Showing posts with label Larfleeze. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Larfleeze. Show all posts
Monday, March 24, 2014
Monday, February 24, 2014
Monday, January 27, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
Thursday, January 16, 2014
J.M. DeMatteis Shines The Orange Spotlight On Larfleeze
He started out life as a villain, Agent Orange, but quickly became fandom’s most beloved ring-slinger. And while the book his strip backed up is barely remembered, Larfleeze continues his quirky space adventures monthly in his ongoing title by J.M. DeMatteis, Keith Giffen and artist Scott Kolins.
To get to the heart of this fan fave’s adventures, Cosmic Book News Managing Editor Byron Brewer exclusively traveled to the year 3000 to discuss the Orange Lantern with the legendary Mr. DeMatteis.
Cosmic Book News: How did you become involved in this book, which started as a backup feature by Keith Giffen?
J.M. DeMatteis: Pretty simple: Keith called me up and said I’m doing a new book called Larfleeze and I’d love to co-write it with you. To be honest, I had no clue who Larfleeze was, but I’d work with Keith on anything. He’s one of the biggest talents, and best guys, in the business and we’ve been writing together since the 80’s. Once I got to know the character, I saw how much fun we could have playing with Larfleeze and his butler, Stargrave—who’s quickly become a favorite.
CBN: Do you and Keith share a vision for Larfleeze? How do you collaborate?
J.M. DeMatteis: Our collaboration is a unique one: totally based in spontaneity. Even if we discuss the plots ahead of time—which we do sometimes, but not all the time; I’m often as surprised by what’s in the book as the readers are—Keith is then free to go off and change everything we’ve talked about and turn the story on its head. (Which he often does.) Same for me: Once I start scripting, I throw in character bits, plot permutations and whatever cosmic silliness pops into my head. I play off what Keith has laid out in the plot but I also have the freedom to diverge and spin the story in other directions that Keith never anticipated. That’s the fun of our collaboration: Keith and I are constantly surprising each other. Certainly keeps things interesting!
CBN: So, do you share more a love of the Lantern space opera or the humor of the character?
J.M. DeMatteis: All of that, I think. One of the things I’m enjoying most about the book is that, on one level, it’s a pretty serious space opera, an epic cosmic tale; on another level, it’s neo-vaudevillian lunacy. I call it Jack Kirby meets Monty Python.
CBN: Will we see any big-bads battling Agent Orange except himself and his vanity?
J.M. DeMatteis: We’ve been developing a whole host of cosmic bad guys—The House of Tuath-Dan, a race of lunatic gods from another dimension—and they’ll continue to be very important to the book. We’ve also got the Orange Lantern Corps out there—former prisoners within Larfleeze’s power ring—loose in the universe and out for Larf’s head. And there are more new characters on the way. One thing we’re trying to do with the book is not depend on the past, but add new blood to the DCU.
J.M. DeMatteis: One word: G’nort!
CBN: What can you tell us about the coming arc without spoilers (or with, laughs)?
J.M. DeMatteis: One word: G’nort!
CBN: Since we have you here, can I ask: How do you like handling the Phantom Stranger? He would seem a difficult character.
J.M. DeMatteis: I haven’t found him difficult at all. Fascinating? Deep? Complex? Sure. Dan Didio set up a wonderful mythology when he rebooted the series and I’ve been having a great time exploring, and building upon, that mythology. Between PS and Justice League Dark I’m really indulging my love of the moody, mystical corners of the DCU.
CBN: You and Keith seem to be having fun also with Justice League 3000. Is it the characters or the freedom that they are apart from today’s New 52?
J.M. DeMatteis: Both. We’re working with characters who are the iconic classics and, at the same time, aren’t.
We’ve got the freedom to twist and turn them any way we’d like. We’re not burdened by continuity, and yet we can pull anything we’d like from the characters’ histories. And not just the characters: we’ve got a virgin future to play with, one that’s never been seen before in the DCU. We’re building an entire universe from scratch. It’s a great challenge and great fun.
CBN: You work with a number of artists these days. How does Scott Kolins of Larfleeze stack up?
J.M. DeMatteis: Scott’s work combines the energy and impact of Jack Kirby with the detail and invention of Moebius. (Two of my all-time favorite artists.) His art is unique and fits the character, and our stories, to a T.
CBN: Any current or future projects you would care to discuss?
