BACK TO COMICS: BRAD MELTZER

**MattBrady** · 05-09-2008, 03:20 PM

Yesterday, we brought you the first word on DC Universe: Last Will and Testament, marking Brad Meltzer’s return to the DC Universe. The 38 page one-shot will fit between issues #3 and #4 of Final Crisis, and will tell the story of the “night before,” that is, the day/night before the big battle that the heroes know is coming – the battle that they know many of them won’t survive.

We had a chance to speak with Meltzer more about Last Will, as well as his next comic book project.

Newsarama: Obviously, when you were planning out the story of Last Will and Testament, the “Trinity” of the DC Universe – Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman will play large roles, but how many characters do you end up showcasing?

Brad Meltzer: Well, it’s not a cavalcade of or an excuse to write ‘who’s every character I can pull out of my rear end,’ it’s more along the lines of ‘who do I have a good story for?’ In some cases, some of them are outgrowths of stories that I’ve always wanted to tell. When it comes to the Trinity, it’s mostly about where things are going in the future, and when it comes to the smaller characters, it’s really about where the story comes from, and in one of the cases, it’s one of the unresolved stories for me from Justice League. I always wanted to tell it and try to figure out where and when I could fit it in, but had to leave it when I left the series. With this, I realized it was a perfect time to come back and let this be the allegory for what and where the DC Universe is headed – as overblown as that immediately sounds [laughs].

NRAMA: Of the characters, who was the hardest and who was the easiest?

BM: Hm – I really can’t say without giving things away. Sorry.

NRAMA: So far, how’s the art looking from Adam Kubert?

BM: He is just killing with every page. I thought his run on Action Comics was as stellar as anything that’s been published in a long time. He happened to be finishing the Annual as I was coming on with this, so we matched up perfectly, timing-wise. I got very lucky on that. As people who read “Last Son” know, Adam can do the big stuff, but man, did he make me love those characters. I thought that his Clark and Lois and Chris scenes were as exciting and interesting as any of the big action pieces.

NRAMA: Given your DC fanboy status it probably should be pointed out that this sounds a touch like the scene from Alan Moore’s “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” story.

BM: It has echoes, yeah, but you’re talking about one of my favorite stories ever in comics there, so I can’t possibly compare it to that. But there’s no question that there are similarities. It’s one of those moments where you have to back off and let the character examine themselves. Not that it turns into something where everyone’s on the therapy couch, but I really believe, like I said, that in most stories, you don’t have the time to do that – it’s only at the biggest, most horrible moment of your life do you get that chance to do the self-searching that takes you to a different place.

This just happens, again, to be that moment. The heroes are about to go off and fight that battle. And to go back and answer your question of who was the most difficult to write – Rocky Davis – Challengers of the Unknown.

NRAMA: That opens the doors wide to how far-reaching Final Crisis is…

One final question about Last Will, Brad – as readers of your blog know, you recently lost your mother to breast cancer. Obviously, we extend our deepest sympathies, but given the close association of what you were working on and what you were going through in real life, did your mother dying affect your writing on this story?

BM: I wish I could have separated the two, but it was just impossible. If anything, it brought a deeper sense of consequence. It didn’t make it a better story, or a better written story because my mom passed away, in my own way, it made the experience more of an ironic and tragic one. But the writing’s still the writing, and that’s what it should be judged on, not anything else.

NRAMA: Moving on to your other comics work during this novel hiatus – we recently spoke with Joss Whedon, and mentioned that you’re still coming up on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8.

BM: Right. As of the last time I heard, Joss is writing the last arc, and I’m writing the one before that. So I’m toward the end in a long line of just amazing people writing the series.

NRAMA: How did Joss approach you on this?

BM: Gosh, I think now, two years ago? I got the secretive e-mail with the blood oath attachment from him that asked if I was in or I was out. Of course, I said I was in, and then came the second e-mail with another blood oath, and a blood rite, and that one had the grand plan of what was happening in the series. Honestly, it’s one of the few dream come true experiences in my career to date – getting to work on a character and a universe that we all know and love. The same reason that I want to go work on Superman is the same reason that I want to go work on Buffy. When we first started talking about this, we all had to make a promise of how great Season 8 was going to be, and now, I don’t think we need to promise that anymore – everyone can see what’s been done so far, and I just consider myself lucky to be riding their coattails.

NRAMA: Joss told us that his approach for the different writers in the series was to see what it was about the universe that gelled with them, that hooked them, and then ask them to go in that direction with a little input on from the larger storyline. Given that you’re writing near the end, is that how your story will run, or are you under a few more constraints given that you are, near the end?

BM: I can say “A little bit of both” and that’s really all I can say about it. I don’t want to ruin anything that’s coming up.

Or activate that blood rite attachment that’s still in my inbox. [laughs]

Check back on Monday for a discussion with Meltzer about his new novel, The Book of Lies.

d00gZ · 05-09-2008, 03:27 PM

You WILL believe a man can cry.

TheWotch · 05-09-2008, 03:43 PM

Hrm...Not much of a Meltzer fan. I liked Archer's Quest, but Identity Crisis and his JLA relaunch, those I cannot stand. Now he's moving to Buffy...Well, I'll hope for the best.

However, not wanting to sound too critical, the Final Crisis one-shot sounds kinda nice. I suppose we shall wait and see.

Kevin T. Brown · 05-09-2008, 03:48 PM

Looking forward to this. I love Melzter's writing, whether it's novels or comics.

