Paul Levitz Discusses Sharing and Returning to Characters

Paul Levitz Discusses Sharing and Returning to Characters

Paul Levitz discusses how he's handled knowing his characters may be reinterpreted by other writers.

By cjamesbye - Jan 12, 2012 12:01 PM EST
Filed Under: Comics
Source: Kneejerkmag.com

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.
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StuckInPanels
StuckInPanels - 1/12/2012, 1:02 PM
I cannot wait to see what he has in store for both Power Girl and Huntress in World's Finest....more like World's Finest RACKS!!! enh enh........Levitz is a great old school writer
cjamesbye
cjamesbye - 1/12/2012, 2:31 PM
I had a very odd conversation with a stranger in my local comic store last week about how "If DC really wanted to bring in sales, they'd give the readers what they want and pop off Power Girl's top on a cover." His comments actually got weirder from there, but they no longer stayed on the topic of comic books... #StrangerDanger!
StuckInPanels
StuckInPanels - 1/12/2012, 8:22 PM
@cj....its more than just the sexualization of Power Girl or any other female heroine wearing super revealing outfits. Power Girl was and still is one great character with some amazing stories to be told. I'm glad she is making a comeback since her alter ego was in Mister Terrific and I called BETRAYAL on that part but now she's back and has her powers too is a good.
cjamesbye
cjamesbye - 1/13/2012, 6:50 AM
Oh yeah, total agreement, ComicCritic. She was always fun in JLI/E and in recent JSA stories. I'm curious how'll they'll play up her connection/awareness to the pre-Crisis Earth Two or if they'll totally wipe it from continuity. It'd be kinda great if she's once again the only one really aware of the changes since Flashpoint (and that leaves a kinda nice open door if DC ever wants to backtrack on some of the continuity changes with the New 52).
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