Jim Starlins Death of the New Gods

[Lobo]

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=120379


JIM STARLIN: FERRYMAN OF THE NEW GODS
by Steve Ekstrom

In February of 1971, Jack Kirby introduced DC Universe to the New Gods and Fourth World books. After years of failed revamps and re-boots, critically acclaimed industry legend Jim Starlin gives them a proper burial in October with the release of The Death of The New Gods eight issue mini-series by Jim Starlin.

So far of course, the death toll sits at ‘one’ currently—Lightray was mysteriously killed in Countdown #48.

As most hardcore fans of Kirby’s Fourth World will know, the New Gods played a central role in DC’s Cosmic Odyssey which was also penned by Starlin. Newsarama sat down and talked to Starlin about his upcoming project—and he elaborated elaborate on some interesting objects featured in DC’s second Countdown teaser image; as well as, just how dead the New Gods are really about to be.

Newsarama: It's been indicated that the New Gods play a very crucial role in Countdown--can you elaborate as to where your story starts or picks up?

Jim Starlin: Let's see, Lightray died early on in Countdown. I’m not sure which Countdown week The Death of the New Gods begins, but as I understand it, several other New God characters appear in various DC comics before my series begins. I never use any of these said characters in my series. To my knowledge, no one plans to use any of the characters I use in Death of the New Gods, other than Superman. You do the math.

NRAMA: In his interview about the first Countdown teaser image, Dan Didio spelled out the writing on the wall--Big Barda and Mr. Miracle's feet are touching the ground--and touching the ground means you don't make it out of Countdown--so to speak. Is your project, "The Death of the New Gods" a literal massacre or more of a metaphorical change in the status quo of Jack Kirby's Fourth World legacy--or both?

JS: Dan's the boss. Myself, I sort of think of this project as putting an ending to Jack's New Gods' saga. Since Kirby's initial run on the characters others have presented them with mixed results. Looking back I'd say at least half of the past New Gods series have done more harm than good. So for me, Death of the New Gods is half honoring Jack Kirby, half mercy killing.

NRAMA: Black Racer's broken skis and a Mother Box of sorts are pictured on the ground in the second Countdown teaser image; care to throw in your "two cents" with an observation about this particular portion of the larger image?

JS: Didn't realize that was a Mother Box until hearing your question. You know they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. As for the Black Racer clue—well, the Racer was easily my least favorite of the New Gods. So no one should be surprised to learn he doesn't last long in Death of the New Gods. Never could figure out what Kirby was thinking when he created this one. He should have been gotten rid of a long time ago. Then again, that's just my opinion.

NRAMA: Can readers expect to find answers in regards to the more vague aspects of New Gods mythology and status quo? Will there finally be a peek behind the Source Wall at The Source?

JS: Big plans for the Source. You'll never guest whose father he turns out to be. No, seriously: everything you think you know about the Source is wrong. This is the part that the really fanatical Kirby fans are simply going to hate.

NRAMA: Will Mr. Miracle divulge the secret of the Anti-Life Equation or will he be taking that to his deathbed?

JS: Circumstances will get Scott using the Anti-Life Equation freely and to his own detriment. Won’t say anymore than that.

NRAMA: Who are some characters for readers to keep their eyes on during Countdown and The Death of the New Gods who will provide insight into what's coming down the pipe for the DC Universe?

JS: Well, coming out of Death of the New Gods, I guess, the only one that it makes any sense keeping an eye on is Superman. He was strictly on loan and I had to promise not to break him.

NRAMA: If the end is nigh for the New Gods, where do Darkseid and Apokolips weigh in? Or are they in danger as well?

JS: I'm not sure why folks keep asking me questions like this. The name of the series is The Death of the New Gods, not The Death of Some of the New Gods.

NRAMA: Got it. Finally, then, will this project lead to a re-iteration of the New Gods in the foreseeable future? Or do you think it is time to close the final chapter on an old idea and try a new concept?

JS: DC owns the rights to the character's names. There's some great names there. What do you think?

 

[Anubis]

I just wanna see Orion beat Darkseid to death in a fire pit. That's all I wanna see.

 

[Lobo]

Some of the art

 

[Lobo]

I just wanna see Orion beat Darkseid to death in a fire pit. That's all I wanna see.

I hope so.

I'm gad we're getting a New gods mini, but as a die hard Kirby fan I'm worried as to how its all going to turn out.

