Over the past two issues, we’ve explored the new comic book world of
Hero Squared, which will be following the one-shot from Atomeka with a
mini-series (and more) from Boom! Studios. In the first of our three parts, we
talked with Ross
Richie, the publisher of Boom! Studios. Last week, we interviewed Hero
Squared co-writer J.
Marc DeMatteis. This week, in our conclusion to “Inside Hero
Squared,” we asked questions of co-writer Keith Giffen.

Known for
his work on Legion of Superheroes, Ambush Bug, Lobo,
Defenders, and other titles, Giffen is a writer, an artist, and a
writer-artist. In 1987, he teamed with DeMatteis and artist Kevin Maguire and
injected a lot of humor into what had been a somewhat moribund Justice League
of America. The success, dubbed Justice League, Justice League
International, and Justice League America during various phases,
struck a chord with readers looking for something funny among the progressively
dark and gritty superheroes of the day.

A long run later, the creators
went their separate ways, basically until a reunion mini-series, Formerly
Known As The Justice League, scored a hit with readers and retailers. Giffen
and DeMatteis also re-teamed for another hit with Hero Squared, which was
published as a one-shot from Atomeka. When Atomeka publisher Ross Richie decided
to launch his own company, he brought Hero Squared along with him.

Scoop talked with Keith Giffen this week for his take on
it.

Scoop: You first came to the attention of many as an artist on
Legion of Super-Heroes. What were some of your other early art
gigs?
Forgettable for the most part. Y’see, there was a period, right
after I was broken into the business, that I was God’s own Earth-bound moron.
Not a good time to be me. I was being tutored in the trade by the likes of
Carmine Infantino, John Romita, Joe Orlando, Larry Hama and way too many more to
mention but did I listen? Noooo… I knew better. I had the answers. Like I
said, not a good time to be me. So, even though I did draw some Defenders
and lay out All Star for Wally Wood (Wally Wood, f’chrissake! How can you
not learn from Wally Wood?) and hand a hand in this ‘n’ that, I really don’t
think of those early misfires as worthy of all that much attention. Except the
Wood stuff. Wally always came through.

Scoop: At what point did you
begin writing as well as illustrating? How did that come about?
When I
realized it’s easier to write Charge of the Light Brigade than it is to
draw it. Actually, if memory serves, Trencher was the first comic I ever
actually wrote. I’d been kinda writing for years by way of plotting JLI
and various, but those plots were drawn out like little mini-comics, not
typed out as standard plots. Dialog evaded me for the longest time. [Former DC
Editor] Andy Helfer and [DC President and Publisher, and former Legion of
Superheroes writer] Paul Levitz had been on me for years to take the plunge
and write dialog as well but I was, at the time, too intimidated to fly solo.
Ironic that my first writing was done for Image. Sadly ironic, as it turned
out…

Scoop: Was the transition easy or difficult?
Actually,
once I sat down and did it, it came pretty easy. Go figure.

Scoop:
Which job do you like better – writing or illustrating? (And
why?)
Writing. Less work. Really. That’s it. I wish I had a more in
depth, profound reason but that Light Brigade thing still
applies.

Scoop: What has been your favorite job as an artist to
date?
Um… That’s a tough one because I’m never happy with the end
result when I’m drawing. I guess it’d have to be the 5 Years Later
Legion. I’m kind, sorta okay with that. I really thought the first issue
of Dominion came out pretty good.

Scoop: What about as a
writer?
Mars Attacks. The first five issue mini from Topps. Hands
down my best writing to date. As for yet to be seen, I Luv Halloween. I’m
sticking to solo writing here because if I included my many writing partner
gigs, the list would go on and on.

Scoop: Is one of your projects more
representative of your personality than the others? If so, which
one?
Ambush Bug was a lot more autobiographic than I’m comfortable
with. I think, left to my own devises in a supportive marketplace, that’s the
kind of book I’d wind up doing.

