Author Alex Segura Talks Reviving a Golden Age Superhero… for NPR?

Superheroes in each medium are larger than ever today—and whereas they’ve been aspherical for generations, because the heroes of Marvel, DC, and different publishers are ascendant on TV and on film, there’s a wealth of characters from comics’ classical eras left languishing in obscurity. So what occurs when considered one of America’s largest media organizations tries to revive one?

That’s what NPR—or extra particularly, NPR’s enterprise podcast, Planet Money with Kenny Malone and Robert Smith—have completed with the basic golden age hero Micro-Face. Originally a Hillman creation created by Al Ulmer for Clue Comics in 1943, Micro-Face (alter ego Tom Wood) was a failed inventor, in search of vengeance after his brother was killed by gangsters. Developing a robust “Micro-Mask” that gave him enhanced listening to, an amplified voice, and X-Ray imaginative and prescient, Tom first provided his invention to the U.S. government—however when he was turned down, he determined to make use of his invention for good, turning into the hero Micro-Face.

Now, Micro-Face slipped into obscurity, and finally the general public area… which is now how Planet Money has gotten its arms on the character. Teaming up with comics author and novelist Alex Segura—previously of Archie Comics, at present Oni Press, and the writer of books like Poe Dameron: Free Fall and the superhero noir Secret Identity—and artist Jamale Igle (with colours from Ellie Wright and letters from Taylor Esposito), Planet Money has dismissed Micro-Face’s legacy and remade it for a brand new age, as a part of a podcast sequence about comedian ebook IP. To study extra in regards to the revival of Mysterious Micro-Face—casting the titular hero now as a younger Cuban-American NPR journalist—io9 spoke to Segura over e-mail to study extra about how Micro-Face’s return took place. Check out the total interview beneath, in addition to a preview of the comedian Segura, Igle, Wright, and Esposito made for Planet Money!

James Whitbrook, io9: Tell me a bit bit about how Mysterious Micro-Face took place. Why did NPR wish to delve into the world of comedian books within the first place?

Alex Segura: NPR’s Planet Money podcast is business-focused, however with an entertaining, “let’s stumble our way through this to learn” method. Kenny Malone, one of many hosts, reached out to me for an interview final 12 months. They have been doing a sequence of episodes on comedian ebook IP—and the potential an obscure character has by way of media, like films or TV. They have been going to try to purchase an current, minor character from Marvel or DC. So, in my function as a comics publishing exec, I very gently allow them to know that no firm of their proper thoughts would promote a personality—particularly now, while you’re only one nice story away from making a worthwhile enterprise.

After the preliminary interview, I spoke to the hosts and allow them to know there was one other path—the general public area. There are tons of of Golden Age comedian ebook characters which have seen their copyrights and emblems lapse through the years, and Planet Money might, theoretically, discover a character, mud it off, and make it their very own. I assumed that was it, truthfully, however a couple of days later Kenny and his cohost, Robert Smith, reached out and mentioned they not solely needed to discover a public area hero however they’d like me to jot down the reboot and assist them of their journey to create a comic book ebook. I after all mentioned sure—I’m at all times intrigued with discovering new methods to interact with readers by means of comics, whether or not it’s one thing meta and literary like my novel Secret Identity, or digital platforms like Zestworld. It felt like a extremely enjoyable task.

io9: Why Micro-Face ultimately? What was it in regards to the probability to carry this character again that intrigued you probably the most?

Segura: Kenny and Robert found Micro-Face. I had by no means heard of him. I believe they appreciated the thought of an audio-based superhero being reinvigorated by a podcast. I wasn’t blown away by the identify at first—I assume I mentioned “oh, that’s an unfortunate name” after they talked about it to me. But as soon as we received to speaking, I noticed the potential of the character. I defined to Robert and Kenny that there have been three paths we might take—we might do a historic story, persevering with the saga of Tom Wood, the unique Micro-Face; we might simply do a top-to-bottom reboot, ignoring every part that got here earlier than and redesigning the character utterly; or, we might take a legacy method, the place we highlight Tom Wood’s grandson taking over the mantle, nodding to the work of Micro-Face creator Allen Ulmer and including to the mythos with a brand new, Planet Money-specific iteration. The final path actually spoke to me, as a longtime fan of legacy heroes and the thought of carrying the mantle from those that’ve come earlier than. It felt like the precise path, so I used to be in.

