack. I'll make another attempt, but it was just so.... ugh.

[ssava]

Great interview!

I really hope they continue to let Marv do whatever the heck he wants over there at DC!
He deserves it!

As for the art. It's not my cup of tea. But neither was the style they chose for the tv show.
I think they're going for a similar style (and maybe audience) as the tv series.

Just a thought.


But the real quesiton is....
When will Marvel let Marv and Len re-tell Mayhem in Manhattan???

That's a story that has to be told!

[Abstrakt]

ok and why exactly is it bad?

damion has proven to be one of the top in the industry in terms of design

he has no problem with anatomy, doesn't skip out on backgrounds, shows alot of emotion and energy


so what is exactly all your problems? he is different? hes a true artist that loves to experiment? hes always developing?

its one thing to say he might not be right for a book. its one thing to say you simply dont like the style. but you have zero explanation on him being a bad artist. The fact is that you can call very few people in our industry actual artists. he is one of those few artists.

[aric_dacia]

Art is subjective that is true -- but I find his art very difficult to look at. I'm not sure about this -- "he has no problem with anatomy" unless you mean that you've seen him draw normal looking humans and you think he's currently just distorting them for some sort of artistic effect... because the first thing I thought when I saw Raven # 1 (and the first thing several of my friends *said*) was that his figures look inhuman and grotesque.

[Abstrakt]

i'm a fan of damion, this is just a style hes going with now. he does have the ability to draw more realistically. from his first comic to this one you can see him developing it and pushing to exaggerate it more

[Jess Nukem]

Man, we can't even click on the art to see it in a bigger size? WEAK.

[Steve J.]

the decision to put "in her all new EMO series!" on the front cover had this affect on at least one consumer: I left it sitting right on the shelf.

I'm almost 39, and all I know about "emo" is that it's somehow connected to music I don't particularly enjoy played by bands with wacky names that dress somewhat like I did when I was 17 with hair dyed black. so if you're thinking I'm a judgemental moron, ask yourself if your interests from over 20 years ago still appeal to you today...I'd guess probably not much.

if I read Raven's Emo Series it will be because it's in the quarter box at my LCS. which means there's a good chance I'll be reading it a couple months down the road.

sorry, Marv. marketing screwed you on this one. I imagine I'm not the only older Teen Titans fan with this opinion.

[MadBandit]

Marv graduated from my old alma mater, Queens College in NYC.

[TheGrayHulk]

I think when they say the art is "bad" they mean it's a "wrong choice" for a Raven or even a DCU comic. I'm pretty sure that people would say they love it if it were in a Fantagraphics or a Scott Pilgrim type of comic. It's all "context".

[Dragavon]

When the cover of the first issue says this:

doesn't matter how good this might be, it's going to cause people to not pick this up.

[rpriske]

I LOVE the art!

(The 'all-new EMO series' bit is a little weak, however...)

[cynic79]

I liked the art. It's not a typical comic style, but I think it works with the type of story Wolfman is telling.

[Moosarama]

I love Damian Scott's art, especially on the issue he did of Solo, but Raven #1 was very visually poor. And the cover design (not Scott's illustration, but the lettering) is a disgrace.

[TheMightyGeek]

Originally Posted by ssava

...But the real (question) is....
When will Marvel let Marv and Len re-tell Mayhem in Manhattan???

That's a story that has to be told!

I read that novel. Lonnnnnnnngg time ago. Still have it somewheres. Dang, now I need to go find it.

[samnoir]

I had thought Raven's story was fairly played through in the original series, but I really enjoyed what Geoff Johns did with the character and tying her into Brother Blood was a nice twist.

Looking forward to seeing what is coming up next for her.

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[Kevinjt4]

Originally Posted by KoozyK

bad art. bad, bad art

now go sit in the corner and think about what you've done.

Are you kidding!? I'll take this art style any day.

[theodoros]

I too won't buy it cause this art is not my style.