Marc Andreyko is a comic book and screenplay writer, known for writing the 2000s ongoing series Manhunter for DC Comics.Andreyko co-wrote the limited series Torso with Brian Michael Bendis, for which he was nominated for the Angoulême International Comics Festival Prize Awarded by the Audience and the Prize for Scenario (script) in 2003. He and Bendis are working with Paramount Pictures on a film adaptation of the work.He co-created with P. Craig Russell, an Eisner- and Harvey-winning one-shot for Marvel Comics featuring Dr. Strange entitled What Is It That Disturbs You, Stephen?In 1997 he co-created (with Jay Geldhof and Galen Showman) The Lost, a Harvey-nominated comics mini-series which continued the story of Peter Pan in modern times, with the protagonist presented as an amoral vampiric boy prostitute.He has written comics for other publishers, including Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, and Todd McFarlane Productions/Image Comics.In 2004 he began writing DC Comics' Manhunter series, relaunching it with a third volume, in which he introduced the character of Kate Spencer and her supporting cast.Recent work includes The Ferryman for Wildstorm, created by Joel Silver, with artist Jonathon Wayshak.
He agreed to answer 5 Quick Questions.1) What would you say is your greatest achievement in comics?
"Greatest" is an intimidating word, but my proudest accomplishment would have to be Manhunter (thanks in no small part to great collaborators the whole way!).
2) Who was your favorite writer or artist that you worked with & why?
Can't just limit it to one. In my humble career, I have been continuously blessed to work with great folks. I mean, do you choose when you've gotten to work with P. Craig Russell, Jill Thompson, Jay Geldhof, Richard Corben, Joe Bennett, Brian Bendis, Jesus Saiz, Michael Gaydos, to name just a few!
3) What character you have never worked .., would you like to do & why?
Cloak and Dagger - So much untold potential. I'd love to see if I could make 'em the marquee names they should be.
Titans/Teen Titans - The Wolfman/Perez era is such an influence, I'd love to get to actually play with them!
And if Bill Willingham ever needs somebody, I would KILL to do a Bigby Wolf mini-series!:) hint, hint, hint!lol
4) Who are your influences?
In comics? Lots: Will Eisner, Alan Moore, Bill Mantlo, Marv Wolfman, Stan Lee, Claremont and Byrne (X-Men and FF days), Scott McCloud, Jack Kirby, Roy Thomas, and dozens I'm sure I'm forgetting at the moment...
5) What hero or villain would you like to change if you could and why?
I'd love to work on the Demon (in fact, I actually have a pitch almost ready to go!)
Dr. Strange needs some help, too. I would love to make him more involved with humanity. Maybe volunteer at a free clinic. Counter all the big magic moments with some of the banality of everyday life. Wouldn't it be nice to see Stephen go on a date? With a human?:)
But, I wouldn't want to make wholesale changes to any character. The real challenge is finding out what the character is about and making his/her/its past work for the stories you tell now (and ignoring the parts that don't). I'm not big into total ret-con, "everything you knew is wrong" sorta stuff. More often than not, it seems like lazy writing IMHO.
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Can the fight against injustice be taken too far?Life is full of injustice, but it's usually accompanied with powerlessness on our behalf to do anything about it. But what if you could do something about it? What if you became permanently fused with War Machine armor? That's the premise of this book. It is also what makes War Machine unique, serving as a meditation on how far we should go to correct injustices, almost to the point where lines between good and evil themselves become blurred.
War Machine #6 begins a new story arc by answering the question: what could a superhero do about those situations? In the middle of this issue there's a simple panel with a soldier pointing a gun at a hysterical child. It's a profoundly disturbing image. It elicits anger, sadness, horror and empathy. But that's one side of the coin: atrocities committed. There's also those who wield power but choose not to use it in the service of good, thus the twin sins of commission and omission. Jim Rhodes a.k.a. War Machine is battling both evils.
War Machine obviously bears more resemblance to a vigilante like the Punisher than to your typical costumed super-hero. The origins of Rhodey's unshakeable sense of injustice are explored thru flashbacks supplied by his grandmother. Decked out in his Sunday best, young Jimmy beats some bullies senseless on his way to church and gets sent to juvie for six months despite his grandmother’s plea to the officer.
One of War Machine's high points is its five-member pit crew, who do a great job of outsmarting the Navajo native superhero American Eagle. I didn't even see their scheme coming. They're likeable and enjoyably imperfect. I'm also in love with Francesco Mattina's covers. I feel he spoils the readers every single issue in what I think are really the best covers of the whole Marvel stable any given month. Coincidentally, to me this cover almost seems to be inspired by the Terminator, with the red glow missing from one of War Machine's eye sockets.
Overall a great read. This book makes you think, while maintaining the expected excitement and thrills of the super hero genre. The book also uses my preferred form of comic book art: striking the ideal balance between beautiful craft and realism. When I read a comic book I want to be transported to another reality, but I still want to be able to suspend my disbelief enough to think that hey, this could have been our world.
8.5/10
Adam P.
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Into the Dark.We pick up where we left off in the last issue: In the dark. With the recent shakeup events taken place both behind, and within the pages of this series, I am left to wonder in what direction all of this will be heading? I have never seen the JLA at such a low point since the end of the satellite era, and the beginning of the tales from Detroit. But forever the optimist, I hold out that things will get better.
Justice League of America # 33 is the continuation of the story from the previous issue, where the female Dr. Light is on the trail of the cosmic vampire known as Starbreaker. As she continues to follow a very long and dark tunnel, Dr. Light soon emerges half way across the world in Tibet. Once there, she uncovers what Starbreaker's true motives are. Right behind her is the JLA, or what’s left of it, along with a new character for added support. Usually I wouldn’t mind some new blood in the mix, but given the current status of this doppelgangers original incarnation, this addition feels very untimely. And from the reaction Zatanna has, once she realizes this person isn’t who they appear to be, I would feel the exact same way.
As the story unfolds, and once the JLA manage to locate Dr. Light, an even bigger mystery begins to develop. We are presented with another twist on an old situation involving parallel worlds colliding, and the fate of those who wish to protect or destroy them.
I only hope that the JLA will soon find its way back from this darkness, and something better does come to light
6.5/10
Eddie R.
Review Editor
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