Eric J. Moreels
Oct 4, 2002, 06:17 am
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0902/paradise_x_DD_1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0902/paradise_x_DD_1t.jpg" align=left alt="Devils: A Paradise X Special preview"></a>by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean, X-Fan Correspondent, mxpawn@hotmail.com
X-Fan Correspondent Benjamin Ong Pang Kean gets transported to the future of the Marvel Universe as co-creator and writer of the Earth X trilogy Jim Krueger reveals some secrets, provides a sample script from the upcoming Devils: A Paradise X Special, as well as discussing his upcoming projects.
X-FAN: For the benefit of those who have not read your books, what is the Earth X trilogy about?
JIM KRUEGER: The X trilogy is about secrets. It's about explaining all the things that weren't explained in the past of the Marvel Universe. What do the Watchers watch for? Why is there a Galactus? Why are there alternate realities? What is vibranium? etc, while all the time creating a story that features every hero and villain in the Marvel Universe that ever lived and died.
Really, it is the Marvel Universe itself that is the main character, although Captain America, Reed Richards and Machine Man (X-51) are probably the big three of the series.
X-FAN: How does the Devils one-shot tie-in to the entire Earth X trilogy? What revelations are we to expect from this one-shot? And will the events in this particular book affect the rest of the series?
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/PXDVLS001001_400_proof.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/PXDVLS001001_400_prooft.jpg" align=right alt="Devils: A Paradise X Special Page 1 preview"></a>KRUEGER: Devils ties in to the others in a number of ways. It touches upon one of the storylines going on in the series, that being one inspired by one of the oldest stories in all of British literature, the Chaucer inspired tale of what happens when there is no longer a death capable of taking the lives of those he comes upon.
Death was killed at the end of Universe X, and as a result, people who should have died will now suffer forevermore.... unless a new Death can be created. And so, this is the story of that creation at the hands of Earth's greatest heroes.
The title Devils, based on the cover, might be thought to be referring to the Daredevils, but is also relates to the heroes, who themselves know that their actions will be considered by some to be criminal. The special also explores more of Mar-Vell's past in the Realm Of The Dead.
X-FAN: What's it like working with Devils artist Steve Sadowski? Are there plans for future projects with him?
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/PXDVLS001002_400_proof.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/PXDVLS001002_400_prooft.jpg" align=right alt="Devils: A Paradise X Special Pages 2-3 preview"></a>KRUEGER: I love Steve's work and would love to work with him again. I'd take any opportunity given.
X-FAN: When is Devils due to arrive in stores?
KRUEGER: Wednesday, 9 October 2002.
X-FAN: With Paradise X almost complete, a popular question from fans and readers is whether the trilogy is the future of the real Marvel Universe or just another alternate timeline story? Having spoken of plans to do more Earth X stories, such as History X and X-Tales, why bother if the trilogy does not affect the future direction of the MU in any way? If this is the actual future of the MU, do you think this would limit the creativity of Marvel creators in that all events from now onwards would ultimately lead to Earth X?
KRUEGER: I don't want to give too much away, but part of the desire for this final part of the series was to deal with answering the question ourselves as to if this is the true future or not, as well as finding a way to justify each and every alternate reality that exists.
I would like to point out though that if the current Marvel Universe is called Earth 616, then it is not the real version either. These issues are ones we are dealing with in this series.
X-FAN: What other projects are you currently working on?
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/clockmaker_cover1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/clockmaker_cover1t.jpg" align=right alt="Clockmaker #1 preview"></a>KRUEGER: Clockmaker is out in January from Image. The art is by Matt Smith and Brett Weldele (who was voted by Wizard as one of the top 5 upcoming artists in comics). This is about a giant clock within the a hollowed mountain in the Swiss Alps that is actually the gateway to Heaven. And of the battle that is fought at that gateway.
A few months later, Yesterday People, also by Image, will be released. The art is by Steve Yeowell. It's about a group of people that are falling backwards through time. It's Highlander in reverse, I guess. But very different than that at the same time.
I'm in the midst of a Micronauts limited series right now that tells the origins of Baron Karza... and it will actually even have a tie-in with the original Marvel continuity in a way that I think will please long-time fans.
Foot Soldiers Volume 3 is released from AIT-PlanetLAR this week as well, and this is the first all-new material in about two years. Foot Soldiers is the adventure of three kids that go to the graveyard where the superheroes are buried and rob the graves. They try to fill the literal, actual shoes of the legends themselves. And of course, everything goes wrong from there.
And then, of course, Alex and I are always talking about what we'll do next...
