Comic Related - The Gold Exchange

GOLD EXCHANGE EXTRA
DAN JURGENS NAMED AS PERMANENT WRITER ON BOOSTER GOLD

As many readers will know by now, DC Comics announced at the San Diego Comic-Con this year that Dan Jurgens will take over as the ongoing writer on Booster Gold starting with December's #15.

Jurgens, who has drawn every issue of Booster Gold's ongoing titles since he created the character in 1986, will take a break from penciling the book with issues 13 and 14, to prepare for taking over writing with #15. Once he takes over as writer of the series, he will be penciling again with Norm Rapmund returning as inker.

ComicRelated spoke with Jurgens about taking over the title that he shepherded into the world, the daunting task of taking over from superstar writing team Geoff Johns and Jeff Katz and the future of Booster Gold.

ComicRelated: First of all, Dan, congratulations on being named the writer on Booster Gold. It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. I know from previous conversations that you've worked closely with the guys. How long have you known that you were "the next guy" after Geoff and Jeff took off?

DJ: It was pretty much set in place around issue nine or so. Of course, I would have loved to see Geoff and Jeff stay or see Jeff tackle it on his own, but that wasn't in the cards so I became the logical choice.

CR: So recent issues of Booster Gold have seemed to suggest that we'll see callbacks to both the Reign of the Supermen AND Armageddon 2001. With those stories being brought back into the pages, one has to wonder about some of your other major successes. What are the chances we'll see a version of Risk who's able to do a chin-up?

DJ: If I'm every going to use Risk I better do it fast. If not, Geoff will surely find a way to dismember him further in a crossover! But I think part of the fun of Booster Gold is taking the book back to major DC events so we'll certainly continue to pursue that.

CR: Obviously Michelle's return will continue to play itself out―with the original writer back on the series, will we see the 1000, Trixie or any other old series regulars dropping by?

DJ: Possibly, though I don't want it to be a total "recall" of old characters. That would probably get in the way of the overall concept of the book.

CR: So, what's your overall take on Booster as a character? How has he changed, and how is he the same, from when you wrote him 20 years ago…or even ten, when you had him in Justice League America?

DJ: He's a warmer character now, not quite as crass as he used to be.

There was a time when Booster's sole focus was on money and adulation. He's grown beyond that now in some respects though would still pursue any opportunity that might be out there. He just wouldn't compromise himself nearly as much to do so as he would have in the past.

Ted's death has helped humanize him a great deal.

CR: To many of the fans I've talked to, the humor is a very important element of this book―obviously you guys have never had a bwa-ha-hah title going on here, but you've certainly had your share of one-liners and clever moments. How do you see the humor in this book―does it help to shape the kinds of stories you want to tell, or is it just something that flows from the characters in any situation?

DJ: Oh, yeah. The humor will continue. There might be an issue or two where we have to be a bit solemn but for the most part, it's gonna be there.

You're right about Booster Gold not being a "Bwah-ha-hah" title, but Booster is always going to have a quip to make, a smile on his face and those around him are going to doubt his ability to succeed.

CR: We haven't talked to Norm yet in The Gold Exchange, but I was glad to see him coming back. You've worked with him a lot over the years; were you pleased to know that he was going to stay on with you when the team shifted?

DJ: Absolutely elated. Norm is doing tremendous work and is absolutely vital to the success of the book. He's been invaluable in maintaining a style that is ideal for the book. That sentiment also extends to the gang at Hi-Fi Color who're doing fantastic work.

CR: What do you see as the biggest challenge of following up a team as loved by both fans and critics as Geoff and Jeff were? Is it keeping up their quality, or just keeping people confident in "the next guy?"

DJ: I'm confident the quality will be there. As much as anything we need fans to be accepting of the fact that's there's a change in the creative team. However, the approach to the characters, their stories and the things that make the book work will be the same.

CR: Given that the "Great Disaster" of the Pre-Crisis DC Universe has taken a much different shape on New Earth, will Skeets's historical records come back into play once Final Crisis has played itself out, or has the future-telling aspect of Booster's story been laid to rest?

DJ: Yes. No. Sort of.

Seriously-- stay tuned.

CR: The stories so far have been pretty epic in scope, and while we've had a lot of great character beats…we've yet to really have an issue that was really chock full of character development. There was a lot more of that in the first series, with a potential love interest and the business side and all that. Do you have any plans to take on some of those stories anytime soon?

DJ: We were able to do that because Booster was very much a known quantity. Michelle isn't so I think we'll need some character development on her part.

And given the revelation that Booster is Rip's father... there is a lot of stuff to be mined there as well.

CR: Will we see Booster the Corporate Superhero make a bit of a comeback?

DJ: A bit. But more as a backdrop than main storyline.

CR: As the writer of Booster Gold, you more or less have all of DC's history at your disposal. If there was any time you, as a writer, could have been working in comics, when would YOU travel to and what character(s) would you write?

DJ: Oh, man... I don't think I can narrow it down that much.

I'd probably go for the early Silver Age because there was so much clarity then. It would be remarkably easy to fit Booster into that environment while also having a load of fun.

If not that, the early days of the JSA would be great fun.