Post by /\/\att on May 10, 2004 1:29:28 GMT -5
Thread started on: Dec 4th, 2003
Mr. Wolfman has created the most comic book characters...second only to the great Stan Lee!
His creations include Blade, Nightwing and the New Teen Titans!
He wrote for numerous 80's cartoons, such as Jem and Transformers.
Marv wrote Batman: A lonely Place of Dying and is responsible for the infamous DC Crisis on Infinate Earths in the 80's!
Mr. Wolfman is currently doing some writing on the Teen Titans animated series.
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LoG: We have to start with 'the Crisis on Infinate Earths'. I know you answer a lot of questions about this, so we won't get too detailed. Looking back on the Crisis..do you see it as influential in DC comics today? Do you think another re-set of continuity will be necessary in the future?
Marv Wolfman: The Crisis is much too influential today. It was supposed to have reset the universe and then never be referred to again. That it still is, even to a small degree, is a mistake. I believe that every ten years continuity should be reset to zero. You don't need a Crisis to do that, though. All you need to do is "forget" all the stupid things and bring back anything that's good. comics need to grow, not to stagnate or mire themselves in past continuity.
LoG: You wrote a two-part episode for Batman: The Animated Series entitled 'Feat of Clay'. In this episode, the DCAU was introduced to Clayface as Matt Hagen. If memory serves, the comic book version of Mr. Hagen was killed in the Crisis. Did you have regrets about killing off Hagen? Was it your idea/descision to bring him to the animated series?
Marv Wolfman: I had no regrets and no memory of killing off Clayface. He was probably one of the characters the editors asked me to kill. I would not have personally suggested him.
LoG: The origin of Matt Hagen was also altered in the animated series. In the comics, he jumped into a mythical pool of goo that he found in a cave, whereas in the animated series he was an actor disfigured by Roland Dagget. Was this your
idea/descision? What was the driving force behind this change?
Marv Wolfman: No, that was given to me.
LoG: You've written for a number of hit cartoons throughout the 80's & 90's, such as Jem! and Transformers. How did you get into writing for cartoons? How is it that you were involved with so many popular toons?
Marv Wolfman: I was asked to work on G.I. Joe because of my comics work. I guess people liked what I did and I got asked to do more.
LoG: Do you have any advice for the aspiring comic / cartoon script writers out there?
Marv Wolfman: Keep writing and never give up.
LoG: You wrote the episode entitled 'Deep Six' on the Teen Titans cartoon. Were you approached to write for the show at the beginning? What level of involvement have you had on the toon, other than
writing 'Deep Six'?
Marv Wolfman: I've had very little involvement with the Titans cartoons other than writing the episode and, one hopes, some more. I approached them about doing it.
LoG: You're a respected veteran of the comic industry. A fan icon. We'd love to know what you enjoy the most about your work, and what you least enjoy. Do you still run into problems with "office politics?"
Marv Wolfman: I like putting together stories and working on them until they work. hat I enjoy least is office politics which answers your second question.
LoG: Are there any plans to bring any other characters from your long list of creations to life in film or television?
Marv Wolfman: I have no idea. I only learn about them when and if a company tells me. DC's pretty good about it.
LoG: This final question is on every cartoon fan's mind. Possibly the greatest mystery of our time. Which Robin is featured on the Teen Titans cartoon? Is this thingy Grayson, as featured in your original formation of the team?
Marv Wolfman: As far as I know it's just Robin since there are no secret identities given. No names are given in the bible. So the fans can decide for themselves who it is.
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Thanks to Marv for taking the time to chat with us here at LoG!
------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Wolfman has created the most comic book characters...second only to the great Stan Lee!
His creations include Blade, Nightwing and the New Teen Titans!
He wrote for numerous 80's cartoons, such as Jem and Transformers.
Marv wrote Batman: A lonely Place of Dying and is responsible for the infamous DC Crisis on Infinate Earths in the 80's!
Mr. Wolfman is currently doing some writing on the Teen Titans animated series.
-----------------------
LoG: We have to start with 'the Crisis on Infinate Earths'. I know you answer a lot of questions about this, so we won't get too detailed. Looking back on the Crisis..do you see it as influential in DC comics today? Do you think another re-set of continuity will be necessary in the future?
Marv Wolfman: The Crisis is much too influential today. It was supposed to have reset the universe and then never be referred to again. That it still is, even to a small degree, is a mistake. I believe that every ten years continuity should be reset to zero. You don't need a Crisis to do that, though. All you need to do is "forget" all the stupid things and bring back anything that's good. comics need to grow, not to stagnate or mire themselves in past continuity.
LoG: You wrote a two-part episode for Batman: The Animated Series entitled 'Feat of Clay'. In this episode, the DCAU was introduced to Clayface as Matt Hagen. If memory serves, the comic book version of Mr. Hagen was killed in the Crisis. Did you have regrets about killing off Hagen? Was it your idea/descision to bring him to the animated series?
Marv Wolfman: I had no regrets and no memory of killing off Clayface. He was probably one of the characters the editors asked me to kill. I would not have personally suggested him.
LoG: The origin of Matt Hagen was also altered in the animated series. In the comics, he jumped into a mythical pool of goo that he found in a cave, whereas in the animated series he was an actor disfigured by Roland Dagget. Was this your
idea/descision? What was the driving force behind this change?
Marv Wolfman: No, that was given to me.
LoG: You've written for a number of hit cartoons throughout the 80's & 90's, such as Jem! and Transformers. How did you get into writing for cartoons? How is it that you were involved with so many popular toons?
Marv Wolfman: I was asked to work on G.I. Joe because of my comics work. I guess people liked what I did and I got asked to do more.
LoG: Do you have any advice for the aspiring comic / cartoon script writers out there?
Marv Wolfman: Keep writing and never give up.
LoG: You wrote the episode entitled 'Deep Six' on the Teen Titans cartoon. Were you approached to write for the show at the beginning? What level of involvement have you had on the toon, other than
writing 'Deep Six'?
Marv Wolfman: I've had very little involvement with the Titans cartoons other than writing the episode and, one hopes, some more. I approached them about doing it.
LoG: You're a respected veteran of the comic industry. A fan icon. We'd love to know what you enjoy the most about your work, and what you least enjoy. Do you still run into problems with "office politics?"
Marv Wolfman: I like putting together stories and working on them until they work. hat I enjoy least is office politics which answers your second question.
LoG: Are there any plans to bring any other characters from your long list of creations to life in film or television?
Marv Wolfman: I have no idea. I only learn about them when and if a company tells me. DC's pretty good about it.
LoG: This final question is on every cartoon fan's mind. Possibly the greatest mystery of our time. Which Robin is featured on the Teen Titans cartoon? Is this thingy Grayson, as featured in your original formation of the team?
Marv Wolfman: As far as I know it's just Robin since there are no secret identities given. No names are given in the bible. So the fans can decide for themselves who it is.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to Marv for taking the time to chat with us here at LoG!
------------------------------------------------------------------