SebastianPiccione
Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 05:15 PM
After TEEN TITANS #88 hit the stands, we just had to talk to J.T. Krul...and he was nice enough to talk back!
Sebastian Piccione: Ok, J.T., let’s talk Titans! Your BLACKEST NIGHT: TITANS mini was well done and well received, but featured a mixed cast of both TITANS and TEEN TITANS from several incarnations. Is writing TEEN TITANS vastly different from writing BN:T?
J.T. Krul: The biggest difference in writing Teen Titans as compared to Blackest Night: Titans is tone. Obviously Blackest Night was a very dark and brutal story, and actually wasn't even a superhero story. It was a horror story, first and foremost. So that difference between the two is epic. Teen Titans is much lighter and has a lot more fun in it. That's not to say there won't be dark or serious elements to the book, but overall the tone is adventurous.
Seb: In BN:T you really got inside Beast Boy’s head. In TEEN TITANS #88 Gar seems to be past his hang-ups over Terra, he seems to have moved on from pining over Raven, plus he seems less concerned with not being team leader. What kind of place would you say Beast Boy is in, mentally and emotionally speaking, currently?
J.T. Krul: For me, Beast Boy is growing up. He's not the young, misfit, jokester that he once was. He's still got a humorous personality, but he's maturing quite a bit. Let's face it - he's the oldest member on the team now. He might not be the leader officially speaking, but his years of experience on the team and in the world is not going to be overlooked by his teammates. In some ways, I kind of see Gar stepping into a role similar to the one Donna Troy held on the team - true mentoring in terms of character.
Seb: I know Blue Beetle is currently hanging with the JLI, and Static is set for a new solo project. Other than availability, are there any specific reasons for the current roster? How involved were you in who stayed and who went from the previous line-up?
J.T. Krul: For many titans, it came down to a numbers game. I didn't want ten or twelve members running around the tower on a constant basis because at that number it gets very difficult to service any of them in terms of story and character. So - once I had the basics in place (Superboy, Kid Flash, and Wonder Girl), plus a little bit of the original Wolfman/Perez lineup (Beast Boy, Raven), it really only left a couple of slots. I've been pretty vocal about my love for Ravager, and even used my opportunity in Teen Titans during Blackest Night to focus on her and her disjointed family. And then there's Robin. That's not to say the other titans will never appear in the book again - Static, Blue Beetle, Miss Martian, or even some that haven't been seen in awhile - but for now, this is the lineup. And, we want to make sure there is some stability to that roster.
Seb: What would you say is the TEEN TITANS’ purpose, in the DCU?
J.T. Krul: At it's core, it's a place for the next generation of the world's greatest superheroes to learn what it means to be a team…to work together - and even to be a family. They may have started out as sidekicks, but they are so much more now. When I think of the Teen Titans, I think of the younger members in the JSA. They are also training to become the heroes of tomorrow, but are doing so under the direct guidance of the veterans. For the Teen Titans, it's about carving their own path, making their own decisions, and living with the consequences. At some point in our lives, we all step out from under the watchful eyes of our parents to brave the world - and that's what the Teen Titans are doing.
SEB: I have to say, within one issue you’ve already done a great job of individualizing the characters on the team. Let’s do a little free association type thing. We’ve already covered Beast Boy, but for the others, just tell me about how you see the characters, and how they see themselves.
Let’s start with Raven.
J.T. Krul: Essentially, Raven is a teenager who is terrified of her emotions - of losing control and the damage she might cause if that ever happens. Of all the titans, her burden is the heaviest. If you think of life as a series of tests to challenge our moral fiber, the chips are stacked against her. It kind of sucks having a demon for a father. She is desperate to figure out a way to overcome that fear, embrace emotions (and life), and break from the fate presented before her.
Seb: Kid Flash:
J.T. Krul: In some respect, he is the new Beast Boy. Light-hearted and a bit clumsy around girls, Kid Flash is in that awkward stage of his life. For someone so powerful and so smart, he really lacks some basic confidence in certain aspects of social life. As a hero, he's feeling challenged. All his life, people have been telling him about the great Barry Allen. His persona took on mythic proportions that seemed completely unrealistic. But now, Bart has met the legend and saw firsthand that the stories were true. The legacy of the Flash is an extraordinarily high bar to strive for, and he still doesn't know if he can reach it. When he first joined the Teen Titans, Wally didn't believe in him. Now the problem is that Bart might not believe in himself.