Krueger has provided X-Fan with the first three pages of script from the issue, whilst editor Mike Marts provided the first five pages of art from the one-shot.
PG 1 OVERVIEW: This is a teaser page for the spread on PGS 2-3. The scene here is the classic scene of a man (the EARTH X DAREDEVIL in this case) being bound to a spinning wheel and of the knife-thrower (here, though, yet another DAREDEVIL) who attempts to throw knives without striking the body. The exception though, in this case, is that the idea is to hit the body with each throw. Daredevil can't be killed. Ironically, though, no one can die now on the world of Paradise X.
1/1 Opens with the DAREDEVILS stunt show. All we see is the stage. In the foreground in a Daredevil, with throwing knives in hand, he stands poised to throw these knives at another Daredevil in the background, who is bound at the ankles and wrists by iron shackles. The wheel is spinning him around. No knives have been thrown at him yet.
DD1 should have something like 8 knives in his hands. He looks over his shoulder to an implied audience (the reader).
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/PXDVLS001004_400_proof.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/PXDVLS001004_400_prooft.jpg" align=right alt="Devils: A Paradise X Special Page 4 preview"></a>DAREDEVIL 1 (KNIFE THROWER): I suppose now would be a good time to mention that I've never done this before.
1/2 The other Daredevil, the one, who now hangs upside down, with a knife about to fly into him.
DAREDEVIL 2 (THE TARGET): They're not even laughing, DD. They know you're not going to miss.
1/3 Daredevil 2's head is now down, as if he's dead. The knife is now stuck in his chest.
DAREDEVIL 1 (KNIFE THROWER) (VOICE COMING FROM OFF PANEL): Oh yeah?
1/4 DAREDEVIL 1, now throwing three knives right at the reader. The knives are all coming right at us (although it should be implied that he's throwing them at the other DAREDEVIL)
DAREDEVIL 1: And as if that were not enough, laideeeez and gentlemen...
1/5 Bust shot of Daredevil 2(the victim). Now his head is at 10:00 on the spinning circle. We can now see four of the throwing knives sticking out of DD2's chest
DAREDEVIL 1 (OFF PANEL, THE KNIFE THROWER): ... this is a good time to thank my able and willing and oh so naďve assistant.
1/6 Similar shot to 1/5, but now DD2 is at 2 O-Clock with three more knives in his chest. Except now, of course, his head isn't drooping, he's very much alive.
DAREDEVIL 2 (THE VICTIM): Look, this isn't working for me.
1/7 Pull out to show Daredevil at 6:00, with all 8 knives in him. He looks like the hanging man of a tarot card set.
DAREDEVIL: Death and dismemberment just isn't popular anymore.
2/1-3/1 2/3 of the DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD.
OPENING NOTE: THERE ARE 30 DAREDEVILS ALL TOGETHER. WHEN MEPHISTO TAKES THE FORM OF ONE, THAT TAKES THE NUMBER TO 31.
NOTE TO STEVE: Alex actually suggested showing this more like a circus poster on the side of a building than of an actual scene. I'd have the poster pulled between two posts with wrinkles in the fabric and all of that.
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/PXDVLS001005_400_proof.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/PXDVLS001005_400_prooft.jpg" align=right alt="Devils: A Paradise X Special Page 5 preview"></a>The Poster art should be a little more like classic circus art, but the images of the Daredevils being killed all over it should surround the CIRCUS LOGO:
NOTE: This poster should be pulled over a sign that we can still make out Latverian Coliseum
All the Daredevils in action, doing everything they can to kill themselves.
The blindfolded one has ten knives sticking out of him.
There are three that are beheaded and one of them is juggling the heads.
Another is in flames and riding a unicycle over a number of spikes.
Yet another is on the motorcycle while another is shooting him with a machine gun...
NAME:
DAREDEVILS' PANEMONIUM AND MADHOUSE
TAGS:
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A DEATH TO BRING THE FAMILY TOGETHER
MASSACHISM FOR THE MASSES!
WE DON'T DEFY DEATH, WE EMBRACE IT
YOU WILL BELIEVE A MAN CAN DIE
There's also a banner on the poster that now reads "TO LIVE AND DIE AND DIE AND DIE IN LATVERIA!"
2/2-3/2 Over the shoulder shot of the Daredevils taking a bow. One is putting his head on (it's still a few inches above his neck.
It's not until the end of these acts that we see that there aren't that many in his audience. A few clumps of people here and there. Ben Grimm and the Brothers Grimm amongst most of the empty seats.
It's like seeing maybe a hundred people show up for a major league baseball game. And none of them sit together.
