WIZARD NEWS & NOTES:
GEORGE GOES MONTHLY
written by Dave Marshall
transcribed by Vu
published in WIZARD MAGAZINE #136
Pérez makes CrossGen monthly debut with superhero-free 'Solus'
George Pérez wants to draw everything in his new series for CrossGen - everything, that is, except superheroes.
When Solus launches next March, the oft proclaimed "ultimate superhero artist" takes time from working on the uber-anticipated JLA/Avengers project to embark on his first monthly ongoing series in over two years. And there isn't a single cape in sight.
"I've been drawing superheroes nonstop for almost 30 years," admitted Pérez. "With this past year of working on the ultimate superhero team-up, it's really nice to get on my feet wet again in the fantasy arena and have a character who actually changes their clothes from time to time."
That character is the ravishing and brilliant Andra Radiant. The most renown scientist, athlete and explorer on her planet, Andra has no memory of her past accomplishments.
"She seems to be the inspiration, if not the outright cause, of the world's progress and well-being," noted Pérez. "She's a glorified persona. While she knows that's who she is, that's all she nows about who she is."
Rather than soaking up praise she can't remember deserving, Andra resolves to uncover the truth, traveling to the various planets across the CrossGen Universe in search of her past.
"Crossing through the different planets means being able to do a lot of design work and being able to work in lots of genres I don't ordinarily get a chance to do," said Pérez. "it's the best of all worlds… literally."
The decision to go monthly with the series exemplifies Pérez's determination to challenge himself despite everything he's already accomplished.
"There is a real wear and tear on the creative juices trying to come up with something interesting month after month," explained Pérez. "But I knew that if I wanted to feel like part of the CrossGen team and maximize my return after a year's hiatus, it had to be with more than just going back to the status quo."
In many ways, Solus is an opportunity for Pérez to explore the less-charted areas of his creative career. While giving Pérez the female protagonist he craved and a science fiction/fantasy setting that would let his imagination run, there was still something missing.
"One of the things I've missed is being able to work with a woman writer," said Pérez. "Having worked on Wonder Woman with Karen Berger, I find I have a lot I identify with the female point of view, and I really wanted to work that way with someone who was intelligent and whose writing ability I respected."
Luckily, Barbara Kesel agreed to write the new series. Already fast friends, the two had previously collaborated on a Meridian story in CrossGen Chronicles #3.
"I like Barbara's way of thinking," praised Pérez. "While she has a good grasp of graphics, she has a lot more internal action that goes on with the characters in her stories. It creates a real challenge to convey those thoughts visually, and I like the challenge."
Once again a fulltime CrossGen employee, Pérez is on double duty, working on Solus during the day and drawing JLA/Avengers during nights and weekends. Rather than feel overwhelmed, Pérez celebrates the opportunity to work on such varied projects.
"I've been very lucky," reflected Pérez. "To be able to work on the stuff I really want to do - to do the ultimate superhero book, to do fantasy which I've been aching to do for ages - I consider myself a very fortunate artist."
Heading up production on "Teen Titans" will be Emmy Award-Winning Producer Glen Murakami, who scored big successes with his work on "Justice League" and "Batman Beyond." "With the animated series being brought to life by Glen Murakami's great team, we look forward to new worlds of creative magic," said DC Comics President/Publisher Paul Levitz.