Seb: Ravager.
J.T. Krul: Tough as nails, essentially the Wolverine of the team (to make a Marvel reference). She's had to claw and scratch her way through life and has the scars to prove it. She could easily be a killer, but in the teen titans, she sees a different path. She might not want to take it, or be able to - but at least she sees it. And for all that brash and arrogant exterior, she possesses a tremendous vulnerability that only few have actually seen.
Seb: And let’s do Superboy and Wondergirl together, because between the teaser image of Conner kissing a mystery girl, and Cassie’s interrupted speech in issue 88 about her concerns with LEADING Conner while DATING Conner, they seem to be in a mutual flux .
J.T. Krul: Wonder Girl is really embracing her role as leader and looking to her Amazonian code as a warrior. She is seeing the team as soldiers not students, and she wants them to be ready for any and every threat that may come their way. It's made her cold at times, especially to Conner, but she is trying to be everything to everyone - which is a rather tall order. As for Conner, he's died and came back. With that rebirth has come a new appreciation and attitude on life. He's always felt the burden to live up to the "S" on his chest, but for the first time in his life, he doesn't see the goal as unreachable. He's made his peace regarding the genetic makeup of his being (in terms of the Luthor influence) and is seeing the world in a more positive light. (By the way, everyone better check out Jeff Lemire's Superboy book - it's great!).
Seb: Two of the best scenes in this issue involved Damian “Robin” Wayne and Dick “Batman” Grayson. And, their appearance made Tim “Red Robin” Drake-Wayne’s absence all the more tangible. Dick is a founding Titan, Tim is a key part of the current group, and Damian is…well…Damian. What is it about the various Robins that just makes them so integral to the Titans?
J.T. Krul: Thanks. Damian is a fun character to write. That's a tough question. I guess you might ask what makes Batman such an integral part of the DCU. Each Robin has been so different in terms of their role, their methods, and their attitudes. The titans are just better with a Robin.
Seb: So, is Damian an official member? Will he be appearing regularly?
J.T. Krul: Oh, he's in there. The rest of the team might take issue with Damian coming on board, but they'll have to get used to him. With regard to long term, you'll have to wait and see.
Seb: What can you tell us about Barney and Doctor Caligan?
J.T. Krul: Building on what we saw in the first issue, Barney is a troubled kid, a loner who's been invisible for most of his life. He doesn't necessarily want to be popular, but he doesn't want to be a nobody. But when he gets a taste of power, what will that do to him? It'll all play out in this opening arc. As for Caligan, he's not your typical plotting mad scientist. But he does have a cold and disconnected sociopathic bent to him. He sees the kids in the school as merely possible test subjects - no different than the mice at the pet store. They are a means to an end.
Seb: What’s it like working with Nicola Scott on this? She really has such a great style and does wonderful expressions. Is that something you play to when you write?
J.T. Krul: Perfect. She was the first choice to be on this book, both from me and from my editor - the wonderful Rachel Gluckstern. Nicola brings action and emotion to the book - and I do everything I can to give her the space to shine. You only need to look at the pages of the first issue to see that. My two favorites are easily the opening spread showing the team in action, as well as the scene with Conner and Cassie in the bedroom. I couldn’t ask for anything more. And Doug Hazlewood and Jason Wright compliment her wonderfully.
Seb: Any hints as to what the future holds for the team?
J.T. Krul: Hmmm. In the pages of this opening arc, we'll already see glimpses of the new titan that will be premiering - Solstice. She'll also pop up in the Wonder Girl one-shot in January before we launch into the main Teen Titans arc that will introduce her to the team. That'll take us up to issue #100 where a heavy threat to the Teen Titans will return to cause major havoc. Plus, as you saw in the teaser page at the end of Issue #88, Ravager and Deathstroke have unfinished business, and the new Aqualad will also be coming around. So, there's quite a bit planned - both in the short term and the long term.
