The Gold Exchange - Booster Gold #9

Since The Gold Exchange didn't start running until after the conclusion of Booster Gold's first arc, Comic Related took the occasion of the 52 Pick-Up hardcover edition's release to sit down with Dan Jurgens, Booster Gold's creator and the series penciller. While co-writer Jeff Katz, a regular contributor to the column, was also contacted, we decided to run the two articles separately this time, rather than in roundtable format.

ComicRelated: I went into the first issue of the All-New Booster Gold with seriously high expectations--after 52, and with Dan's involvement, it had to be something special not to disappoint...and I believe I told Dan later that it was the best #1 issue from DC in years. What kind of expectations were you guys aware of from fans who were maybe a little less crazy than me?

Dan Jurgens: My expectations were based on my reaction to reading the script when it first came in, which I found to be lots of fun. It had drama, intrigue and sufficiently teased the elements to unfold over the first year. So based on my own reaction, I expected readers to like it.

CR: Speaking of it, that "All-New" tag? It lasted for quite a while on The Atom. How'd you guys sneak out of having to put it on a cover after that's how Booster Gold was solicited and promoted?

DJ: With the Atom, I think they're truly referring to an all new character in a new suit. Booster is the same guy, not just a title reused. I think that's key to the success of the book.

CR: I know fan reaction in my circles was stellar. I particularly remember that, as a big fan of Dan's, I'd been pushing him on my friends for years as a great, thoughtful creator and not just "the guy who killed Superman." People saw this title and started seriously talking about him as one of the top artists in the industry again. Do you guys get any of that, or is it all third-hand by the time you see it?

DJ: I tend to try to separate myself from fan reaction that way. If you buy into it when they tell you you're great, you have to buy into it when they tell you you suck. Ultimately, you have to be able to evaluate yourself and your work and depend on that. That isn't to be insulting or say that the fans' opinions don't matter. It's only meant to say that they aren't looking over my shoulder when I write or draw, so at that point, I have to depend on myself.

CR: It's interesting that Booster was the only one coming out of 52 to know about the existence of the Multiverse, but that at this point--almost a year later--Booster hasn't left New Earth (that we know of) and now it's no longer unique to him. Any particular reason that aspect of his time/space-travel wasn't capitalized on earlier?

DJ: I find it to be more interesting for the stories to take place in New Earth for now. Later... we'll see!

CR: I remember saying last week that #9 is the first time I've really seen Dan embrace the Jim Lee Batman look, but there are elements of it here in #1. Like Supes in the first Booster Gold monthly, readers can watch your take on the character evolve here!

DJ: For a long time, Batman stories seemed to consist of Batman standing around in a clock tower unable to move or solve anything until Barbara Gordon told him what to do. Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee restored a sense of movement, color and excitement to the character. Why not reinforce that?

CR: I always thought Booster was perceived as the class clown--not too capable, but well-liked and harmless. There's a real resentment here that starts with Red Arrow and carries through the series. Where was that decision made?

DJ: I find it to be a natural evolution. Think of your own circle of friends. People you know who are always the first with a quip or a joke are rarely thought of as deep rooted individuals.

CR: But Supes, after their conflicts in the first volume (see Showcase Presents Booster Gold Volume 1, dear readers...!), stands by Booster. It's gratifying to see him in Booster's corner.

DJ: Superman sees the positive in most everyone!

CR: Speaking of the original series, what are The 1,000 (major villains in the first volume) up to these days?

DJ: Given the overall value of the dollar, they should probably be called the 372.

CR: Why is he "Booster" to us, and not Michael? Ted is Ted, Ollie is Ollie, Hal is Hal..!

DJ: Booster is who he is. A Charles is a Charles. Or if he's less stiff, a Charley. Or even a Chuck if he's really a fun guy. Booster is a more appropriate name than Michael for who the character really is.

CR: Daniel goes down pretty fast in his first fight with a villain. Is he cut out for a costume, long-term?

DJ: I'd say we've yet to find that out. More to come on that one!

CR: Why choose Pittsburgh as the home base? Obviously most of the main DCU heroes are in fictional cities.

DJ: It's a start. Eventually, Booster Gold International should have offices across the globe.

CR: Who was that who cold-cocked Dan, by the way? We haven't seen any Time Stealers yet with red, glowing eyes....Unless--is it the Black Beetle?

DJ: Stay tuned.

CR: So what ultimately happened to Booster's JLA membership certificate when it was done transforming? Is Rip keeping it somewhere under observation?

DJ: Rip's time lab has a safe that's filled with relics of various timelines.

CR: Did you intentionally invoke the look of Ted's monthly? I've noticed that he seems more gangly and angular here, than he did in your Justice League America run...and it feels more like I remember him in the BB monthly that came and went around the same time as Booster's did.

DJ: When I was drawing Ted in Justice League America I always though of him as being about 5'9"... more bug like in general. That was quite some time ago and I felt it better to maintain a more current look for the character.

CR: Only one of the teased events "in Booster's future" have happened yet--with the change in the creative team, we're still going to be seeing those happen, right?

DJ: Not to sound like I'm dodging the question, but stay tuned! There's more coming!

