Post by brentlambert on Mar 21, 2012 16:37:23 GMT -5
JEFFREY RIST INTERVIEW
Marvel Anthology: What appeals to you most about Marvel Anthology as a site?
Jeffrey Rist: As a writer, I enjoy the friendships, camaraderie and support I receive from my fellow writers. Many of them, Gavin and Brent in particular, have been invaluable resources in regards to knowledge about the Marvel world. Erik and MC have helped shape my ideas into what is now my pride and joy, SHIELD: Femme Force.; As I reader, I enjoy the strict adherence to a site centric continuity (in the X-line for instance what happens in one book has ripples in the others) and the fantastic creativity fostered by Erik and MC.
MA: Top three favorite titles at the site. Put them out there. Why do you like them?
Jeff: 1) X-Men-I must admit, Storm is my favorite X-Man and so I started reading this book because she was in it. Also Brent writes it and I would read a phone book is Brent's name was on it. What keeps me reading though is the suspenseful plot and the excellent way Brent takes these familiar and much loved characters (Storm, Emma Frost and the Professor) and re-imagines them. Charles is now a flawed man, a good man, but flawed and what's more is he realizes that he is flawed. That's something not all writers of X-Men fan fic would be brave enough to write.
2) XSE- I must admit I only just started reading this series, but so far Gavin has not disappointed. I enjoy the style of writing Gavin employs; it's very detailed and gritty rather like watching a very well directed movie. You can almost imagine you are there watching Morales and Wisdom bicker or what not. Gavin is a vivid illustrator of scenes and his insights into characters heads particularly that of Husk, are something I hope I can even capture half of.
3)West Coast Avengers-I started reading this series because I am writing Mockingbird in Femme Force and was encouraged to read it by MC as background (due to the presence of Jack Walker). I keep reading because MC writes exciting stuff. Each character is well drawn and that's something that's not easy to do in an ensemble. The plots are definitely Avengers worthy and I look forward to more of them!
MA: Who's your favorite writer at the site?
Jeff: Brent Lambert. As I said earlier I would read a phone book if he wrote it. Brent combines detailed plots with intricate characterizations and surprising character choices to form a well balanced and easy to follow world. His choices in how the characters are drawn are surprisingly refreshing, especially characters that traditionally are drawn as weaker or the typical "female superhero model" like Polaris.
MA: What do you like the most about what you get to write at Marvel Anthology?
Jeff: I like the relative freedom I have to write what I want to write. There's little pressure for it to be in an epic battle scene every minute. Of course epic battles can’t be avoided entirely (these ARE superheroes after all) but the emphasis here is on the story and the characters and I enjoy that.
MA: Your dream title. What would it be? And if you're already on it, then what would be your dream title you'd like to see someone else write?
Jeff: I'm already writing my dream title. SHIELD Femme Force, so I will have to say I'd loved to see Gavin write a Daredevil series. He may have no interest in it, but his gritty and descriptive story telling is perfect for Matt's world.
MA: Who's your favorite character at the site to read about?
Jeff: Storm. I enjoy reading about Storm and her adventures. I'm happy to see that Brent writes her very well and understands her as a person and a mutant. She is well drawn, but still has an air of mystery that shows that Brent hasn’t revealed all her secrets to his waiting audience.
MA: Who's your favorite character under your pen?
Jeff: This is a tossup between Mockingbird and Rogue. Both of them are strong women who have, in the mainstream Marvel continuity, relied far too much on men to solve things for them. One of the reasons I am so excited about Femme Force is to show that these wonderful female characters are worthy of being in their own titles, not merely as Clint Barton's wife. As my promo on the site for Femme Force says "She's not Barbara Barton anymore'
MA: Which character do you most look forward to writing?
Jeff: I am looking forward to progressing Rogue's storyline further. I have some mighty big plans for our Southern belle and I hope you will come along with me as the Uncanny team faces challenges from within and without.
MA: So what are all of the titles you write at Marvel Anthology and how do you feel that they fit into the wider Anthology universe?
