Earlier this week we got to sit down and ask comics writer James Robinson about his current series EARTH 2 at DC. During the discussion we spoke to James about the characters that have been appearing in the current series, what other characters we can expect to see in the series as well as what the role of Earth 2's "Last Amazon" will be. Check out the full extent of the interview below and be sure to tune into our podcast on Friday, December 7th for a more in-depth discussion with James about EARTH 2 and his upcoming projects.
Comic Vine: We caught a glimpse at EARTH 2's "Last Amazon" back in September when DC teased her cover image where she is standing with Steppenwolf. When are you planning to reveal to readers who she is?
James Robinson: In issue #8.
CV: In the last few issues of EARTH 2 we've been introduced to many characters but haven't really seen them come together to form a proper team. Do you have any plans to establish a team with these characters?
JR: Of course but my thing is that if they all come together immediately…I mean, I've seen that over and over and it feels like every other book. Isn't it more fun to have them come to terms with the fact that they do need these other people, and they [Alan Scott] aren't invulnerable. Like I said somewhere else, the arc of his personal journey over the next six months, will be finding his own vulnerability while coming to terms with his vulnerability. So yes I do plan on creating a team but it's something I want to have fun with instead of doing it immediately.
CV: What can you say about who will be joining the team?
JR: Well, if you want specific people it's obviously going to be Hawkgirl, Green Lantern and The Flash. Then eventually we're going to be seeing Dr. Fate and Wildcat. But then around that "team" that you see operating we'll see characters in the World Army and Mr. Terrific and etcetera. So although [I'm] building a core group of heroes, there will be other heroes who will be operating and having their ongoing story lines and everything else. I'm trying to give this book a little bit more of a feel of STARMAN where there was the main storyline but we also had these other characters and their [own] plots and they will all converge into one story line which is what I did then. So I'm trying to take this kind of approach as opposed what I did in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA where there was a lot of team stuff and fighting and I don't know whether it was my best work or it was really true to the kind of writer that I am so I'm trying to fix that by making a book that combines my skill set with something that's exciting.
== TEASER ==CV: What is The Last Amazon's connection to Steppenwolf?
JR: The Fury's connection to Steppenwolf is that she has been trained by him from a young age in the martial arts of Apokolips. She is from Earth and there is a link between her and Amazon Island. I am referring to Amazon Island on Earth 2 not Paradise Island, you should note that. The first seeds are sown in issue 8 where we are introduced to Fury and we learn a bit more about her past and her connection to Amazon Island and how that connects to Steppenwolf…Fury helps Steppenwolf as his assistant. I should mention I am very happy with Fury's design and want to mention that issue #7 and issue #8 [her first appearance] are penciled by artist Yildiray Cinar.
CV: When you say she's been trained from an early age by Steppenwolf would you say she's been manipulated or would you say she's working with him voluntarily?
JR: Well, she thinks it's her choice but you'll realize there is manipulation. Her realizing that will take some time and it will be a part of a story arc in the future.
CV: The images we were sent where she is fighting with Steppenwolf, are those training sequences?
JR: The scene is she and Steppenwolf fighting side by side against a common foe in different locations.
CV: How do you plan on bringing Steppenwolf back to EARTH 2? What can you say about any plans you may have to integrate his character back into the story?
JR: Well in issue one Batman destroyed the palace, he actually destroyed the ability to create Boom Tubes on Earth 2. That means that Steppenwolf, the Parademons and war criminals are stuck on the outskirts of the world. Now he is stuck on this planet and he's trying to make that work for him. What this is is part of a long-term strategy that he's been forming, and we'll see that develop in future story-lines.
CV: Do you foresee a connection being made between the current events in DC's Earth Prime and the universe you're creating on EARTH 2?
JR: Absolutely. It will happen. I don't know how far away, what month or when it will happen but we're definitely beginning to lay seeds now for when it does.
CV: How do you view Steppenwolf? His motives and ambitions?
JR: I've always seen him as a military strategist, like a genius. I've always imagined him like Rommel [Erwin Rommel] who fought in North Africa of the Germans [WWII]. He's a man that had always served Darkseid, but now he's on his own and he realizes he's going to have to think for himself. It's him crafting a plan that will work for him. As I've said before, the way I've always regarded him is like this barbarian who is still intelligent and quite eloquent. I've always modeled him in my mind after Basil Rathbone from the 'Mask of Zorro' which I'm sure you've seen. Rathbone was this brilliant swordsman and even though he's evil you almost sort of like him because he's just this very eloquent guy.
CV: Was it a coincidence that we saw Orion appear in Wonder Woman and now we have Steppenwolf in EARTH 2? Was that something you had planned?
JR: It was sort of a happy accident but since then things…it's certainly a plot line…definitely a coincidence we'll be kicking around in the near future and that's all I can say.
What do you thin of James Robinson's EARTH 2 book so far? Have you been enjoying the series? What do you think of the 'Last Amazon'? Are you looking forward to seeing Fury's first appearance in EARTH 2 #8? Are you enjoying reading the gradual creation of this EARTH 2 Justice League team?
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