David Meadows
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 #50 - Writer's Comments
Ok, this one, as mentioned elsewhere, was a struggle to write.
Spirit has been a pivotal character in my mind ever since I conceived of Heroes as a sequel to the earlier saga Strikeforce. That's why she was introduced right back in issue 1. But after introducing her, I had no idea what to do with her. By the nature of her methods and goals, she couldn’t take an active part in the main storyline. So though I've known at every step of the way what she’s been doing and why, there have been no real opportunities to bring her into the comic.
Backing up a bit. . .
When I started plotting Heroes ten tears ago, I knew it had to have tangible links to Strikeforce. Not just with the occasional guest appearances, but a solid thread of continuity. Strikeforce would cast its shadow directly onto Heroes, sort of like the The Silmarillion did on The Lord of the Rings. It doesn’t matter that most of my readers would have no idea about Strikeforce -- I knew, and I needed those links to build my stories on.
So what were the key links? Two characters.
The first was obvious -- Major Democracy, the hero from the past who (apparently) embodied the ideals that any self-respecting superhero group would need. By giving him a direct (though with a twist) link to James, I had the heroic heart for the team.
The second was less obvious, but filled a missing need in the plot -- who would bring this team together in the first place? Fennec. The only Strikeforce character with the resources, contacts, foresight, determination, and downright deviousness needed to set up a world-wide superhuman support organisation.
I knew Fennec’s background, motivations, and [presumed] demise, so Spirit’s role just fell into place. She had to be there for the overall background to make sense. So I put Spirit into the very first issue of Heroes. . . and then didn’t know how to put her in any future issues.
So there I was, issue 1 of Heroes written and published, and I already had the entire outline of an issue called Spirit. An issue in search of an outlet. . .
I thought the issue would come bundled with a Temple of Unity rematch in volume 2, but I had far too many other stories going on at that time and the Temple got lost (apart from one small nod in passing). Then in volume 3 I was building up to the Avatar storyline and there was no room for her there. In volume 4 I had a new character (Wane) to bed in, and a whole parallel “search for Chi-Yun” storyline going on, so no room for Spirit there. But by then I could see a definite course to wrap up the dangling Temple of Unity storyline in volume 5, so I started laying the groundwork for that. No Spirit appearances, yet, but the potential was there for her story to cross over.
Issue 50 got closer and I was looking for a “big” story to celebrate it (we humans have odd notions of the importance of certain numbers). It seemed like a good time to tell Spirit’s story. In terms of pacing, it’s unfortunate that it came after two other issues which focused on non-core characters. But in terms of the bigger picture, now was when it had to happen.
So that was the road to this issue. I hope regular readers will forgive me for abandoning the main characters again. I hope that people find the universe's background a bit richer because this story has been told. And I hope that my fellow Strikeforce members think I did Fennec’s character justice. Because it’s his story really.
--- The epic adventure reaches its golden anniversary issue... Heroes issue 50 now on line! |
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1/5/2008, 13:03
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knightflyer
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Re: #50 - Writer's Comments
quote:
David Meadows wrote:
When I started plotting Heroes ten tears ago, ...
Only ten tears, its not such a struggle as you'd have us believe is it?
---
Stuart
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"What goes around come around."
"And sometimes you get what's coming around."
"And sometime you are what's coming around."
Jim Butcher, Grave Peril
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6/5/2008, 19:51
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knightflyer
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Location: Orion Arm, Milky Way
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Re: #50 - Writer's Comments
quote:
David Meadows wrote:
And I hope that my fellow Strikeforce members think I did Fennec’s character justice. Because it’s his story really.
Yes, I think you have.
There's definitely a feel of Dave's character's bloodly-minded secretiveness, arrogance and paranoia. As well as his tenacious grasp of the wrong end of the stick.
Or maybe one of those is yours...
I did wonder on occasions if he'd written some of it.
Last edited by knightflyer, 7/5/2008, 12:00
---
Stuart
---------
"What goes around come around."
"And sometimes you get what's coming around."
"And sometime you are what's coming around."
Jim Butcher, Grave Peril
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6/5/2008, 20:06
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David Meadows
Editor-in-chief
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Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 442
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Re: #50 - Writer's Comments
quote:
knightflyer wrote:
quote:
David Meadows wrote:
When I started plotting Heroes ten tears ago, ...
Only ten tears, its not such a struggle as you'd have us believe is it?
But then there was all the blood and sweat...
--- The epic adventure reaches its golden anniversary issue... Heroes issue 50 now on line! |
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6/5/2008, 21:45
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