Seb: Ok, before I let you go, I have to touch on Green Arrow a bit, or one of my co-staffers, Pete, will kill me. So, we have Ollie going all “Robin Hood”, complete with Merry men, though with a touch of King Arthur going on. He’s living in a star-shaped forest. He’s been saved by The Lady of the lake, and fought off J’onn J’onzz’s misguided attack on the White lantern tree. He’s certainly come a long way from Mayor of Star City and vengeful grieving grandfather. Is redemption in sight for Ollie?
J.T. Krul: I think we've already seen a lot of redemption in Ollie throughout the opening arc, and this theme will continue on through the end of Brightest Day. He's faced the known demons of the past, and now is going to be confronted by new demons of the present. That's not to say life is going to get any easier for Ollie, but in terms of his inner-fortitude, Ollie is seeing a bit of a rebirth of character if you will.
Seb: When will all (or at least most) be revealed regarding the mysteries of The Tree and the forest?
J.T. Krul: The mysteries of the forest will begin to take center stage in the book during the next arc, starting with issue #8 and lead through until the end of Brightest Day. On top of that, we've also got a new villain called Black Arrow that will become Ollie's premier nemesis. And we'll be seeing people from his past, as well as new faces, coming into play down the road as well. Once Ollie's emerged from the forest, it'll be time to reconnect with the family he's lost.
Seb: Anything Teen Titans, Green Arrow, or otherwise that you’d like to plug, tease, or shout-out, before you go?
J.T. Krul: In signing my DC exclusive, they were great about letting me finish up a few projects with Aspen. Soulfire volume 2 is wrapping up shortly, and next spring you'll see Soulfire Volume 3 hit the shelves with new artist Jason Fabok. He's a great new talent, who recently did the Animal Man story in the Untold Tales of Blackest Night special (written by my super awesome Green Arrow editor - Adam Schlagman). Plus, I am definitely finishing up MINDFIELD - my creator book about telepathic CIA agents fighting domestic terrorism. The art is by another superstar in the making, Alex Konat - who will be taking over art duties for Fathom Volume 4 next spring as well.
It's been a busy and exciting year. I am extremely grateful for all the opportunities and am looking forward to 2011!
Seb: Well, J.T. thanks for talking with us!
J.T. Krul: Thank you!
Sebastian Piccione: Ok, J.T., let’s talk Titans! Your BLACKEST NIGHT: TITANS mini was well done and well received, but featured a mixed cast of both TITANS and TEEN TITANS from several incarnations. Is writing TEEN TITANS vastly different from writing BN:T?
J.T. Krul: The biggest difference in writing Teen Titans as compared to Blackest Night: Titans is tone. Obviously Blackest Night was a very dark and brutal story, and actually wasn't even a superhero story. It was a horror story, first and foremost. So that difference between the two is epic. Teen Titans is much lighter and has a lot more fun in it. That's not to say there won't be dark or serious elements to the book, but overall the tone is adventurous.
Seb: In BN:T you really got inside Beast Boy’s head. In TEEN TITANS #88 Gar seems to be past his hang-ups over Terra, he seems to have moved on from pining over Raven, plus he seems less concerned with not being team leader. What kind of place would you say Beast Boy is in, mentally and emotionally speaking, currently?
J.T. Krul: For me, Beast Boy is growing up. He's not the young, misfit, jokester that he once was. He's still got a humorous personality, but he's maturing quite a bit. Let's face it - he's the oldest member on the team now. He might not be the leader officially speaking, but his years of experience on the team and in the world is not going to be overlooked by his teammates. In some ways, I kind of see Gar stepping into a role similar to the one Donna Troy held on the team - true mentoring in terms of character.
Seb: I know Blue Beetle is currently hanging with the JLI, and Static is set for a new solo project. Other than availability, are there any specific reasons for the current roster? How involved were you in who stayed and who went from the previous line-up?
J.T. Krul: For many titans, it came down to a numbers game. I didn't want ten or twelve members running around the tower on a constant basis because at that number it gets very difficult to service any of them in terms of story and character. So - once I had the basics in place (Superboy, Kid Flash, and Wonder Girl), plus a little bit of the original Wolfman/Perez lineup (Beast Boy, Raven), it really only left a couple of slots. I've been pretty vocal about my love for Ravager, and even used my opportunity in Teen Titans during Blackest Night to focus on her and her disjointed family. And then there's Robin. That's not to say the other titans will never appear in the book again - Static, Blue Beetle, Miss Martian, or even some that haven't been seen in awhile - but for now, this is the lineup. And, we want to make sure there is some stability to that roster.
