The Gold Exchange - Booster Gold #9

The Blue & The Gold story arc built to a frantic pitch in last week's Booster Gold #9, featuring more guest stars than you can shake a stick at. The Justice League International reformed, Batman's destiny in this bizarre alternate earth was revealed and the Time Stealers finally made their big play! What's it all mean? We catch up with co-writer Jeff Katz and artist Dan Jurgens to find out...!

Comic Related: Dan, obviously when most fans picture this team in their head, they think of Kevin Maguire's representation of them--but you had most of these characters on your team, too, when you took over the Justice League. How easy was it to slip into a comfort zone drawing these characters?

Dan Jurgens: It was very easy. I have always loved Guy Gardner's look. It's classic. That made it a lot of fun to tackle. Mr. Miracle is also a character I've enjoyed drawing so welcoming him back to the drawing board was fun.

Overall, it was great to draw them all again.

CR: You were the first one to ever use the Warrior look in print (in Zero Hour #0), right? How'd you feel about that direction for Guy?

DJ: I'm not sure I was the first one to use the Warrior look in print. I didn't design the look... that came from DC. I was never thrilled with the direction as I preferred the GL tapestry around him. That's where Guy's volatile personality provided the most interesting contrast to a rather staid organization like the Corps.

CR: Master Jailer is a character who we encountered a bit during your run on Superman, albeit as Deathtrap, if I recall. He's got a role with Checkmate in the "real" DCU, but wears no costume...is this how he always looked?

DJ: This was certainly the look we wanted to go with for that one panel, which I think is a more interesting look. Seemed to fit the context of the story.

CR: On that note, and out of curiousity--is the woman in the foreground of that panel his nefarious daughter?

DJ: His daughter Snare? Absolutely! Good catch.

CR: Not for nothing, but is there a reason it doesn't occur to anybody to trash the Tuning Fork when they're taking J'Onn? I mean, at a minimum, trashing Kal-L and Prime's plans might make whatever's going on in space a little easier on the GL Corps!

DJ: Isn't that sort of like trying to pump air in the tire even while the car is careening off the road? They had their mission and had to get that taken care of. I don't think the tuning fork would go offline as easily as you imply.

Jeff Katz: To that point, lets remember it took the force of Conner Kent and Superman Prime to bring that thing down last time, killing Conner in the process. The JLI was tunnel visioned towards their objective. Also, Scott Free is a huge environmentalist. Drives a Prius and everything.

CR: Man, you got to show off a lot in this issue! A mess of splash pages, and those two group shots toward the end of the issue could easily be posters. Is that harder to work around on the rest of the pages? Because it seems like some of them are pretty crammed to keep things moving.

DJ: Jeff and Geoff set this issue up perfectly. They gave art lots of room to stretch and breathe, which is vastly underrated by many writers these days.

CR: I can't remember back to what was going on before Countdown to Infinite Crisis. Was there a reason in ordinary continuity for Fire to be so chilly to Booster, or is that something that will clarify itself a bit as this story plays out?

DJ: She always thought of him as a doofus. It's that simple. It's also consistent with how most of the DCU will think of Booster, though we all know otherwise!

JK: In the context of Blue & Gold, it's pretty clear that the DCU heroes all hold Ted Kord - despite the circumstances leading to his death - in much higher esteem than Booster Gold. It's always been that way and always will. Fire's reaction is just another example.

CR: Actually, Fire seems pretty snippy in general. This version of Guy is obviously not the cretin that he was when he was part of the JLI, resembling both physically and spiritually the Guy we've read since the end of Green Lantern: Rebirth. Was portraying him this way a conscious choice? Not just on the part of the writers, but in terms of how the bowl cut was drawn, too...!

DJ: I struggled a bit with just how to handle Guy's haircut. Yeah, I was tempted to go with the straight bowl cut of the past, but that simply isn't who he is any longer. So I decided to lean more toward his current look.

JK: I think we have consciously tried to show different sides of Guy both here and in #3. He's a character both Geoff and I have a lot of affection for. We made him historically the "Greatest Green Lantern Ever" very intentionally. We all love his swagger and bravado but it's fun to dissect a bit and see what's under the surface there. I think there's a ton you could do with Guy Gardner. Just a lot of places you could go with the character. He's someone I'd love to revisit seriously at some point down the road.

CR: What'd you think of the old Warrior books, and/or did you read the Howard Chaykin two-issue mini last year?

JK: I prefer my Guy Gardner as a Green Lantern instead of a Vuldarian. That said, I read pockets of the Warrior run. I love the "Warriors" tavern concept more than anything else actually. I did read the Chaykin mini and enjoyed it. Guy is a character I've always tried to follow. Love him singing Burt Bacharach songs. Love him making out with alien chicks. Love him period.

CR: With so many computer effects at play, how does a page like the one that's got Fire fighting the OMACs present a challenge to you as an artist? It seems like it would be hard to get a solid picture in your head for what it's going to look like finished!

