TALKING LONERS WITH EDITOR BILL ROSEMANN

[MattBrady]

by Chris Arrant

First seen in the pages of Runaways, the group dubbed 'The Loners' are all recovering superheroes. Young adults, trying to stay out of the spandex and the strife of superhero life and try to live as normal a life as possible. But the allure and rewards of being a superhero are hard to let go, and thus formed a self-help group. In the April-debuting miniseries Loners, writer C.B. Cebulski and artist Karl Moline are the storytellers into the lives of Darkhark, Turbo, Ricochet, Green Golbin and Lightspeed as they try to kick the superhero habit.

We spoke with Cebulski late last year about the series, and now we turn to series editor Bill Rosemann to find out more.

Newsarama: Can you give us a rundown of the initial line-up for the Loners?

Bill Rosemann: As our story begins, Phil Urich -- nephew of Daily Bugle reporter Ben Urich, and formerly known as the crime-fighting Green Goblin (yes, there actually was a heroic version who starred in his own short-lived series) -- runs an L.A.-based self-help group for young adults who are trying to kick the super hero habit. Experiencing first-hand how being a vigilante can mess up lives -- and knowing how the current Civil War is complicating matters -- Phil has formed this support network to help keep former teen superheroes out of the addictive costumed lifestyle. Attending the weekly meetings is an eclectic group who once went by the codenames Turbo, Ricochet, Lightspeed and Darkhawk. Joining the group in issue #1 is Mattie Franklin, niece of J. Jonah Jameson and one-time Spider-Woman III. Expect more confused heroes to expand our cast as our story progresses -- but don't expect all of them to successfully resist the temptation to pull on the spandex and bust heads!

NRAMA: As you mentioned, this book takes post in a post-Civil War universe, with all that it might entail. Although we don't know exactly what the final resolution of Civil War is yet, we can surmise that being a superhero will have strings attached. With the Loners being a support group for recovering superheroes -- Capes Anonymous -- how will that impact their demeanor and conversations?

BR: No matter the time or setting, choosing to be a hero should always be a dangerous decision. There are many evil people in the world, and taking a stand against them automatically slaps a bullseye on your chest. Every time you go out there and try to save lives, you're putting your own life -- and the lives of those you love -- in danger. Being a superhero makes your life more complicated, not less. In addition, Civil War -- and everything that will come out of it -- has upped the threat and paranoia factor. As it should be, the Marvel Universe is a dangerous place if you decide to pull on a mask and fight evil. It's not a shiny, happy candyland with one big beloved hero fraternity. All of the destructive Civil War fighting has not done wonders for public tolerance and support of superhumans. So, absolutely, the environment created by the Civil War colors all of the group's discussions about the positives and negatives about choosing to be a hero.

NRAMA: Why would they want to stop being heroes? Even in a post-Civil War world, there's still a lot of wish fulfillment and pride in being a superhero, right?

BR: Well, that's the irony of Marvel heroes, isn't it? You'd think that being able to leap tall buildings would make everything in your life great, right? But as Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and the rest of the founding fathers showed us, gaining abilities only complicates your life. Yes, pulling on a mask and battling villains is an enticing fantasy, but what comes with that decision? What if your powers makes everyone think you're a freak? Or what if a misunderstanding with the law makes you a wanted criminal for crimes you didn’t commit (but actually tried to prevent)? Or what if the media attacks your reputation and everyone believes them? Or what if your costumed actions accidentally lead to someone's death? Not to mention all the problems that arise when you have to lie to your friends, families and co-workers about where you’re always disappearing to – and why you’re always late to everything. So, yes, on one hand, being a hero could be great -- you can help people and experience cool thrills at the same time -- but just as quickly people can get hurt and lives can be shattered. Whether it's Harry Potter or Peter Parker (or, more importantly, the world’s real heroes), choosing to stand against evil comes with deadly consequences -- and that's why we love those who still have the courage to do so.

NRAMA: It seems the group is out there not only to help the people in the group, but to bring other teen heroes into the fold to get them to stop 'heroing', as it were. Marvel's got a wealthy cast of characters reaching far back, but what I see is a lot of other teen hero book already on the stands: Young Avengers, The Runaways and New X-Men. Could you foresee a crossover/intervention at some point down the line?

BR: Definitely, but only if those groups were to make their way out to L.A. It's not like the Loners have a Blackbird jet that they can hop into and zoom around the world -- they meet in a church basement on folding chairs! From what I hear, the Runaways are going to be living up to their names and will be setting out for New York City, home to many Marvel heroes, including the Young Avengers. And the New X-Men are based out of the X-Mansion up in Westchester. So all three of those groups are on the other side of the country. On the flip side, characters like Julie Powers (a.k.a. Lightspeed) and Mattie Franklin left their homes and came out to L.A., so what's to say other young heroes won't also follow that siren call? And what about the new non-NYC based teams that will eventually be coming out of the Civil War Initiative program? The support group is for those choosing to get out and stay out of costume, so if someone reaches out, the Loners will be there.

NRAMA: …and could you give us a taste of what we can expect in issue #1?

BR: Underneath the great Breakfast Club homage cover by Jason Pearson, you'll find a fantastic three-page opening scene that'll have you smiling, great dialogue by C.B. Cebulski, fantastic art by Karl Moline, attractive and intelligent coloring by Christina Strain, and the surprise return of a villain who hasn't seen the light of day in… well, quite some time. The creative team is doing a fantastic job in breathing new life into characters that many people may have written off or scoffed at. Who knew that Darkhawk and Ricochet could be so cool? So if you're a believer in the idea that there are no bad characters (only bad stories), this is the book for you.

