Runaways : Dead End Kids

RT: Let’s talk about the current BCE! (that would be text message-ism for Best Comic Ever!), "Runaways." How in the hell did you hook Whedon in?

NL: It was kind of complicated.

RT: I like complicated. Insert Avril Lavigne joke here.

NL: Brian [Vaughan] told me that he was leaving and I cried for days. Then I had to start thinking about who to bring on to "Runaways." One day I thought, "How awesome would it be if Joss could write it." Which was followed by, "That would never happen. Not only is he too busy, but it won’t fly." I decided to mention it to my then-boss and then-editor of "Astonishing X-Men," Mike Marts.

Mike, who is a great guy and a hell of an editor, was gracious enough to offer at least reaching out to Joss for me. Joss said, "No." Which I knew was coming. So, I started brainstorming about who else I could approach to write "Runaways." The following week, Mike got an email from Joss telling him about how he couldn’t stop thinking about "Runaways" over the weekend and that he’d talked to BKV and really wanted to write it. The rest is history.

RT: Complete this sentence for me: Getting a script from Joss Whedon is like…

NL: Bathing in jello.

RT: The cherry kind?

NL: With the fruit chunks in it.

RT: Is it wrong that now I’m hungry?

Now that sales on the book have doubled, look into your crystal ball and tell me where you see that franchise’s future after Joss finishes his six issue arc.

NL: In the crapper.

RT: Ohmygodohmygodohmygod.

NL: I’m just keeeding.

RT: Don’t do that to me!

NL: My hope is that we can sustain those numbers. We’ve decided on our new writer and it is going to get people excited! He’s not a household name, but he’s no stranger to comic audiences.

RT: Don’t be a tease!

NL: That’s all I’m saying about it for now. But getting back to your question, the second best thing about Joss coming on the book is that these great characters get a shot at the wider audience that he brings to bear. The best thing about Joss coming on the book was just his amazing writing with these characters that he loves.

RT: Say you are editing a weekly comic book series and must choose four writers, who would be your dream team?

NL: Anyone with a connection to a mental hospital so I have a place to go when it blows up. I’d put Joss Whedon in charge and let him take it from there.