I'm so excited to be able to bring you this Five Questions With...featuring Jeff King, the writer of DC Comics huge Convergence Event. For all you out there familiar with the Five Questions, this one is a little different. I actually put on my press hat and got down to some honest to goodness reporter stuff. Actually, I emailed Jeff some questions and he responded. Take that Walter Cronkite! What is Convergence?
Convergence is a two-month weekly limited series, published by DC Comics, that begins in April 2015 and is scheduled to run through to the end of May 2015. Convergence spins out of the final issues of the weekly series,Earth 2: World's End and The New 52: Futures End. The story involves Brainiac having trapped cities from various timelines and planets that have ended, brought them in domes to a planet outside of time and space, and "is now opening them for a great experiment to see what happens when all these folks meet." Notable during this event will be the return of DC Characters from before the "Flashpoint" storyline of 2011 that led to creation of The New 52 Universe.
Now that we are all up to speed, on with the interview:
Weird Science: Going into Convergence, what was your history with these stories and characters?
Jeff King: Growing up, maybe because of where I lived in Canada, or where my parents bought me comics when I was a kid it was the old Kirby books: Forever People, Demon, The Metal Men -- I knew who Superman and Batman were, but it wasn't until Convergence I really discovered all the rich history and tradition of the wider DC Universe.
Weird Science: How did you prepare to write Convergence?
Jeff King: Haha, well, it started with Dan Didio telling me the main story over several days of meetings where he would talk, I would listen and take notes and then come back in to pitch him, Marie Javins and Bobbie Chase, beats which would eventually become the nine issue main story. I am writing or co-writing with Dan Jurgens and Scott Lobdell. They, along with amazing creators like Scott Snyder and Brian Azzarello had been laying the foundation of the Convergence Event for years. Interesting tidbit: when I started working on it, the Convergence Event was called "Blood Moon". From there I met regularly with my editors and the Editors from World's and Futures End weeklies. I read a few of the key stories like Flash of Two Worlds, Crisis, Kingdom Come, Red Son, Zero Hour and Flashpoint. And then I dove in writing #1!
Weird Science: How does it feel to have the fate of the DC Multiverse in your hands?
Jeff King: If I had known what an enormous task it would be I should have run for my life! I'm glad I didn't.
Weird Science: On the surface, the Convergence Event seems aimed at older DC Comics fans that may have been turned off by the New 52. What steps did you do to make it accessible to newer readers as well?
Jeff King: I had not experienced that turn off because I was coming new to the New 52. I think you can read Convergence and just pick up the main story, along with whichever of the monthly stories whose characters pique your interest. So anyone who has been aching for one last ride with a pre-New 52 character will find a story she loves. As far as access, Dan knew I had been part of the start up of several rich mythology television series like Stargate SG1 and Continuum. So I understood the world building that goes into them. Through that experience I learned that no matter how massive the story, you still need one, or a small group of, characters whose point of reference to start from. My job was to focus on the Earth 2 characters who are the heart of that main story. At least initially! Lol. You can see who I mean by looking at the gorgeous Ivan Reis and Joe Prado cover for Convergence #1.
Weird Science: How closely have you worked with the other writers of the individual Convergence titles?
Jeff King: Closely with Dan because the #0 came about after I started writing, and then later with Scott because he and I are both writing on Convergence #1, 6, 7 & 8.
Weird Science: Give us your Convergence pitch to get everyone fired up for the event.
Jeff King: Harley versus Captain Carrot, Rene Montoya Question, Superman and Lois's baby, Kamandi, Superboy, Hal Jordan, Barry, Wally, Speed Force and the kids, Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown, topped off by... a Nightwing/Oracle Wedding??!!! If the prospect of THAT doesn't make you rush to your LCS nothing will!
Weird Science: How many chicken wings can you eat in one sitting...this is the most important question, by the way.
Jeff King: 89... one for every issue of Convergence!
I'd like to thank Jeff for doing this interview and I'll admit that I am excited for Convergence...I'm a sucker for Harley Quinn and Captain Carrot! Convergence #0 just came out and if you need any more prompting, check out Eric's review for it HERE. Be warned, though, Eric likes to spoil things. Here is my spoiler free review: It's really good.
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