When word of this came out, we decided to ask Marjorie a few questions to see what we can expect.
Comic Vine: Congrats on writing the upcoming Black Widow series. She's been getting a lot of attention lately with her two mini series and of course Iron Man 2. First off, how did you come on board with this series?
Marjorie Liu: Thanks! I came on board because I was invited to submit a proposal -- and I suppose it clicked with the folks in charge. I appreciate the opportunity to write her character.
Marjorie Liu: Just the first arc, which will be 4-6 issues long. As for the rest, there will be some espionage in the story, but I'm intrigued by Natasha's role and place within the superhero community. She doesn't have powers -- the obvious kind, anyway, like flight and telepathy -- but her outstanding mental strength and skills as a spy have still made her a force to be reckoned with.
CV: Does this mean you have all the secrets as far as what the atmosphere of the Marvel Universe will be after SIEGE?
ML: If only!
CV: Where do you plan on taking Natasha in your first story?
ML: Down some dark paths. Something really terrible happens to her in the first issue, and it's not going to get better. Many people are conspiring against her, and the betrayals will be huge, and life-changing.
ML: Oh, yeah. Definitely. He plays a good solid role as a supporting character in the first issue.
CV: Will writing Black Widow get you an early screening for Iron Man 2?
ML: Dude. I wish.
CV: What's your opinion on Natasha's costume? Do you think it'd be easy to fight crime in a skin tight leather costume?
ML: I've always looked at super-hero costumes as the physical manifestation of a different personality. Kind of like when I put on my sunglasses, tight jeans, and high-heeled boots -- I have a little more attitude. It's a particular kind of armor. Different than when I'm dragging around in sweats and reading glasses. A skin tight leather costume? If that's what she needs to be the Black Widow, then so be it. That, and I bet she's got that leather worked in.
CV: What are your thoughts on the "Women of Marvel" campaign? There's been arguments for and against the promotion. Do you feel there needs to be an emphasis on female characters/creators/readers?
ML: The industry itself, I think, is pretty warm toward female creators -- at least at Marvel. But we do seem to be a bit invisible, sometimes, as far as comic book readers go. There's a misconception from the public that there are no women whatsoever in comics -- besides the busty ladies on the covers -- and there's a sense, too, that the female comic book reader doesn't exist. Oh, that elusive creature!
I think the promotion, if nothing else, will be a way of highlighting these creators to those readers who might have assumed, erroneously, that this is a man's game.
ML: Yes.
CV: What's it been like writing a character like Daken?
ML: Fantastic. You can do so much with him, because he has no boundaries.
CV: I believe his name is pronounced "DOCK-en." Do you get a lot of people asking about the pronunciation?
ML: Yes. But you've got it right.
ML: Oh, wow. I don't even know how to answer that. I think that Black Widow is so experienced in dealing with fighters who are stronger and faster than her, that she might just be able to pull off a win. Initially. X-23 would probably walk away from that, but not Daken. Daken's pride is immense and terrible, and if he lost a fight to Black Widow, you can bet that he'd find some way to get back at her. So, ultimately, in the long run -- I'd have to bet on him.
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