Interview: Shen Reveals 1602’s Lady Kate in SECRET WARS JOURNAL #1

Earlier we gave you a peek at the world of Egyptia in Secret Wars Journal #1. Now, writer Prudence Shen, from the webcomic Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong, is giving us a sneak-peek at her story about Lady Kate in the land of Marvel 1602.  Plus, we have a first look at the beautiful pages by Ramon Bachs.

Secret-Wars-Journal-2015

Jessica Boyd: What type of freedom does the Secret Wars Battleworld provide compared to having to write in a single reality? Will inhabitants from the other lands bleed over into the stories?

Prudence Shen: The fun part is that we’re all cloistered off into these separate, sometimes bonkers realities, which means you get these great snapshots of possible otherworlds where you can be as ridiculous and camp as you like, and it has no bearing on the overarching theme. When you get an option to do something like that, you’re obligated to exploit it to maximum potential. I’m not sure about the other stories, but Kate’s world is at least (for the moment) pretty self contained.

SCWARSJOU2015001A001_colJB: Solicits for SWJ talk about it being the most “continuity-important” book in the Secret Wars event. Is there anything you can tell us about how Robin-Hood-like Kate Bishop and a mutant revolt play into the bigger picture?

PS: Part of the genius of the overall Marvel machine is that they realized if they don’t tell me, I can’t accidentally tell you, either, so sadly I have no fun details for the larger picture. That said, I think that Kate Bishop’s fundamental character — where she’s brave and saucy and willing to do terrifying things for her friends — will definitely key into the bigger narrative.

JB: What has been the most enjoyable part of taking part in Secret Wars?

SCWARSJOU2015001A002_colPS: Getting to see an artist’s interpretation of your story never stops being amazing — especially when you’re getting to enjoy amazing talent like Ramon Bachs. I was a classically trained artist, but gave it up for writing because writers get to be even more shiftless and homeless-looking than artists, and it gives me this incredible appreciation for the gorgeous work that he does.

Also at one point during the editing process I think Jake Thomas sent me and the art stars a note that asked if something could look “more magic,” which is one of those awesome moments that just reminds you how great working in comics is.

JB: If you could team your Secret Wars characters up from any other hero from any other Secret Wars Battleworld who would you choose?

SCWARSJOU2015001A003_colPS: This is an answer that has no basis in narrative relationship or logic, but I 100 percent want it to be the Egyptian mutants. A) Because I’m still that kid who checked out that book about mummification from the local library enough that the children’s librarian had a “conversation” with my parents about it and B) from what I understand part of the deal is their overthrow of tyranny and I feel like Kate is happy to throw her lot in with the underdogs who want to fight oppression, any day.

JB: Is there anything else you’d like Comicosity readers to know?

PS: That my original outline slash pitch for this story was probably longer than the script ultimately turned out to be, and included a lot of historically accurate discourse about medieval female financial agency, and that Jake was very nice not to lose my number and work with me patiently to streamline it to something that turned out to be enormously, enormously fun. Did I mention fun? It was really fun.

Secret Wars Journal #1 is available May 27, 2015. You reference Diamond Order Code: MAR150641 with your local comics shop.

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