Justin Jordan, finest identified for his work on creator-owned books like Luther Strode and Spread but additionally a author on initiatives like Green Lantern and Dead Body Road, is about to tackle Summoners War: Legacy, a brand new collection set years earlier than the occasions of the wildly well-liked Summoners War game and looking on the occasions that helped form the universe of the game main as much as the tales followers are acquainted with. You can order a “con-exclusive” particular version of the primary situation from Skybound’s website, launched throughout their Skybound Xpo final month, and the total collection is coming quickly.
Joining Jordan on the collection are artist Luca Claretti, colorist Giovanna Niro, and letterer Deron Bennett. The trio will create new tales that includes some famliar names and lots of new faces, a few of whom you possibly can see within the artwork under.
Jordan joined ComicBook.com to speak in regards to the collection, the thrills, and challenges of making a brand new model of a well-liked universe.
Obviously, you are no stranger to worldbuilding. Is it enjoyable to get to do a prequel to a giant property, the place you are sort of gifted with this universe however you possibly can set lots of the foundations your self in a means you possibly can’t with lots of licensed books?
It is. I believe one factor folks do not respect about doing stuff in different folks’s world is that to a sure extent, it is like poetry. Which in all probability bears some rationalization: you are able to do free verse kind stuff, however there’s additionally an enchantment to writing stuff with a sure rhyme scheme. I imply, you write haiku for the limitation of getting to do it in 5 – 7 – 5 (which is the western model – there’s so much to haiku past that). A number of my work for rent stuff is enjoyable due to that, as a result of I’m working inside fences and it requires a distinct, and attention-grabbing, sort of creativity.
It feels such as you’re a go-to for Skybound, and that is sort of uncommon. How has that relationship formed up, is it simply that you have had success with them through the years?
I believe it is largely that we like working with one another. The personally-flattering model is that I believe Skybound has a great sense of what my strengths are. Not simply creatively. I imply, I believe I’m fairly good at coherent world constructing, which was helpful in my function with Summoner’s War, however I’m additionally collaborative and never often a jerk, which is basically helpful if you would like long run relationships with publishers and editors.
You speak so much about how the webcomics you do get learn by exponentially extra folks than learn your print comics. With one thing like this, there’s tens of millions of individuals taking part in the game. Is the hope to drag a few of them into comics, or do you assume that is naive?
It’s definitely the hope. I do not assume it is naive, so long as you could have your expectations calibrated proper. So, take Urban Animal, which is the comic I do at Webtoon. We’ve bought, as I write this, 463,000 subs. Of these, every week, round 80,000 or so learn the comedian. Of that 80,000, you get about 15,000 or so dropping a like, and of these, you get a pair thousand individuals who can pay to learn it early.
So with something, it’s worthwhile to be ready for a fraction of a fraction of a fraction. The factor is although, that may STILL be an enormous quantity by direct market comedian requirements. You simply must have your expectations affordable.
AND it’s worthwhile to give them a path to get there. This is an issue for motion pictures and comics, I believe. When The Boys premiered on Amazon, it was actual simple to purchase the supply materials, as a result of it was proper there, and so they bought a LOT of them. With this, Com2uS is working actually laborious to maximise that crossover and provides gamers a technique to transfer into the comics. So, we’re all hoping that pays off for everybody.
How totally different are issues within the years earlier than the occasions of the game? With some or the returning characters, will they be a lot totally different?
Well, it is World War Alea. This is about in direction of the top of the Hundred Years War, and earlier than the Sky Arena was began, so the world is pretty totally different as a result of that is the interval when nations have been really at battle. It’s thirty odd years earlier than the present setting of the game, so a number of the recognizable forged have not been born but, and others are, clearly, a lot youthful. But you will get to see some very acquainted faces.
Are the allegiances and endgames largely the identical, or are we going to search out out that some characters evolve between right here and there?
Always shifting. That’s really the first battle between Rai and Tomas, the protagonists. Both of them have a sure, pretty simplified, view of the world. Which are totally different from one another, in order that they have some battle there, however they will additionally must be taught that their outlooks are each proper and incorrect.
So, the principle characters will change so much. My go to, for the sort of character growth I’m going for, is Avatar: The Last Airbender. Which is to a sure extent my template for the way the collection operates.
Will you be introducing some authentic characters?
Tons. I imply, Rai and Tomas, the heroes, are arguably new characters, though they have been talked about elsewhere. But the primary situation alone introduces Abuus Dein, Tatakana, and Voss Ayers. Which, I like creating characters, in order that facet has been tremendous enjoyable.
Video game variations might be laborious, as a result of characters are sometimes left deliberately obscure so extra folks can relate to them. Is {that a} problem right here, or does the supply materials really feel particular sufficient that you do not have to seize at free ends?
This is likely one of the benefits of working earlier than the game’s present timeline, as a result of I can just about simply create from complete fabric. And for essentially the most half, those I’m not the primary author for, I’m concerned with the background of, so it is not been laborious. Or any tougher than traditional, anyway.
