Teen Titans Go! Q&A with J. Torres

J.S. Earls recently sat down with writer J. Torres to talk about his new series...
"TEEN TITANS GO!"
Q&A with series writer J. TORRES
11.18.03

JSE: HOW EXCITED ARE YOU ABOUT "TEEN TITANS" BEING ON THE WB AS WELL AS CARTOON NETWORK? THE POPULARITY POTENTIAL SEEMS ENDLESS.
JT: "It's great! The more exposure for the show, the more potential exposure for the comic book. The series is also on YTV here in Canada."

JSE: DO YOU ENJOY THE CREATIVE CHALLENGE WORKING ON A FRANCHISE LIKE "TEEN TITANS" PRESENTS?
JT: "Very much. I've said before that I've wanted to work on a DC cartoon book for some time and that it's the Teen Titans, a team I've followed for years, an all-new series based on a cartoon I'm really enjoying, is a dream."

JSE: WILL YOU DO ANYTHING SPECIFIC TO DISTINGUISH YOUR SERIES FROM THE OTHER "TEEN TITANS" COMIC?
JT: "Well, that we're following the look and feel of the cartoon should be enough to distinguish us from the regular continuity Titans book. But we're also having some fun with some sight gags, riddles, and jokes in the margins and I'm not sure any other monthly comic book out there is doing that sort of thing."

JSE: ALTHOUGH "TEEN TITANS GO" WILL SPECIALIZE IN SINGLE-ISSUE STORIES (GREAT FOR NEW READERS), WILL YOU HAVE ANY ONGOING SUBPLOTS?
JT: "No plans for any right now. We basically have to follow what the folks on the show are doing so as not to step on their toes. So, for the time being we're sticking to stand alone, single issue tales."

JSE: WE'VE HEARD THAT AQUALAD IS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR ON "TEEN TITANS". WILL HE SHOW UP IN YOUR COMIC ANYTIME SOON?
JT: "We haven't scheduled his appearance just yet, but I do want to write a story involving him. At some point or other I'm sure you'll see all the villains and guest heroes who appear in the cartoon pop up in the comic book."

art by Sergio Quijada

JSE: REGARDING SPEEDY, WONDER GIRL, KID FLASH AND THE REST - WHO MIGHT WE SEE FIRST IN "TEEN TITANS GO"?
JT: "This is pure speculation, but my guess would be Kid Flash. Or maybe I'm just wishing! I'd love to see any of those Titans show up in the series and subsequently use them in the comic book."

JSE: HOW LONG DOES IT LOOK LIKE ARTIST TODD NAUCK WILL BE WITH THE SERIES?
JT: "Todd drew the first two issues, then he had to work on his creator-owned project "WildGuard" for Image."

JSE: WHO WILL TAKE OVER TODD'S ARTISTIC CHORES?
JT: "Well, a fellow by the name of Tim Smith drew #3 and he's back on for #5. Tim used to work in production over at Marvel and not too long ago decided to strike out on his own as freelancer. John McCrea of "Hitman" fame is working on #4 as I type this."

JSE: WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF A MANGA ARTIST FILLING-IN ON "TEEN TITANS GO"?
JT: "Pretty good, I'd say. My editors Lysa Hawkins and Tom Palmer seem open to letting different artists from different backgrounds contribute to the series."

JSE: I READ THAT YOU TOOK CARTOON NETWORK'S "WHICH TEEN TITAN ARE YOU" QUIZ AND GOT BEAST BOY. WHICH ANIMAL WOULD YOU WANT TO BECOME - AND WHY?

JT: "Um... something that flew, I think. Just to see what that's like. But it might also be cool to be something aquatic that could explore the ocean and stuff. Yes, I loved 'Finding Nemo'."

JSE: IS BEAST BOY A LONG-LOST RELATIVE OF THE WONDER TWINS? ARE YOU?
JT: "No, but I believe I'm the lovechild of Imelda Marcos and George Hamilton."

JSE: I TOOK THE TITANS QUIZ AND GOT RAVEN. SHOULD I SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP?
JT: "Nah, just keep those emotions in check. No telling what might happen if you lost your temper - or got too happy about something."

[ Interview by J.S. Earls ~ writer ~ WORLD'S FINEST PRESENTS webcomic ]