TALKING TO GEORGE PEREZ @ MOTOR CITY COMIC CON 06

[MattBrady]

by Vaneta Rogers

The last time we talked to George Perez at Pittsburgh Comic-Con in April, he indicated a strong desire to do a Legion of Superheroes comic -- so strong that fans have been clamoring for news about the project.

Perez, who is in the midst of an exclusive contract with DC Comics that will keep him working with the company through 2010, was recently seen as penciler on an issue of JSA and a portion of the seven-issue Infinite Crisis miniseries. Next for the artist is the beginning of his 12-issue commitment to the new (yet long delayed) Brave and the Bold ongoing written by Mark Waid.

Newsarama caught up with Perez at this past weekend's Motor City Con to find out the latest news on his Legion hopes, the Games graphic novel, and what he's doing for Justice League of America #0.

Newsarama: George, when we last talked in Pittsburgh, you mentioned how much you would love to work on a Legion of Superheroes story. There was quite a positive response to that notion among fans on the internet, but there were also a lot of people jumping to the conclusion that you are already booked for the comic. Is it a sure thing or just speculation at this point?

George Perez: Well, I know that the Legion editor has already started testing the waters about when I complete the first year of Brave and the Bold, that there may be a Legion project in there that he'd be really interested in me doing. But of course, there's a long line right now.

NRAMA: So right now it's not a given, but a definite possibility?

GP: Well, me publicly having stated that I am interested in The Legion, and fan reaction seeming to be fairly positive about the idea of my ever doing The Legion, I think DC may decide -- especially with this interview to now add to it -- they may think, you know, we'd be kind of foolish not to take advantage of a book that looks like it will be guaranteed to sell. At least to the people who write under so many different names on the internet.

NRAMA: Yeah, have you ever suspected there're only four or five people writing all the posts?

GP: Yeah. That's right. There's 25 responses but only two guys, for all I know.

But like I told you last time, it's a book I loved when I was a child. It was one of my favorite comics when I was a child. And it's a pure irony that after 32 years in the industry I've never actually drawn the book. I've drawn the covers, I've drawn their appearances in Crisis, but I've never actually drawn a Legion story.

NRAMA: You said in Pittsburgh that was a wrong that had to be righted.

GP: It seems that before I die, unless I'm cryogenically brought back in the 30th century where I can do a first-hand account or something, it seems like something I should do. And the fact that I want to do it, and DC is adamant about trying to keep me happy -- god bless 'em -- I could see it happening. As to what the actual format might be, whether it's a story arc or a stand-alone story, I don't know yet. And whether it might be working with Mark Waid, I don't know, because since Mark is working with me on Brave and the Bold, he may be tired of working with me! I don't know!

NRAMA: What do you think of the fan response to your work on Infinite Crisis?

GP: It was great for the most part, but I was actually kind of surprised at how they attacked that last issue. Whoa! I mean, if the internet is any judge. But then again, the internet didn't exist when I did Crisis on Infinite Earths. I can only imagine what it would have been like the issue that Supergirl died. How many people would have said it was a gallant death or "how dare you, you son of a gun! Killing off Supergirl!?" Or, "What do you mean the JSA don't exist as a separate entity?" We probably would have gotten the same thing then.

NRAMA: So - now that your work on Infinite Crisis is finished you can start working on Brave and the Bold...

GP: Finally!

NRAMA: You said last time we talked that the first issue was Batman and Green Lantern. How far along are you with the project?

GP: I'm only on Page 5 of the first issue. I had to wait for Mark Waid to become available because he's working on 52, and they kept throwing other things in front of me.

NRAMA: What other things?

GP: Well, I just did a page of Justice League of America #0. I got to recreate the wedding of Donna Troy again!

NRAMA: Your name was listed on the solicitation for that issue along with many other artists -- everyone from Jim Lee to Kevin Maguire. So you were given something that you had originally drawn? Is that the intent for the involvement of other artists as well?

GP: Yeah. I'm assuming that's how it's being done. For me it was. That was the only page I drew. It was specifically for me because of the Donna Troy aspect. So it was kind of nice drawing the wedding gown again, which my wife designed. I can draw it a little better now. And there was just a slight tweak as to the occurrences at the wedding that doesn't at all contradict what went on in the original.

After that, I had a commitment for Dynamite [Entertainment] where I'm doing covers for Army of Darkness/Darkman. So I did the first cover there.

NRAMA: Has anyone set a date for when Brave and the Bold will come out?

GP: Brave and the Bold won't be scheduled until I'm done with the third issue. Considering I was supposed to start that book back in November. I'm assuming we're not going to see this book come out until early 2007. But I know that DC will probably be asking me to do things here or there as well. They never learn their lesson. Neither do I, obviously!