Jeff: I write Uncanny X-Men. Academy X, and SHIELD Femme Force. Uncanny and Academy X are both in the X-line of books and are each telling a part of a story or stories that will help bring to fruition other stories that will greatly impact the entire Marvel Anthology world. (Or should, if the other writers choose to touch on what goes on in it) Uncanny features Beast, who was an Avenger, so the connections to the Avengers line of stories are there. While I haven’t spoken in detail with Jamie about a possible Avengers/Uncanny meet up, it IS a possibility I’ve been considering since the relaunch of UXM. Hank McCoy straddles both worlds and I think it would be an interesting situation for him to work with both teams at once.
SHIELD: Femme Force features characters from across the marvel universe. Elektra was Matt Murdoch's girlfriend, Mockingbird was Clint Barton's wife, Diamondback and Sharon Carter both dated Steve Rogers (though not that at the same time...he's Captain America, he has standards to maintain) so the effects of these women are far reaching. This will be most noticeable as Force Works and WCA get going and Mockingbird's "death" is revealed to have been grossly exaggerated. Clint Barton and John Walker have both loved Bobbi, but Bobbi only loves one of them....
MA: What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer? And/or weakness?
Jeff: I feel my greatest strength, not to sound cocky, is my characterizations and descriptive scenes. I'm an actor by hobby and a storyteller by nature. I don't want to just know what the characters I’m focusing on are saying or thinking or feeling, I want to know what the world is like they're in. Is raining, is it cold? Are there other people around, that sort of thing? In terms of character, I try to have each scene I do matter in some tangible way. Each scene in the new UXM one is not only important to tell who’s in the team, but because each scene is themed to represent the character they feature. Banshee needs a reason for Theresa to be proud of him. Proteus needs to find a way to work out his guilt and stop being imprisoned by his powers, etc. These are important nuances that other writers, while incredibly capable, may not see.
My biggest weakness is combat scenes. Part of my problem I think is I read scenes by writers I admire, like Brent or Gavin or Tom Moses and I think that's so awesome, and then I let that little voice in my head win in its battle to destroy my confidence just a bit and start to believe that simply because my combat scenes aren't as detailed (I believe Tom once had someone rip someone's heart out and described in very vivid detail) that somehow mine or less than. Another problem is I get so attached to the characters I write that seeing them injured or dead is something that is hard for me to do (Yes I’m that nerdy I get upset when characters I like die heh)
MA: Which writers do you draw influence from and why?
Jeff: In terms of fan fiction I am inspired by Brent Lambert in ways he will probably never know. Gavin McMahon and Tom Moses are also people I turn to for inspiration and help in terms of improving characters or scenes. Gavin has given me a great insight into the world of the Guthries which is important since Joshua's journey in MA is a reflection in many ways of my own personal story and I want to make sure I get it right for both of us.
In terms of authors (professionally published peoples) I am inspired by the storytellers. Debbie Macomber, Agatha Christie, F. Scott Fitzgerald. All of these writers tell stories and make their characters real. I remember feeling depressed after reading (and watching the excellent Robert Redford movie) of The Great Gatsby. That’s how I hope my fan fiction will affect people, that they will be moved in the same way the characters are. That it will affect them on a deeper level.
MA: SHIELD: Femme Force is definitely a different title. Why do you consider it to be your pride and joy?
Jeff: Femme Force was the first series I had pitched to a site that was completely my own idea. Academy X had been planned when I stepped into it, and Tony was gracious enough to allow me to take over solo on a series I know meant a great deal to him with Uncanny X-Men, but Femme Force was my own. The original cast included characters that (at the time I didn’t know) were dibbed or couldn't be shared (I believe Jessica Drew was one) so MC and Erik helped shaped the cast as you see it now. MC was especially trusting in allowing me the honor of writing Mockingbird and Diamondback, two very strong women with incredible stories. I thank him for his trust in me and hope that he doesn't regret his decision.
Femme Force is also my pride and joy because I have often felt that female superheroes were either seen as sidekicks or as somewhat of a joke (Wonder Woman may have been a notable exception) This was my opportunity to feature these often overlooked or glossed over characters and villains in a way that did them justice.
