BY JENNIFER M. CONTINO
posted 11-11-2002 02:33 PM
courtesy of http://www.comicon.com/pulse
In the wake of the events from Titans/Young Justice Graduation Day,
two new teams are formed to deal with the problems of the world. A new
Teen Titans and a new version of The Outsiders. Scribe Judd Winick caught
up with THE PULSE to reveal a few details about Graduation Day and the
new Outsiders.
THE PULSE: What is Teen Titans/Young Justice Graduation Day?
JUDD WINICK: It's a three issue mini series written by me and drawn
by GEN 13 artist Ale' Garza. This the end of Titans and Young Justice.
This is where it all goes down. The two teams get involved in a battle
against a common enemy. A lot people are going to get hurt.
THE PULSE: The hinted death of a founding Titan makes one wonder
which: Arsenal, Tempest, or Donna Troy; have the head on a chopping block. Why did any one of those characters have to die?
WINICK: You'll have to watch and see.
THE PULSE: How does the death change the teen heroes?
WINICK: Beats me, and I'm not talking about it .In general, as stated
earlier, this entire story of GRADUATION DAY is about endings. It will
rip apart both teams and also provide the motivation to bring this new
configurations together.
THE PULSE: What made you want to work on this limited series?
WINICK: I signed on because it's a launching point for the new Teen
Titans (scripted by Geoff Johns and drawn by Mike McKone) and the OUTSIDERS,
scripted by me and drawn by Tom Raney. It was natural fit. I'm also
pretty excited to write what we see as a land mark event.
THE PULSE: How is it going to help redefine some of the younger
heroes in the DCU?
WINICK: This mini series? Not at all. The TEEN TITANS series by Geoff
and Mike will do all the big changes.
THE PULSE: How does this tie into the formation of The Outsiders?
How does this lead into both Teen Titans and Outsiders new ongoing series?
WINICK: GRADUATION DAY is the death knell for both teams and the catalyst
for the new ones. It helps define some of the line ups. It sets up the
motivation for each team.
THE PULSE: How is this going to be different from the other team
comics out there?
WINICK: These guys are not the JLA. And the basic twist on it, they
aren't as the ol' expression goes, " firefighters...running around
and putting out
fires." They will be hunters. They're going after the bad guys
BEFORE the trouble starts.
THE PULSE: Who makes up The Outsiders?
WINICK: The team is lead by NIGHTWING. We've also got ARSENAL, Jade
who I'm bringing over from GL, METAMORPHO, and three newbies.
GRACE, seven foot powerhouse who currently works security in a meta
human bar. THUNDER, Cassandra Pierce, daughter of Jefferson Pierce,
BLACK LIGHTNING, and a team member to be named after GRADUATION DAY.
THE PULSE: Why these heroes in this team? What makes each an outsider?
WINICK: Well, that would telling... Each character has their own cross
to bear. Each of them has their own issues. One of them is just doing
it for
the money. One is seeking redemption. Two are trying to get out from
under their mentor's shadows. Two need to define themselves as heroes.
One hasn't clue who or what he is. You'll have to read the book to see
who we're talking about.
THE PULSE: Why is Nightwing perfect to lead them? He doesn't seem
like that much of an Outsider?
WINICK: Did Batman seem like much of an OUTSIDER when he started the
team. I'd day just like his old boss, Nightwing is an outsider by choice.
He's taking himself out of the mainstream.
THE PULSE: How will this comic be like the Outsiders most of us
Gen Xers remember from childhood?
WINICK: Metamorpho. Other than that it's whole new book.
THE PULSE: What is The Outsiders about?
WINICK: These guys are not the JLA. And the basic twist on it, they
aren't as the ol' expression goes, " firefighters...running around
and putting out
fires." They will be hunters. They're going after the bad guys
BEFORE the trouble starts.
THE PULSE: The blurb says these heroes will take the threat no one
else wants to take ... like what? What are jobs even other heroes don't
want?
WINICK: Laundry. Dusting. Buying groceries. The real boring stuff.
I plan to challenge the readers. Seriously, they will embrace risk and
look for
battle rather than policing the world. Their taking the fight to the
bad guys.
THE PULSE: What made you want to work on this series?
WINICK: A chance to launch another team. An opportunity to do something
completely different. All the characters on the team were hand picked
by myself and Eddie Berganza. These are the folks I wanted to write
about. That coupled with the opportunity to work with talent like Tom
Raney. From the looks of things, you will seeing the finest work of
the man's career. It is a privilege to be a part of that.
