An Interview with Dwayne McDuffie by Jonathan Ellis

Dwayne McDuffie is best known for his work with the Milestone imprint, and with the upcoming return of Static in the Static Shock! Animated series coming up on the Kids WB, can the rest of the characters be soon to follow suit?

What was your first published work? Why you got into comics? And exactly why didn't you graduate from New York University's film school?

My first published comic was DAMAGE CONTROL #1, a humor series I created for Marvel Comics. I got into comics after running out of money while attending New York University’s film school (this was after getting my first two degrees at the University of Michigan). I’d taken a job as a copy editor at a financial magazine and while it paid very well, I hated it. I was complaining about my plight to Greg Wright, a friend of mine from college who worked at Marvel. He told me there was an opening. I interviewed with Special Projects Editor Bob Budianski and he hired me.

Did any one approach you about the current movie?

No, although I know the producer, pretty well. He used to have the rights to one of my original screenplays.

Coming up you have a lot of projects in the works, including the Static shock series, the return of Static in a new 4 ish mini series, issues of IMPULSE, the chaos and order series, the negative zone column, as well as a novel. Where do you find the time?

It’s not that complicated, I get up and work everyday. I did the IMPULSE and JOHNNY BRAVO stories quite some time ago, they’re scheduled by the editors as needed. At once a month, The Negative Zone column is actually a relief. I used to do two weekly columns. Chaos And Order is a feature and I’m splitting the work with Reginald Hudlin.

Does the return of Static to print mean the return for any of the other Milestone characters? If all goes well, will you be trying for a continuing series?

It does indeed. The Static Shock! TV series will feature several characters from the comics although I’d rather not say who, yet. The Static Shock! comic book mini-series will include appearances from The Blood Syndicate, Heroes and several other Milestone series. If Static Shock! sells well, we certainly intend to do more. If it sells very well, we’ll consider relaunching some of the other characters. I hope it works out that way.

Did you ever consider bringing Static into the DC Universe? When new teams were being made for JLA and Young Justice, his name was constantly being brought up by the fans.

Actually, I was approached by the writer of Young Justice (not Peter David but the guy who was on it before him [Todd Dezago]) about doing just that. I told him if he could work out the continuity problems, he should go right ahead. Guess he decided against it. As far as bringing Static into the DCU goes, it's been discussed on occasion. No final decision has been made. There are good arguments on both sides.

Did you expect the impact made by the Milestone characters to come about when you originally began? Being cited by numerous fundations and publications for your contribution to the African American community?

While I’m certainly gratified by the awards and attention (the positive attention, at least) I hope our contributions aren’t limited to the African-American community. Our intention was to share with all interested comic book readers some of the unique voices out there that haven’t often been heard.

Why was it important to establish African American characters which served as positive role models, and at that specific time?

That question makes assumptions about our intentions that simply aren’t correct. I’m not interested in role models, or otherwise. Our intentions are to present fully-rounded, human characters from many groups that are traditionally underrepresented in our medium, including but not limited to, African-Americans. Milestone’s values have always been Multicultural and Humanistic.

Not that I'm making assumptions about the intent of the characters or stories, but merely commented on the attention they garnered after their release. Surely all the attention was a great ego boost?

No. Not really. My ego came pre-maximized.

How did the Static Shock! animated series come about? What was it about your prospect that was more appealing then all the rest?

I got a phone call. Various parties have been trying to sell a Milestone show for years, we finally got lucky. I’m guessing the fact that Static skews younger than most of our other properties and the fact that it’s funny were both factors.

Why the costume change? The character looked so much better before. What other changes are there being made?

I’m told it was felt that Static’s costume was too similar to the costume in Batman Beyond. There are some minor changes in certain character relationships (and the names of some things in Dakota have been changed) but the spirit of the show is the same as the spirit of the first year or so of Static the comic.

Considering your own career in comedy as well as the addition of Phil LaMarr to the Static Shock! series, will the show be leaning towards a more uplifting/humourous style?

STATIC has always been uplifting and humorous, the show continues in that tradition.

So what is this Chaos and Order series all about? Will the feature be aimed for a theatrical release or television?