J.M. DeMatteis: We’re in the middle of a huge crossover in the DCU Dark books and, as the writer of both Phantom Stranger and Justice League Dark, I’ve been deeply involved in constructing what I hope is a saga truly worth the readers’ time and money. I’ve been working side-by-side with Ray Fawkes—writer of Pandora and Constantine—on Forever Evil: Blight and it’s been a pleasure creating this massive, mystical tale with him. We’re trying very hard to make this a story that really matters to all our characters, that challenges them and takes them to new places. If you haven’t been reading the Forever Evil: Blight crossover, I hope you’ll give it a look.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Monday, October 21, 2013
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Larfleeze #1 Keith Giffen and Scott Kolins : Tragic (But Funny) Origin
From IGN.com
IGN Comics: First and foremost, I loved the credits. Just fun and playful in a way that a lot of other superhero books aren’t right now. Can we expect this kind of humor throughout the book moving forward?
Scott Kolins: I love that stuff and hope it takes over the entire book. Why just the credits?
Keith Giffen: Yup. It's what we do. And did you see how quickly we corrupted Scott? That's gotta be a record of some kind. Actually, do we really need another dire, depressing, grim comic book in a market already saturated with the like? C'mon. Lighten up. These books are supposed to be fun.
IGN: Scott, can you talk a little bit about the design of Larfleeze? Do any of his features give you any difficulty in terms of rendering emotion and body language?
Kolins: Those tusks do get in the way sometimes, so I have to pick my angles carefully, but his sinewy framework and rabid face topped with that crazy hair – what’s not to love?
IGN: I love, love, love Larfleeze’s origin here, as told by him. The juxtaposition of his words with the actual events is both hilarious and deeply tragic at the same time. What do you think this adds to the character?
Giffen: Another layer beyond the "gimme, gimme" avarice that's Larfleeze's stock and trade. When it comes to characters, Marc and I have always been more interested in who he (or she) is than what he (or she) is.
IGN: He even tells his butler that half of his story is a lie. Does he truly see events differently than they happened or is this a sort of defense mechanism?
Giffen: Larfleeze -- and keep in mind that this is my take on the character -- is so full of himself that there's no room for anyone else. He thinks what he thinks at the moment he thinks it with no regard for anything he's thought before. In other words, he's bat s**t crazy.
Kolins: Yes and yes.
IGN: Will any of these past events come into play in this series?
Kolins: Nothing is throw away, if Keith and Marc put it in – they’ve got plans to use it. Evil plans…
Giffen: I don't see how they can't. I know his time spent enslaved will play into the Revolt of the Orange Lanterns storyline, so there's that already.
IGN: Larfleeze is pretty sympathetic up until he murders everyone for the Orange Power Battery. Even though he’s come a long way since then, and I think has earned our sympathy these last few years, what are the challenges of approaching the solo book of a “bad guy” and letting him his keep his initial appeal while making him a character you want to follow month to month?
Giffen: It's not as much of a challenge as you'd think. The douchebag as hero model is still selling well. Heroism and honor and valor get one labeled a boy scout (how many times have we heard that applied to Superman?). At least in Larfleeze we get the chance to poke some fun at the whole douchebag as hero trend.
Kolins: Flawed characters rule.
IGN: The double-page spread is gorgeous. Can you take us behind the design a little of the creatures we see here? What did the script call for in comparison to the final product?
Kolins: Thank you. Keith left Laord’s design very open for me. Keith told me his name, that he wanted someone large and very very powerful with two wolves and a few servants carrying goodies Larfleeze would want – AND do something NEW. I threw out a bunch of designs, DC threw out a bunch of designs and we settled on this one. I think this works well because the name fits. He looks like a “Laord of the Hunt” and without looking like someone we saw before. I mean, a purple fiery lion-esque tribal mask? Whoa!
IGN: Can you offer any clues as to the final page teaser? It looks like there are some Orange Lanterns that are no longer just constructs. Does this mean the ranks might be growing?
Giffen: I don't know about the ranks, but I do know our supporting cast will be growing.
Kolins: More importantly, why would they chain Larfleeze?! MwaaHaaHaaHaaa (MWaaHaaHaaHaaa ©Dematteis and Giffen)
IGN Comics: First and foremost, I loved the credits. Just fun and playful in a way that a lot of other superhero books aren’t right now. Can we expect this kind of humor throughout the book moving forward?
Scott Kolins: I love that stuff and hope it takes over the entire book. Why just the credits?
Keith Giffen: Yup. It's what we do. And did you see how quickly we corrupted Scott? That's gotta be a record of some kind. Actually, do we really need another dire, depressing, grim comic book in a market already saturated with the like? C'mon. Lighten up. These books are supposed to be fun.
IGN: Scott, can you talk a little bit about the design of Larfleeze? Do any of his features give you any difficulty in terms of rendering emotion and body language?
Kolins: Those tusks do get in the way sometimes, so I have to pick my angles carefully, but his sinewy framework and rabid face topped with that crazy hair – what’s not to love?
IGN: I love, love, love Larfleeze’s origin here, as told by him. The juxtaposition of his words with the actual events is both hilarious and deeply tragic at the same time. What do you think this adds to the character?
