Marz Needs Questions

[Onmi Khaos]

You ask one general question, then go into three paragraphs about Owen Mercer? Much like you did HERE and HERE and HERE. What was said to you HERE still applies even now. Don't move on to other forums with the same question, especially to a forum unrleated to your question (I don't recall Ron ever working on the Flash, much less Captain Boomerang) even if you preface it with something else just because you didn't get the result you wanted. Two Comrades have already discussed this matter with you. Don't take it any further.

jafabian

I was using it as an example, if you would prefer another I'll use the deaths of Jen back in Infinite Crisis or Goliath during Civil War. I used Owen because he was a recent one.

My Question stands, how do you feel about death in comics.

[michealdark]

Ron's never been afraid of killing characters, man. Remember, rightly or wrongly, for better or for worse, this is the man responsible for creating the "women in refridgerators" meme. I'm sure that if he feels it adds to the story, it's perfectly acceptable (just guessing though).

[michealdark]

How did you like how the Witchblade/Punisher crossover turned out? I've noticed some interesting parallels you made between Frank and the Witchblade itself in that story.

[Ron Marz]

Okay, to recontextualize the last question, is it okay to do it just to shake up a title, or does that depend on how the follow-up pans out?

michealdark

"Just to shake up a title" is too broad a definition. What's being shaken up? Who? The removal of a character is really about how it effects the characters left behind.

[Ron Marz]

I was using it as an example, if you would prefer another I'll use the deaths of Jen back in Infinite Crisis or Goliath during Civil War. I used Owen because he was a recent one. My Question stands, how do you feel about death in comics.

Onmi Khaos

Death is comics is a necessity. I'm not saying it's necessary to kill someone, I'm saying that retaining the possibility of a character's death is a necessary storytelling tool.

If you remove death as a possible outcome, a good deal of a story's drama is neutered. If there are no serious consequences, then the struggles of the characters don't mean all that much.

I truthfully have no idea who Owen Mercer is, but he sounds like a supporting character at best. Supporting characters are there because of their relation to a main character. The support the main character's storylines. They're not usually interesting enough to have their own stories. Sorry a character you liked died, but that's sometimes the fate of secondary characters so that the overall storyline can be served.

[Ron Marz]

How did you like how the Witchblade/Punisher crossover turned out? I've noticed some interesting parallels you made between Frank and the Witchblade itself in that story.

michealdark

Well enough. Could have used more pages to flesh out the story properly.

[michealdark]

"Just to shake up a title" is too broad a definition. What's being shaken up? Who? The removal of a character is really about how it effects the characters left behind.

Ron Marz

Well, I wrote the question as a response to Cry for Justice #7 and SPOILER. Highlight below text to read

Lian Harper's

death. I was just in a really bad mood at the time. Sorry. I guess what I was trying to ask though is that if there's another way to remove a character and give the hero the proper angst needed to spin a story out of, should death be the first option or should one of those other possibilities be employed? Or does that depend on the creators involved and the direction they and editorial want to take the character? I personally feel in that story the same results could have been acheived through other means, but I am still willing to check out the follow-up because I like JT Krul as a writer and think he understands the DC characters

Well enough. Could have used more pages to flesh out the story properly.

Ron Marz

I'm pretty sure, but I love how you basically made Frank what the Witchblade would be without Sara's (pardon the pun) guiding hand to keep it in check.

[flashsuper]

Ron....WHY WEREN'T YOU AT ECCC??!! Just kidding. I had hoped to meet you and have you sign a few Scion books for me, but maybe next time. For punishment, I'll bring the whole run for you to sign... Then you'll take me out for a burger...

[Ron Marz]

Ron....WHY WEREN'T YOU AT ECCC??!! Just kidding. I had hoped to meet you and have you sign a few Scion books for me, but maybe next time. For punishment, I'll bring the whole run for you to sign... Then you'll take me out for a burger...

flashsuper

I know, I know, I felt bad about having to make the decision to stay home. But, the work has to come first, and four days out of the schedule would've just increased the deadline doom.

I've already committed for next year's 3-day ECCC. And in all seriousness, I would be more than happy to sign your whole Scion run and whatever else you have. Not sure about the burger ... maybe appetizers ... ;-)

[Ron Marz]

Well, I wrote the question as a response to Cry for Justice #7 and SPOILER. Highlight below text to read Lian Harper's death. I was just in a really bad mood at the time. Sorry. I guess what I was trying to ask though is that if there's another way to remove a character and give the hero the proper angst needed to spin a story out of, should death be the first option or should one of those other possibilities be employed? Or does that depend on the creators involved and the direction they and editorial want to take the character? I personally feel in that story the same results could have been acheived through other means, but I am still willing to check out the follow-up because I like JT Krul as a writer and think he understands the DC characters.

michealdark

Hopefully it's not the comic that put you in the bad mood. It's just a comic, after all.

That said, there's no sweeping answer. A character death is the right choice depending on the story and character circumstances. I can't really address the specifics you mention because I haven't read the story.

[michealdark]

Eh, yeah I know, but I thought it was in bad taste in a mediocre story to acheive an end that I think could have been gotten to through other means, so that combination put me in a bad mood. Also, I get emotional when something bad happens to characters I like. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing (isn't the purpose of good writing to make you feel for the characters as though they're real people?), although I'll confess I can get annoying about it too often.

Moving on, what's been your favorite Top Cow crossover so far?

[Ron Marz]

Moving on, what's been your favorite Top Cow crossover so far?

michealdark

Crossover that I've written, or crossover in general?

[michealdark]

Both.

Also, we know that you do a lot of crime/noir/police procedural elements in Witchblade, so have you ever done a full on crime comic?

[michealdark]

Oh, I know I've asked this elsewhere on here, but I'd rather put it in a place where you'll see it. We've already talked about the spiritual elements of the Top Cow U and how prominent they are. What's some other spiritually related comics you'd suggest I look into.

[michealdark]

Will Argent Smith ever even out her tally sheet, and what happens when she does?

[Ron Marz]

Both. Also, we know that you do a lot of crime/noir/police procedural elements in Witchblade, so have you ever done a full on crime comic?

michealdark

Yes, but it hasn't been published yet. I'd like to do more.