DJ: Not really, because I've worked with Norm Rapmund and the folks at Hi-Fil Color for so long. We've done enough projects together that I can generally envision the final look of the page and know those guys will deliver.

CR: With Rip concerned that he now can't see the future, does this mean that he'll be needing a whole new chalkboard? It seems like we're finally starting to see the results of last year's teaser.

JK: Yes, you'll be getting a new chalkboard very shortly. Booster Gold #10 to be exact. The next chalkboard is a lot of fun.

CR: The Time Stealers seem to have waited in the shadows an awful long time, only to show up at a time where Booster has a TON of reinforcements! Is this an example of really, really bad supervillain planning, or is there something nasty in the wings?

DJ: There is definitely something nasty in the wings. Their forces were being pulled together just as Booster was getting his organized for the final showdown. A major surprise... and I mean major... will make it all understandable.

JK: The Time Stealers know EXACTLY what they're doing. They've been building to this very moment. Something wicked this way comes.

CR: Something wicked this way comes? I don't know if I can watch any more horrible things happen to the JLI...!

JK: All I can say is that I'd wager it's up to the Blue & Gold - the heart and soul of the JLI - to save them (and us!) from the Time Stealers.

CR: I feel like this is the first time I've seen you do the Post-Jim Lee version of Batman. That moment where he pulls the Checkmate uniform open, he looks very much like the more modern interpretation of Batman, and less like the Batman I'm more used to seeing from you. Was there an intentional change in the way you represented the character on the page?

DJ: Yeah, I think so. I haven't done a lot of Batman over the last few years so I think it was generally appropriate to go with that look. It's far more dramatic than what we ususally get to see.

CR: The last question, of course, is whether or not there's a solid answer regarding the new creative team after #1,000,000. Can you comment on what's happening when you guys leave the book yet?

DJ: Not yet! Still a bit early!

JK: To paraphrase Spaceballs, "We ain't sayin' shit!" ;)

But what we will tell you is that Booster Gold #1,000,000 has not one, not two, but three - count 'em three - whoppers. And that's all we'll say about that.

CR: A major surprise next issue, then three more in 1,000,000? It sounds like you guys have left a hell of a setup for the next guy. Will the new full-time writer be jumping into the middle of something or will the Dixon story end at a convenient jumping-on point?

DJ: Chuck's issues will be somewhat self contained but also provided context and set-up for what comes next. I'm sure fans will see that the book will continue to move at quite a pace.


