It was announced via my piece at The Huffington Post that Gail Simone would be working on a new title for DC’s New 52 called The Movement, taking on the political 99% in the world of DC Superheroes.
I got to talk to her about the book briefly. I’ll be honest, I know very little about this project so far, literally everything I know is in the interview and solicitation below. The book doesn’t come out until May and it has me decidedly intrigued and excited.
Bryan Young: What attracted you to a title that sounds so politically charged? Can you tell me a little bit about what we’re getting into?
Gail Simone: The Movement is an idea I’ve had for some time. It’s a book about power–who owns it, who uses it, who suffers from its abuse. As we increasingly move to an age where information is currency, you get these situations where a single viral video can cost a previously unassailable corporation billions, or can upset the power balance of entire governments.
And because the sources of that information are so dispersed and nameless, it’s nearly impossible to
shut it all down. I’ve been in countries where the internet is heavily censored, but they can’t possibly keep up with millions of users from every corner of the world.
The previous generations of superheroes were not created to address this, it’s a legitimately new frontier, both for the real world and for storytellers.
The thing I find fascinating and a little bit worrisome is, what happens when a hacktivist group whose politics you find completely repulsive has this same kind of power and influence…what if a racist or homophobic group rises up and organizes in the same manner?
It makes you wonder where the next battlefield will be.
BY: Is this going to be a more serious book? Or are we going to be getting plenty of funny, too?
GS: It’s both, I think the themes are pretty meaningful and compelling as drama, but even firefighters and soldiers have that gallows humor. There’s some darkly funny stuff, certainly.
It’s an adventure story, but it really isn’t about mad scientists and jewel heists, it’s more about
the injustices that can affect real people’s lives, just tarted up in costumes and superpowers.
Many of the best revolutions had a pretty decent wit to them, to be fair.
BY: What makes you proud of this title so far?
GS: I like that there hasn’t been a book quite like it before. The designs of the characters, by the wonderfully talented Freddie Williams, make me very happy. They don’t look like the Avengers or the Justice League.
It just feels like a very new kind of superhero book. Even the ‘hero’ part gets a little
shaky, at times.
BY: What is it you hope comics readers come away from the book with?
GS: On the one hand, I hope they enjoy it for the modern fantasy. We’re not trying to preach
platitudes at people. I happen to love superhero comics, especially the crazy glamor and thrills they contain.
But on the other, I think the backdrop is a slice of reality that we’re unlikely to see in most superhero books. And I find that tremendously exciting.
I love to be surprised.
And here’s the official retailer solicitation of the book:
THE MOVEMENT #1
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by FREDDIE WILLIAMS II
Cover by AMANDA CONNER
1:25 Variant cover by CLIFF CHIANG
On sale MAY 1 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
We are faceless. We are limitless. We see all. And we do not forgive.
Who defends the powerless against the GREEDY and the CORRUPT? Who protects the homeless and poverty-stricken from those who would PREY upon them in the DARK OF NIGHT?
When those who are sworn to protect us abuse their power, when toxic government calls down super-human lackeys to force order upon the populace…finally, there is a force, a citizen’s army, to push order BACK. Let those who abuse the system know this as well: We have our OWN super humans now. They are not afraid of your badges or Leagues. And they will not be SILENCED.
We are your neighbors. We are your co-workers. And we are your children.
Don’t forget to check out our interview with Art Baltazar and Franco.
And follow Gail Simone on Twitter. You won’t regret it. #Bonerses