Scoop: What’s been your most enjoyable
success to date?
My son Kyle.

Scoop: Has there been a
disappointment that you’d like another crack at?
“The Magic
Wars,” Legion of Superheroes just before I took it five years
forward. I really dropped the ball on that one. I was phoning it in and Levitz
deserved a better send off than the one I provided. That’s one I wish I could go
back and redo.

Scoop: For readers of both your original Justice
League run and your Formerly Known As The Justice League reunion,
what was it like getting back together with JMD and Kevin Maguire? How long did
it take before you felt like it clicked?
I can’t believe we let it slide
for so long. Especially JMD. I mean… We have fun. When we’re working a book,
be it JLI or Defenders or whatever, we have fun. There is no other
writer out there that I trust as much as I trust JMD! Here’s one for you. Unless
it’s necessary I know for an ongoing story line, I read JMD’s dialog when you
do. When the book is published. And I know he’s going to nail it. I’m not all
that certain what kind of mojo we’ve got working between us but I get the
feeling it’s delicate and would just as soon not break it by poking at it. Now
Kevin… Kevin’s the best at what he does. Period. No one captures the broad
range of human emotions like Kevin. Here’s another guy I can trust to nail the
moment. Oh, and for the record, [former DC Group Editor] Dan Raspler’s the
unsung hero here. He’s the one kept coming at me about reuniting for
FKATJL, he’s the one pulled it all together once we all agreed to see
if lightning can be persuaded to strike twice. There. I said it. Now stop
calling!

Scoop: How did Hero Squared come about?
To the
best of my recollection, I was stream-of-consciousness blathering at Boom!
publisher Ross Richie (a friend way before all this comic book nonsense) and
somewhere amid it all, the basic idea for Hero Squared blipped out
and Ross battened onto it like a tick on a Texan (Hi, Ross). JMD seemed to like
it well enough when we ran it past him, and make no mistake, JMD was critical to
the mix. For Hero Squared to work, the book had to have heart. No one
finds the heart of a character like JMD. Not that I can’t find the heart of a
character. It’s just that my understanding doesn’t extend much beyond knowing
it’s in the character’s chest somewhere. Add an up and coming talent like[artist] Joe Abraham and, viola! A comic book.

Scoop: For a
prospective new reader, how would you describe it?
As a book you should
buy multiple copies of. A fun read. A must have, double bag item. Okay… If you
enjoyed FKATJL, if you’re getting a kick out of ICBINTJL [“I Can’t
Believe It’s Not The Justice League,” presently running in Justice
League Classified], if you just can’t wait ’til Defenders hits, you
are going to love Hero Squared. Hero Squared is what JMD and I do
best. Unfiltered. Unrestrained by continuity or character restrictions or good
taste. And when it comes to non toxic, smoke free barbecue kindling? None
better!

Scoop: The original Hero Squared one-shot from Atomeka
got great reviews and now you’ve got the new mini-series and more slated from
Boom! Studios. Where do you see it going?
Sky’s the limit. Keep buying
and we’ll keep churning them out. The special begat the mini-series begat the
next special and so on and so forth. If sales are any indication, we’re in this
for the long haul. Time to ask for raises. As for Boom!, right now they’re the
best game in town for creator owned projects. I plan on making good use of
Boom!

Scoop: What else do you have coming up?
This ‘n’ that.
What Were They Thinking? with m’ buddy Mike Leib from Boom! (think;
What’s Up, Tiger Lily? as a comic book). Some Zombie Tales stories, again
Boom! A project with Steve Niles, Boom! again. I Luv Halloween, an
original project out of Tokyopop. Defenders, amid others I’m not at
liberty to talk about, from Marvel and a big surprise from DC. I think that’s
it… No. Wait. I’m writing some Ed, Edd and Eddy episodes for the new
season. I forget the rest…

Scoop: Anything you’d like to
add?
It wasn’t my fault! I didn’t do it! If I did, I didn’t mean it! I
think that just about covers it all.