Paul Levitz Discusses Sharing and Returning to Characters

Paul Levitz is once again hustling and bustling as a writer on DC's Legion of Super-Heroes and the creator-penned Huntress mini-series, and, as announced today, will soon begin work on the Huntress/Powergirl team-up book, World's Finest in the extended New 52. All of his writing duties are currently focused on characters he had a heavy influence on in his early days at DC.

Last year, Levitz discussed his writing history with Knee-Jerk Magazine (www.kneejerkmag.com).

When asked what it's like to "have a long run on a book or to create characters that have their destinies eventually go into the hands of other writers?" he responds,

"When you go into a shared universe, you know that if you're lucky, your kids will eventually be adopted. Sometimes it works out astoundingly (Neil [Gaiman’s] adoption of Lucien [in Sandman], and giving him a genuine personality and real role in the DC mythos); sometimes it's physically painful (the Shvaughn Erin/Sean storyline [a female character of Levitz’s creation in Legion of Super-Heroes who was later portrayed as a transgender man taking medication to maintain a female form]). Regardless, it's the trade for getting to play with toys other people created...some of whom probably shuddered at what I did.

"I do usually keep track of my kids more energetically than I watch books I never touched, but not with any specific hope of going back. Both my returns to Legion were surprises to me."

This current return to The Huntress is definitely a pleasant surprise to readers.


The Huntress: Looking surprised herself to have Levitz writing her again?

Read the whole interview, where he also discusses his book, 75 Years of DC Comics and other issues he's faced as a writer at http://tinyurl.com/6ljztdq.

Full discloser: C. James Bye is a staff member at Knee-Jerk Magazine.