The subsequent problem was constructing the workforce of creators that may assist me carry this character again to life. The first particular person we went to was Jerry Ordway, the legendary artist of Power of Shazam!, All-Star Squadron, Superman, and extra. Jerry’s a buddy and a supremely good man, and he is aware of a factor or two about reimaging golden age heroes. He appeared over the basic Micro-Face and modernized his look, making a model NPR might name their very own. He contributed the primary cowl to the ebook as effectively. For the interiors, we have been so blessed to get Jamal Igle, one other famous person, to attract the ebook. Jamal’s a professional’s professional, simply supremely gifted and type. He’s labored on Supergirl, Black, Molly Danger, and extra characters than I can identify. He introduced a dynamic model to the story that basically elevated what we have been doing. Jamal and Jerry are additionally folks I’ve had the pleasure to have identified over the past 20 years or so, and it was an absolute thrill to work with them on one thing like this. Colorist Elllie Wright and letterer Taylor Esposito, the crack workforce behind The Black Ghost, rounded out the roster, and we have been aided by editorial advisor Ivan Cohen, who stored us all in line as we scrambled to complete. It was actually a dream mission, and super-unique.

io9: Your new creativeness of the character transforms Micro-Face right into a younger Cuban-American journalist working at NPR. Given Superheroes and journalist alter-egos have had an extended historical past in comics, what did you wish to make stand out about Sam while you have been ideating this new model of the character?

Segura: I made Sam Cuban-American as a result of I actually imagine in diversifying the characters we see as protagonists in every kind of fiction. I can’t put into phrases how essential it was to me, as a reader, to see Latinx heroes or characters take middle stage as a child, and I attempt to reciprocate that as greatest I can. The “journalist as superhero” is a trope, however what made this iteration enjoyable is that Sam’s an precise NPR reporter, and we received to weave in a variety of audio reporting particulars and strategies that you just don’t typically see in comics. I needed Sam to be the most effective type of reporter—sharp, detail-oriented, passionate, and fearless. So we tried our greatest to showcase that within the one-shot.

io9: Speaking of that—normally we don’t truly get to see a lot of superheroes doing their day jobs as journalists in these books. What was essential to you to get proper about painting Sam’s profession?

Segura: I believe what we miss a variety of occasions with reporters as heroes is we don’t see the drudge work—which, admittedly, isn’t that thrilling. But we (Kenny, Robert, and I) needed to indicate Sam not solely getting the massive scoop—but his journey to that, which incorporates studying the morning information, making telephone calls, doing interviews (door-knocking, even!), and doing the in-the-weeds stuff that makes for good journalism. Kenny and Robert have been a fantastic useful resource in guiding me by means of what it’s prefer to work in radio, and including these particulars to Sam’s character actually helped him stand out.

io9: I needed to ask about your alternative of villain right here—Mysterious Micro-Face’s large dangerous isn’t a standard supervillain, however the head of a personal fairness agency. What made {that a} pure alternative for Sam’s Micro-Face to cope with?

Segura: I believe from the start we knew we didn’t need Micro-Face to simply be a normal superhero. All of Planet Money’s podcasts are instructional, in a humorous, realizing wink type of method. So we tried our greatest to inform an excellent superhero origin/yarn that also showcases issues in regards to the enterprise world. Case in level, one of many villains Micro-Face battles is Corporal Raider—a powerhouse dangerous man who helps take over corporations. It’s a enjoyable approach to train folks the terminology and hopefully make for an entertaining learn.

io9: Do you assume there’s future for Micro-Face now you’ve had an opportunity to re-establish the character? Where would you prefer to take them subsequent, when you get the prospect?

Segura:I believe so! I’d like to preserve telling Micro-Face’s adventures in some kind, and the primary situation is out there now through the NPR Shop. The orders have been incredible, aggressive with top-selling books in comedian outlets, which has been fantastic to see.

Without spoiling something, the tip of the difficulty units up a established order for Micro-Face—Sam has a transparent mission that he has taken on, and it includes a widening world of characters and challenges. I’d love to have the ability to inform the remainder of that story.

You can seize the primary situation of Mysterious Micro-Face from NPR now, and take heed to Planet Money’s sequence on shopping for a superhero here.

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