CR: I know it's been said that the "rips" in the timestream as Booster and Rip were traveling through during the story were carefully chosen--and we've already seen Anthro pop up. Are we going to see any more of these characters or realities popping up in the book?

DJ: Absolutely.

CR: I never noticed the Tomar-Parallax in the Sinestro issue before; do you guys always develop backstories for how these anomalies played out, in case you want to use them later?

DJ: If not backstories, possibilities certainly.

CR: Whose idea was it to have Sinestro literally twirling his moustache in that sequence?...

DJ: As I recall, that was mentioned in the script.

CR: What led to the Jonah Hex-Superman connection?

DJ: That was totally Geoff and Jeff. But it made for a fun team-up. I think the team-ups that are often most fun are the ones that would seem so unlikely.

CR: Booster and Jonah are two guys who have spent great chunks of their lives and publishing histories timelost. Will we ever see HEX in this book?

DJ: Never say never, but there are no plans at present.

CR: I love the story of why Booster ditched his cape--it reminds me of the Dollar Bill story in Watchmen. Was that something you always had in the back of your head for the character, Dan?

DJ: From the character's creation, the cape was meant to be ceremonial in nature. For example, if a high official was going to present Booster with an award, he might well wear the cape just for effect.

CR: ...I know you've said you've known since the '80s whose Legion ring is on Booster's finger.

DJ: Yes, we know whose Legion ring Booster is wearing. It will soon be revealed.

CR: After the rear-end accident, Skeets says that he "just mopped." In all this time, they've never replaced his janitorial accessories with something more practical in superheroics?

DJ: Well, they are coming from a janitorial background, you know.

CR: And how is it that there are just "spare" Booster costumes kicking around (in the sequence where Rose visits the house in Pittsburgh)? Isn't his suit pretty unique??

DJ: Booster's suit is totally unique... another story that will be developed along with the ring.

CR: Something that Rip says to Rex Hunter that always kind of bugged me: "I should have locked you away with the Linear Men." Did I miss something? What happened to the Linear Men?

DJ: Stay tuned.

CR: "The woman he loved" seems like quite a stretch for Barbara Gordon. A lot has been ascribed to that relationship post-mortem, hasn't it?

DJ: I think that was always pretty clearly implied, don't you?

CR: "The world will be a better place with him back in it" is a sentence, uttered by Booster about Ted, that just DRIPS with irony in the context of the next story arc. The other side of that is the irony of Max's claim that "I could make Superman kill for me if I wanted to."

DJ: True. But that's a statement Max would have a hard time backing up. I don't think he could ever do that.