David P. Lyons · 05-09-2008, 03:52 PM

None for me, thanks: stale, opaque dialogue, ham-fisted characterizations, and series that go nowhere--or, in the case of Identity Crisis, no where sensible--aren't for me.

jack_lama · 05-09-2008, 04:02 PM

I'm sooooo in, loved his Red Tornado arc in JLA. Just hope DC doesn't charge us like some outragous price like $7 cause it's some "fill in the blank" special.

Parademon · 05-09-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jack_lama

I'm sooooo in, loved his Red Tornado arc in JLA. Just hope DC doesn't charge us like some outragous price like $7 cause it's some "fill in the blank" special.

Actually, that brings up a good point - I wonder how many pages all these special will have - will they be 28, 40 or 80 page giants?

**MattBrady** · 05-09-2008, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parademon

Actually, that brings up a good point - I wonder how many pages all these special will have - will they be 28, 40 or 80 page giants?

From the article: "The 38 page one-shot "

MattB

Parademon · 05-09-2008, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

From the article: "The 38 page one-shot "

MattB

Damn my incompetence!

Let's just assume I was talking about all OTHER specials!

Caleb Gerard · 05-09-2008, 04:14 PM

Can someone let me know who a couple of the faces are?

Other half of Superman (Jonathan Kent?)
Other half of Catwoman
And BOTH halves of the top right

Nice homage cover. Not to live too much in the past but it would be cool to see some alternate covers for this series that homage the original Crisis.

Guess I'm not the fanboy I used to be.

CJG

Parademon · 05-09-2008, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caleb Gerard

Can someone let me know who a couple of the faces are?

Other half of Superman (Jonathan Kent?)
Other half of Catwoman
And BOTH halves of the top right

Nice homage cover. Not to live too much in the past but it would be cool to see some alternate covers for this series that homage the original Crisis.

Guess I'm not the fanboy I used to be.

CJG

It's John Kent

It's not Catwoman - but Wildcat and Wildcat

And the top right are Hourman & Liberty Belle and Thunder and Black Lightning.

JackHarkness · 05-09-2008, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

‘who do I have a good story for?’

No one.

This has been today's simple answer to a stupid question.

n8twing · 05-09-2008, 04:20 PM

"and in one of the cases, it’s one of the unresolved stories for me from Justice League. I always wanted to tell it and try to figure out where and when I could fit it in, but had to leave it when I left the series. With this, I realized it was a perfect time to come back and let this be the allegory for what and where the DC Universe is headed – as overblown as that immediately sounds [laughs]."

I'm guessing the Geo-Force/Terra story is what Brad is referring to....

Marvin Lee · 05-09-2008, 04:28 PM

Meltzer is the one writer capable of giving a comic enough emotional resonance to choke me up. He did it with the funeral in Identity Crisis 2 and again with Justice League of America 11. Nothing but top writing talent involved with this project.

durkadurka · 05-09-2008, 04:37 PM

I'm a huge fan, Mr. Meltzer, and i can't wait for this.

darima80 · 05-09-2008, 04:37 PM

I think Meltzer will be touching on that snipet from Justice League of America #0 where Pa Kent has died.

durkadurka · 05-09-2008, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvin Lee

Meltzer is the one writer capable of giving a comic enough emotional resonance to choke me up. He did it with the funeral in Identity Crisis 2 and again with Justice League of America 11. Nothing but top writing talent involved with this project.

The funeral was in the first issue of Identity Crisis.
Ha, i win!

darima80 · 05-09-2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

From the article: "The 38 page one-shot "

MattB

So I should expect a cover price of no more than 3.50, am I correct? Rann/Thanagar: Holy War is 40 pages and that's what their charging.

**MattBrady** · 05-09-2008, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darima80

So I should expect a cover price of no more than 3.50, am I correct? Rann/Thanagar: Holy War is 40 pages and that's what their charging.

Not quite sure why you think I would know...but it will be what's on the cover.

MattB

De Martini · 05-09-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Not quite sure why you think I would know...but it will be what's on the cover.

MattB

Hey Matt, do you know where the hell I left my navy-blue corduroy pants?

But back to the topic at hand: Metzler's comics writing has been rocky but mostly enjoyable. I enjoyed IDENTITY CRISIS for its sense of scope and mystery, a truly cinematic affair. The plot (and logic) fell apart by the end, but the character moments were superb. I loved Archer's Quest, and thought his JLA run was good if a bit slow.

A one-shot, though, should prove very, very interesting. I can't wait.

eejobeau · 05-09-2008, 04:54 PM

Hope it's better than his JLA run. I love what he did with the lineup but the story was all over the place. I think it got more credit than it deserved but it's all good. He's still a good guy so I'm sure he'll make up for it.

s*p rules · 05-09-2008, 04:56 PM

Wow - Barry/Wally. Who would've thunk we'd see the day?

Shouldn't it be Connor or Dinah instead of Red Arrow with Ollie? And Lois with Supes?

darima80 · 05-09-2008, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Not quite sure why you think I would know...but it will be what's on the cover.

MattB

Because you're the guy with all the answers.
Why didn't I think of looking at the cover??? Thanks, Matt. I told you you're the guy with the answers.

El Argentino · 05-09-2008, 05:03 PM

That´s Sand and Terra on the upper corner?

darima80 · 05-09-2008, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Not quite sure why you think I would know...but it will be what's on the cover.

MattB

Looking back at the solicits for Requiem and Rogues Revenge it would be a sure bet to say it'll be going for $3.99. The FC trade dress alone is worth it.