NRAMA: It might have something to do with how good and reliable you are.

GP: Eh! It's because I'm on contract. They're taking advantage of me and I love it!

I'm grateful that every time they come up with a prestige project, my name is always one of the A-listers there. I get to turn down more work than I can accept, which is a nice position to be in at my age.

NRAMA: How old are you now?

GP: This year, I turned 52, and I think it's very nice of DC to create an entire series to celebrate that.

NRAMA: So that's where they got the name!

GP: Although Bob Wayne also turned 52. He may say, "Hey! Wait a minute!"

NRAMA: You had said something recently about working on a "DC Bible." What is that project all about?

GP: Well, I'm supposed to do some kind of character drawings for the "DC Bible" that Mark Waid is going to be working on. Particularly after doing books like Infinite Crisis, even JSA, I see that there is a desperate need to have standardized costume design sheets where we do the turnarounds to see the front, back and side. Not to tell them how to draw the characters in their own style, but certain things like what the belt looks like in all directions and what a person's costume looks like under the cape, like doing a back shot.

NRAMA: Do artists get references to work with now?

GP: Well, sometimes when they send references, they send references of another person's interpretation where they've jumped a little far off the diving board, or they send you two references from two artists where there are contradictory elements. So there has to be someplace to start.

When I mentioned it to a fan, he suggested, and it was very smart, that characters who wear hoods -- what's their hair color? Those are things you should know.

There were things like when I drew Superman and the Golden Age Superman. The Golden Age Superman looks like he's wearing socks -- there's no heel, there's no seam to show that there's a flat to his boots, yet the current Superman does have a seam so he does actually have, like, a flatness to his boot. There's little things like that I've picked up. There's a slight variation in the insignia, of course, in the two Supermans, but even when I drew Superboy Prime, I noticed that Phil Jimenez drew his insignia and I made sure it was drawn that way. Little things just to give you cues.

NRAMA: But not defining style…

GP: No. It doesn't mean they're going back to the days when all the faces have to look like the model. We're not all going to draw like Curt Swan. They're not all going to draw like me. But at least Superman should have a spit curl. That's Superman. How the jaw is drawn and everything else -- that's a stylistic choice.

NRAMA: With all this work you're doing, is there any hope for the Teen Titans graphic novel Games that you were working on with Marv Wolfman to see the light of day? Last time you talked about it, you weren't optimistic.

GP: There are still 50-something pages to be drawn. It's an enormous story. And as much as it's something I want to do, it's on indefinite hold. And I know they hate me saying it -- and Marv hates it even worse -- but I can't see it ever getting finished. With all the work that I'm being given by DC, there's no way I can fit the Titans graphic novel into my schedule. So it's on indefinite hold, and I can't see a day when that's ever going to be removed.

NRAMA: You need a time machine to add more days to your schedule.

GP: Yeah! Where are they going to schedule it on my schedule if I'm going to be doing monthly titles and filling up whatever free time I have on other projects? I think it's flattering -- the book was a go when I wasn't exclusive. Once I was exclusive, they want me to do so many things. When I wasn't exclusive, they thought the Titans graphic novel was the only thing they could get from me for awhile. Signing the exclusivity seems have to killed the Titans graphic novel.

NRAMA: Well, we just found out that Marv Wolfman's doing a Raven mini-series. So there seems to be work for both of you despite the graphic novel being on hold.

GP: Yeah! I heard about that. You know, it's wonderful to be able to turn down so many projects. The fact that, I know, in this day and age, there are artists of my generation who are struggling to keep working. And here I am turning down projects left and right because I don't have the time. Believe me, I am very, very grateful for that. I understand how lucky I've been. Talent? Yes, that counts for a lot. But a lot of it is also plain simple luck. I've been very, very fortunate.

[BlueThunderArmy]

Too bad about Games, but it's great to see Pérez restored to the profile he deserves.

[rroch]

Can't wait for the Brave and the Bold.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

GP: It seems that before I die, unless I'm cryogenically brought back in the 30th century where I can do a first-hand account or something, it seems like something I should do. And the fact that I want to do it, and DC is adamant about trying to keep me happy -- god bless 'em --

Amen.

[Batman1983]

That last comment was very humble... I can see where he'd take that stance. After all if fan-boy's tastes were different Rob Liefield could.... I'm sorry I couldn't finish that sentence w/ a straight face

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

GP: Well, I just did a page of Justice League of America #0. I got to recreate the wedding of Donna Troy again!

Hmm....................

[swol]

Seems like a class act.
Best of luck with all his project.

His work always seems to bring out the best in stories in my opinion.

Brave & Bold is goes on my pull list as soon as it's scheduled.

