Comics Bulletin logo
Search
  • Columns
    Random
    • Keeping It Ghastly: Mantis Woman

      Josh Green
      March 13, 2015
      Keeping It Ghastly, Keeping It Ghastly, Manga
    Recent
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 1

      Daniel Gehen
      October 30, 2020
    • Comictober 2020: DRACULA MOTHERF**KER

      Daniel Gehen
      October 27, 2020
    • What Looks Good
    • Comics Bulletin Soapbox
    • The Full Run
    • Leading Question
    • Top 10
    • The Long-Form
    • Jumping On
    • Comics in Color
    • Slouches Towards Comics
  • Big Two
    Random
    • Snapshot: Wonder Woman #2

      Josh Green
      July 15, 2016
      Big Two, Columns, DC Comics, Snapshot
    Recent
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • Stan Lee

      nguyen ly
      November 7, 2020
    • Collecting Profile: Jack O’ Lantern

      nguyen ly
      October 31, 2020
    • DC Comics
    • Big Two Reviews
    • Marvel Comics
  • Indie
    Random
    • 4.0

      USAGI YOJIMBO #1 is a First Issue Worth Reading

      Josh Green
      June 20, 2019
      IDW, Reviews
    Recent
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • 4.5

      TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      October 29, 2020
    • Reviews
    • Archie Comics
    • Boom! Studios
    • Dark Horse
    • IDW
    • Image
    • Oni Press
    • Valiant
  • Reviews
    Random
    • 4.0

      Book review: 'In Case We Die' is a deeply troubling, thoroughly intense book that channels Bukowski

      Josh Green
      October 2, 2013
      Reviews
    Recent
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • 4.5

      TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      October 29, 2020
    • Singles Going Steady
    • Slugfest
    • Manga
      • Reviews
    • Small Press
      • Reviews
      • ICYMI
      • Tiny Pages Made of Ashes
  • Interviews
    Random
    • Interview: Allen Milgrom Called Will Eisner! Pt. 3

      Josh Green
      May 8, 2015
      Interviews
    Recent
    • Interview: Jon Davis-Hunt Talks SHADOWMAN

      Daniel Gehen
      June 8, 2020
    • Interview: Becky Cloonan talks DARK AGNES and Her Personal Influences

      Mike Nickells
      March 4, 2020
    • Simon Roy

      Interview: Simon Roy on His Inspirations and Collaborations on PROTECTOR

      Mike Nickells
      January 29, 2020
    • Audio Interview
    • Video Interview
  • Classic Comics
    Random
    • Classic Interview: Sy Barry - "Changes are what Keep Art and Comics Going"

      Josh Green
      September 4, 2015
      Classic Interviews, Interviews
    Recent
    • Countdown to the King: Marvel’s Godzilla

      Daniel Gehen
      May 29, 2019
    • Honoring A Legend: Fantagraphics To Resurrect Tomi Ungerer Classics

      Daniel Gehen
      February 15, 2019
    • Reliving the Craziest Decade in Comics History: An interview with Jason Sacks

      Mark Stack
      January 2, 2019
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade
    • Classic Interviews
  • News
    Random
    • Making Comics Better: Confronting the World of Eddie Berganza and Systemic Harassment

      Josh Green
      April 28, 2016
      Big Two, Columns, Comics Bulletin Soapbox, DC Comics, News
    Recent
    • 2020 Ringo Awards Winners Announced

      Daniel Gehen
      October 26, 2020
    • BAD IDEA Announces 2021 Publishing Slate

      Daniel Gehen
      September 29, 2020
    • A Full Replay of NCSFest 2020 is now Available

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2020
    • Press Release
    • Kickstarter Spotlight
  • Books
    Random
    • Preview: 'An Unreliable History of Tattoos' from NoBrow Press

      Josh Green
      March 30, 2016
      Books, News, Previews
    Recent
    • Collecting Profile: Disney Frozen

      CB Staff
      November 22, 2019
    • Collecting Profile: NFL Superpro

      CB Staff
      August 31, 2019
    • “THE BEST OF WITZEND” is a Wonderful Celebration of Artistic Freedom

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2018
    • Review: ‘Machete Squad’ is a Disappointing Afghan Memoir

      Jason Sacks
      July 31, 2018
    • Review: ‘Out of Nothing’ is the Antidote to Our Sick Times

      Jason Sacks
      July 23, 2018
    • Review: ‘Bizarre Romance’ Shows Rough Edges in the Early Days of a New Marriage

      Jason Sacks
      July 10, 2018
What's New
  • Collecting Profile: Batwoman
  • Collecting Profile: Daredevil
  • Collecting Profile: Floronic Man
  • Review of Cheetah in Wonder Woman 1984
  • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist
  • Collecting Profile: Transformers
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Contact Us
  • Write for us!
  • Visit Video Game Break!
Home
Interviews

Marc Andreyko: The Evolution of the Manhunter

Josh Green
December 16, 2009
Interviews

Recently, Josh Green got the chance to catch up with writer Marc Andreyko to talk about the history of his Manhunter and the future of the series.

Enjoy!


Josh Green: Hi Marc. Tell us about how your Manhunter comic came to be.

Marc Andreyko Well, I had been working on Thunder Agents for DC, but some complications arose with the rights holder and the project was shelved. Then I got a call from Dan Didio asking if I’d be interested in doing a new Manhunter book. With a female Manhunter. Initially, I thought no way. Then, after a few days, Kate popped into my head, I called Dan, and, voilà, the rest is history.

JG: What were the biggest influences behind your version of Manhunter?

