Comics Interview — Issue #025

In what Salicrup describes as the longest John Byrne interview ever published, Byrne walks through his entire run on Fantastic Four issue by issue, from his early penciling stints under Marv Wolfman's plots through his current tenure as writer/artist, discussing his approach to character (making The Thing a tragic hero, reinvigorating Sue Richards, introducing Frankie Raye as a Herald of Galactus, and the Alicia–Human Torch storyline). He speaks at length about Marvel's sliding-scale continuity and the "seven-year Marvel Universe," his deliberate effort to keep the FF's history internally consistent while avoiding characters aging into obsolescence, and his philosophy of plotting spontaneously rather than from rigid outlines. Byrne recounts the disastrous experience developing an Indiana Jones ongoing series—killed by what he describes as impossible demands from Lucas licensing representatives who didn't understand the comics medium—and explains why he has refused all licensing work since. He offers sharp opinions on the distinction between "readers" (the 250,000 who buy the book) and capital-F "Fans" (hardcore convention-goers), arguing that listening too closely to the latter led him astray on Alpha Flight; he announces he is swapping that title for The Incredible Hulk with Bill Mantlo and outlines plans to return the Hulk to his roots as a creature of the night, marry Betty Ross to Bruce Banner, and strip away accumulated continuity. On creator's rights, Byrne defends his "company man" reputation, arguing that working within the system and doing one's best work—rather than public agitation—is what actually improved conditions at Marvel, pointing to the royalty incentive program as proof; he credits Jim Shooter specifically for quietly fighting for creators' rights from inside editorial.

Salicrup contributes a signed editorial preface recounting his long friendship with Byrne dating back to early Marvel days, confessing he blathered more than usual during the interview due to nerves, and crediting the conversation's structure to his inspiration from Lennon/McCartney song-by-song retrospective interviews.