Seb: What would you say is the TEEN TITANS’ purpose, in the DCU?
J.T. Krul: At it's core, it's a place for the next generation of the world's greatest superheroes to learn what it means to be a team…to work together - and even to be a family. They may have started out as sidekicks, but they are so much more now. When I think of the Teen Titans, I think of the younger members in the JSA. They are also training to become the heroes of tomorrow, but are doing so under the direct guidance of the veterans. For the Teen Titans, it's about carving their own path, making their own decisions, and living with the consequences. At some point in our lives, we all step out from under the watchful eyes of our parents to brave the world - and that's what the Teen Titans are doing.
SEB: I have to say, within one issue you’ve already done a great job of individualizing the characters on the team. Let’s do a little free association type thing. We’ve already covered Beast Boy, but for the others, just tell me about how you see the characters, and how they see themselves.
Let’s start with Raven.
J.T. Krul: Essentially, Raven is a teenager who is terrified of her emotions - of losing control and the damage she might cause if that ever happens. Of all the titans, her burden is the heaviest. If you think of life as a series of tests to challenge our moral fiber, the chips are stacked against her. It kind of sucks having a demon for a father. She is desperate to figure out a way to overcome that fear, embrace emotions (and life), and break from the fate presented before her.
Seb: Kid Flash:
J.T. Krul: In some respect, he is the new Beast Boy. Light-hearted and a bit clumsy around girls, Kid Flash is in that awkward stage of his life. For someone so powerful and so smart, he really lacks some basic confidence in certain aspects of social life. As a hero, he's feeling challenged. All his life, people have been telling him about the great Barry Allen. His persona took on mythic proportions that seemed completely unrealistic. But now, Bart has met the legend and saw firsthand that the stories were true. The legacy of the Flash is an extraordinarily high bar to strive for, and he still doesn't know if he can reach it. When he first joined the Teen Titans, Wally didn't believe in him. Now the problem is that Bart might not believe in himself.
Seb: Ravager.
J.T. Krul: Tough as nails, essentially the Wolverine of the team (to make a Marvel reference). She's had to claw and scratch her way through life and has the scars to prove it. She could easily be a killer, but in the teen titans, she sees a different path. She might not want to take it, or be able to - but at least she sees it. And for all that brash and arrogant exterior, she possesses a tremendous vulnerability that only few have actually seen.
Seb: And let’s do Superboy and Wondergirl together, because between the teaser image of Conner kissing a mystery girl, and Cassie’s interrupted speech in issue 88 about her concerns with LEADING Conner while DATING Conner, they seem to be in a mutual flux .
J.T. Krul: Wonder Girl is really embracing her role as leader and looking to her Amazonian code as a warrior. She is seeing the team as soldiers not students, and she wants them to be ready for any and every threat that may come their way. It's made her cold at times, especially to Conner, but she is trying to be everything to everyone - which is a rather tall order. As for Conner, he's died and came back. With that rebirth has come a new appreciation and attitude on life. He's always felt the burden to live up to the "S" on his chest, but for the first time in his life, he doesn't see the goal as unreachable. He's made his peace regarding the genetic makeup of his being (in terms of the Luthor influence) and is seeing the world in a more positive light. (By the way, everyone better check out Jeff Lemire's Superboy book - it's great!).
Seb: Two of the best scenes in this issue involved Damian “Robin” Wayne and Dick “Batman” Grayson. And, their appearance made Tim “Red Robin” Drake-Wayne’s absence all the more tangible. Dick is a founding Titan, Tim is a key part of the current group, and Damian is…well…Damian. What is it about the various Robins that just makes them so integral to the Titans?
J.T. Krul: Thanks. Damian is a fun character to write. That's a tough question. I guess you might ask what makes Batman such an integral part of the DCU. Each Robin has been so different in terms of their role, their methods, and their attitudes. The titans are just better with a Robin.