We do see that the kids love DDS.
DAREDEVIL #2: This is embarrassing. We outnumber our fans.
X-Fan Correspondent Benjamin Ong Pang Kean gets transported to the future of the Marvel Universe as co-creator and writer of the Earth X trilogy Jim Krueger reveals some secrets, provides a sample script from the upcoming Devils: A Paradise X Special, as well as discussing his upcoming projects.
X-FAN: For the benefit of those who have not read your books, what is the Earth X trilogy about?
JIM KRUEGER: The X trilogy is about secrets. It's about explaining all the things that weren't explained in the past of the Marvel Universe. What do the Watchers watch for? Why is there a Galactus? Why are there alternate realities? What is vibranium? etc, while all the time creating a story that features every hero and villain in the Marvel Universe that ever lived and died.
Really, it is the Marvel Universe itself that is the main character, although Captain America, Reed Richards and Machine Man (X-51) are probably the big three of the series.
X-FAN: How does the Devils one-shot tie-in to the entire Earth X trilogy? What revelations are we to expect from this one-shot? And will the events in this particular book affect the rest of the series?
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/PXDVLS001001_400_proof.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/PXDVLS001001_400_prooft.jpg" align=right alt="Devils: A Paradise X Special Page 1 preview"></a>KRUEGER: Devils ties in to the others in a number of ways. It touches upon one of the storylines going on in the series, that being one inspired by one of the oldest stories in all of British literature, the Chaucer inspired tale of what happens when there is no longer a death capable of taking the lives of those he comes upon.
Death was killed at the end of Universe X, and as a result, people who should have died will now suffer forevermore.... unless a new Death can be created. And so, this is the story of that creation at the hands of Earth's greatest heroes.
The title Devils, based on the cover, might be thought to be referring to the Daredevils, but is also relates to the heroes, who themselves know that their actions will be considered by some to be criminal. The special also explores more of Mar-Vell's past in the Realm Of The Dead.
X-FAN: What's it like working with Devils artist Steve Sadowski? Are there plans for future projects with him?
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/PXDVLS001002_400_proof.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/PXDVLS001002_400_prooft.jpg" align=right alt="Devils: A Paradise X Special Pages 2-3 preview"></a>KRUEGER: I love Steve's work and would love to work with him again. I'd take any opportunity given.
X-FAN: When is Devils due to arrive in stores?
KRUEGER: Wednesday, 9 October 2002.
X-FAN: With Paradise X almost complete, a popular question from fans and readers is whether the trilogy is the future of the real Marvel Universe or just another alternate timeline story? Having spoken of plans to do more Earth X stories, such as History X and X-Tales, why bother if the trilogy does not affect the future direction of the MU in any way? If this is the actual future of the MU, do you think this would limit the creativity of Marvel creators in that all events from now onwards would ultimately lead to Earth X?
KRUEGER: I don't want to give too much away, but part of the desire for this final part of the series was to deal with answering the question ourselves as to if this is the true future or not, as well as finding a way to justify each and every alternate reality that exists.
I would like to point out though that if the current Marvel Universe is called Earth 616, then it is not the real version either. These issues are ones we are dealing with in this series.
X-FAN: What other projects are you currently working on?
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/clockmaker_cover1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/clockmaker_cover1t.jpg" align=right alt="Clockmaker #1 preview"></a>KRUEGER: Clockmaker is out in January from Image. The art is by Matt Smith and Brett Weldele (who was voted by Wizard as one of the top 5 upcoming artists in comics). This is about a giant clock within the a hollowed mountain in the Swiss Alps that is actually the gateway to Heaven. And of the battle that is fought at that gateway.
A few months later, Yesterday People, also by Image, will be released. The art is by Steve Yeowell. It's about a group of people that are falling backwards through time. It's Highlander in reverse, I guess. But very different than that at the same time.
I'm in the midst of a Micronauts limited series right now that tells the origins of Baron Karza... and it will actually even have a tie-in with the original Marvel continuity in a way that I think will please long-time fans.
Foot Soldiers Volume 3 is released from AIT-PlanetLAR this week as well, and this is the first all-new material in about two years. Foot Soldiers is the adventure of three kids that go to the graveyard where the superheroes are buried and rob the graves. They try to fill the literal, actual shoes of the legends themselves. And of course, everything goes wrong from there.
And then, of course, Alex and I are always talking about what we'll do next...
Krueger has provided X-Fan with the first three pages of script from the issue, whilst editor Mike Marts provided the first five pages of art from the one-shot.
