Articles: Interview: Roger Stern (10/13/97)

SKleefeld: I run a Fantastic Four web site and I was hoping you would have some time to answer some questions on your work on the title, as well as your upcoming projects. I think getting insights from a prominent comic book writer like yourself would be helpful to aspiring writers, and hopefully entertaining as well!

Could you explain how you became interested in comic books and how you got your start in the field?

Roger Stern: I've loved comics since before I could read... sitting on my Grandfather's knee as he read me the Sunday comics. I got my start when a staff job opened up at Marvel and I passed a proofreading test.

SK: Your tenure on the Fantastic Four shortly followed John Byrne's exhasutive five-year run on the book. Did you have trouble stepping up to a title that no one else had touched for so long? You also started only a few issues before both the 25th anniversary of the title as well as the 300th issue. Did that put any extra pressure on you?

RS: The FF was a very intimidating assignment, especially with having to follow John. I only took it on his recommendation after I was promised that I didn't have to write the 25th Anniversary issue. [They got some guy named Lee to write it.]

(Author's Note: Issue 296 was written jointly by Stan Lee and Jim Shooter.)

SK: I read at the time that the 300th issue was downplayed since it so closely followed behind the anniversary and an annual. Did you simply treat #300 as another story?

RS: I wasn't aware that the 300th issue was "downplayed" -- I went all out to make it as special as possible.

SK: Issue #300 also saw the wedding of Johnny and Alicia. What did you want to do differently than other wedding issues (Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman, Crystal and Quicksilver, Scalet Witch and Vision, etc.)?

RS: I didn't want to have the ceremony interrupted by super-villains, as that had already become a horrible cliche.

SK: I presume you wrote those issues in the "Marvel house style." How much did John Buscema contribute? Did you enjoy or dislike working with him?

RS: Big John was and is an incredibly talented artist -- hands down the greatest illustrator I've ever worked with (though I think that Sal is probably a slightly better storyteller). But, it was frustrating. I worked with John on both the FF and the Avengers, and while he was always very professional, his heart really wasn't in it. He'd much rather have been drawing Conan than super-heroes. Too bad, since he drew 'em better than almost anybody.

SK: I recently heard of Marvel approving your propsed Marvel Universe series, detailing the Marvel Universe prior to Fantastic Four #1. From what I've read so far, you will be focusing primarily in the 1940s but will also include events "as far back as the dawn of time" according to Tom Brevoort. Where did the concept for this title come from?

RS: Out of discussions between Tom and myself.

SK: Several stories already written were set in Marvel's past (the creation of the Inhumans, many Kang stories, and many World War II stories to name a few examples). Are you planning to use those stories as starting points? Would you rather write based on events that have been alluded to/shown or start from scratch? Will we see younger versions of current characters (a 17-year-old Victor VonDoom or a Civil War era Apocalypse)? The current working title implies that other races could be included. Do you have any plans to show alien histories as well (Kree, Skrull, Watchers, etc.)?

RS: Yes to almost all of those. There's virtually no limit to what we can do with MU ... the potential is as limitless as the Marvel Universe itself. Everything from tales of epic proportion to small, personal stories (often at the same time).

SK: When can we see Marvel Universe?

RS: Spring of '98.

SK: What other projects do you have in the works?

RS: Shhh! (secret stuff) And my co-writing on DC's Legionnaires.

SK: Do/did you have any major concerns doing more work from Marvel, given their recent financial problems?

RS: Given the current state of publishing in general, no more than usual. In fact, I received a Marvel check (which cleared easily, thank you) in late December for a job completed just days earlier... during a period in which DC wasn't issuing checks at all (because they have some strange policy about not issuing checks during the last two weeks of the year). Go figure!

SK: What's your take on their future?

RS: I'm hoping that they'll stick around.

SK: Well, thank you very much for taking the time to answer all of my questions. I really appreciate it. I'm looking forward to seeing Marvel Universe on the shelves.

RS: Thanks!