Comics Interview — Issue #068

Main Topics: Golden Age/Silver Age continuity debates, *Aliens* comic adaptation, *The Phantom* and *The American* series, DC Comics anthology strategy and diversification

Contents
  1. Roy Thomas & Dann Thomas
  2. Mark Verheiden & Mark A. Nelson
  3. Mike Gold
  4. Letters: Last Word
interview Roy Thomas & Dann Thomas
Interviewed by Lou Mougin
Roy Thomas Writer, Freelance (DC/Marvel) Working on: *Saga of the Sub-Mariner*, *Young All-Stars*, *Shazam*, *Captain Thunder and Blue Bolt*, *Helix*, *Elric*
Dann Thomas Writer, Freelance (DC/Marvel) Working on: *Young All-Stars*, *Captain Thunder and Blue Bolt*, *Shazam*, *Crimson Avenger*
Part three of an extended interview covering Roy's views on Golden Age and Silver Age continuity, his frustrations with DC's post-*Crisis* inconsistencies, and the challenge of depicting 1940s social attitudes authentically in Young All-Stars. Roy and Dann discuss their collaborative writing partnership and upcoming projects including Shazam, Helix, and plans to bring back Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr., as well as ongoing work with Captain Thunder and Blue Bolt for Hero Comics and a new Doctor Strange series with Jackson Guice.
interview Mark Verheiden & Mark A. Nelson
Interviewed by DAK
Mark Verheiden Writer, Freelance (Dark Horse/DC) Working on: *Aliens*, *The American*, *Predator*, *The Phantom*
Mark A. Nelson Artist, Freelance (Dark Horse) Working on: *Aliens*, *Silverwing*, *Empire of the Dinosaur* (planned)
A lively, humor-filled joint interview conducted at the 1988 San Diego Comic-Con, tracing both creators' paths from Oregon-area fandom through film work and back to comics. Verheiden discusses his original story approach for the Aliens six-issue mini-series (not an adaptation of the films), his plans for a contemporary Phantom series set in modern Africa, and The American ongoing series; Nelson describes his background teaching art at Northern Illinois University, his "funny animal" typecasting problem, the development of Aliens, and upcoming plans for Silverwing and Empire of the Dinosaur.
interview Mike Gold
Interviewed by Peter Sanderson
Mike Gold Editor/Director of Development, DC Comics Working on: *Action Comics Weekly*, *Bugs Bunny* mini-series, TSR properties (*DragonLance*, *Advanced D&D*), *Sgt. Rock* reprints
Part two of an interview with DC's Director of Development and his wife Ann DeLarye-Gold, focusing on comics as show business, convention etiquette for professionals, and Mike's vision for DC's future. Gold explains his rationale for Action Comics Weekly as an anthology incubator, his enthusiasm for a Bugs Bunny mini-series aimed at all ages, plans to reprint classic Kanigher/Kubert Sgt. Rock stories, development of TSR role-playing properties, and a five-year vision of comics splitting into periodical and book-format "creative industries."
article Letters: Last Word
Reader letters section including a request from a West German fan for back issues, a correction from Steve Dillon regarding a mislabeled art caption in a previous issue, and a letter from a reader requesting interviews with underground and alternative artists.