[innocentboy]

all respect due to George Perez!

[Upercrazy]

Originally Posted by Kolimar

Hmm....................

Agreed. I know it has been said that WW is Diana, but isn`t Donna another version of Diana. So hmmmm indeed

[DeTroyes]

Very sorry to hear about Games, but psyched to see Brave and the Bold.

Hmmm. Donna Troy's wedding scene is being recreated for JLA #0? Maybe Troia is going to be moving to the JLA?

[Kevin T. Brown]

He's obviously referring to recreating the original wedding many years from the pages of New Teen Titans...

[kcekada]

I'm looking forward to George's work on Brave & the Bold, but his Legion would be the real deal.

Since Barry Kitson is doing a nice job on the regular title, I'd like to see George tackled a prestige mini -- showcasing the various eras of the Legion -- especially the Cockrum/Grell and Giffen eras.

And how about a poster?!!

[TheFinn1225]

Dude has the illest shirts.

[vjamesv]

My table was 4 tables down from Perez at the convention, and that picture in this story is exactly what he looked like all weekend! It was busy all weekend so I did not have a good chance to chat with him. Late Friday I went over and asked him about Infinite Crisis #7 which actually got him to look away from whatever he was drawing so he could roll his eyes. He said that he did exactly what was asked from him, so I asked why he didn't finish some of the other pages. He said that the stuff that he did was the last stuff done for the book. Then I asked him about Crossgen which he answered everything very openly, but that got him back to his drawing... He did party down on saturday though at the hotel! Nowhere else on earth except for a comic convention can you see George Perez dancing to Johnny and the Green Men, Adam West looking down from the balcony, R2 friggin D2 on the dance floor, and Bud Bundy & Wally Cleaver sitting at the bar.

[WalterKovacs]

He's one of the best artists in the industry, and he seems like one helluva nice guy. Can't wait for more stuff! Shame about the Titans Games GN, that would of been sweet.

[Mr Wesley]

Originally Posted by vjamesv

Nowhere else on earth except for a comic convention can you see George Perez dancing to Johnny and the Green Men, Adam West looking down from the balcony, R2 friggin D2 on the dance floor, and Bud Bundy & Wally Cleaver sitting at the bar.

With the exception of Perez, I saw that exact thing at a "Jumped the Shark" reunion.

[c_andrew_s]

He is my favorite artist! That is really call that they named 52 in his honor

That is one guy that'd l'd love to interview

[Wright Blan]

Originally Posted by WalterKovacs

He's one of the best artists in the industry, and he seems like one helluva nice guy. Can't wait for more stuff! Shame about the Titans Games GN, that would of been sweet.

Yeah, but it's probably for the better. I'd rather see a Titans GN set in the current day with Wolfman and Perez than one set in the post-glory days era of the "New Titans". Though a series that would incorporate the finished pages would be interesting. I think I'd rather see them tackle the Raven mini, though.

[Ace]

between

"GP: Well, I just did a page of Justice League of America #0. I got to recreate the wedding of Donna Troy again!"

and the solicits where they say that the current WW has a "predecessor"

I have to wonder.

There's really nothing to lose in making Donna WW for a little while. It'll build the character up so that after diana comes back she's even more valuable. She's a great character already, really, the real heart of the middle generation of DCU heroes. But she'd be even more valuable after holding down a series for a couple of years.

And then you could bring Diana back fresh

[WC Brooks]

"Believe me, I am very, very grateful for that. I understand how lucky I've been. Talent? Yes, that counts for a lot. But a lot of it is also plain simple luck. I've been very, very fortunate."


And the world of comics is all the better for it.

Thank you Mr. Perez.

[Darth Krzysztof]

Originally Posted by TheFinn1225

Dude has the illest shirts.

I saw him at WizardWorld Dallas in 2003 (one of the nicest, classiest guys ever!) in that exact same shirt.

Is this a recent picture?

[sebzero11]

If Perez is drawing it, I am buying it.

Good interview.
Gotta love how humble Perez is.

and fan reaction seeming to be fairly positive about the idea of my ever doing The Legion

Can anyone say "understatement"?

[GOSD]

Great interview, Moonie.

The guy is a class act.

[Paladin]

Definitely would buy a Legion series by Perez! Can't we clone him and get it done before 2007?

[jedifish]

Originally Posted by Darth Krzysztof

I saw him at WizardWorld Dallas in 2003 (one of the nicest, classiest guys ever!) in that exact same shirt.

Is this a recent picture?

Yes, that's the shirt he wore on Saturday.

I went to the Perez panel. Nice guy. Interesting that the project he would have worked on at Marvel is The Eternals with Neil Gaiman. I might have picked that series up if he was doing the art.