I can’t say too much about it other than to say that it’s a hip-hop action musical. It’s intended as a theatrical feature for Fox animation.

Favourite characters? Heroes? Villains? Attorney Chimp?
The Thing, Little Lulu, Cowboy Wally and Bitchy Bitch

Favourite old school artist? Writer?
I like too many people to be comprehensive. But for the sake of discussion, I’ll do writers. Gerber, McGregor, Engelhart, John Stanley.

Best Kirby creation?
Modok. Enormous head.

Most under appreciated creator currently in the biz?
Other than me? How would I know? I don’t appreciate him.

Worst fanboy experience?
I got caught by the police rooting through Stan Lee’s garbage. Or did you mean worst fanboy experience *towards* me?

Proudest body of work?
Milestone in general, ICON in particular.

Advice to those trying to make it in the Biz today?
Go into poetry instead. Bigger audiences.

What has been your favourite book to work on?
DAMAGE CONTROL

Current titles everyone SHOULD be reading?
I’m not reading much myself, these days. Can’t help you.

Favourite character(s), title(s) to hopefully some day work on?
I used to say Fantastic Four, but the urge seems to have passed.

What's your dream project? If you could work with any companies, characters, writers, artists, no restrictions, no rules, complete creative freedom, crossover as many characters from as many different companies as and if you wanted without any complaints, put together whatever creative teams you wanted, and no one would stop you, what would you do?

Oddly enough, this doesn’t interest me in the least.

Comics journalism, in any form, how important is it?

I had a friend in high school who had memorized “pi” to several hundred digits. That anecdote is just slightly more significant than comics journalism.

So how does a day in the life of 'Dwayne McDuffie' work out?

I get up, I do stuff, I go back to bed.

Comics code, we want to get rid of it, you in?

Why bother? Do you really think it has any significant effect on the content of the relatively few books it appears on?

Finish these sentences;
Right now, in the industry we need more... Readers
and less... Questions in this interview. I’m getting sleepy.

Now one of my interview games;
Of choice; What is your drink of choice?
Iced Tea with too much sugar.

Movies?
Anything by Woody Allen or Preston Sturges. All-time favorite is Richard Rush’s The Stunt Man

Books?
I read constantly, 3 or 4 books a week. My favorites are Satan, by Jeremy Levin and Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison

Music?
I’m an old fuddy-duddy. Jazz, 70’s Funk, R&B and Rock. Basically, what I listened to in high school.

Artists?
Romaire Bierden, Modigliani, and Michelle Merkin

Past time?
Reading, science, politics, comedy.

Before we go, tell us something no one else knows. Something you've never told anyone...

I don't really see that happening. Next?

And now...
Plug time! This is where you plug as many things as you want, comics, websites, movies, t-shirts that say "My mom went to Dwayne-love land, and all i got was this stupid t-shirt", novels, anything old, new, current and upcoming, and ham, mmmm, ham, where to buy your books, scripts, and whatever else. Anything that could somehow lead to you getting lots and lots of money. Money, and lots of it. Not a little, a lot. Of money, that is. And more specifically: Lots.

Okay, my monthly opinion column, The Negative Zone, launches with the newly relaunched The Comics Reader, first issue on sale by the time you see this. Static Shock!, the animated series starts this September on the Kids WB. In October, Static Shock!: Trial By Fire, a trade paperback compilation of the first four issues of the original Static comic, hits the stores. Static Shock!: Rebirth of the Cool, an all-new comic book mini-series by John Paul Leon and myself launches in November. And as always, you can find news on all my writing and comic book projects as well as Milestone news, an archive of my opinion columns and sample comic book plots and scripts at my web site www.dwaynemcduffie.com. Thanks for inviting me to chat.

Dwayne McDuffie
Milestone Media, Inc.
Dwayne McDuffie.com

On behalf of PopImage I would like to thank Dwayne for participating in this interview and recommend you check out the upcoming Static Shock! Series on the Kids WB. To stay up to date on all Static Shock! News keep checking Dwaynes website as well as the excellent Comics2Film, which even features a RealVideo Preview of the Static Shock! Series in the Static section of their website.