PG 1 OVERVIEW: This is a teaser page for the spread on PGS 2-3. The scene here is the classic scene of a man (the EARTH X DAREDEVIL in this case) being bound to a spinning wheel and of the knife-thrower (here, though, yet another DAREDEVIL) who attempts to throw knives without striking the body. The exception though, in this case, is that the idea is to hit the body with each throw. Daredevil can't be killed. Ironically, though, no one can die now on the world of Paradise X.
1/1 Opens with the DAREDEVILS stunt show. All we see is the stage. In the foreground in a Daredevil, with throwing knives in hand, he stands poised to throw these knives at another Daredevil in the background, who is bound at the ankles and wrists by iron shackles. The wheel is spinning him around. No knives have been thrown at him yet.
DD1 should have something like 8 knives in his hands. He looks over his shoulder to an implied audience (the reader).
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/PXDVLS001004_400_proof.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/PXDVLS001004_400_prooft.jpg" align=right alt="Devils: A Paradise X Special Page 4 preview"></a>DAREDEVIL 1 (KNIFE THROWER): I suppose now would be a good time to mention that I've never done this before.
1/2 The other Daredevil, the one, who now hangs upside down, with a knife about to fly into him.
DAREDEVIL 2 (THE TARGET): They're not even laughing, DD. They know you're not going to miss.
1/3 Daredevil 2's head is now down, as if he's dead. The knife is now stuck in his chest.
DAREDEVIL 1 (KNIFE THROWER) (VOICE COMING FROM OFF PANEL): Oh yeah?
1/4 DAREDEVIL 1, now throwing three knives right at the reader. The knives are all coming right at us (although it should be implied that he's throwing them at the other DAREDEVIL)
DAREDEVIL 1: And as if that were not enough, laideeeez and gentlemen...
1/5 Bust shot of Daredevil 2(the victim). Now his head is at 10:00 on the spinning circle. We can now see four of the throwing knives sticking out of DD2's chest
DAREDEVIL 1 (OFF PANEL, THE KNIFE THROWER): ... this is a good time to thank my able and willing and oh so naďve assistant.
1/6 Similar shot to 1/5, but now DD2 is at 2 O-Clock with three more knives in his chest. Except now, of course, his head isn't drooping, he's very much alive.
DAREDEVIL 2 (THE VICTIM): Look, this isn't working for me.
1/7 Pull out to show Daredevil at 6:00, with all 8 knives in him. He looks like the hanging man of a tarot card set.
DAREDEVIL: Death and dismemberment just isn't popular anymore.
2/1-3/1 2/3 of the DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD.
OPENING NOTE: THERE ARE 30 DAREDEVILS ALL TOGETHER. WHEN MEPHISTO TAKES THE FORM OF ONE, THAT TAKES THE NUMBER TO 31.
NOTE TO STEVE: Alex actually suggested showing this more like a circus poster on the side of a building than of an actual scene. I'd have the poster pulled between two posts with wrinkles in the fabric and all of that.
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/PXDVLS001005_400_proof.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/PXDVLS001005_400_prooft.jpg" align=right alt="Devils: A Paradise X Special Page 5 preview"></a>The Poster art should be a little more like classic circus art, but the images of the Daredevils being killed all over it should surround the CIRCUS LOGO:
NOTE: This poster should be pulled over a sign that we can still make out Latverian Coliseum
All the Daredevils in action, doing everything they can to kill themselves.
The blindfolded one has ten knives sticking out of him.
There are three that are beheaded and one of them is juggling the heads.
Another is in flames and riding a unicycle over a number of spikes.
Yet another is on the motorcycle while another is shooting him with a machine gun...
NAME:
DAREDEVILS' PANEMONIUM AND MADHOUSE
TAGS:
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A DEATH TO BRING THE FAMILY TOGETHER
MASSACHISM FOR THE MASSES!
WE DON'T DEFY DEATH, WE EMBRACE IT
YOU WILL BELIEVE A MAN CAN DIE
There's also a banner on the poster that now reads "TO LIVE AND DIE AND DIE AND DIE IN LATVERIA!"
2/2-3/2 Over the shoulder shot of the Daredevils taking a bow. One is putting his head on (it's still a few inches above his neck.
It's not until the end of these acts that we see that there aren't that many in his audience. A few clumps of people here and there. Ben Grimm and the Brothers Grimm amongst most of the empty seats.
It's like seeing maybe a hundred people show up for a major league baseball game. And none of them sit together.
We do see that the kids love DDS.
DAREDEVIL #2: This is embarrassing. We outnumber our fans.