MA: I’ve never been shy about stating the influences, so forgive me if you’ve heard this before… 🙂 …Katherine Hepburn, obviously (Kate’s name is a combo of Hepburn and Tracy). Helen Mirren, especially in Prime Suspect. All the dames and broads of the 30s and 40s: Bacall, Veronica Lake, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford — tough ladies who weren’t defined by men.

JG: Was it difficult to continue writing Manhunter after being cancelled and uncancelled twice before its issue 38 finale? Also, where did you get the brilliant idea to end the series set fifteen years in the future?

MA: Well, getting cancelled sucks. Uncancelled? Not so much… 🙂 …and, initially, the last arc in the monthly was going to deal with abortion and clinic bombings, but, when it came down to only having two issues left, I did the smart thing. I stole an idea from Alan Moore’s Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?. 🙂

JG: Let’s talk about Kate Spencer for a moment. What is it about her character that distinguishes her from most other heroes in comics?

MA: Her acceptance that sometimes the legal system fails and that there are bad-guys out there who don’t deserve to live. Often it seems indulgent, at best, and incompetent, at worst, when these heroes continually catch and send to the looney bin or prison, villains who only want to kill. They’re not gonna get better, so why risk them escaping? Again. And again.

JG: Manhunter features some of the best supporting cast members in comic books. Tell me about them and their relationships to Kate. Also, which of the supporting characters do you enjoy writing the most?

MA: It sounds treacly, but I enjoy all of them for different reasons and at different times. The blessing about a character like Kate is that I’ve been given the freedom to develop her and her circle and grow them emotionally.

Currently, I’m loving writing Ramsey, though. I love that kid.

JG: When Manhunter was cancelled with issue 38, did you know than that it would eventually return as a second feature?

MA: Nope. I thought that was it. I was waiting for her to be killed off in a cosmic event book. 🙂

JG: How do you approach writing the second features compared to the standard sized monthly? Is it difficult writing Manhunter stories in nine or ten page installments?

MA: Well, the approach is still the same. The work comes in trying to tell a story in 9 pages with a beginning, middle, and end — and still have a propulsive narrative. Not the easiest job, but not working in a coal mine either. 🙂 And now, I really feel like I’ve found my groove…along with great artists helping me look good!

JG: What’s coming up in the upcoming adventures of Kate Spencer?

MA: Manhunter will fight Two-Face and Kate will battle with Harvey Dent. Ramsey’s on a road trip. Dylan, well, you’ll see….

JG: Do you plan to continue to stick with Manhunter for the foreseeable future?

MA: I’ll write Kate and company as long as I’m allowed. And I’ll cut ya’ if you try and take her from me!

JG: Considering Jack Knight and Kate Spencer are cousins, and now that James Robinson (Jack Knight’s creator) is back writing at DC, have you and James had dialogue about having Kate and Jack meet in your Manhunter second feature?

MA: Yeah, James and I have spoken informally. I would love to have Kate and Jack meet with their kids. Starman is such an obvious influence on my storytelling, so the chance to write Jack and Kate with James is a dream. But only with James. Jack is his baby and I know how protective we get with our kids

But, c’mon, James! Think about it! It would be soooooooooo cool!

JG: Thanks Marc!

Josh GreenMarc Andreyko

Share On:
Tweet
Mondo Marvel #18 – October 1963
Sunday Slugfest: Brave and the Bold #30

About The Author

<a href="http://comicsbulletin.com/byline/josh-green/" rel="tag">Josh Green</a>
Josh Green
Managing Editor

Josh Green lives in Philadelphia, PA with his lovely wife Lauren. Having worked at Dynamite Entertainment and TV Guide, Josh is now at Comics Bulletin and its network of websites at Crossroads Alpha, so that he can still dabble in pop culture. While he is not dabbling, Josh lives a simple life, where his main enjoyment is spending as much time possible with his wife, whose very existence gives Josh purpose for everything.

Related Posts

  • 4.5

    Marvel Art Books Reviews

    Josh Green
    October 10, 2014
  • 4.0

    Arrow Season Two Blu-ray Review

    Josh Green
    October 7, 2014

Latest Interviews

  • Interview: Jon Davis-Hunt Talks SHADOWMAN

    Daniel Gehen
    June 8, 2020
  • Interview: Becky Cloonan talks DARK AGNES and Her Personal Influences

    Mike Nickells
    March 4, 2020
  • Simon Roy

    Interview: Simon Roy on His Inspirations and Collaborations on PROTECTOR

    Mike Nickells
    January 29, 2020
  • Interview: V.E. Schwab on revisiting Red London in The Steel Prince

    Stephen Cook
    March 13, 2019
  • Interview: David Foster Wallace and Hellblazer, words on Wyrd with writer Curt Pires

    Stephen Cook
    February 27, 2019
  • “The Night Has Teeth” An Interview with Sarah deLaine, Artist of Image Comics’ “Little Girls”

    Jason Sacks
    February 26, 2019
  • Interview: Caitlin Kittredge talks the future of Witchblade

    Daniel Gehen
    February 12, 2019
  • Interview: Andy Nakatani and the Future of Weekly Shonen Jump

    Daniel Gehen
    December 19, 2018
  • INTERVIEW: Todd Matthy talks robots, princesses, and bridging the divide with storytelling

    Stephen Cook
    September 13, 2018
  • INTERVIEW: Gallaher & Ellis discuss THE ONLY LIVING GIRL

    Daniel Gehen, Thea Srinivasan
    September 7, 2018
RSSTwitterFacebookgoogleplusinstagramtumblr

Comics Bulletin is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, Comics Bulletin earns from qualifying purchases.

All content on this site (c) 2018 The Respective Copyright Holders