		www.comicrelated.com
	Since The Gold Exchange didn't start running until after the conclusion of Booster Gold's first arc, Comic Related took the occasion of the 52 Pick-Up hardcover edition's release to sit down with Dan Jurgens, Booster Gold's creator and the series penciller. While co-writer Jeff Katz, a regular contributor to the column, was also contacted, we decided to run the two articles separately this time, rather than in roundtable format. ComicRelated: I went into the first issue of the All-New Booster Gold with seriously high expectations--after 52, and with Dan's involvement, it had to be something special not to disappoint...and I believe I told Dan later that it was the best #1 issue from DC in years. What kind of expectations were you guys aware of from fans who were maybe a little less crazy than me? Dan Jurgens: My expectations were based on my reaction to reading the script when it first came in, which I found to be lots of fun. It had drama, intrigue and sufficiently teased the elements to unfold over the first year. So based on my own reaction, I expected readers to like it. CR: Speaking of it, that "All-New" tag? It lasted for quite a while on The Atom. How'd you guys sneak out of having to put it on a cover after that's how Booster Gold was solicited and promoted? DJ: With the Atom, I think they're truly referring to an all new character in a new suit. Booster is the same guy, not just a title reused. I think that's key to the success of the book. CR: I know fan reaction in my circles was stellar. I particularly remember that, as a big fan of Dan's, I'd been pushing him on my friends for years as a great, thoughtful creator and not just "the guy who killed Superman." People saw this title and started seriously talking about him as one of the top artists in the industry again. Do you guys get any of that, or is it all third-hand by the time you see it? DJ: I tend to try to separate myself from fan reaction that way. If you buy into it when they tell you you're great, you have to buy into it when they tell you you suck. Ultimately, you have to be able to evaluate yourself and your work and depend on that. That isn't to be insulting or say that the fans' opinions don't matter. It's only meant to say that they aren't looking over my shoulder when I write or draw, so at that point, I have to depend on myself. CR: It's interesting that Booster was the only one coming out of 52 to know about the existence of the Multiverse, but that at this point--almost a year later--Booster hasn't left New Earth (that we know of) and now it's no longer unique to him. Any particular reason that aspect of his time/space-travel wasn't capitalized on earlier? DJ: I find it to be more interesting for the stories to take place in New Earth for now. Later... we'll see! CR: I remember saying last week that #9 is the first time I've really seen Dan embrace the Jim Lee Batman look, but there are elements of it here in #1. Like Supes in the first Booster Gold monthly, readers can watch your take on the character evolve here! DJ: For a long time, Batman stories seemed to consist of Batman standing around in a clock tower unable to move or solve anything until Barbara Gordon told him what to do. Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee restored a sense of movement, color and excitement to the character. Why not reinforce that? CR: I always thought Booster was perceived as the class clown--not too capable, but well-liked and harmless. There's a real resentment here that starts with Red Arrow and carries through the series. Where was that decision made? DJ: I find it to be a natural evolution. Think of your own circle of friends. People you know who are always the first with a quip or a joke are rarely thought of as deep rooted individuals. CR: But Supes, after their conflicts in the first volume (see Showcase Presents Booster Gold Volume 1, dear readers...!), stands by Booster. It's gratifying to see him in Booster's corner. DJ: Superman sees the positive in most everyone! CR: Speaking of the original series, what are The 1,000 (major villains in the first volume) up to these days? DJ: Given the overall value of the dollar, they should probably be called the 372. CR: Why is he "Booster" to us, and not Michael? Ted is Ted, Ollie is Ollie, Hal is Hal..! DJ: Booster is who he is. A Charles is a Charles. Or if he's less stiff, a Charley. Or even a Chuck if he's really a fun guy. Booster is a more appropriate name than Michael for who the character really is. CR: Daniel goes down pretty fast in his first fight with a villain. Is he cut out for a costume, long-term? DJ: I'd say we've yet to find that out. More to come on that one! CR: Why choose Pittsburgh as the home base? Obviously most of the main DCU heroes are in fictional cities. DJ: It's a start. Eventually, Booster Gold International should have offices across the globe. CR: Who was that who cold-cocked Dan, by the way? We haven't seen any Time Stealers yet with red, glowing eyes....Unless--is it the Black Beetle? DJ: Stay tuned. CR: So what ultimately happened to Booster's JLA membership certificate when it was done transforming? Is Rip keeping it somewhere under observation? DJ: Rip's time lab has a safe that's filled with relics of various timelines. CR: Did you intentionally invoke the look of Ted's monthly? I've noticed that he seems more gangly and angular here, than he did in your Justice League America run...and it feels more like I remember him in the BB monthly that came and went around the same time as Booster's did. DJ: When I was drawing Ted in Justice League America I always though of him as being about 5'9"... more bug like in general. That was quite some time ago and I felt it better to maintain a more current look for the character. CR: Only one of the teased events "in Booster's future" have happened yet--with the change in the creative team, we're still going to be seeing those happen, right? DJ: Not to sound like I'm dodging the question, but stay tuned! There's more coming! CR: I know it's been said that the "rips" in the timestream as Booster and Rip were traveling through during the story were carefully chosen--and we've already seen Anthro pop up. Are we going to see any more of these characters or realities popping up in the book? DJ: Absolutely. CR: I never noticed the Tomar-Parallax in the Sinestro issue before; do you guys always develop backstories for how these anomalies played out, in case you want to use them later? DJ: If not backstories, possibilities certainly. CR: Whose idea was it to have Sinestro literally twirling his moustache in that sequence?... DJ: As I recall, that was mentioned in the script. CR: What led to the Jonah Hex-Superman connection? DJ: That was totally Geoff and Jeff. But it made for a fun team-up. I think the team-ups that are often most fun are the ones that would seem so unlikely. CR: Booster and Jonah are two guys who have spent great chunks of their lives and publishing histories timelost. Will we ever see HEX in this book? DJ: Never say never, but there are no plans at present. CR: I love the story of why Booster ditched his cape--it reminds me of the Dollar Bill story in Watchmen. Was that something you always had in the back of your head for the character, Dan? DJ: From the character's creation, the cape was meant to be ceremonial in nature. For example, if a high official was going to present Booster with an award, he might well wear the cape just for effect. CR: ...I know you've said you've known since the '80s whose Legion ring is on Booster's finger. DJ: Yes, we know whose Legion ring Booster is wearing. It will soon be revealed. CR: After the rear-end accident, Skeets says that he "just mopped." In all this time, they've never replaced his janitorial accessories with something more practical in superheroics? DJ: Well, they are coming from a janitorial background, you know. CR: And how is it that there are just "spare" Booster costumes kicking around (in the sequence where Rose visits the house in Pittsburgh)? Isn't his suit pretty unique?? DJ: Booster's suit is totally unique... another story that will be developed along with the ring. CR: Something that Rip says to Rex Hunter that always kind of bugged me: "I should have locked you away with the Linear Men." Did I miss something? What happened to the Linear Men? DJ: Stay tuned. CR: "The woman he loved" seems like quite a stretch for Barbara Gordon. A lot has been ascribed to that relationship post-mortem, hasn't it? DJ: I think that was always pretty clearly implied, don't you? CR: "The world will be a better place with him back in it" is a sentence, uttered by Booster about Ted, that just DRIPS with irony in the context of the next story arc. The other side of that is the irony of Max's claim that "I could make Superman kill for me if I wanted to." DJ: True. But that's a statement Max would have a hard time backing up. I don't think he could ever do that.
	Page last updated on June 7, 2008 About Us \| Contact Russell Burlingame \| Contact Comic Related All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2008 Russell Burlingame