Broken Frontier

Having been at DC for almost twenty years, Peter Tomasi has had the enviable position of having worked as an editor on titles starring Batman, Aquaman, Hawkman and Green Lantern. Last year Tomasi left behind his editorial position to take up writing duties, beginning with the Black Adam: The Dark Age mini-series, and then moving on to script both Green Lantern Corps and Nightwing. His current projects include the 12-issue The Mighty, with Keith Champagne, and next month’s Batman and the Outsiders Special. The one-shot is an important story for the current state of the DCU, as it deals with the ramifications of both Final Crisis and Batman: R.I.P. Tomasi will also be tackling Batman and the Outsiders as the regular writer from issue 15 onwards, determining the new team’s direction.

BROKEN FRONTIER: Was it a tough choice stepping down as editor and becoming a writer?

PETER TOMASI: Yes and no. As they say, timing is everything. I'd been an editor at DC Comics for 15 years and had also written a few things for the company, including the well received book I did with Peter Snejbjerg called Light Brigade. It was hard giving up something I loved doing day in and day out for so long. It was always a challenge, and I loved putting a comic book together from the idea stage all the way to publication. A very satisfying job that gave you something tangible to point to and say: I helped make that.

Working with the writers and artists was always great, so I do miss that specific interaction on a daily basis. But sitting there and crafting your own stories in your pajamas, and seeing them come to life thanks to great artists is also a phenomenal experience, and, truth be told, felt like a perfect moment in time to happen to me and my family. So it's all worked out rather nicely.

BF: Are you glad you made that decision?

PT: Absolutely. I love writing for DC Comics, and this opportunity allowed me to be home and be present in my son Alexander's life in a way that wasn't possible before. Now I get to do all the 'dad' things like little league, swimming, soccer, and karate during the week, whereas before I would've missed taking him to practices and having a complete blast watching him participate in all this stuff.

BF: Final Crisis: Requiem is the best Final Crisis tie-in so far.  Can you give us any hints if you’ll be writing J’onn again?

PT: Well, thanks for the compliment on Requiem, Kris. I'm glad you enjoyed it. It was a real pleasure working on a book about J'onn, even if it was a story that dealt with his death. Having been the editor on his monthly book for about 4 years a while back with Ostrander and Mandrake, it was a real comfortable shoe to slip into so to speak. He's always been one of my favorite characters, and he's actually the first character I sold my first story to DC about many moons ago. It was for a Showcase '95 issue I believe, and it was drawn by the great Eduardo Barreto. In regards to writing J'onn again, all I can say is that if he ever does come back to the DCU, and there's a monthly book of his up for assignment, I'll be first in line zapping all other writers with my Martian vision to get a crack at doing it.

BF: Do you self-edit your scripts now, out of habit, or is it quite natural working on the other side of the desk, with your current editors?

PT: Well, if you mean do I focus a sharp eye on the scripts before I send them to my editors, yes, absolutely. I never send a first draft in. Actually, I'm pretty hard on myself and probably take too long on each individual script. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I revise the dialogue before I let anybody see it. So, yes, the "habit" of being an editor for 15 years is quite hard to shake when it comes to looking at your own writing with a critical eye, and I truly believe that writing is rewriting, so I don't think after working so long as an editor allows me to fully remove my editorial bent on things. I wish it did sometimes.

But I do have to say, that the editors I'm working with right now, Eddie Berganza, Michael Siglain, Mike Marts, and Adam Schlagman, have been nothing but great to work with. It's probably also easier for me, because aside from having known them from the office, I also have a keen awareness what their daily lives are like on the other side of the desk, so my aim is to help make their jobs easier and lighten the stress load of a periodical schedule as best I can by being a professional and hitting my deadlines with work that we're all proud of. It's been truly a team effort on each of the respective books.

BF: Now that Nightwing is finishing in February, will you still be writing Dick’s adventures in some other form?

PT: Honestly, no, I won't be for the foreseeable future. Nightwing #153 is my last issue. I had a blast, and he's been a great character to write for. I love writing for the Batman family. It feels very natural, and I hope one day I get a chance to come back to them.

BF: After Batman: R.I.P, will the Dark Knight, or a Dark Knight, still have some influence on The Outsiders?

PT: Yes, without a doubt. Batman's presence and mission is a big part of my upcoming run on The Outsiders. Batman may not be seen, but he will most certainly be felt.

BF: After all the years with DC did you ever think you’d work with Adam Kubert? Was it what you hoped?

PT: Well, Adam's been at DC only 3 years of my almost 17, so the chance of working with him while I was an editor wasn't ever a factor. I was able to work with his brother, Andy, while I was the Batman editor for about a year before I left, but it was pretty damn cool to find out Adam would be drawing the Batman and the Outsiders Special. And when he sent over the first batch of pages -- man, he hit it outta the park. I look forward to the day when we can do another special project together.

BF: Can you confirm who the seven characters on the cover are, and if they’ll all be on the current roster?

PT: Sure. Geo-Force, Black Lightning, Katana, Halo, Metamorpho, Creeper, Owlman and the indestructible Alfred Pennyworth!

BF: DC doesn’t have a shortage of team books, so how do The Outsiders differ from the JLA, Titans, et al?

PT: To me, it's all about how the characters are written that makes each team book distinct. The interaction and interpersonal relationships are the key to any team book, and my focus -- and really my favorite part of writing -- is fleshing out characters so you can care about them before they're hit with the action. If you're invested in them you'll follow them to the ends of the earth. My job is to make you feel that way. And honestly, I'm having a blast with the Outsiders right now.

I hope the readers enjoy The Outsiders and also check out some of my other stuff like Green Lantern Corps with Patrick Gleason and my new creator-owned book from DC called The Mighty which I'm writing with Keith Champagne along with amazing art by my partner in crime from Light Brigade, Peter Snejbjerg.

Batman and the Outsiders Special #1 goes on sale February 4th from DC Comics priced $3.99.