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	The Blue & The Gold story arc built to a frantic pitch in last week's Booster Gold #9, featuring more guest stars than you can shake a stick at. The Justice League International reformed, Batman's destiny in this bizarre alternate earth was revealed and the Time Stealers finally made their big play! What's it all mean? We catch up with co-writer Jeff Katz and artist Dan Jurgens to find out...! Comic Related: Dan, obviously when most fans picture this team in their head, they think of Kevin Maguire's representation of them--but you had most of these characters on your team, too, when you took over the Justice League. How easy was it to slip into a comfort zone drawing these characters? Dan Jurgens: It was very easy. I have always loved Guy Gardner's look. It's classic. That made it a lot of fun to tackle. Mr. Miracle is also a character I've enjoyed drawing so welcoming him back to the drawing board was fun. Overall, it was great to draw them all again. CR: You were the first one to ever use the Warrior look in print (in Zero Hour #0), right? How'd you feel about that direction for Guy? DJ: I'm not sure I was the first one to use the Warrior look in print. I didn't design the look... that came from DC. I was never thrilled with the direction as I preferred the GL tapestry around him. That's where Guy's volatile personality provided the most interesting contrast to a rather staid organization like the Corps. CR: Master Jailer is a character who we encountered a bit during your run on Superman, albeit as Deathtrap, if I recall. He's got a role with Checkmate in the "real" DCU, but wears no costume...is this how he always looked? DJ: This was certainly the look we wanted to go with for that one panel, which I think is a more interesting look. Seemed to fit the context of the story. CR: On that note, and out of curiousity--is the woman in the foreground of that panel his nefarious daughter? DJ: His daughter Snare? Absolutely! Good catch. CR: Not for nothing, but is there a reason it doesn't occur to anybody to trash the Tuning Fork when they're taking J'Onn? I mean, at a minimum, trashing Kal-L and Prime's plans might make whatever's going on in space a little easier on the GL Corps! DJ: Isn't that sort of like trying to pump air in the tire even while the car is careening off the road? They had their mission and had to get that taken care of. I don't think the tuning fork would go offline as easily as you imply. Jeff Katz: To that point, lets remember it took the force of Conner Kent and Superman Prime to bring that thing down last time, killing Conner in the process. The JLI was tunnel visioned towards their objective. Also, Scott Free is a huge environmentalist. Drives a Prius and everything. CR: Man, you got to show off a lot in this issue! A mess of splash pages, and those two group shots toward the end of the issue could easily be posters. Is that harder to work around on the rest of the pages? Because it seems like some of them are pretty crammed to keep things moving. DJ: Jeff and Geoff set this issue up perfectly. They gave art lots of room to stretch and breathe, which is vastly underrated by many writers these days. CR: I can't remember back to what was going on before Countdown to Infinite Crisis. Was there a reason in ordinary continuity for Fire to be so chilly to Booster, or is that something that will clarify itself a bit as this story plays out? DJ: She always thought of him as a doofus. It's that simple. It's also consistent with how most of the DCU will think of Booster, though we all know otherwise! JK: In the context of Blue & Gold, it's pretty clear that the DCU heroes all hold Ted Kord - despite the circumstances leading to his death - in much higher esteem than Booster Gold. It's always been that way and always will. Fire's reaction is just another example. CR: Actually, Fire seems pretty snippy in general. This version of Guy is obviously not the cretin that he was when he was part of the JLI, resembling both physically and spiritually the Guy we've read since the end of Green Lantern: Rebirth. Was portraying him this way a conscious choice? Not just on the part of the writers, but in terms of how the bowl cut was drawn, too...! DJ: I struggled a bit with just how to handle Guy's haircut. Yeah, I was tempted to go with the straight bowl cut of the past, but that simply isn't who he is any longer. So I decided to lean more toward his current look. JK: I think we have consciously tried to show different sides of Guy both here and in #3. He's a character both Geoff and I have a lot of affection for. We made him historically the "Greatest Green Lantern Ever" very intentionally. We all love his swagger and bravado but it's fun to dissect a bit and see what's under the surface there. I think there's a ton you could do with Guy Gardner. Just a lot of places you could go with the character. He's someone I'd love to revisit seriously at some point down the road. CR: What'd you think of the old Warrior books, and/or did you read the Howard Chaykin two-issue mini last year? JK: I prefer my Guy Gardner as a Green Lantern instead of a Vuldarian. That said, I read pockets of the Warrior run. I love the "Warriors" tavern concept more than anything else actually. I did read the Chaykin mini and enjoyed it. Guy is a character I've always tried to follow. Love him singing Burt Bacharach songs. Love him making out with alien chicks. Love him period. CR: With so many computer effects at play, how does a page like the one that's got Fire fighting the OMACs present a challenge to you as an artist? It seems like it would be hard to get a solid picture in your head for what it's going to look like finished! DJ: Not really, because I've worked with Norm Rapmund and the folks at Hi-Fil Color for so long. We've done enough projects together that I can generally envision the final look of the page and know those guys will deliver. CR: With Rip concerned that he now can't see the future, does this mean that he'll be needing a whole new chalkboard? It seems like we're finally starting to see the results of last year's teaser. JK: Yes, you'll be getting a new chalkboard very shortly. Booster Gold #10 to be exact. The next chalkboard is a lot of fun. CR: The Time Stealers seem to have waited in the shadows an awful long time, only to show up at a time where Booster has a TON of reinforcements! Is this an example of really, really bad supervillain planning, or is there something nasty in the wings? DJ: There is definitely something nasty in the wings. Their forces were being pulled together just as Booster was getting his organized for the final showdown. A major surprise... and I mean major... will make it all understandable. JK: The Time Stealers know EXACTLY what they're doing. They've been building to this very moment. Something wicked this way comes. CR: Something wicked this way comes? I don't know if I can watch any more horrible things happen to the JLI...! JK: All I can say is that I'd wager it's up to the Blue & Gold - the heart and soul of the JLI - to save them (and us!) from the Time Stealers. CR: I feel like this is the first time I've seen you do the Post-Jim Lee version of Batman. That moment where he pulls the Checkmate uniform open, he looks very much like the more modern interpretation of Batman, and less like the Batman I'm more used to seeing from you. Was there an intentional change in the way you represented the character on the page? DJ: Yeah, I think so. I haven't done a lot of Batman over the last few years so I think it was generally appropriate to go with that look. It's far more dramatic than what we ususally get to see. CR: The last question, of course, is whether or not there's a solid answer regarding the new creative team after #1,000,000. Can you comment on what's happening when you guys leave the book yet? DJ: Not yet! Still a bit early! JK: To paraphrase Spaceballs, "We ain't sayin' shit!" ;) But what we will tell you is that Booster Gold #1,000,000 has not one, not two, but three - count 'em three - whoppers. And that's all we'll say about that. CR: A major surprise next issue, then three more in 1,000,000? It sounds like you guys have left a hell of a setup for the next guy. Will the new full-time writer be jumping into the middle of something or will the Dixon story end at a convenient jumping-on point? DJ: Chuck's issues will be somewhat self contained but also provided context and set-up for what comes next. I'm sure fans will see that the book will continue to move at quite a pace.
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