If you are wondering why comic books characters like Alpha Flight and Hercules are cool again, then you need to follow the works of Fred Van Lente. For those that lament that a lot of stories in Marvel Comics either don’t fit continuity or are too dark, Mr. Van Lente’s work has the perfect balance of what makes a comic book great: fun, lots of action and a respect for continuity while adding new layers of energy and stories to the mythology. I asked FVL ten questions about his latest runs with Alpha Flight and Herc, a hint of what is to come as well as his involvement with Cowboys and Aliens.
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How did you get your start writing for Marvel Comics?
My frequent artistic collaborator Steve Ellis and I did a series called THE SILENCERS for Moonstone Books, about a team of super-powered mob enforcers who become freelance operators when the Mafia family they work for gets whacked. That book caught the attention of Marvel editor Mark Paniccia, who invited me to pitch for the new Scorpion strip in AMAZING FANTASY. That was at the end of 2004, and they haven’t been able to get rid of me since!
What comic book series was the first to blow your mind growing up? What are you reading now (comic book and/or non-comic book)?
My parents got me the Pocket Books reprints of Lee and Ditko’s original AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, so I got hooked on the best. THE SIXTH GUN by Bunn and Hurtt is really terrific, that’s probably what I’m digging most right now.
Currently, you are co-writing Alpha Flight with Greg Pak. What fun challenges are you having with this series?
It is a lot of characters. It’s definitely different than Incredible Hercules, where we only had to worry about the Big Guy and Amadeus Cho. We are trying to give everyone — villains included — their own thread to shine, and so far I think we’ve been pretty successful. The readers seem to be picking their favorites — I know I have mine!
What do you think makes Alpha Flight different from The Avengers or The Defenders?
They represent an entire country, which can be an enormous burden — and we’re exploring that burden in our current series, when the government brands them traitors, forcing them to go on the run. There’s a massive conspiracy they’re trying to uncover, and they get a major piece of it in #4.
Which Alpha Flight characters do you have the most fun writing, and why?
I like all of them. Puck is a huge favorite of artist Dale Eaglesham, so I know that I put extra care into writing him because Dale will appreciate it. There’s a fight between Puck and Taskmaster in #5 that needs to be seen to be believed!
Speaking of characters, the one character that you’ve written for many years now is Hercules, Prince of Power. Since you were able to write him for so long, what themes or ideas were you hoping to convey?
Because Herc is a god, and born of gods, a lot of our stories about him is about what divinity means, both to worshipers and the divine. Herc grew up as a mortal and so he’s very human in his outlook, and that makes him very different than, say, Thor, who has always known he’s the heir to Asgard and adopted Earth later on. Herc is very “earthy” in his outlook — and I don’t just mean his obsession with booze and babes (though I mean that too).
What would Hercules say about our modern society’s love for superheroes?
They’re all cheap knockoffs of him! But he doesn’t mind, because it gives him lots of sparring partners to bestow “The Gift of Battle” on.
Can you share with us about your involvement with Cowboys and Aliens? What are your thoughts about the film version?
I wrote the graphic novel in 2001, which was a long time ago by any standard. So while I appreciate the attention, I feel kind of alienated from it, you know? I actually haven’t seen the movie yet. I got invited to a screening in LA but didn’t feel like springing for the plane ticket to go.
What new projects do you have coming up?
My next big mini is going to be announced at the end of August at Canada Fan Expo, as well as an exciting Alpha Flight announcement, so keep watching, friends!
If DC Comics were to give you any character for you to write or reboot for the New 52, what character would you love to get your hands on? What would you change or add to the character?
I’ve long thought a mystery/detective series with Martian Manhunter in his original guise would make a terrific series.
