COMICS: Mark Waid Talks DAREDEVIL

Since the relaunch of Daredevil, Matt Murdock has been a bit more positive and happy with life. He made a triumphant return after being under demonic possession in the Shadowland storyline, and now has one of the most talked about comics of the previous year. Writer Mark Waid spoke with Newsaram about his success and briefly touches on the big event, The Omega Effect.

Nrama: On the horizon, in the Klaw tradition of villains you wouldn't expect Daredevil to face, Mole Man is on the docket to appear in issue #9 and #10. What inspired you to use him?

Waid: One, they're both blind. Two, they both have a form of radar-sense. Three, I wanted to see the Devil on a Dante-esque journey through the dark and monstrous underworld, and boy, did Paolo deliver on the visuals. Those covers alone are so evocative of Doré's classic depictions of Hades that I find them stunning.

Nrama: Speaking of issue #8, the two-part DD/Spidey crossover "Devil and the Details" just wrapped up. Given your recent experience as part of the Amazing Spider-Man writing team and the history between Matt and Peter, how much of a priority was it for you to pair the two characters in the first year of your run?

Waid: Honestly, it wasn't in the original game plan — but once editor Steve Wacker pitched it out and offered to loan us Black Cat for an extended period (also thanks to the grace of writer Dan Slott), the crossover made perfect sense and opened up a ton of new plot possibilities.
Also... I mean, geez, how much fun is it to write those two characters teamed up? The way they play off one another, their dialogue just sort of appears full-blown in my head, like I can "hear" them.

Nrama: Also in April is the "Omega Effect" story that you're co-writing with Greg Rucka. You guys have worked together before, notably on 52 a few years back over at DC — what's it been like collaborating with him again?

Waid: Easy as can be. Greg's a charming and gracious collaborator and enjoys the back-and-forth, as do I. We definitely play to one another's strengths — I'm better at the straight superhero stuff, while Greg's a much smarter plotter and much wiser about the street-level action. It's really a joy, seriously. Also, he's very patient with the way I'll phone him up drunk at 3:00 a.m., weeping that I've forgotten how to write and that I'm going to chuck it all and open up a tire store.

Nrama: Finally, I know there's surely nothing specific you can say, but with Daredevil going strong, you're more of a part of the Marvel Universe than you have been in years, and were in attendance at the Marvel retreat last month. So is there a chance we might see even more from you at Marvel in the near-ish future?

Waid: There's always a chance. A good chance, in fact. I'd say more, but I'm already dangerously close to triggering the shock collar.