MA: In the next year or two, which character or characters do you think are going to change the most heavily under your pen?
Jeff: I think Mockingbird will definitely change the most, as will Ben Hammill. Match is a quiet but studious kid, the brilliant nerd we all knew in high school and probably picked on. He's joined Weapon X wanting to revenge himself, but can’t bring himself to do it. He will grow as a character and a person, in befriending the angry Joshua Guthrie. While no romance will develop (Ben likes women thank you very much) the boys will have a close friendship that will change both of them for the better.
Mockingbird will accept her feelings for Jack Walker are valid...at a time when he needs her the most. Accepting that what she feels is okay and more importantly she deserves to feel that way. That will open a new world to her, and help her grow and change with that. Her friendship with Diamondback, which will be developed as the series progresses, will also help her grow as both women have been emotionally and physically injured by life.
MA: So give us a bit of insight into the antagonists that the heroes under your pen are about to face. Which ones in the next year or so do you believe are going to be the most threatening?
Jeff: I think the undisputed most threatening Antagonists are Nova and Dark Beast. They are both Bat shit crazy, pardon my French, and totally unpredictable. Mister Sinister is also another factor, but his motives are a bit cloudy at the moment. As for Femme Force, Viper isn’t done with them yet and with the Enchantress lurking the background who knows what's in store for our ladies.
MA: Power wise, who do you feel are some of the most lethal characters at your disposal whether they protagonist or antagonist?
Jeff: Rogue is certainly one that is lethal given her power set. Obviously she can absorb the life force of other people that is incredibly lethal. Kevin MacTaggert, even though he has a body and is incredibly depowered, still has the potential to become a lethal weapon. He can simply manipulate you out of existence! As far as Villains my choices would be Mister Sinister and Dark Beast, both of them are scientific geniuses and that’s a scary thought.
MA: Academy X is also a pretty unique series and your first in fanfic from what I understand. How do you enjoy writing a book primarily focused on what would be antagonists in any other book? Is there any character from that series that stands out in particular for you?
Jeff: I enjoy it immensely. For one, it allows me to show that these villains have the same motivations as the heroes, just different means of achieving those goals. Secondly, Academy is more of a storytelling experience (there are battles to come I promise). I would have to say three characters stand out for me: Cordelia Frost, Daxon Logan and Benjamin Hammill. All three were manipulated in some way to join the squad and all three come to realize that and do something about it (I don’t want to give away too much of the plotline so I will stop here)
MA: So how exactly are you going to progress the stories of Rogue and Mockingbird, two women you seem to have an affinity for?
Jeff: Without giving away too much of the plot, Rogue has dealt with being unable to touch people since her powers manifested. When the SMV was firs t brought up in UXM, Beast was originally going to catch it. I’m not a fan of rehashing old comic book plots (what's fan fic if you’re going to simply spit out what Marvel continuity has already done just with your name on it) and I never particularly liked the leonine Beast, so I have switched that victim to Rogue. I am not going to go into detail about what all happens, but it will certainly progress her character. We will also be exploring her opportunity for leadership within the X-Men.
Mockingbird has a lot of issues she needs to face. Anger, resentment, what she feels is the loss of her physical beauty, her feelings about the rest of the world moving on without her and the ramification of that. All of this will be explored as we ramp up to the moment when the world discovers that although Mockingbird is not dead, the woman who was Barbara Barton very much is.
MA: Your Uncanny X-Men team is a unique one in terms of roster. Do you feel non-traditional casts have advantage or disadvantages over traditional casts?
Jeff: I think with Traditional casts there is an expectation that writers are assumed to need to meet. If you have a team with Cyclops in it for example, he's assumed to be the leader, because that’s what Scott is...no exceptions. With nontraditional casts another character, like Rogue, who may not have been a leader because of the Scott's or Storm’s, can find themselves in that position and that makes the story more interesting.
Eric, I have a lot of passion for Bobbi, It surprises even me sometimes