Broken Frontier

Paul Dini’s done it again. Over a decade following his creation of Harley Quinn, Joker sidekick and so popular she made the leap from the classic Batman: The Animated Series cartoon to the comic book DC Universe, the writer has created another female character that has left fans with their heads in the clouds.

She looks sexy, stylish, and deadly—qualities any man looks for in a woman—but who is Madame Mirage? With this week’s release of Madame Mirage: First Look—and DC’s Countdown #51—the spotlight is on Dini across the comic-verse. And, of course, BF had to get its share of the cake…

BROKEN FRONTIER: While Madame Mirage earns her pay, so to speak, by beating up the ASI corporation (short for Aggressive Solutions International), at the gist of the story lies the question of who Madame Mirage really is? How much of an ‘illusion’ is she, as opposed to a ‘real individual’?

PAUL DINI: Mirage tends to come and go, but there is some substance to her. Think of her like a female version of The Shadow. Just as she seems to fade away like a ghost, she’s suddenly there behind you with her gun barrel in the back of your neck. You’re never exactly sure where she will appear next.

BF: The character is based on your wife, who is a stage magician. When exactly did you come up with the idea for Mirage? When you were watching one of your wife’s performances?

PD: Actually I had the idea for  Mirage a while back when a flash in the pan flash animation studio contacted me about creating a new character for their site. My original design for her was something more contemporary, similar to Lara Croft or Aeon Flux. The studio went bust before I could make a full presentation and Mirage wound up back in my sketchbooks.

When I met Misty, she reignited my interest in the character again. I incorporated a lot of Misty’s sense of fashion and theatre into Mirage’s new design, giving her a timeless film noir quality. Of course, Misty was invaluable providing insight as to how Mirage would perform her disappearing tricks.

BF: Will the book to some extent have a feel similar to last year’s magician movies like The Prestige and The Illusionist?

PD: Actually it’s more of a superhero book in tone with a hint of a pulp feel. There are elements of Dick Tracy and The Shadow in Mirage’s world, even though the setting is 21st century Los Angeles. The villains in the story are larger than life, with a somewhat grotesque bent to them.

I like to think of them as caricatures of the Los Angeles mindset in the way Dick Tracy’s rogues gallery mirrored the more bizarre elements of depression-era New York.

BF: Now, zooming in a little bit more on the persona of Mirage, why has she taken a particular interest in thwarting the plans of ASI?

PD: Let’s just say that Mirage and her sister Harper have a major hate on for ASI, Aggressive Solutions International. It’s a network of one-time super criminals who have traded their costumes for Armani suits. That doesn’t make them any less lethal, though.

If anything, it’s given them the opportunity to refine their skills in terrorism, blackmail and murder for hire. Mirage and Harper have made it their mission to close down ASI for good. The reason why will be explored within the series.

BF: How does she operate? Is she kind of like a retro Lara Croft with a little bit of Bruce Wayne mixed in there—i.e. someone who sits on a big load of cash and can fully focus on fighting crime?

PD: She’s more like Robin Hood, taking from those who have taken from others and using that money to fund her battle against evil.

BF: Her sister, Harper Temple, assists Mirage on her quest. When it comes to fighting ASI, how do they work together? Like ‘hero and sidekick’, or does Harper play more of an Oracle role, providing Mirage with intelligence in the background?

PD: It’s a little of both. I think of Harper as Robin to Mirage’s Batman.

BF: From a publishing point of view, Madame Mirage is an ongoing series, released in separate arcs. How does that affect the storytelling?

PD: There will be a lot of on-going character continuity propelling the arcs. So even when one adventure ends, the readers will hopefully be so emotionally invested in Mirage and Harper that they will keep following the series to see what happens to them next.

BF: Most of your comics work has been published by DC (and Warner Bros. for your comics-based animated series). Why did you decide to turn to Top Cow to get Mirage out there?

PD: Top Cow was interested in me bringing a new creation to them and Mirage seemed to fit in well with their established studio of characters.

BF: How pleased are you to be working with Kenneth Rocafort, not only in terms of what he brings to the story visually, but also in terms of giving him an opportunity to break out on a high-profile book?

PD: I’m thrilled. I love looking at Kenneth’s pages as they come in. He’s taken what were initially my very loose ideas and sketches and crafted an awesome-looking new world.

BF: When it comes to introducing new female characters, you’ve already established a name for yourself by creating Harley Quinn, who’s set to appear in next week’s Detective Comics #831. How will her presence affect the story?

PD: Oh you know Harley --- some laughs, some action, a general good time. At least, I hope her fans like seeing her again. I had fun writing her newest escapade.

BF: Bowing out, how easy or difficult is it for you to combine everything on your plate, from your work on Madame Mirage to Countdown and Detective to your TV work?

PD: It’s an insane juggling act, but it can be fun. If nothing else, it’s great to see all these ideas come to life. And on that note, I think I’d better disappear myself. Back to work…

Madame Mirage #1, by Paul Dini and Kenneth Rocafort, goes on sale in June from Top Cow Productions.