Seb: So, is Damian an official member? Will he be appearing regularly?
J.T. Krul: Oh, he's in there. The rest of the team might take issue with Damian coming on board, but they'll have to get used to him. With regard to long term, you'll have to wait and see.
Seb: What can you tell us about Barney and Doctor Caligan?
J.T. Krul: Building on what we saw in the first issue, Barney is a troubled kid, a loner who's been invisible for most of his life. He doesn't necessarily want to be popular, but he doesn't want to be a nobody. But when he gets a taste of power, what will that do to him? It'll all play out in this opening arc. As for Caligan, he's not your typical plotting mad scientist. But he does have a cold and disconnected sociopathic bent to him. He sees the kids in the school as merely possible test subjects - no different than the mice at the pet store. They are a means to an end.
Seb: What’s it like working with Nicola Scott on this? She really has such a great style and does wonderful expressions. Is that something you play to when you write?
J.T. Krul: Perfect. She was the first choice to be on this book, both from me and from my editor - the wonderful Rachel Gluckstern. Nicola brings action and emotion to the book - and I do everything I can to give her the space to shine. You only need to look at the pages of the first issue to see that. My two favorites are easily the opening spread showing the team in action, as well as the scene with Conner and Cassie in the bedroom. I couldn’t ask for anything more. And Doug Hazlewood and Jason Wright compliment her wonderfully.
Seb: Any hints as to what the future holds for the team?
J.T. Krul: Hmmm. In the pages of this opening arc, we'll already see glimpses of the new titan that will be premiering - Solstice. She'll also pop up in the Wonder Girl one-shot in January before we launch into the main Teen Titans arc that will introduce her to the team. That'll take us up to issue #100 where a heavy threat to the Teen Titans will return to cause major havoc. Plus, as you saw in the teaser page at the end of Issue #88, Ravager and Deathstroke have unfinished business, and the new Aqualad will also be coming around. So, there's quite a bit planned - both in the short term and the long term.
Seb: Ok, before I let you go, I have to touch on Green Arrow a bit, or one of my co-staffers, Pete, will kill me. So, we have Ollie going all “Robin Hood”, complete with Merry men, though with a touch of King Arthur going on. He’s living in a star-shaped forest. He’s been saved by The Lady of the lake, and fought off J’onn J’onzz’s misguided attack on the White lantern tree. He’s certainly come a long way from Mayor of Star City and vengeful grieving grandfather. Is redemption in sight for Ollie?
J.T. Krul: I think we've already seen a lot of redemption in Ollie throughout the opening arc, and this theme will continue on through the end of Brightest Day. He's faced the known demons of the past, and now is going to be confronted by new demons of the present. That's not to say life is going to get any easier for Ollie, but in terms of his inner-fortitude, Ollie is seeing a bit of a rebirth of character if you will.
Seb: When will all (or at least most) be revealed regarding the mysteries of The Tree and the forest?
J.T. Krul: The mysteries of the forest will begin to take center stage in the book during the next arc, starting with issue #8 and lead through until the end of Brightest Day. On top of that, we've also got a new villain called Black Arrow that will become Ollie's premier nemesis. And we'll be seeing people from his past, as well as new faces, coming into play down the road as well. Once Ollie's emerged from the forest, it'll be time to reconnect with the family he's lost.
Seb: Anything Teen Titans, Green Arrow, or otherwise that you’d like to plug, tease, or shout-out, before you go?
J.T. Krul: In signing my DC exclusive, they were great about letting me finish up a few projects with Aspen. Soulfire volume 2 is wrapping up shortly, and next spring you'll see Soulfire Volume 3 hit the shelves with new artist Jason Fabok. He's a great new talent, who recently did the Animal Man story in the Untold Tales of Blackest Night special (written by my super awesome Green Arrow editor - Adam Schlagman). Plus, I am definitely finishing up MINDFIELD - my creator book about telepathic CIA agents fighting domestic terrorism. The art is by another superstar in the making, Alex Konat - who will be taking over art duties for Fathom Volume 4 next spring as well.
It's been a busy and exciting year. I am extremely grateful for all the opportunities and am looking forward to 2011!
Seb: Well, J.T. thanks for talking with us!
J.T. Krul: Thank you!