Giffen: Another layer beyond the "gimme, gimme" avarice that's Larfleeze's stock and trade. When it comes to characters, Marc and I have always been more interested in who he (or she) is than what he (or she) is.
Giffen: Larfleeze -- and keep in mind that this is my take on the character -- is so full of himself that there's no room for anyone else. He thinks what he thinks at the moment he thinks it with no regard for anything he's thought before. In other words, he's bat s**t crazy.
Kolins: Yes and yes.
IGN: Will any of these past events come into play in this series?
Kolins: Nothing is throw away, if Keith and Marc put it in – they’ve got plans to use it. Evil plans…
Giffen: I don't see how they can't. I know his time spent enslaved will play into the Revolt of the Orange Lanterns storyline, so there's that already.
IGN: Larfleeze is pretty sympathetic up until he murders everyone for the Orange Power Battery. Even though he’s come a long way since then, and I think has earned our sympathy these last few years, what are the challenges of approaching the solo book of a “bad guy” and letting him his keep his initial appeal while making him a character you want to follow month to month?
Giffen: It's not as much of a challenge as you'd think. The douchebag as hero model is still selling well. Heroism and honor and valor get one labeled a boy scout (how many times have we heard that applied to Superman?). At least in Larfleeze we get the chance to poke some fun at the whole douchebag as hero trend.
Kolins: Flawed characters rule.
IGN: The double-page spread is gorgeous. Can you take us behind the design a little of the creatures we see here? What did the script call for in comparison to the final product?
Kolins: Thank you. Keith left Laord’s design very open for me. Keith told me his name, that he wanted someone large and very very powerful with two wolves and a few servants carrying goodies Larfleeze would want – AND do something NEW. I threw out a bunch of designs, DC threw out a bunch of designs and we settled on this one. I think this works well because the name fits. He looks like a “Laord of the Hunt” and without looking like someone we saw before. I mean, a purple fiery lion-esque tribal mask? Whoa!
IGN: Can you offer any clues as to the final page teaser? It looks like there are some Orange Lanterns that are no longer just constructs. Does this mean the ranks might be growing?
Giffen: I don't know about the ranks, but I do know our supporting cast will be growing.
Kolins: More importantly, why would they chain Larfleeze?! MwaaHaaHaaHaaa (MWaaHaaHaaHaaa ©Dematteis and Giffen)
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Larfleeze #1 Keith Giffen And Scott Kolins : The Orange Lantern Steals the Spotlight
From IGN
IGN Comics: Why Larfleeze? I think he’s a blast, but what’s appealing to you about the character?
Scott Kolins: Something different. There aren’t many books out there where the main character is a lunatic. Oh, and I do like the hair.
Keith Giffen: The built in irreverence. I mean, he's the living embodiment of greed. How can you not love that?
IGN: Where do we find Larfleeze in this series? What’s his status quo after the events of the First Lantern story?
Giffen: We pick up on Larfleeze just minutes after his Threshold back-up, depressed and bereft. That said, you do not have to have read the Threshold back-ups to get into Larfleeze #1. Everything you need to know is in there.
IGN: Can we expect to see more of Larfleeze’s history in this book, or are we just moving forward?
Giffen: A good bit of both with the focus on looking forward.
IGN: Scott, how did you come on board this book? What’s the biggest challenge of doing a character like this?
Kolins: Keith and I did some great Larfleeze back-ups in Threshold so DC asked us. Biggest challenge? Same as all the characters – make sure he stays interesting. Always try and pack more in.
IGN: Does the nature of this book allow you to stretch your muscles in a different way than you would on a typical superhero book?
Kolins: Larfleeze’s outrageous attitude does force me to be more… bold sometimes in character ways I usually haven’t done. There’s been a lot of spit, that’s for sure. There is also more dark comedy in this than probably any other book I’ve done – but I have to balance that with massive battles and twisted perspective tales. This book jumps all over. There is nothing typical about this book..
IGN: Is this going to feature primarily Larfleeze’s adventures, or will the other Corps be factoring in in a significant way?
Kolins: Yes of course – wait, did Keith say no? Um…
IGN: Keith, you're handling plot and breakdowns. How does that process typically work between you and your collaborators?
Giffen: Pretty simple really. I plot and break down the story. Marc dialogs from the breakdowns. Scott gets both breakdowns and script and takes it from there. Scott's got such a good story sense that the breakdowns are open to interpretation on his part. Makes my job that much easier.
Kolins: It’s actually VERY complicated. We’re geniuses.
IGN: Scott, is it an adjustment for you creatively to work from breakdowns?
Kolins: I’ve worked with Keith’s great breakdowns before. Sometimes I stick to them strongly and other times I put more me into them, just depends on the day and if his images stick with me or they inspire other images as well. I keep thinking of it as Marc and I adding meat to the bone of Keith’s stories.
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