From: [o--b--t] at [ix.netcom.com] (Michael R. Grabois) Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.info,rec.arts.comics.marvel.universe Subject: INTERVIEW: Chuck Dixon on Captain America Date: Thu, 01 Feb 96 22:08:46 GMT [posted with the permission of Brian Saner-Lamken, who may be reached at [b--m--n] at [aol.com] and/or [76752 3525] at [compuserve.com]] The following article is scheduled to appear in next week's edition of FAT JACK'S comicScrypt, the weekly newsletter that I produce for Fat Jack's Comicrypt, a chain of four comics-retail shops in the Philadelphia area. Within the next couple of months, I'll be taking the newsletter national under the title COMICOPIA. Anyone who'd like sample copies to pass along to their neighborhood retailers is encouraged to drop me a line. This article is copyright 1996 Brian Saner-Lamken, and may not be reprinted without his express permission, save for brief excerpts carrying appropriate credit to Brian Saner-Lamken as the author and copyright holder and to CompuServe's Comics/Animation Forum as the source. ***** When the news broke that Chuck Dixon had signed aboard Rob Liefeld's team as scripter of the new CAPTAIN AMERICA series, scheduled to launch from Marvel Comics next fall, Ye Editor rang him up for the lowdown. Dixon was perfectly candid about his feelings for the project, but remained tight-lipped about most of his and Liefeld's more concrete plans; after all, the series' debut is still a half-year away, and anticipation is part of the fun. "Marvel has to do something," he told comicScrypt, for fear of a constantly shrinking audience - and at this point, he said, "change is good." But he offered assurances that the CAP relaunch would bring a back-to-basics sort of change, similar to what John Byrne did for Superman with THE MAN OF STEEL: "It's taking the character back to his roots." Dixon feels that current concepts like an intelligent Hulk, a mortal Thor, and a new-look Spider-Man who is-but-isn't Peter Parker don't provide the accessibility necessary to invite new and lapsed readers who aren't familiar with diversions from the characters' classic representations. And he aims to fix that. "Batman is still recognizable," he remarked. "Superman is still recognizable. The Marvel characters aren't." (Once the Dark Knight's name was invoked, incidentally, comicScrypt just couldn't refrain from asking Dixon to call the winner in a Batman/Cap match-up, since he'll soon be writing both characters. His answer: Batman, hands down. Dixon feels - and Ye Editor happens to agree - that Batman's strength lies in taking control of a situation; in his own way, he's virtually unstoppable. "Give him six months," Dixon assured, "and Batman could defeat Galactus.") According to Dixon, the legend of Captain America will still be firmly grounded in World War II, and much of his early history will remain intact. His introduction to modern times, however, will be "significantly altered - though not in a way that violates the character," Dixon promised. Thirty-some years ago, Steve Rogers' body was found by the Avengers, preserved in a block of arctic ice thanks to the Super-Solider serum. That trick was perfect for its time, Dixon said; his and Liefeld's job is to find one that's perfect for this one. For at least the first six issues of the new CAPTAIN AMERICA, which is currently scheduled to start up in September, Dixon will largely be working straight from Liefeld's penciled pages, many of which have already been plotted and roughed out for approval by Marvel Comics - a fact that squelches rumors about Liefeld enjoying and abusing complete creative control. Dixon has been impressed with what he's seen so far. "He's gonna be an honest-to-gosh superhero," Dixon said of the redefined Cap. "He's gonna be the Captain America that I grew up with - the [Jack] Kirby Captain America. It's kind of a daring new direction," he noted, "to do it the way it was done before." Dixon is clearly looking to have some fun - and to bring as many readers as possible along for the ride. 30 ***** Michael R. Grabois | http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/mgrabois Houston, TX | [o--b--t] at [ix.netcom.com] CI$: 74737,2600 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Some people call me Maurice, 'cause I speak of the Pompatus of Love."