Articles: Interview: Bobbie Chase (5/18/2000)

S Kleefeld: First, I'd like to thank you once again for taking the time to answer all of my questions a few months back. I know I certainly appreciated it, and I think a lot of my readers did as well. Having given you a chance to rest, though, I thought I might ask you some more specific things about the Fantastic Four.

Bobbie Chase: Hey, Sean -- Finally got around to answering your questions!

SK: This year has seen and will see a veritable flood of Fantastic Four related books. By my recollection we have for this year: Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four Annual, Domination Factor, Galactus the Devourer, a Galactus sequel, the Marvel Selects reprints, Marvels Comics: Fantastic Four, three Before the 4 titles, a new Marvel Masterworks, Marvel Girl, Doom 2000, and Erik Larsen's FF project. Being primarily a FF fan, I'm certainly not complaining but I am curious where the wealth of stories and story ideas are suddenly coming from. Is it purely a response to increased sales on the core book or are you encouraging FF-type stories out of some personal preference, perhaps a holdover from your early days as assistant editor on the book?

BC: We didn't plan, in particular, to come out with so much. The ideas just produced more ideas, and we kept having, "Wouldn't it be cool if we did this" moments. Or freelance creators were doing the same thing, obviously.

SK: Some of the books I listed -- like the reprints and Tom Brevoort's Marvels Comics -- are outside your editorial control, but it still strikes me as a very heavy workload for you, especially considering that you also work on several other non-FF titles. Are you looking to other editors or your assistant Brian Smith for more support than you would normally?

BC: It's actually the normal heavy workload. About 6-7 books a month. It gets a little crazy, but it's doable. Startups and limiteds take a lot more time, obviously.

SK: I understand that a number of comic book creators list the FF as one of their dream jobs but it to me seems that, given other commitments and such, it would still be a hefty task to recruit so many people to work on these projects. How difficult was it to pull together so many writers and artists for so many short term projects?

BC: Difficult, NO! As you say, there are lots of FF fans out there. Time-consuming, YES!

SK: I haven't heard any news lately concerning some of these titles. I was wondering if you could give a quick status report on...
The Galactus sequel?

BC: Weezie [Louise Simonson] is working on a new outline right now.

SK: Marvel Girl?

BC: Info coming soon!

SK: Before the 4: The Storms?

BC: Terry Kavanagh is writing, and Charlie Adlard is drawing. Terry's written the 1st 2 plots, and Charlie has penciled the first issue already, and it won't even be out until October -- so hopefully you'll see lots of stuff for previews.

SK: Erik Larsen's project?

BC: It's really designed as a project for next year (the anniversary), but you may see the 1st issue this December. Again, info soon.

SK: Anything else that I haven't heard of yet?

BC: Isn't that ENOUGH?

SK: Back to the core FF title, Chris Claremont's last issue is #32. John Francis Moore is going to fill in for #s 33 and 34 and then Carlos Pacheco comes in on #35. I see by the issue solicitations that Chris will pretty much have wrapped up his loose ends before he leaves and it looks as if John won't be starting anything too involved, which should leave Carlos free to run in whatever direction he wants. Chris, however, brought in several elements that could easily be picked up on -- Alyssa Moy, Caledonia, the return of Sharon Ventura for examples. Will Carlos be trying to move in seamlessly or is he looking to start things with a bang?

BC: Can I say both? Carlos isn't starting this over with issue #1 -- he's honoring the ongoing continuity. But there's also a definite BANG in his first issue. Or should I say "BOOM"?

SK: I realize Carlos' FF "debut" is still several months off, but I was wondering what sort of planning you and he have done up to this point? I know many creators try to look forward a year or so in advance of where they are; how is Carlos looking to shape his stories?

BC: We built in lots of lead time for Carlos. He's almost finished the art for his second issue, and he has a very tight 5 issue timeline written. And tons of less firm ideas for stories after that (probably a year's worth).

SK: One of the (relatively minor) concerns I have regarding Carlos is his speed. Gorgeous as his work may be, I understand -- and this may be faulty information -- that it's difficult for him to maintain a monthly schedule for an extended period. Is this a matter you've discussed with him? Should he start fall behind, would it be more likely that we'd see a fill-in issue from time to time or simply a slightly late book?

BC: That's why we started so early! We hope to avoid fill-ins for a while, but we'll use them when we have to. This is a monthly title, and not a maxi series. I think we owe it to the fans to have it come out monthly.

SK: Thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions. I've been very happy with the FF under your tenure and I'm looking forward to seeing the other FF stuff you've got in the works.

BC: Thanks, as always, for the kind words, Sean.