[Somebody]

Weren't Phil AND TURBO co-founders, rather than just Phil with Turbo being an attendee? [And don't they still have that Quinjet Rick Jones fixed them up with?]

[The 'Nam]

Can't wait for this. I think Darkhawk is really the only character I'm remotely familiar with, but it sounds like a fun book with a great concept.

[cyberv]

...I've ALWAYS loved Darkhawk, so I kinda knew how cool he could be, thank you...

[Robert Kirkman]

Karl Moline is a fantastic artist and a great guy. C.B. Cebulski is an ASSHAT... but I still love him. And you could wrap a Jason Pearson cover around ANYTHING and I'd give it a look.

I'll be first in line for this book when it comes out.

-Robert

[LaughingJak]

Okay - I'm admitting this publicly for the frist time maybe ever... I read the Green Goblin series with Phil Urich and loved a good chunk of it. It was just so much fun. Throw in a breakfast club tribute and I kinda owe it to myself to pick up a copy.

[shanealt]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

From what I hear, the Runaways are going to be living up to their names and will be setting out for New York City

I'm sorry, what? Did I miss this, somehow?

It sorta irks me...part of what I liked about the Runaways was that, while they would occasionally have crossovers with other Marvel heroes, they were, primarily, off in their own little world over on the West Coast.

[melperfect]

Originally Posted by shanealt

I'm sorry, what? Did I miss this, somehow?

It sorta irks me...part of what I liked about the Runaways was that, while they would occasionally have crossovers with other Marvel heroes, they were, primarily, off in their own little world over on the West Coast.

Check out the Marvel solicits for April. The cover depicts the Runaways with the Statue of Liberty in the distance.

Edit: In fact, here you go:

[Korvac]

I'm willing to give the book a shot, if for no other reason than the acknowledgement that some Marvel characters (I'm looking at you, Lightspeed) actually age...

[puckett]

Originally Posted by LaughingJak

Okay - I'm admitting this publicly for the frist time maybe ever... I read the Green Goblin series with Phil Urich and loved a good chunk of it. It was just so much fun. Throw in a breakfast club tribute and I kinda owe it to myself to pick up a copy.

i loved that book... i admit it too

[skaly]

I didn't realize this spun out of Runaways. Must check out...

[Squashua]

Here's hoping Lightspeed gets an intervention from Gee Force/Powerpax, Mass Master and Energizer. :-)

Wondering if Darkhawk still has a mullet.

[coolmvm]

Man, I can't wait to see what other former heroes come into this series.


I think that I have a guess on one of the former LA based heroes that will join in this team, one that Joe Q hinted at.

[nobleman]

When does Wolverine join? that's the issue i'm all over. don't worry guys, he's got a really good reason for joining.

like most of this except what they are doing to lightspeed both with age and character motivation.

[Ye Olde Iowa]

CB has yet to let me down and I really liked the dynamic of these characters in Runaways. I don't know much of Moline, but the Pearson cover looks great. I'm definitely going to give this one a whirl come April.

[PhoenixFacto]

I think I'll try this since I liked the group in Runaways.

[Mundungus]

I never actually got to read that arc of Runaways with Excelsior (Loners) except for preview pages on websites but after this interview, I'll give this book a try.

[Ace]

I think the real trick here, the thing that'll make this stand out, is that for the most part, they're not necessarily teens like the NXM, Runaways, and Young Avengers, but that early 20-something group that's so underrepresented in Marvel now that Spidey and the X-Men are 30+ and everyone else (save for a couple of X-Men) are under 20.

I'm 25. I grew up with some of these guys, or at least Turbo and Darkhawk (and Julie on some level), and I just passed the real life version of the hump a lot of them seem to be going through, so it'll be nice to see it on paper, with the general idea that superhero comics(and genres in general) are so great because the metaphors can be so great.

[Darthphere]

I'm more excited by the next cover homage than the title itself. I'm lame.

[Charlie Hustle]

I honestly didn't think their story in Runaways was all that interesting.

[Ziggy]

julie power has been aged WAAAAAAAAAAAAYY too much for this series. a "young adult?" please! using typical comic book aging conventions, you really couldn't (and shouldn't) reasonably make julie older than 16.

i'll get the book, cuz anything that has any member of powerpack is on my list, but this aging of julie really irks me.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Bill Rosemann: As our story begins, Phil Urich -- nephew of Daily Bugle reporter Ben Urich, and formerly known as the crime-fighting Green Goblin (yes, there actually was a heroic version who starred in his own short-lived series)

Whoever doesn't know that should be tarred and feathered.

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by LaughingJak

Okay - I'm admitting this publicly for the frist time maybe ever... I read the Green Goblin series with Phil Urich and loved a good chunk of it. It was just so much fun. Throw in a breakfast club tribute and I kinda owe it to myself to pick up a copy.

It was one of those small, lost in the shufffle, gem books that Marvel put out in the 90's that was actually very good.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by Darthphere

I'm more excited by the next cover homage than the title itself. I'm lame.

Yes, you are.

[seesoul]

I thought the Runaways arc (Excelsior) was great fun. I'm looking forward to this title. I don't mind that Julie Powers has aged so much, but how come Franklin Richards is still a kid?

How long has he been 10 years old, anyway?