Blasting out of the pages of AQUAMAN, AQUAMAN & THE OTHERS is a new on-going series from writer Dan Jurgens and artist Lan Medina which brings back together the owners of the talisman. Jurgens took the time to answer a few of our questions about the series.
COMIC VINE: You really get this very new and very open world to work with. How did it feel to be able to jump into a story that, for the most part, compared to other DC teams, has a clean slate?
DAN JURGENS: A clean slate is really just about the most desirable thing for writers. It is for me, at least. Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis did a great job in not only reshaping Aquaman for the New 52, but in conceiving The Others as well. We've seen just enough to sustain reader interest while also leaving enough open to have that "clean slate" feel. It's a great position for Lan Medina and me to be in.
CV: What's it like getting to really define some of these newer characters?
DJ: Defining new characters is often the most fun part of the job. Not just who they are and what they do, but also in terms of how they relate to one another.
We've certainly seen some intriguing hints about Aquaman and Ya'Wara. Prisoner of War is, in many ways, 15 people wrapped up in one. And the Operative's past is so mysteriously vague that we have to wonder about everything he's done, where he's been and what he might be guilty of.
That's all great fun for a writer.
CV: While it's still new, what's been one of your biggest challenges with this series?
DJ: Whenever you introduce a team book there is always a bit of a fine line to be walked in terms of the amount you want to hold back on vs. the amount you need to provide in order to give readers insight into the characters and a reason to come back. You need to tantalize without leaving too much on the cutting room floor.
CV: Which one of the Others has become one of your favorites and why?
DJ: Right now it's a tie between Ya'Wara and Prisoner of War. She's very straight forward-- what you see is what you get, while the Prisoner has multiple layers of complexity. They're at opposite ends of the spectrum, which is what makes them fun.
CV: The talismans lose power the longer they are away from each other, which means The Others need to be nearby in order for them to work. Is this a team who doesn't want to be together but now has to?
DJ: I'd say they generally want to be together, but in a far different way than most teams. For example, this team was the New 52's first. They existed as a team before the Justice League. But they're casual about it. Rather unofficial. And the members probably view the team's existence with varying opinions. The Operative is likely least interested in a team environment while for Prisoner of War, it's a welcome respite. Ya'Wara might be there for different reasons entirely.
CV: Obviously, without giving anything away, are the men trying to steal the talismans working for a familiar face?
DJ: No, this is a new adversary for the team!
CV: The final pages reveal that Sayeh's visions are from the upcoming Future's End story. Will this book be crossing over into that and what can we expect?
FUTURES END takes place in the future. Sayeh sees the future. So, certainly, some reflective elements are a must.
CV: What's your favorite talisman?
DJ: If I could have any one of them, I'd go for Ya'Wara's Globe of Transportation.
No more traffic jams!
CV: Are there other Others that readers may not be familiar with?
DJ: Considering the fact that we know of ten bars of gold and six talismans, well...
Thanks a ton to Dan Jurgens for answering our questions and make sure to check out the new series (which we really enjoyed) AQUAMAN & THE OTHERS! Issue #1 is available at your local comic shop and available digitally!