 

[Anubis]

They're all going to die. I mean, it's in the title.

 

[Doc Destruction]

*sniff*

I will miss Barda and Miracle.

 

[Lobo]

They're all going to die. I mean, it's in the title.

Yeah I just want to see how they do it. If they actually die or are born again

 

[Anubis]

Maybe the Young Gods will takeover. You know, the ones they've been showing off in Busiek's Superman run.

 

[Lobo]

Yeah and I have a feeling it will end with the emergence of the 5th world that Morrison has alluded to

 

[warren_sparta27]

i'm not too keen on this
mainly cause i don't want Big Brada or Mister Miricle to die

 

[Kitsune]

i'm not too keen on this
mainly cause i don't want Big Brada or Mister Miricle to die

DC doesn't appear to know or care what fans want when they kill off characters.

 

[Anubis]

I don't particularly care whether any of them Die. It's all about how the deed is done, in the end.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I'm gonna skip this and pretend it doesn't exist. The New Gods will eventually be back, I'm sure. Darkseid's too badass not to return.

 

[Memphis Slim]

Death means nothing in comics......

They'll be back.......

 

[Assassin]

The source is Luke's father

or Jor El

 

[Not Jake]

I'm gonna skip this and pretend it doesn't exist. The New Gods will eventually be back, I'm sure. Darkseid's too badass not to return.

don't you want to see Orion and Darkseid's final showdown

 

[Anubis]

Corp isn't into cool s**t like that.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

don't you want to see Orion and Darkseid's final showdown

Not if Orion's having a showdown with the current Darkseid, who got *****-slapped by Superman and ****ing tripped in an issue of Countdown. Darkseid doesn't trip. Actually, not if it's Orion as he's been portrayed since JLA, either. JLA treated him as a second-string Superman when, really, he should be far more powerful than Superman. He's meant to be the one being in all of creation with the raw power to take on Darkseid. Instead, Orion's a ***** and Darkseid's been taken down by everyone except Martha Kent, it seems. I bet that special is in the works, too.

 

[Spike_x1]

Under the current editorialship, I'm not really excited about this too much.

 

[Prognosticator]

^ Gotta love that Jazz sig!

 

[Aristotle]

This should have been done long ago. The New Gods are great, and I love the characters to death, but too many people have been allowed to **** with them. People wonder why I hate the Joke Justice League years so much, and one reason is that they made a mockery of characters like Mr. Miracle. He's a GOD. And he was turned into a joke. There's the aforementioned depowering of Darkseid, and pretty much all the New Gods. They're just not the same characters as the ones Kirby created. Let one of the greats, and I consider Starlin to be such, put these venerable characters to rest. I'm all in favor of that Fifth World concept. Lets keep this concept of Gods walking the universe with superheroes alive--but let's please stop trampling all over Jack Kirby's vision. His vision was not to have Mr. Miracle lampooned next to Booster Gold. His vision was not for the New Gods to be superhero-lite. His vision was for a glorious pantheon of Gods. Put this old dog down, and give it some dignity.

DC doesn't appear to know or care what fans want when they kill off characters.

Yeah, I still can't believe they killed off the uber-popular Ted Kord. I know so many people that just quit reading comics because of that. And let's not forget the death of Looker. I almost quit reading myself after that. But probably the toughest to take was Cliff Ronsky, a civilian from Metropolis. He died when a building exploded during Infinite Crisis. I'm a grown man, and I have to tell you...I cried. DC probably didn't even know his name.

 

[DavidTyler]

Why the hell didn't DC just turn the New Gods over to Byrne who seems to do alright with Kirby stuff. He had a great run over at Marvel on Fantastic Four. This would have been a no-brainer. BUT .. I don't really like much of what Dan Didio is doing anyway. I think he's trying to bring everything back to the way it was when he was a little kid..... the early 60's.

Not my choice of flavours.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

It's not just Didio. Johns, Meltzer, and others seem intent on it as well.

 

[yenaled]

Jim Starlin is a good writer. I'm sure this will be worth reading. Maybe.

 

[Anubis]

Why the hell didn't DC just turn the New Gods over to Byrne who seems to do alright with Kirby stuff. He had a great run over at Marvel on Fantastic Four. This would have been a no-brainer. BUT .. I don't really like much of what Dan Didio is doing anyway. I think he's trying to bring everything back to the way it was when he was a little kid..... the early 60's.

Not my choice of flavours.

John Byrne? Are you f**king high?