The book has never been more intriguing as its been during current arc,How to Maim a Mockingbird.
Den of Geek: How did you get this gig?
Did Marvel contact you?
Ales Kot: I was already talking to Marvel about something else and then…continued in answer two!
What is your relationship like with Nick Spencer?
Have you been looking for a project to work together on?
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We first met on a sinking cruise ship.
There was one last empty boat and we were the last two passengers.
The ship was going down.
We both jumped and missed the empty boat.
Then we fought for survival and two weeks later agreed to never see each other again.
But then Nick called me.
I just moved to New York and he knew I needed more money to buy drones.
I have a drone fleet guarding my castle.
Or theres a completely different version.
Or both of the above are true.
What is your process with Nick?
Does one of you script and the other plot or do you both wear the dual hats?
Nick & I plotted the storyline and I am writing the scripts.
Its all rather simple.
What legacy do you feel the book follows?
Secret Avengersis a superhero spy thriller.
As for the core of the comic?
Its a superhero spy thriller that descends into the psychedelic and paranoid.
But, as Joseph Heller wrote inCatch-22,Just because youre paranoid doesnt mean they arent after you.
clash on multiple levels at the same time.
This is the endgame.
Tell us about working with the great Butch Guice.
How do you script for an artist like Guice?
Working with Butch is a dream come true.
The black and white pages Butch turns in are beautiful.
I do wish this comic would come out in a black and white version as well.
The chiaroscuro play is astonishing.
Do you plan to shake up the cast or play with an established group?
Maria Hill is the leader.
Shes effectively in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D and Secret Avengers are under her command.
Hawkeye, Black Widow, Hulk, Iron Patriot, Mockingbird, Taskmaster, Phil Coulson.
As for shaking things up oh, most definitely.
Someone will get shot in the head fairly soon.
Lets talk about some of the individual team members…
Your arc is calledHow to Maim a Mockingbird.
Can you tell us where Mockingbird fits into the contemporary Marvel Universe?
Mockingbird is a scientist and a superhero.
Shes very intelligent, street-smart, competent as a spy and quite excellent as a superhero.
Shes also undercover and in the midst of the entire A.I.M.
operation, which means shes got to watch out.
How about Hawkeye and Black Widow?
The characters are probably more prominent now than he has ever been.
Whats your take on Clint and Natasha?
I dont have a take on them.
They just appear in my head and start talking.
I believe thats due to the stories featuring them I read since my early age.
They just… exist.
I observe the situations and write them down.
Taskmaster seems to be the wild card of the team.
How do you fit in a seemingly immoral character into the mix?
Morality is a construct.
The Taskmaster seems pretty honest about who he is, and I respect that.
Then again, maybe Im just lying here, swaying you so you dont see something coming.
Who knows, right?
The answer lies behind the big door marked SPOILER TERRITORY.
Any concepts of characters from SHIELD or the Avengers past you would love to get your hands on?
I also want to invent new ones.
Its all about finding the pieces that fit the best.
And there will be more.
There seems to be a Steranko vibe to this story.
How has he influenced you?
We exchanged sex stories on twitter about a week ago.
But you probably dont mean that kind of influence.
Jim SterankosNick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.is a classic that remains hugely influential.
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