FCBD 2010: Exclusive Interview with Doctor Solar/Magnus’ Jim Shooter

For Free Comic Book Day 2010, taking place on May 1 at comic shops around the world, Gold Sponsor Dark Horse Comics will offer Doctor Solar/Magnus FCBD 2010 Edition, giving comic readers the chance to see two of Gold Key Comics’ greatest characters in action as never before.

Now legendary creator Jim Shooter, the writer and driving force behind Dark Horse’s revival of the heroes, talks about the FCBD title, its characters, the significance of FCBD itself, and much more in Freecomicbookday.com’s exclusive interview.

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Freecomicbookday.com: Set your project up for those that might not know much about it. What can we expect to see in terms of story and art? 

Jim Shooter: Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom/Magnus Robot Fighter stars two great heroes, each in a complete story.  If you’re familiar with the wonderful, classic versions of these heroes, you’ll be glad to see that everything you loved about them is still there, and more; if you aren’t familiar, you’ll quickly see why they became icons. 

The art is brilliant.  The spectacular cover is by Raymond Swanland.  The Doctor Solar story is illustrated by Dennis Calero and the Magnus story by Bill Reinhold.  Incredible stuff.   
 

Freecomicbookday.com: What’s your favorite part about being able to work in comics? 

Shooter: Every day I let my imagination fly free and act out in my mind all sorts of incredible scenarios.  Sometimes, if the shades are down and the neighbors can’t see, I might not limit the acting entirely to thoughts.  A yardstick makes an excellent pretend sword, for instance.  When I was a kid, we called this “playing.”  Now they pay me to do it!  Hahaha!  Sorry. 
 

Freecomicbookday.com: Why do you think FCBD is so vital to the industry?

Shooter: Ours is a wonderful medium. Giving away free samples is the best way I can think of to get people to give it a try, and maybe get involved.

I love the fact that all the publishers compete so enthusiastically, each one putting its best foot forward, trying to outdo the rest.  The fact is, however, every publisher with any sense at all hopes that every FCBD offering is great.  If Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom/Magnus Robot Fighter interests a new reader enough to entice him or her to visit the comics shop again, maybe that next time they’ll also try something from Marvel, Image, or BOOM!  

Freecomicbookday.com: Since FCBD has now been a yearly event since 2002, do you, your creator friends and/or your family have any annual FCBD traditions? 

Shooter: Traditions?  Not really, but this year I hope to start one.  I’ll be doing a signing at a comics shop called Jim Hanley’s Universe in Manhattan.  It would be great to do a store visit every year.
 

Freecomicbookday.com: What’s the biggest challenge when creating a FCBD book as opposed to a standard comic? Do you have to approach it differently knowing you might have a broader audience?  

Shooter: I try to make every issue of every comic book clear and understandable (and good), even for new readers, so no difference there.  I wanted to make both the Doctor Solar story and the Magnus story representative of the series, and yet unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.  That’s not easy.    

Freecomicbookday.com: Knowing that so many readers are sure to pick up the issue, does that put more pressure on you, or is that something that gets you more excited about what you’re working on?  

Shooter: I put more pressure on myself every time, every story, than any rational person would.  What’s a little more?  The people upstairs think I’m crazy because I yell at myself a lot….

Freecomicbookday.com: In the spirit of potential newcomers picking up comics, what was the first comic you remember reading or that inspired you to get involved in the industry? 

Shooter: The first comic book read to me was an issue of Uncle $crooge in 1954.  I don’t remember which one.  I think Donald and the nephews were on a ship.  The comic book that inspired me to try to get a job in the biz was the Amazing Spider-Man #2.
 

Freecomicbookday.com: What comic(s) and/or graphic novel(s) would you recommend to someone that enjoys your FCBD book and is looking for something like it to read next? 

Shooter: I’m not sure there’s anything quite like Doctor Solar and Magnus.  They’re very different from the norm, in a good way I hope.  But, if you like those FCBD stories, I’d recommend Turok, Son of Stone #1, which, I believe, is on sale in September.  Beyond that, my wish-dream is that my stories and the other FCBD offerings get people so excited about comics in general that they’re motivated to try lots of things—other Dark Horse books, small publisher books, DC, Marvel, whatever.  All you have to do is ask people at the comics shop, staff, and other customers what’s worth reading.  One of the great things about comic book shops is that practically everybody you meet loves to talk about the good stuff, and Free Comic Book Day is the day to be there. 

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Be sure to visit Freecomicbookday.com often to check out previews of this year’s books and to learn more about our FCBD Sponsors, what merchandise and downloads are available this year, where favorite creators will be showing up for signings, and much more. You can also follow all the latest FCBD news on Facebook and Twitter.