With the Marvels: The Novelization is now out from Abrams ComicArts. We are delighted to be joined by writer Steve Darnall. Marvels: The Novelisation is a bold reimagining of Alex Ross and Kurt Busiek’s groundbreaking Marvels. The prose adaptation by Steve Darnall features brand-new illustrations by Alex Ross.
Hi Steve, it’s so great to have you here with us.
Hey, I appreciate the invitation!
Could you please tell us about your history with Marvels?
Sure. Apparently I was involved in planting a seed that would grow into the mighty oak that the world knows as Marvels. It happened years ago when my friend Alex Ross had asked me to have a go at a story he was trying to write involving his painted artwork and Marvel’s original Human Torch character. I saw what Alex had written and a few days later I came back with my take on it. We kind of rammed the two drafts together and that’s the version that, as I recall, eventually made it to the desk of Kurt Busiek. The rest, as they say, is history.
Looking back, I’m not sure what inspired Alex to reach out to me as a writer; when we first became friends, I didn’t really have any professional writing credits to speak of. I suppose I was reasonably well-spoken and I did have a great interest in the comics medium and a lot of enthusiasm for Alex’s work. Thankfully, that seemed to be enough. It was pretty flattering some years later when I found the story we’d done together had gotten published in Marvels #0.Â
Can you tell us about the origins of Marvels: The Novelization?
I first became aware of it when I was on the phone with Alex one afternoon and he mentioned that Charlie Kochman at Abrams was looking to produce a novel inspired by Marvels. I could understand the reasoning; when you’ve got a story as popular and as good as that one, you want to make it available to as many different audiences as possible. When Alex explained that they didn’t have a writer for the project, I said something along the lines of “All right then, I’ll write it!” We both laughed but we also both kind of thought that was a pretty good idea.Â
Why do you think Marvels is so beloved even after all of this time?
Well, it’s a really well-told story, first and foremost. You could tell that Kurt and Alex came to this story with a real affection for these characters, both those they created and those who were already part of the Marvel Universe. It’s also an unusual story in that the superheroes who would normally command the spotlight are actually on the periphery, while non-super-powered characters are front and center. And of course, it’s got the breathtaking artwork of Alex Ross. I was one of those people who was privileged enough to see copies of his pages as he was producing them and it was clear this book was going to be something special.
What is it about Marvels that made you want to novelise it?
In purely personal terms, I was thrilled for the chance to write a novel — and it helped to know that there was a great story already in place. Beyond that, it was a chance to immerse myself in the first four decades of the Marvel Universe, which was a lovely place to visit. And, as Alex reminded me, I was around when the idea for what eventually became Marvels was being born. I suppose I appreciated the idea of seeing if I could add something worthwhile to the mix all these years later.
Has it been a challenge adapting Marvels?
Yes, but in a good way. Obviously, there’s an inherent challenge in going from one medium to another, but I had confidence in the source material and nothing but encouragement from Alex and everyone else who was involved in the production. When all was said and done, the writing itself felt pretty easy.
What can comic fans expect from Marvels: The Novelization?
A lot more words and a lot less artwork. [laughter] Seriously, the goal was to tell the story in a way that hadn’t been done before, and I think we’ve done that. Hopefully, folks will feel that the novel was able to capture the emotional qualities of these characters and scenes and build upon them.
Any message for the ComicBuzz readers?Â
Support public libraries and the people who support them. How’s that?
We would like to say a big thank you to Steve for chatting with us and wish him the best of luck with Marvels: The Novelization.
