Sections
Oeming: I doubt it! You see how much I sleep. If I was serious about work, I would cut that **** out.
AlphaFlight.net: Thinking back, what was you first exposure to Alpha Flight?
Oeming: Hmm, I had to be looking through a friends collection when I was a kid. I certainly remember when I first started liking Mignola's work, his covers caught my eye. There was and still is nothing like it on the shelves...
AlphaFlight.net: What was it that really stood out for you from those early days?
Oeming: Puck! A superhero little dude, but he was all kick ass. That and Sasquatch. I liked that it always felt different. As great as X-Men and Avengers could be, they all felt like variations on the same theme, but Alpha
Flight always felt a little different. Maybe it was because it was more about individuals functioning within the team or the fact that it embraced Indian culture. I loved that. I want to do lots more with First Nations people at marvel comics.
Oeming: Probably the first year. They weren't always told in the best ways, but the heart is there, the concept. At least for me.
AlphaFlight.net: Both the Steven Seagle and Scott Lobdell re-launches fell under heavy criticism, though they were very different from each other. How did you feel about these runs? Might we see any open plots from these books being used?
Oeming: Man, I don't know. I think I liked where Lobdell started, but then it just became SOOO wacky it was like one drinks too many
Well written, but just on another planet. For me, Flight is always about mythology. Not in that "super heroes are modern mythology" kind of way, but the roots of the team are steeped in it, so its hard for me to see it played as a typical superhero book or even a funny book. Weird, yes, funny, no. AlphaFlight.net: After two failed re launches, classic fans feel that a lack of original characters and content is a largely to blame. Do you consider this sentiment to be at all fair or accurate? How do you think Omega can avoid this "curse"?
Oeming: No, it has nothing to do with the lack of original characters. There is a hard core base for Flight, but not enough to sustain a book, where other people will see those same characters and "I never read them before, why would I read it now?" I have to admit, Marvel has relaunched some books where I felt the same way. I wont name names, but I look at it and thought "I never liked it before..." kind of like Mushrooms. I don't care how good they are made, I just don't like them and I'm done trying them.
The book has to stand on its own merit, good stories, art and support from the company and fans. Its really that simple.
AlphaFlight.net: It was in February 2006 that Mark Millar first told AlphaFlight.net that Marvel was looking at a "High Profile Alpha Flight re-launch". Were you in the picture at that point?
Oeming: I think so, its hard to remember that far back. Almost a year, wow. Also, deals come and go and usually fall through, so I never count on something until it happens. "hey Mike, want to draw/Write "X" book? Sure, I say, but then I forget about it unless it happens because there's a million reasons projects fall through or dramatically change.
AlphaFlight.net: How were Mark Millar and Brian Michael Bendis being involved in the conceptualization of Omega Flight. What was the series of events that lead to the Marvel giving the series' go-ahead?
AlphaFlight.net: How did "death" of Alpha Flight in New Avengers fit into the picture?
Oeming: Clearly, that was kick off of the whole thing. Before that, I had pitched Marvel an Alpha Flight series, but they weren't interested in even seeing it, Flight was dead in the water, no one wanted to touch it at that time.
AlphaFlight.net: So why "Omega Flight"? Historically the name has been associated with villains. Omega Flight has until now been Alpha Flight's greatest enemy team.
Oeming: It was a signal to readers and retailers that this isn't your dad's Alpha Flight- this isn't that food you tried several times and didn't like- this is something new. It also felt like Alpha Flights "last/Omega" Chance... at least for awhile.
AlphaFlight.net: You've stated in the past that Omega Flight was going to be an easy book for new readers to jump into the Flight Path, what will Omega Flight have to offer the "Old School" Alpha Flight fans?
Oeming: Lots. Lots of homages, the original flight haunts the new flight, almost litterally
Oeming: Again, they go back to the roots of Flight. The Master could be really cool. The Great Beasts are all that mythology stuff I love. Old sleeping gods and all that.
AlphaFlight.net: We can assume that Omega Flight has some government sanctioning, can we expect Department H to be involved?
Oeming: Yes, heavily involved in the Government, but as for Department H... we'll see
Oeming: If we stick around long enough, I'm sure its a possibility. Its Marvel Comics, hell has no door
AlphaFlight.net: Omega Flight artist Scott Kolins informed AlphaFlight.net that there were "some major changes that you'll be hearing about soon" that effected the direction of things, or at the very least effected issue #2. Is there anything you can tell us about this?
Oeming: You talking to me?
AlphaFlight.net: You've done some work with Kolins in the past, but this is your first full length series. Do you find that changes the nature of your work together? What are his rolls in the collaborative process?
Oeming: Its funny, Scott and I have shorthand creativity now, and I kept leaving directions out of the script because I knew Scott would know what to do with it and I didn't want to step on his toes, but my editor didn't know what the hell was going on in those panels. Scott and I work so well together, we have that creepy twin thing where I don't have to tell him what to do, he just knows. But as my editor says, I have to fill the rest of the team in on what the hell we're thinking. The only other person I have that with is Bendis on Powers.
AlphaFlight.net: Of the characters in Omega Flight, who are you enjoying writing the most?
Oeming: Wow, its hard to say. Either Sasquatch (as Walter!) or Talisman. US Agent is fun because he's a smart ass with a heart of gold.
AlphaFlight.net: Thanks for your time Mike, here's looking at a long, prosperous series!
Oeming: Thanks man! I wanted to mention I have an email newsletter that can be joined by emailing me at Oeming@aol.com and I have a new creator owned series coming out this summer from Image called the Mice Templar!
vBulletin Message