Welcome to AMERICA'S GOT POWERS! It's the biggest TV show on Earth, where the chance to win fame, fortune and get laid are dangled in front of a generation of super-powered teens. All they have to do is WIN. Who is the fastest, the strongest or the greatest? Who survives? Young Tommy Watt's dreams of being the greatest hero of them all might just be shattered when the greatest show on the planet begins to reveal it's dark heart. That's the story writer Jonathan Ross (Turf) and artist Bryan Hitch (The Ultimates) will tell this April when the first and second issues go on sale. Talking to Newsarama, Ross has revealed even more about the upcoming series and you can read even more by clicking on the link below.
On The Decision To Set The Book In America Despite Being A British Creative Team: We are both VERY English, that's for sure. Bryan perhaps more so then me; I think he wears a monocle and tweed suit while drawing. But the kind of comics we both grew up with and loved the most were American. I love a lot of comics that are set here in the United Kingdom, but superheroes just seem to suit America more. The buildings, the size and scope of the country – everything lends itself to the superhero genre so well, and, of course, that is where they were born.
On The Characters And Tone Of The Book: The main character is Tommy, the one kid who, although born of the Event like all the others is the only one with no powers. But as you'll see from the book when it is published, it's not really about the competition. That’s the backdrop for the main story, which is about exploitation and control, suppression and maintaining the status quo despite changes from below. Sort of.
On How The World They Have Created Relates To Our Own: It’s an enhanced version of our world. It’s Earth as we imagine it would be if a giant space rock had landed here 18 years ago and gifted super-powers to the newborn babies in one town. How would we react? How would we monitor their power, how would we try to control them or exploit them, and how would they feel about that? What would the effect of having a super-powered anomaly in the family have on the kid's parents or older and younger siblings? When the chance came to monetize these kids, who would benefit? How would the military try to use them? Industry? The sex trade? As they grew to be adults - which is when our story takes place - would they be able to break free and be true to what they are, or would they be kept in a sub-ordinate and oppressed ghetto to serve the 'greater good'?
On How He Came To Work With Artist Bryan Hitch On The Project: Two words. Mark. Millar. I loved the work Bryan did on Ultimates and the other books that he kind of designed the template for. So he felt like the perfect partner to try and make this story work with! And the pages I have seen so far are just off-the-scale great! The story-telling and the detail are exceptional. I think people are going to love what he has done. i know I do!
On How His Own Celebrity Status Impacted The Story: I have first hand knowledge and exposure to the ruthlessness and cynicism that runs through the entertainment business. But it's not really about me, or real-life experiences. Its a gigantic 'What If?' - my favorite kind of science fiction and superhero storytelling!
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